WBBSE Class 10 Geography Solutions Chapter 5.7 Agriculture in India

Detailed explanations in West Bengal Board Class 10 Geography Book Solutions Chapter 5.7 Agriculture in India offer valuable context and analysis.

WBBSE Class 10 Geography Chapter 5.7 Question Answer – Agriculture in India

Answer in short : 2 Marks

Question 1.
What do you mean by subsistence agriculture?
Answer:
The practice of agriculture in which small land holdings are cultivated with primitive methods and tools, and the produce is almost entirely consumed by the family members of the farmers, with little surplus for sale, is called subsistence farming. This type of agriculture is mainly practised for survival.

Question 2.
Why is irrigation necessary in Indian agriculture?
Answer:
Indian agriculture mainly depends on the monsoon. Monsoon is very uncertain, irregular and unreliable. Hence, farmers have to depend on irrigation to avoid crop failures.

Question 3.
Why are food crops predominant in Indian agriculture?
Answer:
Since India is a highly populated country, the necessity to feed the large population gives food crops the first priority. More than 2/3 of total cropped area are devoted to cultivation of food crops.

Question 4.
Where do the major rice producing areas of India lie ?
Answer:
The most important rice producing areas of India are : the eastern Ganga plains, the Brahmaputra valley, the narrow coastal strips forming major parts of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery deltas.

Question 5.
Name the states growing millets in India.
Answer:
Millets are grown in dry regions of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana.

Question 6.
Mention the tea growing region of Assam.
Answer:
In Assam, most of the tea is grown in the valleys of rivers Brahmaputra and Surma. The main tea producing districts are : Derrang, Lakhimpur, Shibsagar, Nowgong, Goalpara, Kamrup and Cachar.

Question 7.
Mention the tea growing regions of West Bengal.
Answer:
In West Bengal, tea is grown in about 350 estates in the northern hilly region lying in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri (Duars) and Kochbihar districts.

Question 8.
Where is tea grown in South India?
Answer:
In South India, tea is mostly grown in the hilly regions of Nilgiri, Cardamom, Palni and Anaimalai. They lie in the states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka.

Question 9.
In which districts of Karnataka does coffee grow the most?
Answer:
Coffee grows in almost 60 % of the cultivated area of Karnataka. The districts predominantly under coffee cultivation are : Kadun, Shimga, Hasan, Mysore and Chickmagalur (largest concentration of trees).

Question 10.
Classify cotton according to its fibre.
Answer:
Cotton can be classified into 3 categories according to the size of their fibres –

1. Long staple (length more than 3 cm ), also called Sea island cotton.
2. Medium staple (2.2-3 cm), also called American Upland cotton.
3. Short staple (less than 2.2 cm ), also called Indian cotton.

Question 11.
Where is cotton grown in Gujarat?
Answer:
Ahmedabad, Mahesana, Bharuch, Kaira, Vadodara, Sabarkanta, Surat, Panchmahals, Gohilwad, Amreli districts of Gujarat.

Question 12.
Name the cotton producing states of India.
Answer:
Gujarat (1st), Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab.

Question 13.
Mention the sugarcane producing areas of India.
Answer:
In India, sugarcane is grown in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, parts of Andhra Pradesh, Assam etc. The maximum sugarcane is grown in Uttar Pradesh (45 %) in the districts of Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Meerut, Moradabad, Bijnore and Kheri.

Question 14.
What is Green Revolution ?
Answer:
Green Revolution is the name given to the project under which agricultural yield was tried to be increased remarkably by using high yielding variety of seeds, good fertilisers, irrigation, machine tools etc.

Question 15.
What are HYV seeds?
Answer:
Seeds that grow very fast and yield a huge produce are called High Yielding Variety or HYV seeds.

Question 16.
What is monocropping ?
Answer:
The agricultural fields that are not very fertile and have inadequate irrigation facilities, can produce only one crop in a year with the help of rainfall. This is known as monocropping. Eg.- Tea cultivation in Duars region of Jalpaiguri, Sugarcane cultivation in Uttar Pradesh, etc.

Question 17.
What is multiple cropping ?
Answer:
The process of growing two or more crops in a year with the help of irrigation, fertilisers, modern technology and HYV seeds is called multiple cropping.

Question 18.
What is inter-culture?
Answer:
Cultivation of two or three type of crops at a time in alternate series or rows is called inter-culture of crops.

Question 19.
Classify food crops according to seasons.
Answer:

Question 20.
What are cash crops ?
Answer:
The crops that are cultivated for trade and commerce and help to increase national income in high levels are called cash crops. Eg.- Tea, coffee, cotton, jute, etc.

Question 21.
What are Kharif crops?
Answer:
The crops that are planted in the beginning of the rainy season and harvested at the end of the winters are called kharif crops. Eg. – Aman rice, jute, sugarcane, cotton, etc.

Question 22.
What are Rabi crops?
Answer:
The crops that are planted in the beginning of the winter season and harvested at the end of spring are called Rabi crops. Eg.- Boro rice, wheat, potato, gram, mustard, etc.

Question 23.
What are fibre crops?
Answer:
The crops that yield fibre are called fibre crops. Eg.- cotton, jute, mesta, etc.

Question 24.
What is horticulture?
Answer:
The cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, etc. in the fringe areas of large cities in farm houses, to be supplied to the markets of these large cities is called horticulture.

