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Model Questions and Answers - Introduction To Agriculture Lyst3004
Model Questions and Answers - Introduction To Agriculture Lyst3004
1) 10 Marker Questions: In this part we shall be giving you 10 marker questions. These
are supposed to be somewhat direct and easy as compared to 15 marker questions
2) 15 Marker Questions: In this part we shall be giving you 15 marker questions. These
are supposed to be little complex or consisting of multiple sub questions or may be
an integrated question from concepts of different chapters
4) The exam was conducted in objective pattern till 2020. Hence, for these years no
subjective questions are available.
5) Homework Question: There is one homework question for you to think and write.
The answer for this question will not be given by us.
1. The answers given here are not to be crammed. They are not given from the
perspective of being perfect answers. No answer is a prefect answer. If we ask
500 people to write answers to these questions, then we will get 500 different
answers and we cannot decide which one is perfect answer. The answers given
here is to help you guide towards the approach to answer writing
2. The answers written here may exceed the word limit in some cases. But that is
done intentionally, so that you understand it better and in exam you can further
summarize that information to achieve the desired word-limit.
3. We would recommend that questions to the answers should not be just read.
What you shall do is
a. For 2-3 questions, please write answer in your own words so that you get
practice for descriptive writing. Then try to match your answer with
answer given by us and try to self-evaluate
b. For the rest of the questions, try to make an outline as in what you will
write in this answer. Then try to match your outline with answer given by
us and try to self-evaluate
Q.1) Enumerate various branches of Agriculture and discuss the branches of crop
production group.
Approach
Introduction: Explain agriculture and enlist the branches of Agriculture
Body: Discuss about the branches of Agriculture which fall under crop production group.
Conclusion: Conclude with the importance of the crop production group among various branches
of Agriculture.
Answer
The word 'Agriculture' in simple terms means the science and Art of producing crops and
livestock for economic purpose and for the use of mankind. As the time passed, it included
the work of cultivating the soil, producing crops, planting forest plants/trees, raising livestock
and rearing fishes. This lead agriculture scientists and historians come up with branches of
Agriculture to pave a way for convenient Research and development in the respective
branches.
Thus, Agriculture has been divided into 7 major branches. The below mentioned are the
branches of Agriculture.
1. Agronomy
2. Horticulture
3. Forestry
4. Animal husbandry
5. Fishery science
6. Agricultural Engineering
7. Home science
Of the 7 branches mentioned above, the first three, viz., Agronomy, Horticulture and Forestry
can be grouped under “Crop production group”, Animal Husbandry and Poultry group as
“Animal Management group” and Agricultural engineering and Home science as “Allied
agriculture group”.
Food crops: As the name goes, these crops provide food to us (humans) in the form of
Cereals (Eg: Rice, Wheat), Millets (Eg: Ragi, Bajra) etc.,
Fodder crops: These crops provide food to animals. (Eg: Barseem, Alfalfa etc.,)
Fibre crops: These crops provide fibre to us for clothing, gunny bags etc., (Eg: Cotton,
Mesta etc.,)
Sugar crops: These crops are grown for sugar. (Eg: Sugarcane)
Oil Seeds: These crops are grown for oil. (Eg: Sunflower, Ground nut)
2. Horticulture: It deals with the production of fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants,
spices, condiments, and beverages. It is again divided into 8 types based on type of
horticulture plants grown or operations conducted.
• Arboriculture: Study of, and the selection, planting, care, and removal of, individual trees,
shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants.
• Floriculture: Production and marketing of floral crops. Examples: Roses, Jasmines, Lilies
etc.,
• Landscape horticulture: Production, marketing, and maintenance of landscape plants.
Examples: Berberis thunbergii, Paeonia lactiflora etc.,
• Olericulture: Includes the production and marketing of vegetables. Examples: Brinjal,
Tomato etc.,
• Pomology: Production and marketing of fruits. Examples: Apples, Mangoes etc.,
Thus, the Crop production group forms the most important group of the agriculture, owing
to its contribution to food production for human and animal life on this planet.
Approach:
Introduction: contextual definition of evergreen revolution
Body: Discuss why evergreen revolution is needed
Conclusion: Synthesis of points written in the introduction and body and
emphasize upon why should we care for evergreen revolution.
Answer
Dr. M S Swaminathan coined the term ‘’Evergreen Revolution” to highlight the pathway of
increasing production and productivity in a manner such that short- and long-term goals of
food production are mutually hostile. The logic is to produce more from less land, less
pesticide, less water and it must be an evergreen revolution to get sustainable agriculture.
Need for Evergreen revolution arose due to negative impacts of green revolution. Important
demerits of green revolution are
1. Reduction in genetic diversity: Fewer varieties of crops grown for high yields have
reduced genetic diversity among crop species in a country and also led to the extinction
The improvements brought out by the Green Revolution came at the cost of adverse
environmental effects in areas subjected to intensive farming. Hence, the need for the
Evergreen Revolution was called out by Dr. M S Swaminathan, the Father of the Green
Revolution in India.
Thus, the need of the hour is a sustainable agricultural pattern. By building on the strengths
of Green Revolution, while seeking to avoid its weaknesses, Scientists and policy makers can
take significant steps to realize the Evergreen Revolution that will enhance productivity and
do so in a way that is environmentally safe, economically viable and socially sustainable.
Q.1) The Green Revolution in agriculture has worked to the disadvantage of farmers.
Discuss.
Approach
Introduction: Green revolution and its impact on Indian agriculture focusing on the
disadvantages.
