Class 10- Agriculture

AGRICULTURE CLASS X Q. 1. Why India is called an agricultural Country? Ans. (1) Two thirds of its population is engaged in agricultural activities. (ii) Agriculture is a primary activity which produces most of the food that we consume. (iii) It also produces raw material for various industries. (iv) Some agricultural products like tea, coffee, spices, etc. are also exported to get foreign exchange Q2.What is primitive subsistence farming? Ans (i) It is practiced on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools. (ii) This type of farming depends upon monsoon and natural fertility of the soil. (iii) It is also called slash and burn agriculture. Q3.What is ‘slash and bum’ agriculture? Ans(i) In it farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other crops to sustain their family. (ii) When he soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation. (iii) This type of shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes. Land productivity in this type of agriculture is low as the farmers do not use any modern inputs. Q4.Describe the intensive subsistence farming. Ans(i) This type of farming is practiced in area of high population pressure on land. (ii) It is labour- intensive farming. (iii) In it, high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher production. Due to law of inheritance, the land-holding size has reduced and the farmers try to get maximum output from the limited land. Q5.What are the main features of commercial farming? Ans (i) In commercial farming they make use of higher doses of modem inputs e.g., high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, etc. (ii) The degree of commercialization of agriculture varies from one region to another. (iii) e.g., Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but in Orissa, it is a subsistence crop. Plantation is also a type of commercial crop. Q6.Give main characteristics of plantation farming. Ans(1) In this type of farming, a single crop is grown on a large area. (2) The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry. (3) Plantations cover large tracts of land, using capital intensive inputs, with the help of migrant labourer. (4) All the produce is used as raw material in respective industries. Q7.Describe the three cropping seasons of India. Ans(1) Rabi Crops: (a) Sown in winters and harvested in summers. (b) Some of the important Rabi crops are wheat barley, peas, gram and mustard. (c) States growing Rabi crops are Punjab, Haryana, Himachal & K Uttarakhand and U.P. (2) Kharif Crops: (a) Grown with the onset of monsoons and harvested in September or October. (b) Important states are: Assam, West Bengal, coastal regions of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra. (c) Crops grown during this season are: rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur, moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut arid soyabean. (3) Zaid Season: (a) It falls in between the rabi and kharif seasons. (b) It’s a short season during the summer months. (c) Major crops grown are: watermelon, muskmelon, cucumbers, vegetables and fodder crops. - Q8.Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice. Ans(i) It requires high temperature above 25°C and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100cms. (ii) In the areas of less rainfall, it grows with the help of irrigation. (iii) In Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh rice are grown with the help of irrigation facilities. Q9.Give a brief description of cereal crop wheat. Ans(i) It’s the main food crop of North and North Western part of India. (ii) It’s a rabi crop. (iii) It requires cool growing season and a bright sunshine at the time of ripening. (iv) It requires 50 to 75cms of rainfall annually, evenly distributed over the growing season. (v) The major wheat producing states are Punjab, Haryana, U.P., Bihar, Rajasthan and Parts of M.P. Q10.Which important millets are grown in India? Give a brief description of them. Jowar, Bajra and Ragi are three important millets. Ans(i) Ragi: Ragi is very rich in iron, calcium, arid other micro nutrients arid roughage. It is a crop of dry regions and grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils. Karnataka is the largest producer followed by Tamil Nadu. (ii) Jowar: It is a rain fed crop mostly grown in the moist areas which hardly needs irrigation. Maharashtra is the largest producer followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. (iii) Bajra: It grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil. Rajasthan is the largest producer of bajra followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana. Q11.What kind of pulses are grown in India and in which cropping season? Ans(i) Pulses are the major source of protein in a vegetarian diet. (ii) Major pulses grown in India are: tur, urad, moong, masur, peas and gram. (iii) Pulses need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions. (iv) They are mostly grown in rotation with other crops. Being leguminous, they regain the fertility of the soil. Q12.Under what conditions coffee is grown and in which states it is grown? Ans(i) Indian coffee is known in the world for its good quality. (ii) The ‘Arabica variety’ brought from Yemen is produce in India. (iii) This variety is in great demand all over d world. (iv) Initially its cultivation was introduced on the Baba Budan Hills and today its cultivation is limited to the Nilgiri