Question 25.
What are plantation crops ?
Answer:
Crops that are cultivated in well maintained fields in proper rows with the help of modern agricultural methods are called plantation crops. These crops once planted, yield returns for many years. Eg. – Tea, coffee, banana, etc.

Question 26.
What kind of relief is suitable for cultivation of rice?
Answer:
Plain lands are most suitable for cultivation of rice. Thus, rice grows best in river basins, deltas and low-lying coastal regions. In hilly regions, rice can be cultivated by cutting terraces on the hill slopes.

Question 27.
Name some high yielding variety of seeds of rice.
Answer:

1. IR – 8
2. Jaya
3. Ratna
4. Pankaj
5. Aditya
6. Padma
7. Kiran
8. Minikit

Question 28.
Mention two problems in the cultivation of rice in India.
Answer:
(i) Yield of rice per hectare is very less in India.
(ii) Crops often fail due to too much dependency on monsoon rainfall.

Question 29.
Name four highest rice producing states of India.
Answer:
According to Economic Survey, 2014-15, the highest rice producing states of India are –

State	Production (in metricton)	Percentage
i. West Bengal	153	14.4%
ii. Uttar Pradesh	146	13.7%
iii. Andhra Pradesh	130	12.2%
iv. Punjab	114	9.7%

Question 30.
Which region is known as the ‘Granary of India’?
Answer:
The north and north-western part of India including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana is known as the ‘Granary of India’, as it produces the bulk of agricultural crops of India here. About 70-75 % wheat of India is produced here.

Question 31.
What are millets ?
Answer:
Millets are grass-like crops that produce coarse food grains. They are inferior crops that grow in hot and dry regions. Eg.- Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, etc.

Question 32.
What do you mean by ratooning’?
Answer:
In cultivation of sugarcane, the crops are harvested leaving about 1 foot of the stem in the ground. This cut-stem grows the new plant of sugarcane for the next season. This process of regrowth of plants from the same base is called ratooning. But ratooning does not give good yield after 2-3 years.

Question 33.
What kind of soil and temperature condition is necessary for sugarcane?
Answer:
Sugarcane grows best in loony soils rich in lime and salt. Black soil, red soil and alluvial soil is suitable for this. Temperature condition between 20°-40° C is required for sugarcane cultivation.

Question 34.
Name three sugarcane producing states of India.
Answer:
(a) Uttar Pradesh (1st)
(b) Maharashtra (2nd)
(c) Karnataka (3rd).

Question 35.
Name two beverage crops of India.
Answer:
Tea, Coffee.

Question 36.
Name three cotton producing states of India.
Answer:
(a) Gujarat (1st)
(b) Maharashtra (2nd)
(c) Telengana-Andhra Pradesh (3rd).

Question 37.
Name the tea producing states of India.
Answer:
(a) Assam (1st)
(b) West Bengal (2nd)
(c) Tamil Nadu (3rd)
(d) Kerala
(e) Himachal Pradesh.

Question 38.
When are the tea leaves picked from the trees?
Answer:
Tea leaves are picked after the commencement of the rainy season, when the tea trees start getting new leaves. In north India, the leaves are picked for 7-8 months. In south India, tea leaves are picked almost throughout the year.

Question 39.
When and why was the Tea Board set up in India ?
Answer:
The Tea Board of India was set up in 1953 for the following purposes –

• To provide long-term loans to the tea gardens.
• To distribute new machines on hire or purchase.
• To acquire fertilisers, new saplings, etc. at cheap rates.
• To establish new markets for tea.

Question 40.
Name two famous tea producing regions in Assam.
Answer:
(a) Brahmaputra valley
(b) Surma valley.

Question 41.
When are coffee seeds planted?
Answer:
Coffee seeds are planted in India from January to March. The plants grow and start producing coffee after 3-4 years.

Question 42.
Where is coffee grown best in India ?
Answer:
In India, coffee is best grown in the Chikmagalur and Kodagu districts of Karnataka. (about 80 % )

Question 43.
What are the problems of fragmented land holdings in agriculture in India ?
Answer:
The fragmented land holdings in India cause reduction of producing areas as much land is occupied to build boundaries and fences. Also, the small size of the land holdings create difficulties in use of modern equipments of agriculture.

Question 44.
Name two organisations that produce fertilisers in India.
Answer:
(i) Fertiliser Corporation of India Limited. (FCI).
(ii) Hindustan Fertiliser Corporation (HFC).

Question 45.
Name some modern equipments used in agriculture in India.
Answer:
Modem instruments used in Indian agriculture are – tractors, harvestors, power tillers, combines, etc.

Answer in brief : 3 Marks

Question 1.
How does the monsoon control the crop calendar of India ?
Answer:
Indian agriculture is highly dependent on monsoon rains. Choice of crops in different areas is directed by the availability of rainfall in those areas. Eg – Water loving crops like rice, jute etc. are cultivated in eastern in the dry western regions. Irregular and uncertain monsoons often result in crop failures. Hence, arrangements for irrigation is also very essential.

Question 2.
Name the major rice producing districts of Punjab and Haryana.
Answer:
Punjab : Ferozepur, Ludhiana, Patiala, Amritsar.
Haryana : Hisar, Ambala, Jind, Rohtak and Faridabad.

