ABU DHABI INDIAN SCHOOL -BRANCH 1 AL WATHBA

GRADE: X- GEOGRAPHY
CHAPTER – AGRICULTURE

Agriculture: - The art and science of cultivating soil, raising crops, rearing livestock, fishing and forests.
Commercial Agriculture: - Farming in which farmer grows the crop with the aim of selling it in the market.
Cash Crops: - Cash crops are those which are grown by the farmers to sell in the market, e.g., Tobacco and
Cotton.
Dry Farming: - Dry farming is adopted in scanty rainfall areas. Such types of crops are grown which requires
less irrigation facilities.
Wet Land farming: - It is a type of farming which is practiced in high rainfall and irrigated areas. E.g.,
cultivation of jowar and bajra.
Extensive Agriculture:- Agriculture in which the agriculturalist tries to get the greatest output by bringing
more and more new land areas under cultivation.
Fallow Land:- leaving the field free without growing a crop for recoupment of soil fertility. A breakthrough in
seen technology which has led to a considerable increase in agricultural production, especially in wheat as a
result of better inputs. 
Horticulture: - Intensive cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers. It is an agricultural cropping season from
early June to October. Rice, millets, maize, jute, etc are some of the crops of the season.
Multiple Cropping:- When two or more than two crops are grown simultaneously on the same field.
Plantation Agriculture:- A large-scale farming of one crop resembling the factory production, based on capital
investment and application of modern science and technology in cultivating, processing and marketing the
final products.
Rabi Season:- It is an agricultural cropping season from November to May. Wheat, gram, and oilseeds are
some of the crops of the season.
Shifting Agriculture: - It is that type of agriculture in which farmers clear the forestland and use it for growing
crops. The crops are grown for 2 to 3 years. When the fertility of the soil decreases, the farmer shifts to a new
land.
Subsistence Agriculture:- Farming in which the main production is consumed by the farmer’s household.
Zaid Crops:- These are crops which are sown between the Rabi and the kharif crops. Watermelon, muskmelon,
cucumber and vegetable are some examples of zaid crops.
Sericulture: - Rearing of silkworms for the production of silk fiber is known as sericulture.

Q. 1. Name the cropping season of India with example.

1. Rabi – Wheat
2. Kharif – Rice, Paddy
3. Zaid – Watermelon

Q. 2.  What is package technology? What was its result?

Ans. Under the package technology combination or package many improved methods of cultivation are
adopted simultaneously in order to increase the agricultural production. This lead to green revolution.

Q. 3. What is slash and burn agriculture? Mention its local names by mentioning the state or region.
Ans. Under the slash and burn agriculture farmers clear a patch of land, grow crops for some years on a patch
of land and then move to a new patch. Local names of the slash and burn agriculture are :-
1. Jhumming               - Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland
2 Pamlou                      - Manipur
3 Dipa                            - Chhattisgarh and Andaman and Nicobar Island.

Q. 4. Mention any four features of primitive subsistence farming?

Ans.i). Primitive subsistence agriculture is practiced on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools
like hoe, dao and digging sticks with the help of family/community.
ii). This type of farming depends upon the monsoon, natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other
environmental conditions for the crops to be grown.
iii). under this, farmers produce for self-consumption.
iv). per hectare availability of land is very low.

Q. 5. Mention any three characteristics of the shifting agriculture.

Ans. i). The patch of land is cleared by cutting and burning the trees.
ii). Farming depends upon monsoons, natural fertility of the soil and suitability of the other environmental
conditions.
iii). per hectare productivity is very low as farmers do not use manure, fertilizers or other modern inputs.

Q. 6. What is white revolution?

Ans. Increase in production of milk is known as white revolution. It is also known as operation flood.

Q. 7. What is comprehensive land development programme?

Ans. Under comprehensive land development programme, institutional and technical reforms were
introduced to increase the agricultural production. 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.

Q . 8.  Distinguish between rotation of crops and multiple cropping.

Ans. Rotation of crops
i). Rotation of crops is the process which helps to retain the fertility of the soil. The crops are grown
alternatively.
ii). For example: Wheat is grown in one season and sugarcane is grown in other.

Multiple Cropping
i). Raising more than one crop on the same field during the same season is known as multiple cropping.
ii). For example: wheat and mustard.

Q. 8. Why is agriculture called the mainstay of Indian economy? Or

What is the importance of agriculture in Indian economy?

Ans. i). Agriculture is the mainstay of Indian economy because 67% 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 29% to the gross domestic product.
v). It provides food to over 1027 million population.

Q. 9. “Today Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition.” What are the various
factors responsible for this situation?

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 mechanization.
ii). Subsidy on fertilizers 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.

Q. 10.  Discuss some new trends in the Indian agriculture.

Ans. i). There has been a gradual shift from cultivation of food crops to cultivation of fruits, vegetables, oil
seeds, and crops which act as industrial raw materials. This has led to the reduction in the net sown area
under cereals, millets and pulses.
ii). the success of the green revolution has mechanized the Indian agriculture.
iii). the farmers are also giving due attention to animal husbandry, and this has led to white revolution.
iv). to supplement their income farmers are also adopting pisciculture and horticulture.

Q. 11. Why is subsistence agriculture practiced in certain parts of the country? Give four reasons.

Ans. i). Small holdings: Land holdings in India are of very small size. Due to the increasing population per
hectare availability of land is very low. The landholding is also scattered.
ii). Shortage of inputs: Commercial and extensive agriculture needs lots of inputs, but there is a shortage of
inputs like irrigation, seeds, fertilizers and machinery.
iii). Poor farmers: Most of the Indian farmers are very poor. They do not have enough money to purchase
various kinds of inputs.
iv). large families: Most of the farmers have large families, so only a small quantity of output is left to sell in
the market.

