GEOGRAPHY

CLASS X
CH - 4 - AGRICULTURE

Q1.) Define the term ‘agriculture’

Ans- the science or practice of cultivating soil and rearing animals is known as
agriculture.

Q2.) What is called Jhumming cultivation in Madhya Pradesh ?

Ans- The jhumming cultivation in Madhya Pradesh is called ‘ Bewar’ or ‘Dahiya’

Q3.) Name the states of India where intensive subsistence farming is practiced

Ans- With increasing population, the pressure on land is continuously increasing.

Therefore, in all the densely populated states of India intensive cultivation has become a
norm eg. in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.

Q4.)What is the main characteristic of commercial agriculture?

Ans- The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of higher doses of modern
inputs like HYV seeds, commercial fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides in order to
obtain higher productivity.

Q5.) Rice an example of a crop which may be commercial in one region and may provide
subsistence crop in another region.

Ans-Rrice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but in Orissa it is a subsistence

crop

Q6.) What is meant by leguminous plants?

Ans- leguminous plants are those plants that help to restore the fertility of the soil as their
small nodes absorb nitrogen from the air and fix it into the soil. All pulses are
leguminous.

Q7.) What is sericulture?

Ans – the rearing of silk worms for the production of silk is called sericulture

Q8.) What is horticulture?

Ans- intensive cultivation of fruits, flowers and vegetables for the commercial purpose is
known as horticulture

Q9.) Name the short cropping season practiced in india. And name some crops grown in
this period.
Ans- Zaid is the season and watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables and fodder
crops are grown in this season.

Q10.) What is called as the ‘golden fiber’ of India? What is its importance?
Ans- Jute is called the golden fiber of India and it is used to make gunny bags, mats,
ropes and yarns

Q11.) Name the important millets grown in this area.

Ans- Jowar, bajra and ragi are the important millets grown In India.

Q12.) Why is there enormous pressure on agricultural land in intensive subsistence

farming?
Ans- The right of inheritance leading to the division of land among successive
generations has rendered land – holding size uneconomical. The famers continue to take
maximum output from the limited land in the absence of alternative sources of
livelihood. Thus there is enormous pressure on agricultural land.

Q13.) Which is the most classic example of plantation crop grown in India? Name its 2
major producing states.
Ans- tea is the most classic example of plantation crop grown in India. Its 2 major
planting states are Assam and West Bengal.

Q14.) Which variety of coffee is mainly grown in India?

Ans- Arabica coffee is mainly grown in India.

Q15.) What is the other name for white revolution?

Ans- Operation flood is the other name for white revolution.

Q16.) Name the 4 major fiber crops grown in India.

And- Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the 4 major fiber crops in India. The first 3
are derived from the crops grown in the soil, the latter is obtained from cocoons of the
silkworms fed on green leaves specially mulberry

Q17.) What is India’s rank among the worlds rubber production?

Ans- India is ranked 5th among the worlds rubber production

Q18.) What was the main focus of the first 5 year plan for agriculture?
Ans- Land reforms was the main focus of the first 5 year plan for agriculture.
Q19.) What is the position of India among the world’s rice producer?
Ans – our country is the 3nd largest producer of rice in the world after china.

Q20.) Name the cereal crop of India which is used both as a food and fodder
Ans- Maize is the cereal crop of India which is used both as a food and fodder.

Q21.) How is the agriculture important for Indian economy?

Ans- India is an agriculturally important country.

□
Employment – 2/3 of the population is engaged in agricultural activities so it
is the main source for livelihood.
□
Food security – agriculture is a primary activity, which produces most of the food
that we consume.
□
Raw material – it also provides raw material for various industries eg.
paper industry, textile industry.
□
Export- some agricultural products like tea, coffee, spices etc are also
exported and our country earns a good amount of income through it.

Q23.) Write differences b/w rabi and kharif season

RABI KHARIF

1.)Rabi crops are sown in winter
From October to December and
Harvested in summer from April and June.
2.) Some of the important rabi crops are wheat,
barley, peas, gram and mustard
3.) States from the north and north –western parts
such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh,
Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Uttranchal
are important for the production of wheat and
other rabi crops.
1.) Kharif crops are grown with the
onset of monsoon in different
Parts of the country and these
Are harvested in September
And October
2.)Important crops grown during
this season are paddy, maize,
jowar, bajra, tur, mong, urad,
cotton, jute, groundnut and
soybean
3.) Important rice growing region
are Assam, Coastal region of
Orrisa, Andhra Pradesh,
Tamil Nadu, Kerela,
Maharashtra, Utter Pradesh
and Bihar
 CRO TEMPERATU RAINFA SOI OTHERCONDITI DISTRIBUTI OTHE
P RE LL L ONS ON R