Question 3.
Discuss the favourable conditions for growing millets.
Answer:
Millets (jowar, bajra, ragi etc.) are inferior crops that can grow in arid regions. Temperature : The approximate temperature for growing millets is 25-32° C.
Rainfall : Millets can be grown in dry areas with rainfall 40-60 cm.
Soil type : Black soil and red loamy soil are best for growing millets.

Question 4.
What are the problems of coffee cultivation?
Answer:
The problems of coffee cultivation in India are –

1. Low production in the plantations.
2. Production fluctuates according to climatic conditions.
3. Great competition from Kenya, Columbia and Brazil.
4. Shortage of good quality coffee.

Question 5.
Name the countries to which India exports coffee.
Answer:
India exports coffee to USA, Canada, Japan, Kuwait, Australia, UK, Italy, Germany and Russia.

Question 6.
What are the problems of cotton cultivation in India ?
Answer:
The problems of cotton cultivation in India are:

1. Yield of cotton per hectare is very low.
2. Most of the cotton produced is of medium and short staple quality.
3. Insect and pest attacks are very common, which hamper production.

Question 7.
What are the favourable conditions for growing sugarcane?
Answer:
The favourable geographic conditions for growing sugarcane are:

• Temperature : Average annual temperature is 21-27° C.
• Rainfall : 75-100 cm.
• Soil : Sugarcane grows best in loamy soil, black soil and alluvial soil. It does not grow in alkaline soils.

The economic conditions needed for growing sugarcane are :

• Labour : Weeding, manuring, field preparation, planting and harvesting require much labour.
• Capital : Large capital is invariably needed to grow plantation crops.
• Fertilisers : Sugarcane is a soil exhausting crop. Hence good fertilisers are needed.

Question 8.
What were the effects of Green Revolution ?
Answer:
The profuse increase in agricultural produce with the help of modern agricultural methods and infrastructure is known as Green Revolution. The effect of Green Revolution are :

• Remarkable increase in production of food crops.
• Extension of agricultural land.
• Modernisation and mechanisation of agriculture.
• Employment and increase in Standard of living.
• Reduction in import of food grains.

Question 9.
List the problems of Indian agriculture.
Answer:
The major problems faced by Indian agriculture are :

• Small and fragmented land holding that reduce production.
• Inferior seeds, manures, fertilizers, biocides etc. fails to utilise the maximum producing capacity of fields.
• Lack of irrigation in many places leads to crop failures.
• Lack of mechanisation reduces rate of Production.
• Soil erosion reduces fertility by remaining the top soil.
• Inadequate storage facilities often damage the produced crop.
• Inadequate transport facilities hamper production and fail to reach the crops to markets in time.
• Scarcity of capital causes failure in achieving high levels of production.

Question 10.
What steps are taken to solve the problems of Indian agriculture?
Answer:
The various steps taken to solve the problems of Indian agriculture are :

1. New concepts like co-operative farming have been introduced to control fragmentation of land holdings.
2. Bank loans and insurances are made available at easy rates of interests so that farmers can buy high yielding seeds, better fertilisers, modern equipments etc.
3. More and more land are being brought under irrigation facilities to control crop failures.
4. Scientific researches are being conducted to find out better and surer methods of cultivation.
5. Crop management methods are practised according to available geographic conditions.
6. Storage facilities for seeds and finished crops are being provided.
7. New agricultural policies like Green Revolution are being introduced.

Question 11.
Mention the characteristics of Indian agriculture.
Answer:
The characteristics of Indian agriculture are :

1. Most of the agriculture practised in India is of subsistence agriculture type.
2. Agriculture is dependent on animal power.
3. The crop calendar is dependent on monsoon.
4. Food crops are grown much more than cash crops.

Question 12.
Discuss the importances of agriculture in Indian economy.
Answer:
The importances of agriculture in Indian economy are:

1. Agriculture provides employment to maximum population in India. (about 70 % )
2. It is a big source of National Income.
3. Agriculture provides food for the huge population of the country.
4. Agriculture provides raw materials to various agro-based industries. Eg. – cotton textile, sugar, flour mills, etc.
5. It directly as well as indirectly influences international trade. Eg.- India earns a lot of foreign exchange from the export of cotton textile, jute products, sugar, tea, coffee, spices, lax, raisin, wheat, tobacco, etc.
6. It also plays an important role in internal trade and commerce:

Question 13.
Compare between Subsistence agriculture and Commercial agriculture.
Answer:

Subsistence agriculture	Commercial agriculture
i. Practised for subsistence or meeting the demands of the family.	i. Practised for commercial purposes and for earning money.
ii. The land holdings are small and fragmented.	ii. The land holdings are of medium size.
iii. Main crops are rice, wheat, oil seeds etc.	iii. Main crops are tea, coffee, cotton etc.
iv. This is a primitive type of agriculture.	iv. This is comparatively a modern type of agriculture.
v. Generally food crops are cultivated.	v. Generally plantation crops like tea, jute, etc. are cultivated.
vi. Yield per hectare is low.	vi. Yield per hectare is high.

