CBSE Class 10 Social Science Agriculture Assignment

INTRODUCTION

The term agriculture has been derived from two latin words : Ager meaning land and Culture meaning tillage of the soil. Agriculture thus means cultivation of land and rearing of animals. It is a primary activity, which produces more of the food for our consumption and other raw materials for various industries.
Some of them are even exported to foreign nations. The following chapter will explain agriculture in detail.

9.1 IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

(i) Nearly two-third of India’s population is dependent on agriculture.
(ii) Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian economy
(iii) Agriculture accounts for 26% of the gross domestic product.
(iv) Agriculture ensures food security for the millions and raw materials for Industries.
(v) Agriculture’s share in providing employments and livelihood to the population continues to be as high as 63 percent in 2001.
Factors that make India a unique country from agricultural point of view :
It has vast expense of level land, rich soil, wide climatic variations suited for various types of crops, ample sunshine and a long growing season.

9.2 TYPES OF FARMING

(a) Primitive Subsistence Farming :
(i) Practised in few pockets of India
(ii) Practised on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks, and family/community labour works on these patches.
(iii) Depends upon monsoon, natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown.
(iv) It includes ‘Slash and burn’ agriculture under which 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.
(v) Land productivity is low as the farmer does not use fertilisers or other modern inputs.

(b) Intensive Subsistence Farming :
(i) Practised in areas of high population pressure on land.
(ii) It is labour intensive farming, where high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher production.
(iii) The farmers continue to take maximum output from the limited land in the absence of alternative source of livelihood, there is enormous pressure on agricultural land.

(c) Commercial Farming :
(i) Use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g. high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides.
(ii) Degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another.

(d) Plantation :
(i) A single crop is grown on a large area.
(ii) Has an interface of agriculture and industry , cover large tracts of land, using capital intensive inputs, with the help of migrant labourers.
(iii) Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Sugarcane, Banana, etc. are important plantation crops.
(iv) A well-developed network of transport and communication connecting the plantation areas, processing industries and markets plays an important role in the development of plantations.

9.3 CROPPING PATTERN

9.4 MAJOR CROPS

(a) Rice :
Importance :
(i) Second largest producer of rice in the world after China.
(ii) Staple food crop of a majority of the people in India.

Climatic Conditions :
(i) A tropical kharif plant, requires high temperature and high humidity.
(ii) Requires high temperature, (above 25°C)
(iii) Rainfall- above 100 cm, irrigation required in areas of less rainfall.

Production areas :
(i) Is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions.
(ii) Irrigation has made it possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall such as Punjab. Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan.

(b) Wheat :
Importance :
(i) Second most important food crop.
(ii) Main food crop in north and north-western part of the country.

Climatic Conditions :
(i) Is a Rabi crop requires a cool growing season and a bright season at the time of ripening.
(ii) Requires 50-75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed over the growing season.

Production areas :
Two important wheat - growing zones – the Ganga-Satluj plains, black soil region of the Deccan.
Major producing states : Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Bihar.

(c) Millets : Are known as coarse grain, have a very high nutritional value.

Jowar :
(i) Third most important food crop.
(ii) Rain-fed crop, mostly grown in the moist areas.
(iii) Maharashtra is the largest producer followed by Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Bajra :
(i) Grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil.
(ii) Rajasthan is the largest producer followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.

Ragi :
(i) Crop of dry regions.
(ii) Grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils.
(iii) Karanataka is the largest producer. Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh are also important producers.

(d) Maize :
(i) Coarse grain, used both as food and fodder.
(i) A kharif crop, temperature required between 21° - 27° C and grows well in old alluvial soil.
(iii) Major producing states are Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

(e) Pulses :
Importance :
(i) Major source of protein.
(ii) India is the largest producer as well as the consumer of pulses in the world.
(iii) Being leguminous crops helps in restoring fertility of the soil.
(iv) Needs less moisture and survive even in dry conditions. Major Pulses : Tur or Arhar, Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas, Gram Producing states : Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka.

9.5 NON - FOOD CROPS

(a) Rubber :
(i) An equatorial crop, also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas.
(ii) Requires moist and humid climate, rainfall more than 200 cm and temperature above 25ºC.
(iii) India ranks fifth among the world’s natural rubber producers.
(iv) Is mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andaman and Nicobar islands and Garo hills of Meghalaya.

