LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
ong Answer Type Questions
1. Why is agriculture called the mainstay of Indian economy
Or
What is the importance of agriculture in Indian economy
Answer: (i) Agriculture is the mainstay of Indian economy because about 60% of our
population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture.
(ii) It provides raw materials to the industries.
(iii) India earns foreign exchange by exporting agricultural products.
(iv) It contributes about 29% to the Gross Domestic Product.
(v) It provides food to over 1210.2 million population.
2. What is primitive (subsistence) farming Write any four features of subsistence farming.
[CBSE Comp. (O) 2008]
Or
Why is subsistence agriculture still practised in certain parts of the country Give four
reasons. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Answer: A farming in which the main production is consumed by the farmer’s household is
known as subsistence farming.
Features :
(i) Old technology and traditional implements are used.
(ii) Agricultural fields are small and farmers possess scattered land holdings.
(iii) Most of the farmers are poor, and do not use fertilisers and HYV seeds.
(iv) The overall productivity is very low. *
3. What is intensive farming Write some features of intensive farming. [CBSE Sept. 2013]
Or
Why is there enormous pressure on land in Intensive Subsistence Farming [CBSE 2013]
Answer: Intensive farming : It is a type of farming in which the agricultural production is
increased by using scientific methods and better agricultural inputs.
Features :
(i) HYV seeds and modern inputs are used to increase the production.
(ii) More than one crop is cultivated during a year.
(iii) It is practised in thickly populated areas.
(iv) The per hectare yield is very high.
4. What is plantation agriculture Write some features of the plantation agriculture. [CBSE
Sept. 2012]
Or
Describe any four characteristics of plantation agriculture. [CBSE Comp. (D) 2008]
Answer: This is a type of agriculture which involves growing and processing of a single
cash crop purely meant for sale. Rubber, tea, coffee, spices, coconut and fruits are some of
the important crops which come under the category of plantation agriculture.
Features :
(i) It is a single crop farming.
(ii) It is a capital intensive farming, i.e., a huge amount of capital is required.
(iii) It needs vast estates, managerial ability, technical know-how, sophisticated machinery,
fertilisers, good transport facilities and a factory for processing.
(iv) This type of agriculture has developed in areas of north-eastern India, Sub-Himalayan
region, West Bengal and Nilgiri.
5. What is shifting agriculture Why shifting agriculture is being discouraged
Answer: It is that type of agriculture in which farmers clear the forest land and use it for
growing crops. The crops are grown for 2 to 3 years, and when the fertility of the soil
decreases, the farmer shifts to a new land. Dry paddy, maize, millets and vegetables are the
crops commonly grown in this type of farming.
It is being discouraged because :
(i) This leads to deforestation.
(ii) The per hectare yield is very low.
6. Explain the favourable geographical conditions required for the production of rice. Also
mention the major rice producing states of India. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013]
Answer: (i) Temperature : It is a kharif crop which requires high temperature, and high
humidity. This means monthly temperature of about 25°C with minor variation during the
sowing, growing and harvesting season, is suitable for the growth of the plant.
(ii) Rainfall : Rice needs abundant rainfall, i.e., more than 100 cm. It can grow in areas
with less rainfall, but with assured irrigation. Rice is grown in Punjab and Haryana with
the help of irrigation.
(iii) Soil : Rice can grow in a variety of soils including silts, loams and gravels, but it is
grown best in alluvial soil with a sub-soil of impervious clay. Areas of production : Rice is
cultivated in almost all the states of India, but most of its cultivation is concentrated in the
river valleys, deltas of rivers and the coastal plains.
The main rice producing states are West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Punjab, Odisha, Karnataka, Assam and Maharashtra.
7. What type of climate is required for the cultivation of wheat Name any four important
wheat producing states of India. [CBSE Sept. 2012]
Answer: (i) Temperature : Cool and moist weather during growth, and warm and dry
climate during ripening is needed.
(ii) Rainfall : 50-75 cm rainfall is required. Rainfall is necessary and beneficial, 15 days
after sowing, and 15 days before ripening. A few light winter showers or assured irrigation
ensures a bumper harvest.
(iii) Soil : Light domat (loamy) soil is required. It can also be grown in black soil. Important
producers : Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the main
producers of wheat.
. Describe three geographical requirements for maize cultivation – temperature, rainfall
and soil. Name three maize producing states of India. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Answer: (i) Temperature : It grows well under temperature between 21°C and 27°C.
(ii) Rainfall : It grows well in areas of 50¬100 cm of rain, and in areas of less rain, if grown
under irrigation.