in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Q13. Which fruits are grown in India? Ans: (i) Mangoes: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Utter Pradesh and West Bengal (ii) Oranges: Nagpur and Cheerapunji. (iii) Bananas: Kerala, Mizoram, Mahrashtra and Tamil Nadu. (iv) Litchi and Guava: U.P, and Bihar. (v) Pineapples: Meghalaya. (vi) Grapes: Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. (v) Apple, peas, apricots and walnuts J& K and Himachal Pradesh are in great demand the world over. Q. 14. What do you know about rubber plantation in India? Ans. (I) Rubber is an equational crop hut is also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas. (ii) It requires moist and humid climate with rainfall of more than 200 cms and temperature above 25°C. (iii) It is grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Garo Hills of Meghalaya India ranks fifth among the world’s natural rubber producer. Q. 15. What climatic conditions are required for cotton? Ans. (i) Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan Plateau. (ii) It requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation. (iii) It also requires 210 frost free days and bright sunshine for its growth. It’s a Kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature. Q.16. Prepare a note on ‘Jute Production in India.’ Ans. (1) Jute is known as the golden fibre. (ii) It grows well on well-drained soils in the flood ls where soils are renewed every year. Qui’ (iii) High temperature is required during the time of growth. (iv) West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa, and Meghalaya are the major jute producing states. (v) It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artifacts. Q. 17. What was the need of bringing Techno-institutional reforms? Ans. (i) Agriculture has been practised in India for thousands of years. (ii) Sustained uses of land without some techno-institutional reforms have hindered the pace of agricultural development. (iii) Inspite of development of sources of irrigation, most of the farmers in large parts of the country still depend upon monsoons and natural fertility in order to carry on their agriculture. For a growing population, this poses serious problem, thus demanding techno-institutional reforms. Q. 18. What efforts are made by the government to modernize agriculture? Ans. (1) Government has established an Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Agricultural universities to promote agriculture. (ii) Veterinary services and animal breeding centers are opened for healthy cattle. (iii) Efforts are made to develop Horticulture. (iv) Research and development in the field of meteorology and weather forecast, was given priority. (v) Rural Infrastructure was also improved. Q.19. Why are farmers committing suicides in several states of the country? Ans The growth rate of agriculture is decelerating. (i) Today Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition (ii) Our government has reduced public investments in agriculture sector particularly in irrigation, power, rural roads, markets and mechanization. (iii) {iii) Subsidy on fertilizers is decreased leading to increase in the cost of production. (iv) Import duties on agricultural products have reduced. (v) Thus, farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in the employment in agriculture leading to suicides by the farmer. Q. 20. Give the characteristics of crop used both as food and fodder, Ans. (i) It is maize, which is a Kharif crop. (ii) It requires temperature between 21°C to 27°C and grows well in old alluvial suit. (iii) Use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds, fertilizers and irrigation have contributed the increasing production of maize. (iv) Major Maize producing states are: Karnataka, U.P., Bihar Andhra Pradesh Madhya Pradesh. Q. 21. What geographical conditions are required for tea cultivation? Give the major tea producing states also. Ans. Geographical Requirements: (Tea) (i) It is grown well in tropical and subtropical climates with deep and fertile, well drained soil, rich in humus and Organic matter. (ii) Tea bushes require warm and moist frost free climate all through the year. (iii) Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth & tender tea leaves. Tea-Producing States: Assam, hills of Darjee1ing, Jalpaiguri, District, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura Q. 22. Enlist the various technological arid institutional Reforms are introduced by time Government in the interest of farmers. Ans. Institutional Reforms: (i) Collectivization and consolidation of all small holdings. (ii) Abolition of Zamindari system. (iii) Various other land reforms like ceiling on land holdings were introduced. (iv) Provision for crop insurance against draught, flood or cyclone. (v) Establishment of Grameen Banks and cooperative societies and banks for providing loan to farmers. (vi) Kissan credit cards, personal accidental insurance scheme were also introduced by the Government. (v) Special Weather Bulletins for farmers were introduced in T.V. and Radio. Technological Reforms (i) Green Revolution in agriculture and White Revolution in milk were introduced (ii) Tractors, harvesters, threshers and tube wells, etc. technological devices were introduced. (iii) For better production, fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides were also produced (iv) The government also announced minimum support price, which checks exploitation of farmers by speculators and middleman...