(b) Fibre Crops :
Cotton :
(i) India believed to be the original home of the cotton plant, is the third largest producer of cotton in the world.
(ii) Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan plateau, requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost free days and bright sunshine.
(iii) A kharif crop, requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
(vi) Major producing states are Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Jute :
(i) Golden fibre grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains.
(ii) High temperature is required.
(iii) West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya are the major producing states.
(iv) is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts.

9.6 FOOD CROPS OTHER THAN GRAINS

(a) Sugarcane :
(i) Main source of sugar, gur, khandsari and molasses.
(ii) Requires hot and humid climate.
(iii) Temperature between 21° – 27°C, rainfall required is between 75-100cm.
(iv) Needs manual labour in large number.
(v) India is the second largest producer of sugarcane in the world.
(vi) Major producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

(b) Horticulture Crops :
Importance :
(i) India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world.
(ii) India is a producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits.
(iii) Mangoes of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, oranges of Nagpur and Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya), bananas of Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, lichi and guava of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, pineapples of Meghalaya, grapes of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, apples, pears, apricots and walnuts of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are in great demand the world over.
(iv) India produces about 13 per cent of the world’s vegetables. An important producer of pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal and potato.

(c) Oilseeds :
Importance :
(i) Are edible and used as cooking mediums, some of these are also used as raw material in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.
(ii) Largest producer of oilseeds in India.
(iii) Covers about 12% of the total cropped area.
(iv) Main oil-seeds produced in India are groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, castorseeds, cotton seeds, linseed and sunflower.

Groundnut :
(i) Most important oilseed of India.
(ii) Accounts for about ½ of the major oilseeds.
(iii) Major producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra.

Sesamum (Til) :
(i) A rain fed crop.
(ii) Kharif crop in the north and Rabi crop in the south. Castor seed is grown both as rabi and kharif crop.

(d) Tea :
(i) An example of plantation agriculture, an important beverage crop introduced in India by the British.
(ii) Grows well in tropical and sub-tropical climates endowed with deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
(iii) Require warm and moist frost-free climate, frequent showers evenly distributed over the year.
(iv) A labour intensive industry, requires abundant cheap and skilled labour.
(v) Major producing states are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura and also teaproducing states in the country.
(vi) India is the leading producer as well as exporter of tea in the world.

(e) Coffee :
Importance :
(i) India produces about four per cent of the world’s coffee production.
(ii) The Arabica variety produced in the country is in great demand all over the world.
(iii) Is cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

9.7 TECHNOLOGICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS

(a) Technological Reforms :
(i) The Persian wheel has now been replaced by the water-pump, plough by the tiller and harrow drawn by tractors, bullock-carts by trucks.
(ii) All weather roads and faster means of communications have been introduced.
(iii) Flooding of fields are now been replaced by drip irrigation and use of sprinklers.
(iv) Chemical fertilizers, Bio-fertilizers, HYV and early maturing quality seeds have been developed.

(b) Institutional Reforms :
(i) Government abolished the Zamindari system followed with consolidation of small land holdings.
(ii) Widespread use of radio and television for providing knowledge to farmers in new and improved techniques and special weather bulletins have been introduced.
(iii) Crop insurance to protect the farmers against loses by natural and man-made calamities.
(iv) Availability of capital or investment through banks and cooperative societies.
(v) Minimum support price for various crops ensures minimum price for the crop grown by the farmers.
(vi) Kissan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are some schemes introduced by the government for the benefit of farmers.

9.8 GROWTH RATE IN AGRICULTURE IS DECELERATING

(i) Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition.
(ii) Reduction in the public investment in agriculture sector particularly in irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanisation.
(iii) Subsidy on fertilisers is decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.
(iv) Reduction in import duties on agricultural products have proved detrimental to agriculture in the country.
(v) Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in the employment in agriculture.

“CONTENT AHEAD IS NOT IN CBSE SYLLABUS”

9.9 FOOD SECURITY

The population is rising continuously, on other hand food production is declining. We have to ensure a food stock so that we can help the people during natural calamities or under normal circumstances.
(i) In comparison to 1950-51, in 1999-2000 the food production has risen up to four times and the population up to three times. We have build a food stock of 44.7 billion tones. But by 2020 the population is likely to be around 1300 million. We have to ensure the food grains for such a tremendous population.
(ii) In 1999-2000,26% of India’s population was below poverty line. In absolute terms it is around 260 million, keeping this in mind we have to produce enough food so that we can fulfill the necessities of below poverty line families in the future also. In order to ensure availability of food to all sections of society our government carefully designed a national food security systems. It consist of two components (a) Buffer stock and (b) Public Distribution System (PDS). PDS is a programme which provides food grains and other essential commodities at subsidised prices in rural and urban areas. Food Corporation of India procures foodgrains from the farmers at the government announced minimum support price (MSP) and supplies it to the poor people through PDS.