Question 14.
What are the main problems of wheat cultivation in India ?
Answer:
The main problems of wheat cultivation in India are :

1. Yield per hectare is very low. (only 2,424 kg per hectare compared to 6,246 kg per hectare in Japan.)
2. Cultivation is much dependent on monsoon rainfall.
3. Selling price of wheat is low, which often does not cover the total cost incurred in the cultivation process.
4. The land holdings are small and fragmented.
5. Lack of proper store houses and cold storages often result in spoiling of crops.

Question 15.
List the regions of rice cultivation in India.
Answer:

1. Wet regions of Western Himalaya : Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand.
2. Semi-arid regions of Ganga-Indus plains : Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar.
3. Dry semi-arid regions of Western India : Haryana, Rajasthan.
4. Wet plains of Ganga-Brahmaputra basin : West Bengal, Assam.
5. Wet regions of Eastern Himalaya : Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Tripura.
6. Highlands of Central India : Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh.
7. Deccan plateau region : Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala.
8. Coastal plains : Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha.

Question 16.
Mention the steps taken to solve the problems of rice cultivation in India.
Answer:
The steps taken up to solve problems of rice cultivation in India are :

1. Irrigation facilities have been provided to most of the fields to reduce the dependence on monsoon rainfall.
2. The ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) has discovered and generated many types of HYV seeds, that help to increase yield and improve the quality of the crops.
3. Supply of power, transport, storage, etc. has also been taken care of.
4. Modernisation of agricultural processes, insurance facilities, abolision of middle men etc. have also been taken care of.

Question 17.
What are the problems of wheat cultivation in India ?
Answer:
The problems of wheat cultivation in India are :

1. Yield of wheat per hectare is quite low compared to world standards.
2. Use of HYV seeds is not popular among all the farmers.
3. Heavy pressure of population reduces per capita availability of land.
4. Fragmented and small land holdings reduce the area of production.
5. Lack of infrastructure and storage facilities after lead to spoiling of crops.

Question 18.
Why is cultivation of sugarcane less popular in south India rather than north India ?
Answer:
Sugarcane cultivation is less popular in South India compared to North India because :

1. In South India more land is devoted to food crops rather than cash crops like sugarcane.
2. Other cash crops like coffee, tobacco, groundnuts, etc. yield more returns than sugarcane.
3. Sugarcane plants start giving proper returns only after 2-3 years. Hence, farmers prefer growing crops that give quick returns.
4. Sugarcane is a soil exhaustive crop and expensive to maintain. Hence, farmers concentrate on growing cheap and easily growing crops.

Question 19.
What are the problems of sugarcane cultivation in India ?
Answer:
The problems of sugarcane cultivation in India are :

1. The sucrose content of the sugarcane plants grown in India is quite less.
2. Yield of sugarcane per hectare is quite low. (only 70 metric tonnes per hectare compared to 140 metric tonne per hectare in Java)
3. Land alloted for sugarcane cultivation in India is quite low.
4. Backdated and obsolete methods of sugarcane cultivation are still practised in India.

Question 20.
What are the problems of cotton cultivation in India ?
Answer:
The problems of cotton cultivation in India are :

1. Yield of cotton per hectare is only 266 kg in India, compared to 800 kg in the countries of Central Asia.
2. 66 % of cotton cultivated in India is of medium staple. Long staple cotton has to be imported from other countries.
3. The methods of cultivation are backdated and primitive.
4. Attack of insects on cotton balls is a big problem in India.
5. There is lack of proper trade policies, which fails to achieve desired business levels.

Question 21.
What are the problems of tea cultivation in India ?
Answer:
The problems of tea cultivation in India are:

1. The tea plantations have become much old and hence the yield of tea leaves have reduced.
2. The plantations are small in size and incur high cost of production.
3. Picking of young leaves and buds at a high rate decrease the rate of growth of the plants.
4. Soil erosion, loss of fertility and landslides in hilly regions often hamper tea cultivation.
5. Yield of tea per hectare is quite less compared to Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, etc.

Question 22.
Why is Assam best suited for production of tea in India ?
Answer:
Assam is most suitable for production of tea in India because :

1. The suitable conditions needed for tea cultivation is present in Assam. Average rainfall of more than 200 cm and average temperature of 30° C is most suitable for tea growth.
2. Assam consists of loamy soil rich in iron podsol and humus in most of the places. This is the best soil for the growth of tea plants.
3. The gently sloping hilly regions and the foothills near the Brahmaputra valley give the best relief for the growth of tea.
4. The dense population of the region provide the labour force needed in the tea gardens and processing unit.

Answer in details : 5 Marks

Question 1.
Discuss the major characteristics of Indian agriculture.
Answer:
The major characteristics of Indian agriculture are :
i. Subsistence agriculture : Most parts of India have subsistence agriculture. The farmer owns a small plot of land and grows crops sufficient for his family only, with very less surplus for sale.

ii. Pressure of population : The teeming millions of population exert much pressure on agriculture for employment as well as food supply.

iii. Lack of mechanisation : Complete mechanisation has not been achieved yet. Animals’ force plays an important role in plouging, threshing and transporting of agricultural products.

iv. Use of irrigation : Indian agriculture mainly depends on monsoon, which is uncertain, irregular and unreliable. Hence, irrigation is a necessity. But only 1/3 of the cropped area is provided with perennial irrigation facilities.

v. Small size of land holdings : Laws of inheritance of property have caused fragmentation of large land holdings. This causes loss of cultivable land and reduces production significantly.