(iii) Soil : It requires well drained alluvial fertile soil or red loams free from coarse
materials. Important produces : Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh are
the leading producers.
9. Describe the temperature and climatic conditions required for the cultivation of
sugarcane. Name two leading producers. [CBSE Comp. 2008,09(D), 2010(0)]
Or
What geographical conditions are required for the cultivation of sugarcane Name two
largest producing states of sugarcane. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Answer: (i) Temperature : Sugarcane needs hot and humid climate with temperature
ranging between 21°C to 27°C. Very high temperature is harmful for its growth, while low
temperature slows its growth. It cannot withstand frost. Cool temperature is needed at the
time of ripening.
(ii) Rainfall : It grows best in areas receiving 75 cm to 100 cm of rainfall. Too heavy rainfall
results in low sugar content.
(iii) Soil : Sugarcane grows on well-drained fertile soil. It can grow on a variety of soils
including black, alluvial, loamy and reddish loam.
Sugarcane :
But the best soil is the alluvial soil of the Ganga Plain and the black soil of southern India.
Sugarcane exhausts the fertility of the soil. Hence, the use of manure is essential to ensure
high yields.
Areas of Production :
Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of sugarcane. The other states in the Ganga-Plain are
Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.
10. Name the most important beverage crop of India. Describe the suitable climatic
conditions required for its growth. Also mention the major states producing that crop.
[CBSE 2010(0)]
Or
Describe any three geographical conditions required for tea cultivation. Name any two
producing states of tea. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2012]
Or
Name the important beverage crop introduced by the British in India. Explain the
geographical conditions needed for its cultivation. Write any two important states where it
is grown. [CBSE 2013]
Or
Describe any four ‘ geographical conditions required for the growth of tea. Mention the two
major tea producing states of South India. [CBSE 2012]
Answer: Tea is the most important beverage crop of India.
Climatic conditions :
(i) Temperature : The tea plant grows well in tropical and sub tropical climate. Tea bushes
require warm and moist, frost-free climate all through the year. Tea bushes need
temperature of more than 25°C.
(ii) Rainfall : Tea plant needs heavy rainfall ranging between 150 cm to 250 cm. The
rainfall should be well distributed throughout the year.
(iii) Soil : The plant requires a light loamy soil. The soil should be rich in humus and iron
content. Tea is a soil exhausting crop, so frequent use of chemical fertilisers and manure is
essential.
Producers :
Major tea-producing states are Assam, West Bengal, (Hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri
Districts), Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea producing states in the country.
11. Explain the favourable climatic conditions required for the production of rubber. Also
mention the states producing rubber. [CBSE Comp. (D) 2008, 2008 (F), Sept. 2010, 2011,
2012]
Answer: (i) Temperature : It is a tree of the tropical forests, and requires a constant high
temperature above 25°C. Thus, the rubber tree cannot be grown at high altitudes.
(ii) Rainfall : It needs heavy and well distributed rainfall throughout the year. The plant
needs rainfall more than 200 cm.
(iii) Soil: The plant requires alluvial or laterite soil. Areas of Production :
India ranks fifth among the world’s natural rubber producers. The state of Kerala is the
largest producer of rubber in India. Kerala accounts for about 91% of the total area under
rubber plantation. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and The Andaman and Nicobar islands
including the Garo Hills of the Himalayas are the other producers.
12. Explain the climatic conditions required for the production of cotton. Also mention the
major cotton producing states of India.
Answer: (i) Temperature : Cotton needs a warm climate. Summer temperatures of 21°C to
27°C, and abundant sunshine is necessary during the growth of the plant. A long growing
period of atleast 210 frostfree days is also necessary for the plant to mature.
(ii) Rainfall : Moderate to light rainfall is adequate for cotton cultivation. Rainfall ranging
between 50 cm to 80 cm is adequate. The crop can be successfully grown in areas of low
rainfall with the help of irrigation.
(iii) Soil : Cotton can be grown on a variety of soils but the black cotton soil of the Deccan
Plateau which has the ability to retain moisture is most suitable. It also grows well in
alluvial soils of the Satluj-Ganga Plain.
Areas of Production :
The leading cotton producing states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab,
Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh. Punjab and Haryana grow the
long staple variety.
13. Which crop is known as the “golden fibre” Explain two geographical conditions
essential for the cultivation of this crop. Mention any four uses. [CBSE 2012]
Or
What is known as ‘golden fibre’? Where is it grown in India and why Describe various uses
of this fibre.[CBSE 2012]
Answer: (1) Jute is called golden fibre.