Assam ,West
Requires high Bengal, coastal
areas of Orissa India is the
humidity, in
,Andhra Pradesh, second largest
Ric 25 100c alluvia areas of less
Tamilnadu ,Kerala producer of rice
e c m l rainfall grown
and Maharashtra, in the world after
with the help of
parts of Uttar China
irrigation
Pradesh and Bihar

Two important wheat growing zones

are the Ganga and• Second most Satluj
plains in the
north west and blackimportant cereal
Cool growing soil regions of thecrop.
season and a Deccan.• Main food crop
Wheat bright sunshine Black and
50 - 75 - Major States –in North and Punjab,
(Rabi at the time of Loamy
cm Haryana, UttarNorth Western Pradesh,
Crop) ripening Soil
Bihar,part of India.
Rajasthan and parts of
Madhya Pradesh.
 Use of
• Crop used as
HYVs, Karnataka, Uttar
both food and
Maize (Kharif 21˚C - Old fertilizers and Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra
27˚C Alluvial
- fodder.• In
irrigation
Bihar,
have
Crop) Soil contributed to the Pradesh and it is grown in Rabi
Madhya
increasing Pradesh.
season as well.
production

• Second
Uttar Pradesh, largest
21˚C - 27˚C 75 - 100 cm Tropical as well
Variety Maharashtra, producer after
and of as Sub-Tropical
Brazil.
IRRIGATION Crop
Sugarcane Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, • Main source of
needed in Soils and also needs
Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, sugar, gur,
low rainfall manual labour
Punjab and Haryana. khandsari and
areas
molasses.

Assam, hills of
Darjeeling and
150 - 300 cm Deep and
Labor Intensive and Jalpaiguri district
and fertile well
in Warm & Moist frost West Bengal, India is the
needs frequent drained
Tamil leading
showers evenly soil,
Tea (Plantation free climate. It also Nadu, Kerala are major producer and
20˚C - distributed for rich in
Crop) needs abundant, producers. Others also exporter in the
30˚C the tender humus
and
growth of cheap and include Himachal world
organic skilled
Pradesh, Uttaranchal,
the matter. labour.
Meghalaya, Andhra
leaves.
Pradesh and Tripura
 • Produces 4 %
Initially introduced
of the world’s
on Baba Budan Hills
Coffee coffee.
15˚C - 28˚C 150 - 200 cm - even today
- (Plantation Crop) • Arabica –
cultivation is
Good quality
confined to Nilgiri in
coffee, great
Karnataka, Kerala and
demand in
Tamil Nadu
international
market.

• Rubber is an
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, important
Rubber
25˚C and Moist Karnataka and industrial raw
(Plantation Crop) Tropical and Sub
and humid 200 cm - Andaman & Nicobar material.• Ranks
& (Equatorial Tropical Areas
climate Islands, Garo hills of fifth among the
Crop)
Meghalaya World’s Natural
Rubber producers.

• Main raw
Maharasthra, Gujarat, material for
High temperature
210 frost free Madhya Pradesh, cotton textile
and bright days
Cotton (Kharif Light rainfall Karnataka, Andhra industry.
sunshine for or Black and requires 6 -
Crop) Pradesh, Tamil • India is the
its growth are irrigation Soil 8 months to
Nadu, Punjab, third largest
needed mature
Haryana and Uttar producer of
Pradesh cotton in the
world.
 • Known as
Well the golden
drained West Bengal, fibre
High
Jute - fertile soils Bihar, • Used for
temperature
in the - Assam, Orissa making gunny
during growth
flood and Meghalaya bags, mats,
plains ropes, yarn,
carpets and
other artefacts.

• India is the
largest producer
as well as
consumer of
pulses in the
world.• These
are the major
source of
protein in the
Pulses (Tur, Urad,
Need vegetarian diet.•
Moong are Kharif
less Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Major pulses
moisture and Pradesh, Rajasthan, grown in India are
Crops. Masur, - - -
survive even in Maharashtra and Tur (Arhar), Urad,
Peas, Gram
dry conditions Karnataka Moong, Masur,
are Rabi
Peas and Gram.•
Crops.)
Leguminous crop
(except ARHAR) –
Help in restoring
fertility by fixing
Nitrogen from the
air. Therefore
grown in rotation
with other crops.
 India is the largest producer of oilseeds
in the world.• Covers 12
Groundnut is a Kharif% of the total Crop
and accounts forcropped area of about
50 % of majorthe country.• oilseeds
produced inMain oilseeds India. Andhra
Pradeshproduced in India is the leading
producerare – groundnut,
followed by Tamilmustard, coconut,
Nadu, Karnataka,sesamum, Gujarat,
Maharasthra.•soyabean, castor Linseed
and Mustardseeds, cotton
are Rabi Crops.•seeds, linseed and
Oilseed - - - - Sesamum is a Kharifsunflower.• Used
s Crop in north and Rabias a medium of
Crop in South.• Castorcooking.• Used as
Seed is grown both asa raw material in
Kharif and Rabi seasonthe production of
crop.soap, cosmetics
and ointments.• After extracting oil
residue is used as cattle fodder.
Q24.) Distinguish between subsistence and commercial agriculture