vi. Uncontrolled use of pesticides and chemict tertilizers : Use of pesticides, chemical fertilisers initially boosts agricultural produces, but damage the soil in the long run.

vii. Predominance of food crops : Since Indian agriculture has to feed a large population, 2/3 of the total cultivable land concentrate on production of food crops.

viii. Insignificant place of fodder crops : Although India has the largest population of livestock in the world, only 4% of land is under pastures. This is due to tremendous need for food crops. Hence, animals are not properly fed, and their productivity is low.

ix. Variety of food crops : India is a vast country with a variety of relief, climate, and soil conditions. Thus, a large variety of crops are grown all over the country depending upon suitable conditions.

x. Dependence on monsoon : Indian agriculture is highly dependent on monsoon rains. Choice of crops in areas is directed by the availability of rainfall in those areas. Eg-Rice and jute grows well in West Bengal, while Rajasthan grows millets.

Question 2.
Discuss the favourable geographic and economic conditions for growing rice.
Answer:
The favourable conditions for growing rice are:
(a) Geographical :

1. Temperature : During sowing period, average temperature must be of 16°- 20° C, and during maturity, between 18°-32° C.
2. Rainfall : Annual rainfall of 150-200 cm.
3. Soil : Fertile clayey and alluvial soil is quite ideal. A marshy soil is also suitable.

(b) Economic :

1. Labour : Rice is a labour intensive crop. It requires cheap and abundant labour.
2. Capital : A good capital is required for rice production.
3. Others : Other facilities required for rice cultivation are : Chemical fertilisers, irrigation facilities, high yielding seeds, pesticides etc.

Question 3.
Discuss the main rice producing areas of India.
Answer:
The main rice producing areas of India are :

1. West Bengal : West Bengal ranks 1st in rice production. The major districts producing rice are : Burdwan, Medinipur, North and South 24 parganas.
2. Andhra Pradesh : It ranks second in rice production. Guntur, Kurnool and Nellore districts are the leading producers.

3. Uttar Pradesh : It ranks 3rd in rice production. Major rice producing districts are Bahraich, Pilibhit and Kheri. Rice is also well grown in the Doon valley.
4. Tamil Nadu : It ranks 4th in rice production. The major districts are chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore and Thiruchirapalli. The Cauvery delta produces plenty of rice.
5. Bihar : Ranking 5th, Darbhanga and Purnea are the major producing districts.
6. Others : Other significant rice producing states are: Odisha, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala and Gujarat.

Question 4.
Describe the conditions favourable for growing wheat.
Answer:
The favourable conditions for growing wheat are :
(a) Geographical :

1. Temperature : Temperature should be around 155° C. Weather should be warm and moist during early stages and sunny and dry during stages of maturity and harvest.
2. There should be at least 100 frost-free days. Long gloomy or foggy weather is harmful for the crop.
3. Soils : Chernozem is the best suited soil. Also grows well in light clayey or heavy loamy soil.
4. Land : Well drained slightly rolling plains.

(b) Economic :

1. Irrigation : With facilities of irrigation, wheat can grow even in areas of less than 50 cm rainfall.
2. HYV seeds : High Yielding Variety of seeds like Larma-Rajo, Sonera-63, Sonera -64 , Sona-227, Sonalika-308 etc. increase yield.
3. Labour : Much labour is not needed due to quite mechanisation of production process.
4. Others : Other requirements for wheat cultivation are : modem farming equipments like tractors, harvestors, winnowers, threshers, elevators etc, transport facilities, good capital etc.

Question 5.
Name the major wheat producing districts of India.
Answer:
The districts of the states producing wheat are :
(i) Uttar Pradesh : Meerut, Saharanpur, Bulandshahar, Aligarh, Agra etc.

(b) Economic:

1. Labour : Much labour is needed for planting, seeding, transplanting, looking after, plucking of berries, loading and unloading and processing of coffee.
2. Fertilisers : Coffee is a soil exhausting perennial crop. Hence much fertilisers are required to maintain soil fertility.
3. Transport : Quick and smooth transport facilities are required.
4. Capital : All plantation crops require a good amount of capital.

Question 8.
What are the favourable conditions for growing cotton?
Answer:
The fovourable conditions for growing cotton are :
(a) Geographical :

1. Temperature : 23°-32° C with an average around 27° C.
2. Sunshine : Plenty of sunshine during the growing period and cooler conditions during harvest.
3. Rainfall : 50-80 cm of rainfall well distributed during the growing period. But rainfall is injurious after the budding period.
4. Frost : At least 200 frost-free days are required.
5. Soil : Black cotton soil or regur soil is the best for cotton.
6. Land : Flat or undulating land with good drainage and no water logging is good for cotton.

(b) Economic :

1. Labour : Much labour is required for planting, thinning of seedlings, hoeing, inspection of pests, picking of bolls etc.
2. Transport : Good transport system helps in carrying raw cotton to factories and finished products to markets.
3. Fertilisers and pesticides : Cotton is highly soil-exhaustive. Hence fertilisers are necessary to maintain soil fertility. Pesticides are used to control pest attacks.
4. HYV : High Yielding Variety of seeds like MCU-4, MCU-5, Hybrid-4, Sujata, Varalaxmi etc. help to raise yield of cotton per hectare.

