NCERT Solutions for Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 4 - Agriculture

In this article we have provided detailed solutions for NCERT Class 10 Chapter 4 Geography Questions. The solutions provided here does not only have correct answers but also they are explained in detail so that student can understand the concept or the logic behind the correct answer. These solutions will help students to have a better grip on the NCERT Chapters along with proper concepts and answers.

Exercise : Page No 46

1. Multiple choice questions.

Questions:

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

1. Shifting Agriculture
2. Plantation Agriculture
3. Horticulture
4. Intensive Agriculture

Answer:

b.)Plantation Agriculture

Explanation:

Shifting Agriculture: A clearing in the forest is created during shifting agriculture, typically on the incline of a hill. The trees are burned after being cut down to produce ashes. The seeds are then dispersed in the area and allowed to soak up the rainwater. Farmers move to another forest once the soil loses its fertility.

Plantation Agriculture: Plantation farming removes a sizable portion of the forest and plants the desired crops in large quantities on the newly exposed ground. This farming method aids in boosting the output of the desired product and facilitates better cultivation control.

Horticulture: Horticulture is the science and art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, or ornamental plants. It includes plant conservation, landscape restoration, soil management, landscape and garden design, construction, and maintenance.

Intensive Agriculture: In intensive subsistence agriculture, a small plot of land is farmed with basic tools and more labor. Farmers utilize their small plots of land to produce enough food for their immediate needs, with the surplus being used as currency to exchange for other goods.

Question:

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

1. Rice
2. Millets
3. Gram
4. Cotton

Answer:

c.) Gram

Explanation:

Rabi Crop

Western temperate cyclones greatly influence Rabi Crops during winter because they bring the main rainfall that these crops need. During the winter, i.e., between October and December, these crops are sown and ready by the summer, so they are mainly harvested from April to June. Gram, Peas, and Wheat are perfect examples of Rabi Crops. Some of the states of India where Rabi Crops are grown are Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana. Also, the Green Revolution was one of the reasons which helped the states of Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan to have a primary focus on the production of rabi crops.

India is a country with a wide variety of climatic conditions, soils, and cultivation practices, as a result of which tremendous amounts of crops are grown. Some major crops grown here are wheat, rice, cotton, tea, pulses, millets, and sugarcane.

Rice

Rice is a kind of staple food for people in India. Rice is mainly grown near deltaic regions of India or the coastal regions. It is also grown at places receiving less rainfall, such as Punjab, Haryana, and parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, because of the better irrigation facilities. Places having high humidity, high temperature (more than 25 C), and rainfall not more than 100 cm are best for growing rice. Also, India is the second largest producer of rice after China.

Millets

Millets are a category that is also referred to as coarse grain. Coarse grains are nothing but cereal grains apart from rice and wheat. Millets are very rich in nutrition. The main millets in India are Ragi, Jowar, and Bajra.

Ragi has a high concentration of roughage, iron, calcium, and other micronutrients. It is mainly grown in dry regions and on various black, red, and loamy or sandy soil. Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh are some of India's most important producers of Ragi.

Jowar is also one of the most important crops grown in India and in moist places. So it is mainly a rain-fed crop.

Question:

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

1. Pulses
2. Millets
3. Jawar
4. Sesamum

Answer:

a.) Pulses

Explanation:

The term "leguminous" is used to identify plants that belong to the legume family, including those that yield beans, peas, and lentils. Leguminous crops have bacterial nodules (Rhizobium) in their roots that fix nitrogen.

Leguminous plants have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their roots that convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable ammonia.

Leguminous plant are helpful in many ways:

1. They assist in fixing nitrogen.
2. They are beneficial for crop rotation.
3. They aid in minimizing soil erosion.
4. They help in improving the soil's profile.

Pulses

India is one of the largest producers as well as consumers of pulses in the world. Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra are the main producer of pulses in India. Pulses are the main source of protein in a vegetarian diet. Pulses need less moisture, so they easily survive during dry conditions. Some major pulses grown in India are moong, masoor, urad, and arhar.