Body: Give arguments on how green revolution led to disadvantages and the list of
disadvantages
Conclusion: Can conclude on futuristic note on how these disadvantages can be addressed.
Answer
The Green Revolution resulted in a great increase in production of food grains (especially
wheat and rice) due to the introduction of new, high-yielding variety seeds, beginning in the
mid-20th century into developing countries like Mexico and India.
• The Green Revolution, in India, spreading over the period from 1967-68 to 1977-78,
changed India’s status from a food-deficient country to one of the world's leading
agricultural nations.
• But at the same time, it had unintended but harmful consequences on agriculture and
human health. The following are the disadvantages of Green revolution.
1. Excessive Usage of Chemicals: The Green Revolution resulted in a large-scale use of
pesticides and synthetic nitrogen fertilisers for improved irrigation projects and crop
varieties.
- Pesticides were sprayed on crops usually by untrained farm labourers without
following instructions or precautions, which lead to unscrupulous use of the same
and also caused more harm than good to crops and became a cause for environment
and soil pollution.
- As per the latest data available (2020-21), the usage of pesticides has increased from
58634 MT to 62193 MT from 2016-17 to 2020-21 respectively.
2. Water Consumption: The crops introduced during the green revolution were water-
intensive crops, especially Cereals.
- Most of these crops being cereals, required almost 50% of dietary water footprint.
The Green Revolution transformed the image of India from being a ‘begging bowl’ to ‘bread
basket’. However, to rectify flaws and loopholes of the Green Revolution we need to make it
evergreen. The improvements brought out by the Green Revolution came at the cost of
adverse environmental effects in areas subjected to intensive farming.
However, where population pressure is high, there is no option except to produce more food.
Hence, the need for the Evergreen Revolution was called out by Dr. M S Swaminathan, the
Father of the Green Revolution in India.
Approach:
Introduction: Introduction about the current data on Indian agriculture
Body: Problems plaguing Indian agriculture with supporting statements
Conclusion: Synthesis of points written in introduction and body and emphasize
upon the importance of agriculture with a quote.
Answer
Agriculture plays a vital role in the Indian economy. Over 70 per cent of the rural households
depend on agriculture. As per the Economic survey 2021-22, the agriculture sector
experienced buoyant growth in past two years, accounting for a sizeable 18.8% (2021-22) in
Gross Value Added (GVA) of the country registering a growth of 3.6% in 2020-21 and 3.9% in
2021-22.
However, the Indian agriculture sector is plagued with perils and let’s analyze the current
scenario of Indian agriculture below:
Agriculture and allied sector play vital role in providing nutrition and livelihood to the huge
population in India. It plays an important role in terms of GDP, employment and
environmental sustainability.
However, average farm size, poor infrastructure, low use of farm technologies, disguised
unemployment, decrease of soil fertility due to over fertilization and sustained pesticide use,
are leading contributors to low agricultural productivity.
Since agriculture happens be the largest sector in India, it can and must play an important
role in pushing up the rate of capital formation. This being said, the problems plaguing
agriculture should not be ignored because, “If agriculture goes wrong, nothing else will have
a chance to go right!”.
Approach:
Introduction: Throw a light on why agriculture is called as science and art
Body: Discuss how it is both science and art with supporting statements.
Conclusion: Synthesis of points written in introduction and body and conclude the
answer by stating that agriculture is both arts and science.
Answer
The word 'Agriculture' is derived from the Latin word 'Ager' means “Land or Soil” and
'Culture' means “cultivation”, which in simple terms means the science and art of producing
crops and livestock for economic purpose and for the use of mankind.
Agriculture is said as science because it provides new and improved strain of crop and animal
with the help of breeding and genetics, and brings in modern technology in agricultural
practices.
In this regard, let’s now discuss how agriculture can be considered as science below.
Agriculture as a science:
Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock. It
includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution
to markets.
For this reason, it is pertinent to say that “The art and science has its meeting point in
agriculture”.
Q.4) Discuss the success and challenges of White Revolution in Indian milk sector.
Approach:
Introduction: Current context of White Revolution
Body: Success and challenges of white revolution with supporting facts and data
Conclusion: Synthesis of points written in the introduction and body and conclude the
answer with a thought-provoking question.
Answer
Recently, India celebrated the 100th birth anniversary of Verghese Kurien, famously known
as the “Milk man of India”, who launched “Operation Flood”, which became the world's
largest dairy development programme.
It was launched to help farmers develop by giving them control of the resources they create.
All this was achieved by mass production of milk and the process has since been termed as
Some of the important achievements of the White Revolution are discussed below:
However, the Indian milk sector faces some issues that needs to be addressed.
White revolution or Operation Flood, known as the ‘billion litre idea,’ is the world's largest
agricultural dairy development programme. Within 30 years, it helped double milk available
per person in India, making dairy farming India's largest self-sustainable rural employment
generator.
Increased milk production led to an increase in employment, a reduction in import bills, and
made India an exporter of milk and milk products. The production of milk has gone up by
more than six times when compared with that of the Pre–Independence situation.
In spite of this, there remain major issues in the sector, such as poor returns on investment,
poor productivity, adulteration and the neglect of traditional breeds.
These Problems shouldn't go unaddressed, and the real point to ponder is – "Are the issues
plaguing the milk sector, which provides livelihood for thousands of marginal and small
farmers, fair to be ignored?”.
Homework Question
Ques.1) Enumerate various types of revolutions that took place in Agriculture after
Independence in India. Explain Green revolution in detail. (10 Marks, 400 words)
Ques.2) Discuss the importance of green revolution in Indian economy. (15 Marks, 600
words)