Question 9.
Discuss the steps taken under Green Revolution.
Answer:
In 1964-65, the project taken up for the profuse increase in agricultural produce by the use of modern agricultural methods and infrastructure is known as the Green Revolution. The steps taken up for Green Revolution are :

1. Use of High Yielding Variety (HYV) of seeds
2. Use of irrigation
3. Chemical fertilisers
4. Insecticides and pesticides
5. Command Area development
6. Consolidation of fragmented land holdings
7. Land reclamation
8. Agricultural loans
9. Electrification of rural areas
10. Development of roads and markets
11. Use of agricultural equipments and machineries
12. Establishment of agricultural schools.

The main crops under Green Revolution are : wheat, rice, corn, jowar and potato. Wheat gave absolutely blasting results in Punjab and Haryana and brought about much prosperity of the states.

Question 10.
Why is the Ganga plains of Northern India famous for cultivation of rice?
Answer:
The northern plains of the Ganga basin is one of the best regions for growing rice because :

1. Soil : The region is a plainland, made up of silt, clayey and loamy soils. The nature of the soil is acidic and it has a good water holding capacity.
2. Climate : This region lies in the Hot Wet Tropical climatic region. Average rainfall of 100-250 cm is very suitable for rice growth.
3. Irrigation : The soft soil allows easy construction of wells and tubewells for irrigation. Also, several canals are drawn from the rivers to the adjacent fields.
4. Modern technology : After the Green Revolution in 1963-64, due of high yielding seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, new machines, etc. have been popularised. This has increased production levels.
5. Population : The high population of the region provides adequate and cheap labour.
6. Main food : Rice being the main food of a huge section of people, has high demand.
7. Infrastructure : Improved transport and communication systems, power supply, agro-based industries, etc. have boosted the cultivation of rice in this region.

Question 11.
What are the main problems of Indian agriculture?
Answer:
The main problems of Indian agriculture can be listed as follows :

1. Low yield of crops per hectare.
2. Great number of small and medium farmers as well as landless farmers.
3. Most of the farmers are not properly trained in agriculture.
4. Lack of use of modem technology in agriculture due to lack of knowledge of how to use it.
5. Lack of irrigation facilities.
6. Little use of HYV seeds.
7. Reduction of agricultural land due to high pressure of population.
8. Lack of godowns, cold storages, etc.
9. Very less amount of per capita land for agriculture.
10. Low price of agricultural product compared to cost of production.
11. Lack of loan and insurance facilities.
12. Damage of crops due to floods, droughts and other natural calamities.

Question 12.
Discuss the steps taken for improvement of agriculture in India.
Answer:
The steps taken for improvement of agriculture in India are :
(i) Increase in agricultural land : Agricultural land has been increased by bringing the barren, infertile and reclaimed lands under cultivation.
(ii) Per capita land : Per capita land of the farmers has been increased by stopping fragmentation of land and starting co-operative farming.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) 1 Mark

Question 1.
The most important rabi crop is
(A) Barley
(B) Jute
(C) Wheat
(D) Rice
Answer:
(D) Rice

Question 2.
Which region in India is known as the ‘Rice Bowl of India’?
(A) Indo-Gangetic Plain
(B) Krishna-Godavari Delta region
(C) North-east region
(D) Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Answer:
(B) Krishna-Godavari Delta region

Question 3.
What is the main advantage of transplantation method of sowing rice?
(A) This method ensures maximum utilisation of land
(B) It is helpful in achieving an economical use of water and a higher yield of grain
(C) It helps in early harvesting
(D) The draining of water from the field before harvesting is made easy
Answer:
(B) It is helpful in achieving an economical use of water and a higher yield of grain

Question 4.
Which of the following is the second most important crop of India?
(A) Wheat
(B) Rice
(C) Jowar
(D) Bajra
Answer:
(A) Wheat

Question 5.
Wheat is not suitable for growing in the south because
(A) The winters there are too warm
(B) It is too humid in the south
(C) Rainfall is low there
(D) Dry conditions prevail in early summers
Answer:
(A) The winters there are too warm

Question 6.
The Green Revolution involved the use of high yielding varieties of seeds which require
(A) Less fertilizer and less water
(B) More fertilizer and less water
(C) Less fertilizer and more water
(D) More fertilizer and more water
Answer:
(D) More fertilizer and more water

Question 7.
The Kharif season beings
(A) With the onset of south-west monsoon
(B) At the end of the south-west monsoon
(C) In December
(D) In March
Answer:
(A) With the onset of south-west monsoon

Question 8.
Which of the following states is the leading producer of tea ?
(A) West Bengal
(B) Sikkim
(C) Assam
(D) Karnataka
Answer:
(C) Assam

Question 9.
Percentage of food crops in total cropped area is :
(A) 80
(B) 75
(C) 85
(D) 70
Answer:
(B) 75

Question 10.
The crops of Kharif are :
(A) Wheat
(B) Barley
(C) Rice
(D) Peas
Answer:
(C) Rice

Question 11.
In rice production India’s position in the world is :
(A) First
(B) Second
(C) Third
(D) Fifth
Answer:
(B) Second

Question 12.
The largest producer of rice in India is :
(A) Bihar
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) West Bengal
(D) Karnataka
Answer:
(C) West Bengal

