Agriculture

Very Short Answer Type Questions (1 marks each)

Q. 1. Write the temperature requirement of OR
Maize crop. 50–75 cm
OR Q. 2. Fill the blank:
Write the amount of annual rainfall re- ________is the largest producer of raw
quired for the cultivation of Wheat. jute and jute goods and stands at second
 [CBSE OD, Set 1, 2020] place as an exporter after Bangladesh.
Ans. 21–23 degree Celsius. [CBSE Delhi, Set 2, 2020]
Ans. India.

Short Answer Type Questions-II (3 marks each)

Q. 1. Describe any three main features of cm. Availability of precipitation dur-
‘Rabi crop season.‘ ing winter months due to western
OR temperate cyclones help in success of
Describe any three main features of these crops.
‘Kharif crop season.‘ OR
 [CBSE Delhi, Set 1, 2019] Features of Kharif crop season:
Ans. Features of Rabi crop season: (i) I t begins with the onset of monsoon
(i) 
It begins with the withdrawal of in May.
monsoon in October. They are sown (ii) Crops are harvested in September–
in winters from October to Decem- October.
ber. (iii) Requires more rainfall between
(ii) At the time of ripening, it requires 100–110 cm
bright sunshine and is harvested in (iv) It requires loamy or alluvial soil.
summer from April to June. Q. 2. Highlight any three differences between
(iii) Crops depend on sub-soil moisture. primitive subsistence farming and
(iv) Requires less rainfall between 50–75 commercial farming. [CBSE, 2019]

Topper’s Answers
Q. 3. What is the importance of pulses in our helpful in maintaining the quality of the
economy? Why are pulses grown as a soil.
rotation crop? Pulses are grown rotationally with
 [CBSE, Term 1, 2015] other crops. They need less water and can
Ans. Protein is the main source of energy and survive in dry conditions. As we know
pulses are the main source of protein. that India is the largest producer of the
Pulses are the leguminous crops, they are pulses in the world so, it helps in the
helpful to restore the fertility of the soil. development of economy of the country.
Leguminous crops have the feature of In the Rabi season Arhar, Urad and
nitrogen fixation naturally, it gets nitro- Moong and in the Kharif season Masur,
gen from the atmosphere directly. So, it is Peas and Grains are grown.

Long Answer Type Questions (5 marks each)

Q. 1. Why is agriculture called the backbone like hoe, dao and digging sticks with
of Indian economy? Explain. the help of family members.
[CBSE Delhi, Set 1, 2020] (ii) It depends upon monsoons, natural
Ans. Agriculture is called the backbone of fertility of soil and environmental
suitability.
Indian economy because 70% of Indian
(iii) It is also called ‘slash and burn’ agri-
population are engaged in agriculture
culture.
and raw material for the Industrial sectors
(iv)  Farmers clear a patch of land and
like food processing company, textile
produce crops for their sustenance.
industry comes from the agricultural (v)  When the soil fertility decreases,
sector. Its share in the GDP is also high. farmers shift to new area, clear forest
Agriculture sectors serves as the source by burning and again sow crops.
of raw material for non-agricultural
sectors. Not just in India, but all around Q. 3. Name the two major beverage crops
the world. Agricultural and industrial grown in India. Describe their growing
sectors always go hand in hand not as areas. [CBSE OD, Set 1, 2019]
alternatives. Ans. Tea and Coffee are the two most impor-
tant beverage crops of India.
Q. 2. Describe any five features of primitive Assam is a major tea producing state in
subsistence farming. India along with West Bengal, Kerala and
[CBSE Delhi, Set 3, 2020] Tamil Nadu. The cropping season in As-
Ans. The features of primitive subsistence sam begins as early as March and extends
farming are given below : almost to mid-December. Besides, the
(i) 
It is practiced on small patches of popular black tea, Assam also produces
land with the help of primitive tools small quantities of white and green tea.
 This state has favourable conditions for The geographical condition required
the growth of tea. for growth of rice are as follow:
The tea plant grows well in tropical and (i) It is a kharif crop and requires hot and
sub-tropical climates. It requires deep and humid climate for cultivation. Tem-
fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus perature above 25°C and high humid-
and organic matter. Tea bushes require ity with annual rainfall above 100 cm
moist, frost-free and warm climate all is favourable for growth of rice.
through the year with abundant skilled (ii) R
 ich alluvial soils of the flood plains,
labour. Frequent evenly distributed river basins and deltaic areas which
showers over the year ensure continuous are renewed every year are ideal for
growth of tender tea leaves. rice cultivation.
The following are the conditions
(iii) 
Rice requires abundant rainfall or
required for tea cultivation:
good water supply through irriga-
Temperature- 10–30 degrees Celsius
tion and flooded fields during the
Rainfall- average yearly rainfall of
earlier part of its growing season in
200 cm
June-July. Ankle deep water in the
Altitude- ground level of between
field helps the crops grow.
600–2000 meters above sea level.
Coffee is a tropical plant which is also (iv) Plenty of cheap labour is required as
grown in semi-tropical climate. Coffee most of the farming involves manual
tree requires heat, humidity and abundant labour.
rainfall. Karnataka, the largest coffee Wheat is the main food crop for the
producing state along with Kerala and people residing in the North and
Tamil Nadu has favourable conditions North-western part of the country.
necessary for coffee cultivation. The geographical conditions favour-
The temperature of the place is 23°C to able for growth of wheat are as follows:
28°C. Growth is most rapid during hot, (i) Wheat is a rabi crop and requires a
rainy season and during cool, dry season, cool growing season. Average tem-
berries ripen and get ready for picking. perature should be between 10°C to
Bright sunshine and warm weather are 5°C at the time of sowing, but higher
necessary for the harvesting. temperatures and bright sunshine is
It needs rainfall between 60–85 cm. required at the time of harvesting for
Water stagnation is very harmful for proper ripening of arrains.
coffee plants; therefore, hill slopes are
(ii) 
Wheat requires moderate rainfall
best suitable for growing it.
of 50 cm to 75 cm annually, evenly
Soil is the guiding factor in coffee
distributed over the growing season.
plantation. The ideal soil is one with a
A little winter rain before ripening
good sub-surface drainage, and one that
helps in increasing the yield.
is easily workable. The presence of humus
and other nitrogenous matter in the soil is (iii) Deep alluvial clayey soils of North-
an advantage. ern Plains and black soil of Deccan
are suitable for growing wheat.
Q. 4. Name the two most important cereal
crops grown in India. Describe the  There are two important wheat-
conditions required to grow these two growing zones in the country : the
crops.  [CBSE OD, Set 3, 2019] Ganga-Sutlej plains in the North-
west and the black soil region of
Ans. Rice and wheat are the two most
the Deccan. Punjab, Haryana, Uttar
important cereal crops grown in India.
Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and parts
Rice is the staple food crop of most
of Madhya Pradesh are the major
people in India especially in coastal
wheat-growing states.
regions.
Q. 5. “The Government of India has introduced various institutional and technological reforms
to improve agriculture in the 1980s and 1990s.” Support this statement with examples.
 [CBSE, 2018]