(a) Minimum Support Price and Problems Associated with it :
Minimum support price (MSP) is the price of a crop announced by the government before the sowing season starts. The government commits to purchase any quantity of crop that farmers like to sell at this promised price.
(i) Subsidies have now reached unsustainable levels and have also led to large scale inefficiencies in the use of these scarce inputs.
(ii) Excessive and imprudent use of fertilizers and water has led to waterlogging, salinity and depletion of essential micronutrients in the soil.
(iii) The high MSP, subsidies in input and committed FCI purchases have distorted the cropping pattern.
(iv) Wheat and paddy crops are being grown more for the MSP they get. Punjab and Haryana are foremost examples. This has also created a serious imbalance in inter crop parities.

(b) Food production has started to show a declining trend”.
Food production in India was 209 million tones in 1999-2000 but has declined to 199 million tones in 2000 01.
(i) Farmers are gradually shifting from cultivation of food crops to cultivation of cash crops.
(ii) With the rising population more and more land is used for construction, reducing the land under cultivation.
(iii) More and more use of fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides has led to the degrading of soil.
(iv) Scarcity of water has led to reduction in area under irrigation.
(v) Inefficient water management has led to water logging and salinity.

(c) Biotechnology/ Gene revolution - Need and how it’s going to help the farmers:
Agricultural techniques which are environmentally sustainable. With the rising use of fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides the land has started to show a negative impact. It is getting degraded.
(i) Use of Biotechnology will increase yield per hectare, we can easily meet our food, fodder and fiber requirements.
(ii) Will make the crops more resistant to insects and diseases, reducing the dependence on insecticides.
(iii) Genetically modified crops requires less water, will reduce the cost of production and will improve the environment.
(iv) Is beneficial to both rich and poor farmers and is more environmentally safe and sustainable.

(d) Green Revolution :
The Green Revolution – Leading to an increase in the yield of crops
The White Revolution – Leading to an increase in the output of milk.
The Yellow Revolution –L eading to an increase in the yield of oil seeds.
The Blue Revolution – Leading to an increase in the output of fish and fish products.

Special emphasis was laid to increase the production of food grains in India with the help of modern technology. This is known as Green Revolution. It includes large scale use of HYV seeds, development of irrigation facilities, use of fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides, land reforms, rural electrification and farm mechanization. But today it’s under controversies. It is degradation due to overuse of chemicals, drying aquifers and vanishing biodiversity.

9.10 GLOBALIZATION AND IT’S IMPACT ON INDIAN AGRICULTURE

Integrating our agriculture with worlds agriculture or opening the agriculture market for complete world.

(a) Positive impacts :
Better access to reasonable and abundant capital as well as modern technology from different parts of the world.

(b) Negative impacts :
So far Indian government has been providing artificial protection in form of subsidy to Indian farmers. But now Indian farmers are exposed to new international environment where it will be tough for them to exist.

(c) Steps to prepare our farmers to face the global competition :
(i) Every effort should be made to raise the efficiency of the abundant human labour and to equip them with new and advanced tools.
(ii) Indian farmers should diversify their cropping pattern from cereals to high- value crops. This will increase incomes and reduce environmental degradation simultaneously.
(iii) Government should develop modern techniques (Bio-technology) and should provide it to farmers.
(iv) Creation of an unrestricted unified national market.
(v) Development of a well-knit infrastructure like roads, electricity, irrigation, credit facilities to farmers and traders.

MCQ Questions for Class 10 Social Science Agriculture

Question : What part of Total population of India is engaged in agriculture activities:
a) 2/3   (b) 1/3   (c) 2/5   (d) 1/4
Answer : A

Question : Which one of following is not Agro-based industry:
(a) Cement Industry    (b) Jute Industry   (c) Cotton textile Industry   (d) Sugar Industry
Answer : A

Question : It’s type of Agriculture where farmers clear a patch of and produce rereads and other food crops to sustain that family that is:
(a) Commercial farming   (b) Extensive farming   (c) Modern farming   (d) Slash and burn farming
Answer : D

Question : Agriculture where a single crop is grown on large area:
(a) Shifting Agriculture   (b) Plantation agriculture   (c) Horticulture   (d) Extensive Agriculture
Answer : B

Question : Which one of the following is ‘Kharif’ crop:
(a) Wheat   (b) Mustered   (c) Maize   (d) None of these
Answer : C

Question : Maximum consumption of natural rubber is made of –
(a) Auto tyres & tubes   (b) Footwear   (c) Beats and hoses   (d) Dipped goods
Answer : A 

Question : India is the larger producer as well as the consumer of the world?
(a) Wheat   (b) Maize   (c) Pulses   (d) Millets
Answer : C

True/False

Question : Why is India called an ‘Agriculture' country?
Answer : Two thirds of India’s populations are engaged in agricultural activities. Agriculture is a primary activity.