Question 13.
Cotton cultivation is widespread in Maharashtra and Gujarat, mainly because :
(A) It requires moderate rainfall
(B) It requires irrigation
(C) Regur soils retain moisture
(D) There is demand from local cotton mills
Answer:
(C) Regur soils retain moisture

Question 14.
Which of the following is the important cotton producing area of India?
(A) Indo-Gangetic Plain
(B) Deccan Trap
(C) Damodar Valley
(D) Yamuna Valley
Answer:
(B) Deccan Trap

Question 15.
Which state has the largest acreage under coffee?
(A) Kerala
(B) Karnataka
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Odisha
Answer:
(A) Kerala

Question 16.
Cotton’s largest producer in India is :
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Punjab
(C) U.P.
(D) Gujarat
Answer:
(A) Maharashtra

Question 17.
India in production of cotton is :
(A) First
(B) Second
(C) Third
(D) Fourth
Answer:
(D) Fourth

Question 18.
Which state is first in coffee production ?
(A) West Bengal
(B) Assam
(C) Odisha
(D) Karnataka
Answer:
(D) Karnataka

Question 19.
Sugarcane needs :
(A) Hot climate
(B) Cool climate
(C) Moderate climate
(D) Moist climate
Answer:
(D) Moist climate

Question 20.
The largest producer of sugarcane in India is :
(A) Bihar
(B) Punjab
(C) Maharashtra
(D) Uttar Pradesh
Answer:
(D) Uttar Pradesh

Question 21.
Which of the following states has largest number of sugar mills ?
(A) Maharashtra
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Uttar Pradesh
(D) Bihar
Answer:
(C) Uttar Pradesh

Question 22.
Assertion (A) : Production of food grains has increased in India in recent years. Reason (R) : The area under food grains has increased in recent years.
(A) A and R are correct and R explains A
(B) A and R are correct and R does not explain A
(C) A is correct but R is false
(D) A is false but R is true
Answer:
(C) A is correct but R is false

Question 23.
Rainfall of more than 30 cm per month for at least 3 consecutive months is suitable for the cultivation of :
(A) Paddy
(B) Sugarcane
(C) Sunn hemp
(D) Dhencha
Answer:
(A) Paddy

Question 24.
Rainfall of 10-20 cm per months for at least 3 consecutive months is suitable for the cultivation of :
(A) Bajra
(B) Wheat
(C) Pea
(D) None of these crops
Answer:
(A) Bajra

Question 25.
Large area in Gujarat, Maharashtra, A.P. and Karnataka is occupied by:
(A) Jowar
(B) Groundnut
(C) Cotton
(D) Bajra
Answer:
(A) Jowar

Question 26.
Cotton, wheat and millets are most predominant crops of regions receiving monthly rainfall during season as follows :
(A) 10-20 cm for 3-4 months
(B) 10-20 cm for 1 month
(C) 20-30 cm for 3-4 months
(D) 10-20 cm for 2 months
Answer:
(A) 10-20 cm for 3-4 months

Question 27.
Main crops of areas having rainy season during October to December are :
(A) Sugarcane, jute
(B) Paddy, cotton, millets
(C) Wheat, barley and gram
(D) Jowar, pea and lobia
Answer:
(B) Paddy, cotton, millets

Question 28.
Paddy, wheat, jowar, cotton and maize are the main crops of regions receiving monthly rainfalls of 10-20 cm and 20-30 cm for 2 months each during :
(A) Pre-monsoon
(B) Monsoon
(C) Post-monsoon
(D) Whole year
Answer:
(B) Monsoon

Question 29.
Paddy is grown as irrigated crop in areas having \mathbf{2 – 4 months rainy season from :
(A) May
(B) November
(C) September
(D) June
Answer:
(C) September

Question 30.
Major crops of the region having 6-8 months of rainy season beginning from March or April are under :
(A) Paddy and plantation crops
(B) Jute and forests
(C) Sugarcane and grasslands
(D) Tapioca and beans
Answer:
(A) Paddy and plantation crops

Question 31.
The Principal Rice Research Institute of India is located at :
(A) Patna
(B) Cuttack
(C) Kolkata
(D) Shillong
Answer:
(B) Cuttack

Question 32.
Sonalika is an important high yielding variety of :
(A) Rice
(B) Millet
(C) Wheat
(D) Tea
Answer:
(C) Wheat

Question 33.
The second largest tea producing state of India is :
(A) Assam
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Karnataka
(D)West Bengal
Answer:
(D)West Bengal

Question 34.
Tea is mainly exported through the port :
(A) Mumbai
(B) Chennai
(C) Paradeep
(D) Kolkata
Answer:
(D) Kolkata

Question 35.
Wheat cultivation requires rainfall between :
(A) 50-100 cm
(B) 100-150 cm
(C) 150-200 cm
(D) 200-250 cm
Answer:
(A) 50-100 cm

Question 36.
Rice cultivation require temperature between :
(A) 15°-20° C
(B) 20°-30° C
(C) 30°-35° C
(D) above 35° C
Answer:
(B) 20°-30° C

Question 37.
The Principal Tea Research Institute of India is located at :
(A) Kolkata
(B) Jorhat
(C) Chennai
(D) Mumbai
Answer:
(B) Jorhat

Question 38.
Cotton Research centre is located at :
(A) Kanpur
(B) Nagpur
(C) Ahmedabad
(D) Coimbatore
Answer:
(B) Nagpur

