Class : 10 Geography : Chapter – 4 : Agriculture

NCERT Solutions:

1. Multiple choice questions.

(i) Which one of the following describes a system of agriculture where a single crop is
grown in a large area?

(a) Shifting Agriculture (b) Plantation Agriculture

(c) Horticulture (d) Intensive Agriculture

(ii) Which one of the following is a rabi crop?

(a) Rice (b) Millets

(c) Gram (d) Cotton

(iii) Which one of the following is a leguminous crop?

(a) Pulses (b) Millets

(c) Jawar (d) Sesamum

2. Answer the following questions in 30 words.

(i) Name one important beverage crop and specify the geographical conditions required
for its growth.

Answer:

One important beverage crop is tea.

The tea plant grows well in tropical and sub-tropical climates endowed with deep and fertile
well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter. Tea bushes require warm and moist
frost-free climate all through the year. Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year
ensure continuous growth of tender leaves. Tea is a labour-intensive industry. It requires
abundant, cheap and skilled labour. Tea is processed within the tea garden to ensure its
freshness.

(ii) Name one staple crop of India and the regions where it is produced.

Answer:

Rice is a major staple crop of India.

It is grown in the following regions.

1. Plains of North
 2. North East India
3. Coastal Areas
4. Deltaic Regions
(iii) Enlist the various institutional reform programmes introduced by the government
in the interest of farmers.

Answer:

Various institutional reform programmes introduced by the Government are as follows:

1. MSP (Minimum Support Price)

2. Subsidy on fertilisers
3. Crop insurance
4. Establishment of Grameen banks to provide low-interest loans
(iv) The land under cultivation has got reduced day by day. Can you imagine its
consequences?

Answer:

1. Shortage of food
2. The rise in prices of food
3. Imports increase will put stress on the economy
4. Rise in Unemployment
3. Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

(i) Suggest the initiative taken by the government to ensure the increase in agricultural
production.

Answer:

The Government of India embarked on a mission to introduce agricultural reforms to improve

Indian agriculture in the 1960s and 1970s. The Green Revolution based on the use of package
technology and the White Revolution (Operation Flood) were some of the strategies initiated
to improve a lot of Indian agriculture. But, this too led to the concentration of development in
a few selected areas. Therefore, in the 1980s and 1990s, a comprehensive land development
programme was initiated, which included both institutional and technical reforms. Provision
for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease, the 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. Kissan Credit Card (KCC)
and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are some other schemes introduced by the
Government of India for the benefit of the farmers. Moreover, special weather bulletins and
agricultural programmes for farmers were introduced on the radio and television. The
government also announces minimum support price, remunerative and procurement prices for
important crops to check the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen.

(ii) Describe the impact of globalisation on Indian agriculture.

Answer:

Globalisation is not a new phenomenon. It was there at the time of colonisation. In the
nineteenth century, when European traders came to India, at that time too, Indian spices were
exported to different countries of the world and farmers of south India were encouraged to
grow these crops. Till today, it is one of the important items of export from India. Under
globalisation, particularly after 1990, the farmers in India have been exposed to new
challenges. Despite being an important producer of rice, cotton, rubber, tea, coffee, jute and
spices, our agricultural products are not able to compete with the developed countries because
of the highly subsidised agriculture in those countries. Today, Indian agriculture finds itself at
crossroads. To make agriculture successful and profitable, proper thrust should be given to
the improvement of the condition of marginal and small farmers.

Extra questions:

1. What is the the PDS programme of the government of India?

Answer: It is a programme that, provides food grains and other essential commodities at
subsidized process in rural and urban areas.

2. Name the movements started by Vinoba Bhave, known as Blood-less revolution?

Answer: The Bhoodan – Gramdan movements started by Vinoba Bhave are known as Blood
– less revolution.

3. Point out the five uses of jute. Why is it losing market?

Answer: Uses – It is used in making gunny bags, mats robes, yarn, carpets and other
artifacts.
Due to its high cost, it is losing market to synthetic fibres, which are much cheaper and are
now used for packing materials, particularly nylon.

4. What are the fibre crops of India and from where are there obtained?
Answer: (1) The four major fibre crops of India are: – Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk.
(2) Cotton, jute and hemp are derived from crops grown in the soil: Natural silk is obtained
from the cocoons of silk worms fed on green leaves, especially mulberry.

5. Which variety of Indian coffee is of great demand in the world and from where was it
initially brought? Where was its cultivation initially?
Answer:
(1) The Arabic variety of Indian coffee is in great demand in the world.
(2) It was initially brought from Yemen and now produced in the country.
(3) Initially it was cultivated on Baba Budan hills.
6. Give importance of groundnut as an oil seed? Name the largest groundnut producing states
in India.
Answer:

(1)Groundnut accounts for about half of the major oil seeds produced in India.
(2)The largest producer of ground nut Is Andhra Pradesh. Other states are
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

7. Give the main oil seeds grown in India. Point out 2 to 3 of their uses.
Answer:The main oil seeds produced in India are groundnut, coconut, mustard, seamum,
soya bean, castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed and seen flower.
Uses – Most of these are edible and used in cooking. Some of them are used a raw material in
the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.

