Agriculture

Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions

1. Read the given statements and choose the correct option with regard to
Rabi cropping season from the following: (2024)

Options:
(a) I, III and IV
(b) II, III and IV
(c) I, II and IV
(d) I, II and III
Answer. (c) I, II and IV
Types of Farming; Cropping Pattern
MCQ
1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of 'Intensive Subsistence
Farming'? (2021 C)
(a) This is practised in areas of high population.
(b) It is an example of labour-intensive farming.
(c) High doses of biochemical inputs are used.
(d) It is an example of commercial farming.’
VSA (1/2 mark)
2. Explain any two features of Intensive Subsistence farming. (2023)
3. Give one example of the main commercial crop cultivable in laterite soil.
(Delhi 2020)
4. By which name is specialised cultivation of fruits and vegetables known?
(2017)
5. Describe 'Jhumming cultivation' in one sentence. (2017)
6. By which other name is 'slash and burn' agriculture known? (2014)
7. India is the largest producer as well as consumer of which agricultural
product in the world? (2014)
SAI (3 marks)
8. Describe any three main features of 'Rabi crop season! (Delhi 2020, 2019)
9. Describe any three main features of 'Kharif crop season! (Delhi 2019)
LA (5 marks)
10. Analyse any five features of Commercial Farming. (2020)

Major Crops
MCQ
11. Identify the crop with the help of the following information and choose the
correct option.
•This is the second most important Cereal Crop.
•This a Rabi crop.
•It requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
• It requires 50 to 75 cm annual rainfall.
(a) Wheat
(b) Maize
(c) Rice
(d) Sugarcane (2023)
VSA (1 mark)
12. Write the temperature requirement of Maize crop. (2020)
13. Complete the following table with correct information for A and B : (2020)
14. Which is the leading coffee producing state in India? (2016)
15. What is the importance of millets? (2016)
16. Which crop is the major crop of rabi? (2014)
SAI (3 marks)
17. Describe the geographical conditions required for rubber cultivation.
(2019 C)
18. Categorise the following as 'Rabi crops' and 'Zaid crops':
(i) Wheat
(ii) Watermelon
(iii) Fodder crops
(iv) Mustard
(v) Cucumber
(vi) Peas (Al 2019)
19. Describe geographical conditions required for tea cultivation. (2019 C)
20. Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of 'wheat' in
India. (2019 C, 2014)
21. What is the importance of pulses in our country? Why are pulses grown as
a rotation crop? (2017)
22. What are the growing conditions required for the main staple food crop of
India? Mention the main growing regions. (2015)
23. How many cropping seasons are found in India? Name them and write a
short note on each. (2015, 2014)
LA (5 marks)
24. Name the two major beverage crops grown in India. Describe their
growing areas. (2019)
25. Name the two major fibre crops grown in India. Describe the conditions
required for growth of these two crops with their growing areas. (2019)
26. Name any four oilseeds produced in India. Explain the importance of
oilseeds in our day to day life. (2017)
27. What are millets? Give brief description of the climatic conditions and
producing states of the millets grown in India. (2017)
28. Which crop is known as the 'golden fibre'? Explain any two geographical
conditions essential for the cultivation of this crop. Mention its any four uses.
(2016)
29. Mention any two geographical conditions required for the growth of maize
crop in India. Describe a three factors which have contributed to increase in
maize production. (2015)
30. Explain any three geographical conditions required for the growth of rice
in India. How is it possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall? Explain with
examples. (2015)
OR
What are the climatic conditions required for the growth of rice? (2014)
Technological and Institutional Reforms
VSA (1 mark)
31. Which factors have helped Punjab and Haryana to grow more and more of
rice? (2017)
32. How can small and marginal farmers be supported by the government?
(2017)
SAI (3 marks)
33. Explain any three institutional reforms taken for the development of
Indian agriculture. (2023)
34. Explain any three steps for agriculture reforms taken by the Government
of India, after the independence. (Delhi 2018)
35. Describe any three technological and institutional reforms made in the
field of agriculture in India. (2014)
LA (5 marks)
36. Why is agriculture called the backbone of Indian economy? Explain. (Delhi
2020)
37. The government of India has introduced various institutional and
technological reforms to improve agriculture in the 1980's and 1990. Support
this statement with examples.
38. Explain any five initiatives taken by the government to ensure the increase
in agricultural production. (2017)
CBSE Sample Questions