Question 39.
Boll weevil, Pink boll-warm are insects of :
(A) Rice cultivation
(B) Wheat cultivation
(C) Sugarcane
(D) Cotton growing
Answer:
(D) Cotton growing

Question 40.
Central sugarcane research centre is located at :
(A) Kanpur
(B) Allahabad
(C) Lucknow
(D) Banaras
Answer:
(C) Lucknow

Fill in the blanks : 1 Mark

1. India has about ________ of the world’s rice cultivating area.
2. India has about ________ of the world’s wheat cutivating area.
3. The ideal temperature for the growth of bajra is ________ .
4. India is the ________ largest producer of jute in the world.
5. Over ________ percent of world’s cotton is produced in India.
6. The highest yield per hectare of jowar is found in the state of ________.
7. The highest yield per hectore of sugarcane has been recorded in the state of ________ .
8. ________ region is known as the rice bowl of India.
Answer:
1. 28%
2. 8%
3. 25°-35°C
4. Second
5. 8%
6. Maharashtra
7. Uttar Pradesh
8. Krishna-Godavari delta

State True or False : 1 Mark

1. The usage of black roasted tea is highest in India. [ ]
2. Coffee grows best in laterite soil. [ ]
3. Jhum cultivation is practised in the north-eastern states of India. [ ]
4. Tamil Nadu is known as the rice bowl of South India. [ ]
5. Aman rice is also known as Vadui. [ ]
6. Karnataka ranks first in highest yield of tea per hectore in India. [ ]
7. Corn is a rabi crop. [ ]
8. Saline soil is best suitable for growing tea. [ ]
9. Boll Weevil pests attack on the wheat crop. [ ]
10. Assam is famous for tea cultivation. [ ]
Answer:
1. True
2. False
3. True
4. True
5. False
6. False
7. False
8. False
9. False
10. True

Match the following : 1 Mark

immmmm
Answer:
immmmmm

Answer in few words : 1 Mark

Question 1.
Why is India called an agro-based country?
Answer:
Agriculture forms the base of the economy.

Question 2.
What kind of agriculture is seen in maximum parts of India ?
Answer:
Subsistence agriculture.

Question 3.
What leads to subsistence agriculture in India?
Answer:
High pressure of population.

Question 4.
What kind of crops are predominantly cultivated in India ?
Answer:
Food crops.

Question 5.
Which factor controls agriculture in India ?
Answer:
Monsoons.

Question 6.
What are the crops growing during summer and monsoon called ?
Answer:
Kharif crops.

Question 7.
What are the crops growing during winter called?
Answer:
Rabi crops.

Question 8.
Paddy belongs to which family of crops ?
Answer:
Grass family.

Question 9.
Where did rice originate first?
Answer:
China or India.

Question 10.
Which state produces about 15 % of rice of the country?
Answer:
West Bengal.

Question 11.
Where is the Central Rice Research Institute located?
Answer:
Cuttack, Odisha.

Question 12.
Rice is a predominant crop of which region of the earth?
Answer:
Tropical and sub-tropical region.

Question 13.
Wheat is a predominant crop of which region of the earth ?
Answer:
Temperate region.

Question 14.
Which is the best soil for growing wheat ?
Anis.
Chemozem.

Question 15.
Which state in India is the largest producer of wheat ?
Answer:
Uttar Pradesh (27%).

Question 16.
Which state yields the highest amount of wheat per hectare?
Answer:
Haryana.

Question 17. Where is India’s Wheat Research Institute located ?
Answer:
Pusha, near Delhi.

Question 18.
Name some millet crops.
Answer:
Jowar, Bajra, Ragi.

Question 19.
Name a plantation beverage crop.
Answer:
Tea.

Question 20.
Which state of India ranks first in tea production?
Answer:
Assam (45%).

Question 21.
How many tea estates are there in Assam?
Answer:
About 750.

Question 22.
Which state ranks second in tea production ?
Answer:
West Bengal (20-25%).

Question 23.
Where are the tea research centres located in India ?
Answer:
Jorhat (Assam) and Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu)

Question 24.
Which is the largest coffee producing state in India ?
Answer:
Karnataka (65%).

Question 25.
Which soil is the most suitable for cultivation of cotton ?
Answer:
Black cotton soil, or regur.

Question 26.
Which is the largest cotton producing state in India ?
Answer:
Gujarat (28%).

Question 27.
Where is the Central Institute of Cotton Research located ?
Answer:
Nagpur in Maharashtra.

Question 28.
Name the countries to which India exports cotton.
Answer:
Japan, USA, Bangladesh and some European countries.

Question 29.
Name the countries from which India imports cotton.
Answer:
USA, Egypt, Iran, Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania etc.

Question 30.
To which family does sugarcane belong ?
Answer:
Grass family.

Question 31.
Which is the largest sugarcane growing state in India ?
Answer:
Uttar Pradesh (45%)

Question 32.
When did the Green Revolution take place?
Answer:
1964-65.

Question 33.
Which states gave the best response to Green Revolution ?
Answer:
Punjab and Haryana.

Question 34.
Which crop gave the best result in Green Revolution ?
Answer:
Wheat.

Question 35.
Which method of farming can be used to stop fragmentation of land holdings?
Answer:
Co-operative farming.