(2) Geographical conditions for its cultivation are as follows :
(i) Jute grows well in well-drained fertile soils of the flood plains where the soil is renewed
every year.
(ii) High temperature is required during the time of growth.
(3) It grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains.
(4) Therefore, it is grown in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha and Meghalaya.
Uses : It can be used to manufacture gunny bags, mats, ropes, yam, carpets and other
artifacts.
14. Differentiate between the commercial agriculture and the subsistence agriculture.
[CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013]
Answer:
Subsistence farming:
(i) Farming practices in which the entire crops are consumed by the farmers and their
family. They do not have any surplus to sell in the market.
(ii) Farms are small and fragmented.
(iii) food crops are cultivated mostly are cereals like rice and wheat along with oil seeds,
vegetables and sugarcane.
(iv) Old tools and implements are used by the farmers. There is a total absence of modern
equipments like tractors and farm inputs like chemical fertilizers, insecticides and
pesticides.
(v) Depends on monsoon and there is greater use of manpower.
Commercial farming:
(i) In this Farming practice most of the goods produced are mainly sold in the market for
earning money.
(ii) Landholdings are large and cash crops are cultivated to earn money from them.
(iii) Major commercial crops grown in different parts of India are cotton, jute, sugarcane
groundnut.
(iv) In this type of farming, farmers use inputs like irrigation, chemical fertilizers,
insecticides, pesticides and high yielding varieties of seeds better.
(v) By the use of modern equipments like tractors e.tc .less manpower is used .
14. Name any four oilseeds produced in India. What is their economic importance
Or
Name any four oilseeds produced in India. Explain the importance of oilseeds in our day to
day life. [CBSE 2012]
Answer: Main oilseeds produced in India are :
(i) Groundnut (ii) Mustard
(iii) Coconut (iv) Sesamum
Economic importance of oilseeds :
(i) Most of these are edible, and used as a cooking medium in the form of oil.
(ii) Extracted oil is also used as raw material for manufacturing large number of items like
paints, varnishes, hydrogenated oil, soaps, perfumes, lubricants, etc.(iii) Oil cake which is
the by product, obtained after the extraction of oil from oilseeds is an excellent cattle feed.
(iv) Oil cake is also used as a fertilisers.
15. Which states are the leading producers of the following horticultural crops
(i) Mangoes
(ii) Bananas
(iii) Grapes
(iv) Apples and Apricots
Answer: (i) Mangoes : Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
(ii) Bananas : Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
(iii) Grapes : Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
(iv) Apples and Apricots : Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
16. “Today Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition.”
What are the various factors responsible for this situation
Or
Why is the growth rate in agriculture decelerating [CBSE 2010(F)]
Answer: (i) The Indian government is going ahead with reduction in the public investment
in the agriculture sector particularly in irrigation, power, rural roads, market and
mechanisation.
(ii) Subsidy on fertilisers is decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.
(iii) Reduction in import duties on agricultural products have proved detrimental to
agriculture in the country.
(iv) Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in the
employment in agriculture.
17. Name any three features of Indian agriculture. [CBSE 2013]
Or
What are the factors responsible for the backwardness of Indian agriculture
Or
Describe any four features of agriculture in India. [CBSE Sept. 2010]
Answer: (I) Over dependence on monsoon : Major portion of the cropped area still depends
upon monsoons for irrigation. Only one- third of the cropped area is under assured
irrigation.
(ii) Subsistence agriculture : (For this, refer Question No. 2, Long Answer Type Questions)
(iii) Small and scattered land holding : Due to the increasing population, the per hectare
availability of land is very low. The Jand holding is also scattered.
(iv) Lack of inputs : Most of the farmers are poor so they do not use fertilisers and high
yielding varieties of seeds.
18. Describe various technological and institutional reforms which led to the Green and
White Revolution in India. [CBSE Sept. 2012]
Answer: No description regarding white Revolution. Green Revolution means revolution in
the field of agricultural production due to the introduction of various technological and
institutional reforms.
Factors responsible :
(i) Agriculture was given the top priority in Five Year Plans.
(ii) The development of HYV seeds of wheat in the early 60s, and those of rice in 70s laid
the foundation of the Green Revolution in India.
(iii) Several schemes for irrigation were undertaken, and arid and semi-arid areas were
brought under cultivation.
(iv) Collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, abolition of the Zamindari system, etc., were
given top priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after independence.
(v) Cropped insurance scheme was launched by the government to protect the farmers
against losses caused by crop failure on account of natural calamities like drought, flood,
hailstorm, cyclone, fire, etc.