Types of Farming; Cropping Pattern

MCQ
1. Choose the correctly matched pair about the Primitive Cultivation in India
from the following options: (2020-21)
(a) Dahiya - Madhya Pradesh
(b) Kumari-Jharkhand
(c) Khil-Andhra Pradesh
(d) Koman-Karnataka
2. Fill in the blank
Barley: Rabi crop, Cotton: kharif crops,, ___________zaid crop. (2020-21)
(a) Wheat
(b) Mustard
(c) Soya bean
(d) Cucumber
3. A type of millet rich in iron, calcium, other micro nutrients and roughage is
(2020-21)
(a) Bajra
(b) Rajma
(c) Jowar
(d) Ragi
Major Crops
MCQ
4. Identify the crop with the help of the following information:
(1) It is a crop which is used both as food and fodder.
(II) It is a kharif crop which requires temperature between 21°C to 27°C.
(III) It grows well in old alluvial soil.
(IV) Use of modern inputs have contributed to the increasing production of
this crop.
(a) Wheat
(b) Maize
(c) Rice
(d) Sugarcane (2022-23)

5. Choose the correctly matched pair about the crops and the areas they are
grown in
(a) Groundnut-Assam
(b) Tea-Gujarat
(c) Coffee-Karnataka
(d) Sugarcane - Chhattisgarh (Term-1, 2021-22) An
Technological and Institutional Reforms
LA (5 marks)
6. Read the source given below and answer the questions by choosing the
most appropriate option:
(Attempt any five)
There has been a gradual shift from cultivation of food crops to cultivation of
fruits, vegetables, oil-seeds and industrial crops. This has led to the reduction
in net sown area under cereals and pulses. With the growing population of
India, the declining food production puts a big question mark over the
country's future food security. The competition for land between non-
agricultural uses such as housing etc. and agriculture has resulted in reduction
in the net sown area. The productivity of land has started showing a declining
trend. Fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides, which once showed dramatic
results, are now being held responsible for degrading the soils. Periodic
scarcity of water has led to reduction in area under irrigation. Inefficient water
management has led to water logging and salinity.
(i) One can infer from the above given information that marginal and small
farmers have been pushed out of cultivation. Which one of the following is the
prominent cause?
(a) Food and fruit crops are expensive in market
(b) Shift to multifarious crops according to demand
(c) Periodic scarcity of water in many regions
(d) Soil degradation and extensive Green Revolution
(ii) Read the following statements and find the correct statements from the
given options: L Indian farmers are diversifying their cropping pattern.
II. They are shifting production from cereals to fruits, vegetables, etc.
III. Jute is in high demand in the Indian market.
(a) I & II
(b) II & III
(c) III Only
(d) II Only
(iii) According to the information given above, there has been reduction in the
net sown area under cereals and pulses. Identify the reason.
(a) Lack of markets to sell cereals and pulses
(b) Earn more income from non-agricultural sector
(c) Need of huge labour in cultivating cereals and pulses
(d) Availability of more profits from commercial crops
(iv) 'Fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides, which once showed dramatic
results, are now being held responsible for degrading the soil. Infer the
positive effects of these inputs noticed earlier from the following statements.
(a) These inputs have shown increased outputs and productivity.
(b) These are integral to the process of reducing agrarian losses.
(c) These inputs can cut the amount of harvestable produce.
(d) These are the leading causes of mortality and health problems.
(v) There are states in India which are using fertilisers, pesticides and
insecticides at excessive level to increase their agricultural production.
Identify the states which are at prominent level from the following options.
(a) Karnataka and Kerala
(b) Haryana and Punjab
(c) Punjab and Gujarat
(d) Haryana and Telangana
(vi) Food production provides the base for food security and is a key
determinant of food availability. Why is this trend shifting towards industrial
crops? Choose the correct option in reference to the context.
(a) To improve the land use pattern
(b) To use intensive farming techniques
(c) To improve the fertility of soil
(d) To fetch more income and high earnings (Term-1, 2021-22)