Q. 12  Mention any four steps which have been taken by the Indian government to modernize the Indian
agriculture.

Ans. i). The government has established the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural
universities, animal breeding centres to carry research and development activities in agriculture
ii). The government is also investing in rural infrastructure to link the rural market with the international
market.
iii). Kissan Credit Card, Personal and Crop Insurance schemes, etc, have been launched.
iv). A comprehensive land development programme has been launched.

Q. 13. Explain any four factors which have hindered the pace of agricultural development in India.
Ans. 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 inadequate of finance, seeds, fertilizers,
marketing, transportation, etc.
iii). Size of landholding:- The average size of holding in India is very low, less than 2 hectares. Not only
agricultural holding 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) . Overdependence 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.

Q. 14. Distinguish between commercial agriculture and subsistence agriculture.

Ans. Commercial agriculture
1. Commercial agriculture is that practice of farming in which crops are grown for trade.
2. This is practiced on small farms.
3. This is capital intensive.
4. Modern technology and implements are used. For example: production of sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh

Subsistence agriculture
1. Subsistence agriculture is the practice of farming in which the farmer and his family raise crop for home
consumption.
2. This is practiced on large farms.
3. This is labor intensive.
4. Old technology and old implements are used. For example: the production of wheat in some parts of India.

Q. 15. How did the partition of country in 1947 affect the jute industry?

Ans. Partition of the country in 1947 affected the jute industry as the jute growing areas were in East Pakistan
(now in Bangladesh) and jute mills were in India. India has to import raw jute from Bangladesh to run the jute
mills. There has been gradual decline in the jute industry due to the following reason:
I). Decline in demand for jute products.
ii). Old and outdated machinery.
iii). High cost of production and stiff international competition from Bangladesh and Brazil.
iv). Emergence of synthetic substitutes.
v) .Non-availability of labour.

Q.16.  Why was Bhoodan-Gramdan movement called as ‘Bloodless Revolution’?

Ans. As it is non-violent movement.

Q. 17. The growth rate in Agriculture is decelerating which is an alarming situation. Or

What factors are responsible for increasing number of suicides among the Indian farmers?

Ans. i). Today, Indian farmers are facing a challenge from international competition.
ii). Reduction in public investment in agricultural sector especially irrigation power, rural roads, market, etc.
iii). Subsidy on fertilizers is reduced loading to increase in cost of production.
iv). Reduction in import duties on agricultural products.
v). Withdrawal of farmers in their investments from agriculture resulting in reducing employment in
agriculture.
vi). Lack of alternative employment opportunities.
vii). Vagaries of monsoon rainfall change affected the crop productivity.

18) Describe the conditions required for the cultivation of tea. Name two major tea-producing states of India.
Answer: Tea is an important beverage crop. The following are the conditions required for its cultivation. The
tea plant grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions, which have deep, fertile and well-drained soil, rich in
humus and organic matter. Tea bushes require warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year. Tea
bushes require frequent showers throughout the year to ensure continuous growth of tender leaves. It needs
abundant, cheap and skilled labour. Two major tea-producing states are Assam and West Bengal.

19) Name the two most important staple food crops in India. Mention the geographical conditions required for
their growth.

Answer: The two most important staple food crops in India are rice and wheat. The geographical conditions
required for the growth of rice are as follows.

 It requires high temperature—above 25°C.  It requires high humidity for its growth. It requires annual rainfall
above 100 cm.

The geographical conditions required for the growth of wheat arenas follows.  

It is a rabi crop and needs cool growing season.  It requires bright sunshine at the time of ripening. It also
requires 50 to 70 cm of annual rainfall, well distributed over the growing season.

20) Suggest any ve measures to enhance the agricultural production in India

Answer: Agricultural is an important economic activity in our country. I would like to suggest the following
measures to enhance the agricultural production in India. Each district and block can be made self-sucient in
agricultural production if the government provides proper agricultural infrastructure, irrigation facilities,
electricity, etc. Loans can be provided at lower interest rates to cultivator. The use of latest techniques can be
encouraged. Instead of concentrating only on rice or wheat, the food crop with a better growth potential in
that particular area must be encouraged.  attracting foreign investment in agriculture and also free trade in
grains will not only increase agricultural production, but will also create massive employment and reduce
poverty in rural areas. Farmers should diversify their cropping pattern from cereals to high-value crops.

21) Describe any four institutional reforms introduced by the government of India in the interest of the
farmers. Answer: The institutional reforms introduced by the government of India in the interest of formers
are as follows.

1) Collectivisation and consolidation of land holdings and abolition of zamindari system. 2) Provision for crop
insurance against droughts, oods, cyclone, re and diseases. 3) Establishment of grameen banks and
cooperative societies to give loans to the farmers at low rate of interest. 4) Announcement of minimum
support price, remunerative and procurement prices for important crops to check exploitation of farmers by
speculators and middlemen. 5) Introduction of schemes like Kissan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident
Insurance Scheme (PAIS) for the benet of the farmers. (any four)

22) Distinguish between primitive subsistence farming and intensive subsistence farming.
Answer: The following are the differences between primitive subsistence farming and intensive subsistence
farming.

23) “Agriculture and industry are complementary to each other.” Justify the statement.

Answer: Agriculture and industry are complementary to each other in the following ways.

1) Agro-based industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by raising its productivity. 2) Industry
has contributed to agriculture by using the implements like irrigation pumps, fertilizers, insecticides,
pesticides, plastic and PVC pipes, machines tools, sprinkles, and drip irrigation systems. 3) Thus, development
and competitiveness, and manufacturing industry has not only assisted agriculturalists in increasing their
productivity, but also made production process very efficient. 4) In the present-day world of globalization,
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 can produce goods for
international market.