8. Why are pulses usually grown in rotation with other crops? How is it important in our diet?
Answer:All pulses except, arhar helps in soil fertility, by fixing nitrogen from the air, that is
why they are mostly grown in rotation with other crops.
Role – They are a major source of protein in a vegetarian diet and India has more number of
vegetarians. Also non vegetarian food is expensive and most of the Indians depend on
vegetarian food.

9. How is maize used? In which season is it grown? Describe briefly the soil, temperature
required for the production of maize. Name 4 major maize producing states of India.
Answer: (1) It is used as food as well as fodder.
(2) It is a Kharif crop, but in some states, like Bihar, its grown in Rabi season.
(3) It requires temperature between 21. c to 27. c, grows well in alluvial soil.

10. How will the change in the cropping pattern affect the Indian Economy?
Answer: (1) Change in the cropping pattern, for example from cereals to high value-crops
will mean that India will have to import food.
(2) If India imports cereals while exporting high value commodities, it will be following
successful economies like Italy, Israel and Chile.

11.Describe various technological and institutional reforms, which led to Green and White
revolutions in India.
Answer: The various technological and institutional reforms consist of various measures
taken by the Central and State governments from time to time. Flooding of fields with water
is now being replaced by drip irrigation and the use of sprinklers. Chemical fertilizers are
being used on a large scale, to increase the farm yields. Bio- fertilisers are now
supplementing them. High yielding and early maturing quality seeds have been developed.
Most of these technology inputs gave birth to Green Revolution in sixties and seventies of
twentieth century. White Revolution followed the Green Revolution.

12. What is the importance of agriculture in Indian economy?

Answer:

a. India is an agricultural country.

b. Nearly two-thirds of its population depends directly on agriculture for its livelihood.
c. Agriculture is the main stay of India’s economy.
d. It accounts for 26% of the gross domestic product.
e. It ensures food security for the country and produces several raw materials for industries.
f. Agricultural development is therefore, a precondition of our national prosperity.

13. Distinguish between: Rabi and Kharif Crops.

Rabi crops Kharif

1. Cultivation begins with the on set of 1 Cultivation begins with the withdrawal of
monsoons in May. monsoons in October.
2. Sowing of seeds is done in June or early 2. Sowing of seeds is done in October-
July. November.
3. Crops are harvested in September- 3. Crops are harvested in April-May.
October. 4. Crops depend on the sub-soil moisture.
4. Crops depend on the monsoons. 5. Types : Wheat, gram and oil-seeds like
5. Types: Rice, millets, maize, groundnuts, mustard and rape- seeds
jute, cotton and various pulses.

14.Distinguish Between Dry and Wet Agriculture

Dry Agriculture. Wet Agriculture.

Dry farming is a type of farming in which Wet farming is a type of farming, which
moisture is maintained by raising special type depends mainly upon rains.
of crops. In this type of farming rice, jute and maize
Crops such as gram and peas are grown. are grown.
There is vast dependence on irrigation. There is no irrigation required.
This is practiced in dry areas of the country This type of farming is done in Northeastern
parts of India.

15.Describe the distribution of rice cultivation in India.

Answer: Rice is one of the major food crop in India. India is second largest producer of rice
in the world after China. It is grown on about one fourth of the total cropped area and
provides food to about half of the country’s population. Rice is a tropical plant. It requires
high temperature of about 240C with minor variation during sowing and harvesting. It
requires 100cm of rain. It is grown in Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh, Orissa, western and eastern coastal strips, Brahmaputra valley and Jammu and
Kashmir.

MCQ’s

1. Which is helpful in inventing new hybrid varieties of seeds?

(A) Green Revolution
(B) White Revolution
(C) Genetic Engineering
(D) Scientific Research

2. Which industry is based on agricultural raw material?

(A) Food-processing Industry
(B) Marine Industry
(C) Sericulture
(D) Pisiculture

3. Which is not associated with primitive subsistence farming?

(A) Natural fertility of soil
(B) Monsoon
(C) High yield crops or seeds
(D) Involvement of family members

4. Which is major pulse producing state in India?

(A) Kerala
(B) Goa
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Punjab

5. Which one of the following institutions established by Government of India, helped in

modernization of Agriculture?
(A) Krishidarshan
(B) Doordarshan
(C) Indian council of Agriculture
(D) Indian Institute of Agronomy

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