Chapter 4; Agriculture .
(Read the complete chapter from NCERT READER and learn) Refer : Together With… for more
questions and answers.
Write the following on to the note book.
Previous year questions
1.Describe institutional reforms introduced by the government of India
in the interest of the farmers. / or
Various initiatives /steps taken by the central and state governments to ensure the increase in
agricultural production after independence.
Answer:
The institutional reforms introduced by the government of India in the interest of formers are
as follows.
• Collectivism, consolidation of holdings, cooperation and abolition of zamindari, etc. were
given priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after independence.
• Land reforms were the main focus of the First Five Year Plan.
• The Green Revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution
(Operation Flood) were some of the strategies initiated to improve Indian agriculture.
• Minimum Support Price Policy, provisions for crop insaurance, subsidy on agricultural
inputs and resources such as power and fertilisers, Grameen banks, Kissan Credit Card
(KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme are some of the reforms brought by the
government.
• Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural
universities, veterinary services and animal breeding centres, horticulture development
and weather forecast etc. were given priority for improving Indian agriculture.
The term used for grouping of small land holdings with bigger ones is consolidationof
land holdings.
2.Explain rice cultivation in India
Rice is the staple food of majority of Indians and India is the second largest producer of
rice in the world.
1.Temperature: Rice requires a high temperature of above 25°C.
2. Rainfall: It requires high humidity with an annual rainfall above 100 cm. In the areas of
less rainfall, irrigation is essential.
3. Agricultural season: It is a kharif crop, which is grown with the onset of monsoon and
is harvested in September-October.
4. Major producing areas: Rice is cultivated in the plains of north and northeastern
India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions.
5. Development of canal irrigation and tubewells have made it possible to grow rice in
areas of low rainfall such as Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and parts of
Rajasthan
3.Describe wheat cultivation in India
Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India.
(i) Temperature : Cool and moist weather during growth, and bright sunshine is required at the
time of during ripening
(ii) Rainfall : 50-75 cm rainfall is required for better output.
(iii) Soil : Light domat (loamy) soil is required. It can also be grown in black soil. iv]Important
producers : Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the main producers of
wheat.
v) There are two important wheat growing zones ie, The Ganga Satluj plains in the north west and
black soil region of Deccan.
4.Distinguish between primitive subsistence farming and intensive subsistence farming
Answer:
The following are the differences between primitive subsistence farming and intensive subsistence
farming.
5.Define plantation agriculture. Explain characteristics of plantation agriculture.
Answer:
Plantation is a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area. The
following are the characteristics of plantation.
• Plantations use very large areas for agriculture.
• It has an interface of agriculture and industry and all the produce is used as raw material
in respective industries.
• Capital-intensive inputs are used.
• Migrant labourers are used.
• The development of plantations is the result of a well-developed network of transport and
communication, connecting plantations to markets.
6. Agriculture and industry are complementary to each other.” Justify the statement.
Answer:
Agriculture and industry are complementary to each other in the following ways.
• Agro-based industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by raising its
productivity.
• Industry has contributed to agriculture by using the implements like irrigation pumps,
fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, plastic and PVC pipes, machines tools, sprinkles and
drip irrigation systems.
• Thus, development and competitiveness, and manufacturing industry has not only
assisted agriculturalists in increasing their productivity, but also made production process
very efficient.
• In the present day world of globalisation, industry needs to be more efficient
and competitive.
• Today we are not only self-sufficient in agriculture but our farmers are able to compete
with other farmers in the world. Today, we are able to produce goods for international
market.
7. Explain any five characteristics of commercial farming in India.
Answer:
The following are the five characteristics of commercial farming in India.
• The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of high doses of modern inputs,
like HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides, in order to obtain higher
productivity.
• The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another, for
example rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana but in Odisha it is a
subsistence crop.
• Plantation is also a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large
area.
• Plantations cover large areas using capital intensive inputs with the help of migrant
labourers.
In India tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane and banana are important plantation crops
8.Cropping pattern
Major cropping seasons in India
Rabi season : Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April
to June. Some of the important rabi crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard. These crops are grown
in large parts of India, states from the north and north - western parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh etc.
Kharif season :Kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country and these
are harvested in September - October. Important crops grown during this season are paddy, maize, jowar,
bajra, , cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean.
Zaid season : In between the rabi and the kharif seasons, there is a short season during the summer months
known as the Zaid season. Some of the crops produced during 'zaid' are watermelon, muskmelon, cumumber,
vegetables and fodder crops.
9.
Mention two geographical conditions required for the growth of Maize crop in India. Describe three
factors which have contributed to increase maize production. Write four major maize producing
states. (2012)
Answer:
Geographical conditions required for the growth of maize crop in .India:
1. It is a kharif crop which requires temperature between 21° C to 27° C. It requires
moderate rainfall between 50-100 cm.
2. It grows well in old alluvial soils.
Maize is a crop which is used both as food and fodder. In some states like Bihar, maize is
grown in rabi season also. Maize production in India has increased due to factors like:
• use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds;
• use of fertilisers; and
• use of irrigation facilities.
• major maize producing state: Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra
Pradesh and Madhya
