Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question. Why pulses are grown as rotational crop ? Give two examples.
Answer : (i) Pulses are grown as a rotational crop because these have the capacity to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil into nitrogenous compound. These help to maintain or restore soil fertility. (ii) These need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions.

Question. In which states ‘Jhumming’ is practiced ?
Answer : Jhumming is practiced in north-eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland.

Question. What is Gross Cultivated Area ?
Answer : The net sown area and the land cultivated more than once, together make the ‘gross cultivated area’.

Question. Why Indian coffee is famous ?
Answer : India produces about four per cent of the world’s coffee. Indian coffee is known in the world for its good quality. The Arabica variety initially brought from Yemen is produced in the country which is in great demand all over the world.

Question. What is Dry Land Farming ?
Answer : It is a type of farming which is practised in scanty rainfall areas and where irrigation facilities are inadequate, e.g., cultivation of jowar and bajra.

Short Answer Type Questions

Question. How is ‘Slash and Burn’ agriculture done ?
Answer : ‘Slash and Burn’ agriculture which is also known as Primitive Subsistence farming. It is done on small patches of land. Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their family. When the soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation. This type of shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes. Land fertility in this agriculture is low as farmers do not use fertilisers or other modern inputs.

Question. Write a short note on rubber plantations in India.
Answer : It is a non-food crop and an equatorial crop, but under special conditions, it is also grown in tropical and subtropical areas. It requires moist and humid climate with rain fall of more than 200 cm and temperature above 25 degree Celsius. Rubber is an important raw material. It is mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Garo hills of Meghalaya. India ranks fifth among the world’s natural rubber producers.

Question. Describe any three main features of ‘Rabi crop season.‘ 
Answer : Features of Rabi crop season :
(i) It begins with the withdrawl of monsoon in october. They are sown in winters from October to December.
(ii) At the time of ripening, it requires bright sunshine.
(iii) Crops depend on sub-soil moisture.
(iv) Requires less rainfall between 50-75 cm. Availability of precipitation during winter months due to western temperate cyclones help in success of these crops.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Why an Indian farmer does not want his son to be a farmer ? OR Why farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture resulting in the downfall in the employment in agriculture ?
Answer. Though the GDP rate is increasing over the years, it is not generating sufficient employment opportunities in the country. The growth rate in agriculture is decelerating which is an alarming situation. Today, Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition and our government is going ahead with reduction in the public investment in the agriculture sector, particularly, in irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanisation. Subsidy of fertilisers has decreased leading to an increase in the cost of production. Moreover, reduction in import duties on agricultural products has proved detrimental to agriculture in the country. Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in the agriculture. The farmers have started to face many problems and agricultural land is continuously decreasing. As a matter of fact, they do not want their children to become farmer.

Question. Name any four oilseeds produced in India. Explain the importance of oilseeds in our day to day life. OR Name any four oilseeds produced in India. What is their economic importance ? Answer. Main oilseeds produced in India are :
(i) Groundnut
(ii) Mustard
(iii) Coconut
(iv) Sesam Economic importance of oilseeds :
(i) Most of these are edible, and used as a cooking medium in the form of oil.
(ii) Extracted oil is also used as raw material for manufacturing a large number of items like paints, varnishes, hydrogenated oil, soaps, perfumes, lubricants, etc.
(iii) Oil cake which is the by product, obtained after the extraction of oil from oilseeds is an excellent cattle feed.
(iv) Oil cake is also used as a fertiliser.

Question. Explain the favourable climatic conditions required for the production of rubber. Also mention the states producing rubber.
Answer. (i) Temperature : It is a tree of the tropical forests, and requires a constant high temperature above 25°C. Thus, the rubber tree cannot be grown at high altitudes.
(ii) Rainfall : It needs heavy and well distributed rainfall throughout the year. The plant needs rainfall of more than 200 cms.
(iii) Soil : The plant requires alluvial or laterite soil areas of production. India ranks fifth among the world’s natural rubber producers. The state of Kerala is the largest producer of rubber in India. Kerala accounts for about 91% of the total area under rubber plantation. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and the Andaman and Nicobar islands including the Garo Hills of the Himalayas are the other producers.