4.2   Text Questions :

Multiple choice questions :

i) Which one of the following describes a system of agriculture where a single crop is grown on 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) Milets                               c) Gram                      d) Cotton

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

a) Pulses                          b) Jowar                                c) Milets                      d) Sesamum

iv) Which one of the following prices is announced by the government in support of a crop?

a) Maximum support price                          b) Minimum support price
c) Moderate support price                           d) Influential support price .

Answers :
i) Plantation Agriculture                   ii) Milets                              iii) Pulses                          iv) Minimum support price  .

II   Answer the following Questions in about 30 words:

1.  Name one important beverage crop and specify the geographical conditions required for its growth.
Ans: An important beverage crop is tea :
a) The tea plant grows well in tropical and sub-tropical climates.
b) It requires deep fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
c) Tea bushes require warm and moist frost- free climate throughout the year.
d) Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure the continuous growth of tender leaves.

2.  Name the staple crop of India and the regions where it is produced.
Ans:
Rice is the stable crop of India. Regions where it is produced:
a) Plains of North and North-Eastern India.
b) Coastal areas and
c) Deltaic regions.

3.  Enlist the various institutional reform programmes introduced by the government in the interest of farmers.
Ans:
  Institutional Reform programmes:
a) Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease.
b) Establishment of Grameen banks, Cooperative societies.
c) Bank for providing loan facilities to the farmers at a lower rate of interest.
d) Kisan Credit Card (KCC).
e) Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS).
f) Subsidy on electricity, purchase of seeds and fertilizers.

4.  The land under cultivation has to be reduced day by day. Can you imagine its consequences?
Ans:
Reduction of land under cultivation is a matter of serious concern. It could give rise to some serious problems such as:
a) To feed our ever-growing population intensive cultivation will be practiced. Overuse of fertilisers will lead to salinity and depletion of micro-nutrients in the soil.
b) Food production will be reduced. Our country will have to import food grains.
c) Disguised unemployment will prevail in the agricultural sector.
d) Agro-based industries will have to import raw materials. It will increase the cost of food items and other daily need products.

5.  Suggest the initiatives taken by the government to ensure an increase in agricultural production.
Ans:
Initiatives taken by the government to ensure an increase in agricultural production:
a) Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
b) Agricultural universities .
c) Veterinary services.
d) Animal breeding centres.
e) Horticulture development in the field of meteorology and weather forecast.
f) Improving rural infrastructure.

6.  How did the partition of the country in 1947 affect the jute industry?
Ans:

a) The partition of India left the country without any means to feed the ever growing population.
b) India got the bulk of the jute mills.
c) The jute producing areas were left in East Pakistan.
d) India was unable to take full advantage of the jute industries until it had increased its own production of jute to supply to the mills.
e) India became dependent on East Pakistan for raw materials.

7.  Describe the impact of globalization on Indian agriculture.
Ans:
Impact of globalization on Indian agriculture:
a) A major transformation took place with the introduction of high yielding varieties of crops.
b) This innovation, coupled with investments in infrastructure, expansion of credit, marketing and processing facilities led to the significant increase in the use of modern inputs.
c) The “green revolution” has been followed by the “white revolution”, leading to an increase in the output of milk, oil seeds and fish and fish products.
d) Export of major agricultural commodities has been liberalized.
e) The latest development, the “gene revolution”, will also benefit the farmers by raising agricultural productivity.

8.  Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice.
Ans:
Geographical conditions for the growth of rice:
a) It is a Kharif crop, requiring a high temperature, i.e. above 250
b) It needs high humidity and rainfall above 100cm , in areas of less rainfall  it grows with the help of irrigation.
c) Rice is grown in the plains of North and North-Eastern India, coastal areas and deltaic regions.
d) Development of a dense network of irrigation canals and tube wells has made it possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall such as Punjab and Haryana .