Question : Which factors are playing an important role in the development of a plantation?
Answer : A well developed network of transport and communication connecting the plantation areas, processing industries and markets.

Question : Which are the major wheat producing states of India?
Answer : Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Question : Which factors contribute to increasing production of maize?
Answer : Use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds, fertilizer and irrigation have contributed to the increasing production of maize.

Question : Suggest any one measure to promote handspun khadi in India.
Answer : Government should promote it by reducing the cost of khadi. By launching scheme for its promotion.

Question : Name the major maize producing states of India.
Answer : Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Question : Name the two major beverage crops grown in India. Describe their growing areas.
Answer : Two major beverage crops: Tea and coffee
Tea growing areas:- Assam, west Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala
Coffee producing states: Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Short Questions for Class 10 Social Science Agriculture

Question : What are three cropping seasons of India? Explain any one in brief.
Answer : India has three cropping seasons:-
(1) Rabi crops:
- Shown in winter from October to December.
- Harvest in summer from April to June.
- Main crop-wheat, barley, peas, gram, mustard
(2) Kharif crop:
 - Grown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country.
 - Harnest in September-October.
- Maize jawar , bajra ,cotton, Soya been
(3) Zaid crops:
-sown between rabbi and kharif seasons.
 Crops: watermelon, Muskmelon, cucumber, fodder etc.

Question : Discuss three main impacts of globalization on Indian agriculture.
Answer :   1. Indian agriculture products are not able to compete with the developed countries.
2.Bad condition of marginal and small farmers
3.Caused land degradation due to overuse of chemicals.

Question : Which are the two main cropping seasons in India? Mention their growing and harvesting periods.
Answer :  The two main cropping seasons are Rabi and Kharif:
a. Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June.
b. Kharif crops are sown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country and harvested in September-October.

 

 

Question : Distinguish between rabi and kharif season? (At least two differences)
Answer :  Difference between rabi and kharif season. (any two diff.)

Question : What is Horticulture? Name the fruits grown in India?

Answer : “Horticulture:-It is an art of cultivating fruits and vegetables. India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. India is the producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits.”

India is known for

- Mangoes - Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

- Oranges - Nagpur and Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya),

- Bananas- Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu,

-Lichi and guava- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,

-Pineapples - Meghalaya,

-Grapes - Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra

-Apples, pears, apricots, and walnuts - Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are in great demand all over the world.

India produces about 13 per cent of the world vegetables. It is an important producer of pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal and potato.

 

Question : Distinguish between Subsistence and Commercial agriculture.

Answer : 

 

Question : What are the four important fiber crops of India? Describe any one of them.

Answer :  four important fiber crops of India are:

Cotton, Jute, Hemp and Natural silk.

Cotton:-

(a) India is known as the original home of the cotton plant.

(b) India is the third largest producer of cotton in the world.

(c)Cotton grows well in the drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan plateau.

(d) It requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210-frost-free days and bright sun-shine for its growth.

(e) It is Kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature.

(f) Major Cotton producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh,Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

                                         OR

Jute:-

(a) Jute is known as the golden of fiber.

(b) It grows well on well-drained fertile soil in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year.

(c) High temperature is required during the time of growth.

(d) Major jute producing states are West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa and Meghalaya.

(e) It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artifacts.  

 

Question :  Define plantation agriculture. Explain any four characteristics of plantation agriculture. 

Answer : Plantation Agriculture: Plantation agriculture is a form of commercial farming in tropical and sub-tropical regions.where crops are grown for profit. Large land areas are needed for this type of agriculture. It was introduced by the British in India.

Characteristics:

a. A single crop is grown over a large area.

b. It refers to the large scale, capitalised and often highly centralised cultivation in the plantations of cash crops for export.

c. All produce is used raw material in industries such as tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, banana etc. 

d. Plantation has interface of agriculture and industry both.