ANSWERS
Previous Years' CBSE Board Questions
1. (d): It is an example of commercial farming.
2. Two features of Intensive Subsistence farming are:
(i) It is practised in densely populated area.
(ii) It involves high degree of use of bio-chemical inputs and irrigation.
3. Commercial crops- Cashewnuts / Oilseeds / Tea / Coffee / Rubber /
Coconut
4. Horticulture
5. Jhumming cultivation, also known as the slash and burn agriculture, is the
process of growing crops by first clearing the land of trees or vegetation and
burning them thereafter.
6. Shifting cultivation
7. Pulses
8. (a) Rabi crops are also known as winter crops. They are sown from October
to December and harvested from April to June.
(b) Wheat, barley, pea, gram and mustard are the important rabi crops.
Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Uttar
Pradesh are the important producers of rabi crops.
(c) Availability of precipitation during winter months due to the western
disturbances helps in the success of these crops. However, the success of the
green revolution in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of
Rajasthan has also been an important factor in the growth of the above
mentioned rabi crops.
9. (i) Kharif crops are also known as summer crops. They are sown at the
beginning of monsoon and harvested in September-October.
(ii) Paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur, moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and
soybean are important kharif crops. Assam, West Bengal, coastal regions of
Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh and
Bihar are important rice growing states.
(iii) In Assam, West Bengal and Odisha; three crops of paddy are grown in a
year. These are called Aus, Aman and Boro.
10. (i) In commercial farming, most of the produce is sold in the market to
earn money (as opposed to subsistence farming).
(ii) In this system, farmers use inputs like irrigation, hemical fertilisers,
insecticides, pesticides and high yielding varieties of seeds etc.
(iii) Some of the major commercial crops grown in different parts of India are
cotton, jute, sugarcane, groundnut, etc.
(iv) Rice farming in Haryana is mainly for commercial purpose as people of
this area are predominantly wheat eaters.
(v) However, in East and North-Eastern states of India, rice cultivation would
be largely of subsistence type.
11. (a): Wheat
12. It requires the temperature range between 21°C - 27°C.
13. A-75 cm to 100 cm B-21° to 27°C
14. Karnataka
15. In addition to their good nutritional value, an important feature of these
crops is that they require much less water to grow than rice and wheat. They
can be successfully cultivated in semi-arid tropics and on poor soils.
16. Wheat
17. Rubber is a crop of equatorial region but it is also grown in tropical and
subtropical regions.
(i) It needs moist and humid climate with rainfall more than 200 cm.
(ii) A temperature range above 25°C is required for rubber plantation.
(iii) In India, rubber is mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and
Andaman & Nicobar Islands and also in the Garo hills of Meghalaya.