Ans= The differences are :-

SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE

1.) Subsistence agriculture is practiced on 1.) commercial agriculture is done on

small patches of land with the help of large scale with the use of huge
primitive tools like doe, hoe and digging doses of modern inputs eg- HYV
sticks. Seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides.
2.) Farmers and his family produce cereals
for themselves and for the local market. 2.) crops are grown with a view to 3 3) It is labour intensive where most of
the export them to other countries. Export them to other counteries
3) It is labour intensive where most of the
activities are done by family and community 3) It is capital intensive where much
labour of the work is done by machines
4) It is practiced in thickly populated areas
4) It is practiced in sparsely populated
5) Wheat, maize, millets etc are raised
Areas.
5) Cotton, jute,coffee etc are raised
Q25.) Write important features of plantation agriculture?

Ans= Important features of plantation agriculture :-

□
Plantation is a type of commercial farming. In this type of farming, a single crop is grown on a large area
□
The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry plantation cover large tracts of land, using capital intensive inputs,
with the help of migrant laborers.
□
All the produce is used as raw material in respective industries. Since the production is mainly for markets, a well developed
network of transport and communication connecting the plantation areas, processing industries and markets play an important
role in the development of plantations.
□
In India tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane and banana etc. are important plantation crops.

Q 26.) Explain the technological and institutional reforms introduced by the government to improve the agricultural production in
India..
Ans = In the 1980’s and 1990’s a comprehensive land development programme was initiated, which included both institutional and
technical reforms

Technological reforms :-
□
Highyielding and early maturing seeds are developed. They are now being increasingly used to raise productivity.
□
Chemical fertilizers are being used on a large scale to increases farm yields and productivity. They are now being
supplemented by bio fertilizers which greatly add to the fertility of the soil.
□
Irrigation methods- the flooding of water is now being replaced by drip- irrigation and the use of sprinklers.
□
The water pump replaced the Persian wheel, the plough by tiller and harrow drawn by the tractor, the bullock cart by truck

Institutional reforms :-

□ LAND REFORMS – it was the main focus of our ‘first five year plan’. The right of inheritance had already lead to fragmentation
of land holidays necessitating consolidation of land holdings.
 a) Consolidation of land holiding - the government took the step of promoting consolidation of small and scattered
holdings through chakbandi. The larger plots have become economically more productive. They save farmer’s time,
money and energy.
b) Abolition of zamindari – zamindari system was abolished. Farmers became land owners. Earlier cultivated land was
owned by the zamindars who themselves did not cultivate the land, instead they exploited the actual cultivators. On
becoming the owners of the land, the peasants took cultivation seriously. Agriculture production started increasing.
□
Provision for crop insurance – provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire, and disease was
another step to provide protection to the farmers against losses caused by these calamities.
□
Loan facilities– 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.
□
Special bulletins and agricultural programme – special weather bulletins and agricultural programme for farmers
were introduced on the radio and TV.
□
Minimum support price – 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.

OTHER SCHEMES – kisan credit card, personal accident insurance scheme are some other schemes introduced by the government of
India for the benefit of farmers.

Q 27.) What are the concerted efforts made by the government of India to modernize agriculture?

Ans- Considering the importance of agriculture in India, the government of India made concerted efforts to modernize agriculture:-

□ Establishment of Indian council of agricultural research and agricultural universities.

□ Providing veterinary services and animal breeding centers
□ Horticulture development.
□ Research and development in the field of meteorology and weather forecast were given priority for improving Indian
agriculture
□ Apart from this, improving the rural infrastructure was considered essential for the same.
Q28.) Why are farmers in India withdrawing their investment from agriculture?

Ans- Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture for the following reasons:-

□ Today, Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition
□ Our government is going ahead with reduction in the public investment in agriculture sector particularly in irrigation, power,
rural roads, market and mechanization.
□ Subsidy on fertilizer is decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.
□ Moreover, reduction in import duties on agriculture products have proved detrimental to agriculture in the country.

Q29.) Write short note on horticulture.

Ans- India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. India is a producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits. India
is well known for:-
□ Mangoes of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
□ Oranges of kerela,Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
□ Lichi and guava of Utter Pradesh and Bihar.
□ Pineapples of Meghalaya.
□ Grapes of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra
□ Apples, pears, apricots and walnuts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

There is a great demand of these the world over. India produces about 13% of the world’s vegetable. It is an important producer of
pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal and potato.