Millets

Millets are a category that is also referred to as coarse grain. Coarse grains are nothing but cereal grains apart from rice and wheat. Millets are very rich in nutrition. The main millets in India are Ragi, Jowar, and Bajra.

Ragi has a high concentration of roughage, iron, calcium, and other micronutrients. It is mainly grown in dry regions and on various black, red, and loamy or sandy soil. Jharkhand, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh are some of India's most important producers of Ragi.

Jowar is also one of the most important crops grown in India and in moist places. So it is mainly a rain-fed crop.

2. Answer the following questions in 30 words.

Question:

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

Answer:

Tea is an important beverage crop.

Tea bushes require calm weather throughout the year. It is an example of plantation agriculture. The climatic conditions should be frost-free, moist, and warm. Tea plants grow well in soil rich in nutrients like humus and other organic matter. Tea leaves grow better if it is frequently showered throughout the year. Tea is processed in the garden so that its freshness doesn't get lost. Most of the tea plantations are owned by Indians. Tea was originally introduced during the British era. The industry requires skilled and cheap labor. India became the third largest tea producer in 2008 after Turkey and China. Major states producing tea in India are Kerala, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Tamil Nadu, and Assam.

Question:

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

Answer:

India's climate is ideal for growing rice, the country's main food staple. The primary crop grown in India is rice. Rice thrives in hot, humid climates. The summer and rainy seasons provide a necessary hot and wet climate when rice is grown, from April to October. Because of this, rice is a Kharif crop. India produces 155.682 million metric tonnes of rice annually, coming in second place to China, which produces the most. West Bengal is the main rice-producing state in India. Rice is also grown in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, and other states.

Question:

iii.) Enlist the various institutional reform programmes introduced by the government in the interest of farmers.

Answer:

The Minimum Support Price policy, the availability of crop insurance, subsidies for agricultural inputs and resources like power and fertilizers, Grameen banks, Kissan Credit Cards, and the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme are just a few of the institutional reform initiatives the government has implemented for the benefit of farmers.

Question:

iv.) The land under cultivation has got reduced day by day. Can you imagine its consequences?

Answer:

India has a rural population of about 600 million people who depend on agricultural land covering about 250 million hectares, or less than half an acre per person. A few economists have predicted a bleak future for Indian farmers if farmers continue to grow food grains on holdings that are getting smaller and smaller as the population grows. Farmers in India should diversify their cropping strategies to include high-value crops and cereals. Cropping patterns will change, which will improve incomes as well as the environment.

If the cultivating lands gets reduced day by day then we have to face various problems such as shortage of food, umemployment, inflation in food prices, and load on economy.

3.) Answer the following questions in about 120 words.

Question:

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

Answer:

To improve Indian agriculture, the Indian government started implementing reforms in the 1960s and 1970s. The White Revolution (Operation Flood) and the Green Revolution, which used package technology, were two tactics used to improve Indian agriculture greatly. However, this, too, resulted in the concentration of development in a small number of chosen areas. So in the 1980s and 1990s, a comprehensive land development program was started, including institutional and technical reforms.

A few significant steps in this direction include establishing Grameen banks, cooperative societies, and banks to provide loan facilities to the farmers at lower interest rates. These measures also include providing crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire, and disease. The Government of India also introduced other programs for the benefit of farmers, such as the Kissan Credit Card (KCC) and the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS).

Additionally, radio and television stations began airing special weather reports and agricultural programs for farmers. To prevent farmers from being taken advantage of by speculators and mediators, the government also announces minimum support, and remunerative, and procurement prices for important crops.

Question:

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

Answer:

Globalization is not a recent development. When the colonies were established, it was there. When European traders began visiting India in the nineteenth century, Indian spices were exported to various nations, and farmers in south India were encouraged to grow these crops. It continues to be a significant export from India today.

Indian farmers have faced increased difficulties due to globalization, notably since 1990. Despite being a major producer of rice, cotton, rubber, tea, coffee, jute, and spices, rich countries' agricultural products cannot compete with those of developing nations since their industries are heavily subsidized. The state of Indian agriculture today is uncertain. The improvement of marginal and small farmers' conditions needs to be prioritized if agriculture is to be successful and lucrative.