Topper’s Answers

Ans. The Government of India has introduced (i) K

 isan Credit Card (KCC): Scheme for
various institutional and technological giving easy and cheap loans to small
reforms under comprehensive Land farmers. Personal Accident Insurance
Development Programme to improve Scheme (PAIS) for Kisan Credit Card
agriculture in the 1980s and 1990s. (KCC) holders.
Land Development Programme: (ii) 
Special weather bulletins and ag-
ricultural programmes for farmers
(i) Provision for crop insurance against
were introduced through radio and
drought, flood, cyclone, fire and
television channels.
disease.
(iii) 
Government also announced Mini-
(ii) 
Establishment of Grameen (regional mum Support Price (MSP) for vari-
rural) banks, cooperative societies and ous agricultural products like cereals,
banks for providing loan facilities to pulses and others (to check the ex-
the farmers at lower rates of interest. ploitation of farmers by middlemen).
Other Reforms:
Q. 6. Compare ‘intensive subsistence
Apart from land development farming’ with that of ‘commercial
programme, government has initiated farming’ practiced in India.
many other benefit schemes for the
 [CBSE, 2018]
farmers.
Ans.
Intensive Subsistence Farming Commercial Farming
(i) In this type of farming, crops produced by The farming practice, in which the farmers
the farmers are mainly consumed by their grow crops for the purpose of trade, it is called
families. Surplus production is sold in the commercial farming.
nearby local markets.
(ii) In this kind of farming, more than one crop In this type of farming generally, one crop is
is cultivated in the agricultural field. cultivated.
(iii) It is labour intensive farming. Farming is mechanised and is prevalent
in areas where farms are large and market
economy is well developed.
(iv) I t depends on monsoon. It uses modern irrigation methods.
(v) It is practiced in small area. Major crops It is practiced in large area. Major crops are:
are: Food grains, fruits and vegetables. cash crops and cereals.
Q. 7. “The declining share of agriculture in (ii) Government is reducing investment
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is in agricultural sectors, especially the
a matter of serious concern in India.” irrigation sector.
Support the statement with any five (iii) Subsidy on fertilizers has decreased,
reasons. [CBSE, Term 1, 2016] leading to a rise in cost of production.
Ans. The declining share of agriculture in (iv)  Reduction of import duties on
the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a agricultural products.
matter of serious concern in India. (v)  Farmers are withdrawing their
Five reasons to support this statement investments from agriculture causing
are as follows: a downfall in the employment in
(i) Indian farmers are facing challenge agriculture.
from international competition.