19. Conditions needed for the cultivation of tea are as follows:

(a) Temperature: It requires hot and wet climate. The ideal temperature for
the growth of tea bushes and leaf varies between 20°C to 30°C. Temperatures
below 10°C and over 35°C, can harm the tea bushes.
(b) Rainfall: Tea requires a good amount of rainfall ranging between 150-300
cm and the annual rainfall should be well distributed throughout the year.
Long dry spell is harmful for tea.
(c) Soil: Tea bush grows well in well drained, deep, loamy soil. However, virgin
forest soils rich in humus and iron content are considered to be the best soils
for the tea plantation. Tea is a shade loving plant and grows better when
planted along with shady trees.
20. Wheat requires a cool growing season and a bright sunshine at the time of
ripening. It requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed over the
growing season. Fertile alluvial soil or mixed soil and plain land or gentle
slope is ideal for wheat cultivation. There are two important wheat-growing
zones in the country the Ganga-Satluj plains in the northwest and black soil
region of the Deccan. The major wheat- producing states are Punjab, Haryana,
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh.
21. India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world. Pulses
are rich in proteins and are the main source of protein. It is second important
constituent of Indian diet after cereals. Pulses are mostly grown in rotation
with other crops because
(i) Pulses need less moisture and survive even, dry conditions.
(ii) Being leguminous crops, all these crops help in restoring soil fertility by
fixing nitrogen from the air.
(iii) Major pulse producing states are: Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
22. The main staple food crop of India is rice.
(i) Growing conditions required for rice:
(a) High temperature (above 25°C). It is a Kharif crop.
(b) High humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
(ii) Main growing regions: Northern plains, north eastern India, Coastal areas,
deltaic plains and river valleys.
23. The three cropping seasons in India are:
(i) Rabi
(ii) Kharif
(iii) Zaid
These are characterised as:
(i) Thekharif season largely coincides with Southwest Monsoon under which
the cultivation of tropical crops such as rice, cotton, jute, jowar, bajra and tur is
possible.
(ii) The rabi season begins with the onset of winter in October-November and
ends in March-April. The low temperature conditions during this season
facilitate the cultivation of temperate and subtropical crops such as wheat,
gram and mustard.
(iii) Zaid is a short duration summer cropping season beginning after
harvesting of rabi crops.
24. (i) Major beverage crops - Tea and coffee
(ii) Initially cultivation of coffee was introduced in the Baba Budan Hills. Today
coffee cultivation is confined to the Nilgiri in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil
Nadu. Karnataka accounts for 70% of the coffee produced in India. Major tea
producing states are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Apart from
these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and
Tripura are also tea-producing states in the country. India is the second largest
producer of tea after China.
25. Two major fibre crops grown in India are cotton and jute.
(i) Conditions required for cotton:
(a) Temperature: Cotton is the crop of tropical and sub- tropical areas and
requires uniformly high temperature varying between 21°C and 30°C.
(b) Rainfall: It grows mostly in the areas having at least 210 frost free days in a
year. It requires modest amount of rainfall of 50 to 100 cm.
(c) Soil: Cotton cultivation is very closely related to Black soils of Deccan and
Malwa plateau.
(ii) Condition required for jute: Jute grows well on well-drained fertile soils in
the flood plains where soils are renewed every year. High temperature is
required during the time of growth.
26. (i) Groundnut
(iii) Coconut
(ii) Mustard
(iv) Sesamum
(v) Soybean, Sunflower etc. Importance of oil seeds: Most of these are edible
in the form of oil. Used as raw materials for manufacturing paints, varnishes,
soaps, perfumes, etc,. Oil cake is used as cattle feed and fertiliser.
27. Millets are coarse grains but have high nutritional value, e.g., ragi-rich in
iron and calcium.
(i) Jowar - Rain fed crop mostly grows in moist area.
(ii) Bajra-grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil. Producing states -
Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and U.P.
(iii) Ragi - grows well in dry region on red, black, sandy and loamy soils.
States Producing - Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Sikkim.
28. (i) Jute is called the golden fibre.
(ii) Geographical conditions required:
(a) Grows well in drained fertile soil of the flood plains where the soil is
renewed every year.
(b) High temperature is required during the time of growth. Uses: Can be used
to manufacture gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts.
29. Geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crop in India:
(i) It is a kharif crop which requires temperature between 21°C to 27°C.
(ii) It grows well in alluvial soil.
(iii) Use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds, fertilizers and irrigation have
contributed to the increased production of maize.
30. (1) Three geographical conditions for the growth of rice:
(a) It requires high temperature (above 25°C).
(b) Annual rainfall above 100 cm.
(c) High humidity
(ii) It is possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall with the help of irrigation
as done in Punjab and Haryana.
31. Development of dense canal network and inputs like fertilisers and
pesticides.
32. Loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest, Kisan Credit Card
(KCC) and crop insurance etc.
33. The institutional reforms introduced by the Government, to help the