(vi) Easy availability of capital or investment, input through a well knit network of rural
banking and small scale co-operative societies with low interest rates were other facilities
provided to the farmers for the modernisation of agriculture.
19. How is the government helping the Indian farmers in increasing their agricultural
production Explain any four points.
Or
Describe any four reforms brought in the Indian agriculture after independence through
the efforts of the Indian government. [CBSE 2010(F), Sept. 2010]
Or
What initiatives have been taken by government to ensure an increase in agricultural
production [CBSE Sept. 2011]
Answer: (i) Institutional Reforms : To increase production in agriculture, the government
has introduced some institutional measures which include collectivisation, consolidation of
holding, cooperation and abolition of Zamindari system.
(ii) Comprehensive Land Development Programme : In the 1980s and 1990s, a
comprehensive land development programme was initiated, which included both
institutional and technical reforms. Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood,
cyclone, fire and disease, establishment of Grameen banks, cooperative societies and banks
for providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest were some important
steps in this direction.
(iii) Subsidies : The government is providing huge subsidies on the agricultural inputs. At
present, maximum subsidy is being given on fertilizers.
(iv) HYV Seeds and Agriculture Universities : In order to enhance production, the
government is providing HYV seeds to the farmers. Special seminars are also being held.
Many new agricultural universities have been established.
(v) Public Procurement System and Agriculture Price Commission : Agriculture Price
Commission has been set up which declares the prices of agricultural products in advance
so that the farmers may know what they are going to get for their agricultural products.
Government agencies like the F.C.I. (Food Corporation of India) purchase the agricultural
products from the farmers.
(vi) Crop Insurance and Agricultural Finance : As we are aware that the Indian agriculture
mainly depends on nature, so high risk crops are also being insured. The government has
established special banks like the NABARD to provide agricultural loans to farmers.
20. (i) Mention the climatic conditions required for the growth of Bajra.
(ii) Mention any four states which are the main producers of this crop.
Answer: Climatic conditions required for the growth of Bajra :
(i) It grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil.
(ii) It needs dry climatic conditions. Producers : Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Gujarat and Haryana.
21. Give an account of oil-seeds in India. State the importance of groundnut and name the
states where it is grown. [CBSE 2013]
Answer: (1) (i) India is the largest producer of oil-seeds in the world.
(ii) Different types of oil-seeds are grown covering approximately 12 per cent of the total
cropped area of India.
(iii) India is an important producer of groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum, soyabean,
castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed and sunflower.
(iv) Most of these are edible and used as cooking medium and some of these are also used as
raw materials in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.
(2) (i) Groundnut is a kharif crop and accounts for about half of the major oilseeds
produced in the country.
(ii) Andhra Pradesh, is the largest producer of groundnut. It is also grown in Tamil Nadu,
Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
22. Why the Indian fanners should grow more pulses
Answer: (i) India is the one of the largest consumer of pulses as these are the major source
of protein in a vegetarian diet.
(ii) Pulses need less moisture and can survive even in dry conditions.
(iii) Pulses are leguminous crops as these help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen
from the air.
21. Which fibre crop is known as golden fibres Why is the golden fibre losing its market
Why the products produced from golden fibre be promoted
Answer: Jute is known as golden fibre. Jute products are loosing market because of high
cost. Jute products should be promoted because these are eco-friendly.
22. Explain any four factors which have hindered the pace of agricultural development in
India.
Answer: (i) Overcrowding in agriculture : The real problem of Indian agriculture is that
there are too many people who depend on agriculture. Since 1901, the proportion of people
dependent on agriculture has almost remained constant, i.e., 70%.
(ii) Problem of inputs : Indian agriculture suffered because of the inadequacy of finance,
seeds, fertilizers, marketing, transportation, etc.
(iii) Size of landholdings : The average size of holding in India is very low, less than 2
hectares or 5 acres. Not only agricultural holdings are small, but they are also fragmented.
In certain parts of the country, plots of land have become so small that it is impossible to
use modern machinery.
(iv) Over dependence on nature : In spite of the development of sources of irrigation, most
of the farmers in large parts of the country still depend upon monsoon and natural fertility
in order to carry on their agriculture.
23. “The decline share of agriculture in the GDP is a matter of serious concern”. Explain.
[CBSE 2012]
Answer: (i) More than half the population of India’s work force is employed by the farm
sector.
(ii) Any decline in the share of agriculture means low production of foodgrains this may
lead to food shortage.
(iii) Any decline and stagnation in agriculture will lead to a decline in other spheres of the
economy having wider implications for society.