farmers are given below.
(i) Crop insurance was provided for disease, fire, cyclone, flood, and drought.
(ii) To provide loans to farmers at low interest rates, banks, cooperative
societies, grameen banks were established.
(iii) For the benefit of farmers, some of the schemes introduced were the
Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS), Kissan Credit Card (KCC).
(iv) Tohelp the farmers, special agricultural programmes and special weather
bulletins were introduced on television and radio.
(v) To check exploitation of farmers by middlemen and speculators,
procurement and remunerative prices, minimum support price was
introduced by the Government for many important crops.
34. Three steps were as follows:
(i) From the earliest days agriculture was given great importance in the "five
year plans". Other important steps included:
(ii) Abolishment of zamindari system. The right to own the land was given to
the actual cultivators which then led to the increase in the production.
(iii) Cooperative societies were formed which provided quality seeds and
fertilizers to farmers at low price.
(iv) Another act called 'land ceiling act' was passed, according to which the
land could not be held by a person beyond a defined limit. Other important
institutional reforms were also carried out by the Government of India like:
(i) Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire and
disease.
(ii) Establishment of Grameen (regional rural) banks, cooperative societies
and banks for providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest.
(iii) Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR),
agricultural universities, veterinary services and animal breeding centers,
horticulture development, research and development in the field of
meteorology and weather forecasting etc.
35. (i) Land reforms: Collectivisation, consolidation of land holdings,
cooperation and abolition of zamindari.
(ii) Agricultural reforms: Green revolution and white revolution.
(iii) Land development programmes : Provision for crop insurance against
drought, flood, cyclone etc., establishment of Grameen banks.
(iv) Issuing of Kisan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme, etc.
(v) Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers on
radio and TV.
36. (i) Agriculture is considered as the main occupation of majority of people
in India.
(ii) Agriculture provides raw materials to the manufacturing sector.
(iii) It provides food and fodder.
(iv) It helps in the development of tertiary sector.
(v) It is the main source of our national income.
(vi) It also provides a substantial portion of the country's export.
(vii) It not only helps to feed large population but also supports the secondary
sector.
37. The various institutional reforms introduced by the government in the
interest of farmers are mentioned below:
(i) Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, and disease.
(ii) Establishment of Grameen banks, cooperative societies and banks for
providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest.
(iii) Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are
schemes introduced by the Government of India for the benefit of the farmers.
(iv) Special weather bulletins and agricultural program for farmers have been
introduced on the radio and television.
(v) The government also announces minimum support price, remunerative
and procurement prices for important crops to check the exploitation of
farmers by speculators and middle men. The technological advancements gave
birth to Green Revolution, White Revolution or Operation Flood. Considering
the importance of agriculture the Government of India took steps to
modernize agriculture.
Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established. The
government encourages the use of -
(a) Soil testing facilities
(b) Technology such as drip irrigation
(c) Better seeds, fertilisers and pesticides
38. The main initiatives include:
(i) Land reforms: Collectivisation, consolidation of land holdings, cooperation
and abolition of zamindari.
(ii) Agricultural reforms: Green revolution and white revolution.
(iii) Land development programmes : Provision for crop insurance against
drought, flood, cyclone, etc., establishment of Grameen banks, Cooperative
societies and banks for providing loans.
(iv) Issuing of Kisan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme, etc.
(v) Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers on
radio and TV.
(vi) Government announces Minimum support Price (MSP) and remunerative
and procurement prices to check exploitation.
(vii) The government provides HYV seeds and fertilisers.
(viii) Government provides technical assistance and training for farmers.
(ix) Soiltesting facilities, cold storage and transportation for farmers.
CBSE Sample Questions
1. (a): Dahiya-Madhya Pradesh (1)
2. (d): Cucumber (1)
3. (d): Ragi (1)
4. (b): It is a maize, which is used both as food and fodder. it is a kharif crop
which requires temperature between 21°C - 27°C. (1)
5. (c):Coffee is cultivated in the Nilgiri hills in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil
Nadu. (0.80)
6. (i) (d): Soil degradation and extensive Green
revolution
(ii) (a): There has been a gradual shift from cultivation of food crops to
cultivation of fruits, vegetables, oil seeds and industrial crops. In recent years
they have changed their cropping pattern.
(iii) (d): Cultivation of more profitable commercial crops has led to reduction
in net sown area under cereals and pulses.
(iv) (a): The positive impact of fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides are
increase in outputs and productivity.
(v) (b): Punjab and Haryana are using fertilisers, pestisides and insecticides at
excessive level to increase their agricultural production.
(vi) (d): To fetch more income and high earnings
(Any five to be answered). (5 x 1)