SHORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWER
Question 1: What is agriculture?
Answer: Agriculture is the practice of cultivating crops and rearing animals for human use and consumption.
Question 2: What is the primary activity in agriculture?
Answer: The primary activity in agriculture is farming, which includes growing crops and raising livestock.
Question 3: What are the main types of farming?
Answer: The main types of farming are subsistence farming and commercial farming.
Question 4: What is subsistence farming?
Answer: Subsistence farming is a type of farming in which farmers grow crops for their own consumption and to meet the needs of their families.
Question 5: What is commercial farming?
Answer: Commercial farming is a type of farming in which crops and livestock are produced primarily for sale in the market.
Question 6: What are the different types of commercial farming?
Answer: The different types of commercial farming include plantation farming, mixed farming, and intensive farming.
Question 7: What is plantation farming?
Answer: Plantation farming is a type of commercial farming in which large estates are cultivated with a single crop, usually for export.
Question 8: What is mixed farming?
Answer: Mixed farming is a type of farming in which farmers grow crops as well as rear animals on the same piece of land.
Question 9: What is intensive farming?
Answer: Intensive farming is a type of farming in which high inputs of labor, capital, or both are used to maximize the yield of crops or livestock.
Question 10: What are the factors influencing agriculture?
Answer: Factors influencing agriculture include physical factors (climate, soil, topography), human factors (technology, capital, labor), and economic factors (market demand, government policies).
Question 11: What is shifting agriculture?
Answer: Shifting agriculture, also known as slash-and-burn agriculture, is a traditional agricultural practice in which forests are cleared and burned to create fields for cultivation.
Question 12: What are the advantages of organic farming?
Answer: Advantages of organic farming include healthier food products, environmental sustainability, and reduced dependence on synthetic inputs.
Question 13: What are the challenges faced by farmers in India?
Answer: Challenges faced by farmers in India include small landholdings, lack of access to credit and markets, water scarcity, and price fluctuations.
Question 14: What is the role of government in agriculture?
Answer: The government plays a crucial role in agriculture by providing subsidies, credit, irrigation facilities, and agricultural extension services to farmers.
Question 15: How does agricultural development impact the economy?
Answer: Agricultural development contributes to economic growth by providing employment, raw materials for industries, and a market for manufactured goods.
LONG QUESTIONS AND ANSWER
Question 1: What are the main factors influencing the choice of crops and cropping patterns in India?
Answer:
- The choice of crops and cropping patterns in India is influenced by several factors. These include physical factors such as climate, soil type, and topography, which determine the suitability of crops for specific regions.
- Additionally, socio-economic factors such as market demand, access to irrigation facilities, availability of credit, government policies, and historical agricultural practices also play a crucial role in determining crop selection and cropping patterns.
Question 2: Explain the concept of multiple cropping and its significance in Indian agriculture.
Answer:
- Multiple cropping refers to the practice of growing two or more crops on the same piece of land within a single agricultural year. In India, multiple cropping is widespread, especially in regions with favorable agro-climatic conditions and access to irrigation facilities.
- It helps in maximizing the utilization of land and resources, increasing agricultural productivity, and ensuring a steady food supply throughout the year. Multiple cropping also enhances soil fertility, reduces the risk of crop failure, and provides farmers with additional income opportunities.
Question 3: Discuss the major challenges faced by Indian agriculture in the context of sustainability.
Answer:
- Indian agriculture faces several challenges in terms of sustainability, including environmental degradation, soil erosion, depletion of groundwater resources, loss of biodiversity, and climate change.
- Unsustainable farming practices such as excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, monoculture farming, overexploitation of natural resources, and deforestation have led to long-term environmental and socio-economic consequences.
- Addressing these challenges requires the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, conservation of natural resources, promotion of organic farming, and implementation of effective land and water management strategies.
Question 4: Describe the impact of globalization on Indian agriculture.
Answer:
Globalization has had a significant impact on Indian agriculture, leading to both opportunities and challenges.
- On one hand, globalization has opened up new markets for Indian agricultural products, facilitated the transfer of technology and knowledge, and attracted foreign investment in the agricultural sector.
- On the other hand, it has exposed Indian farmers to increased competition from cheaper imports, fluctuating commodity prices, and volatile market conditions.
- Globalization has also led to the commercialization of agriculture, consolidation of land holdings, and marginalization of small-scale farmers, exacerbating socio-economic inequalities in rural areas.
Question 5: Explain the role of technology in modernizing Indian agriculture.
Answer:
- Technology plays a crucial role in modernizing Indian agriculture by improving productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Advancements in agricultural technology have led to the development of high-yielding varieties of seeds, mechanized farm equipment, precision farming techniques, biotechnology applications, and remote sensing technologies.
- These innovations have enabled farmers to increase crop yields, reduce production costs, minimize environmental impact, and adapt to changing climatic conditions. However, the adoption of technology in agriculture faces challenges such as high initial investment, limited access to resources, and resistance to change among traditional farmers.
Question 6: Discuss the role of cooperatives in Indian agriculture and their contribution to rural development.
Answer:
- Cooperatives play a vital role in Indian agriculture by empowering farmers, enhancing their bargaining power, and promoting collective action for socio-economic development.
- Agricultural cooperatives, such as dairy cooperatives (e.g., Amul), marketing cooperatives, credit cooperatives, and producer cooperatives, provide farmers with access to credit, inputs, markets, and technical assistance.
- By pooling resources and sharing risks, cooperatives help small-scale farmers overcome challenges such as limited access to capital, market inefficiencies, and exploitation by middlemen.
- Additionally, cooperatives promote equitable distribution of benefits, participatory decision-making, and community development initiatives, contributing to rural prosperity and poverty alleviation.
Question 7: Explain the concept of food security and its significance in the context of agricultural development.
Answer:
- Food security refers to the availability, accessibility, and affordability of food for all individuals at all times, ensuring their nutritional needs are met for an active and healthy life. In the context of agricultural development, food security is a fundamental goal that encompasses various dimensions such as food production, distribution, storage, and consumption.
- Sustainable agricultural development plays a critical role in achieving food security by increasing agricultural productivity, improving access to food resources, reducing food losses and wastage, and enhancing nutritional outcomes.
- Addressing the root causes of food insecurity, such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation, requires coordinated efforts from governments, civil society, and the private sector to ensure the right to adequate food for all.
Question 8: Discuss the role of government policies in promoting agricultural development in India.
Answer:
- Government policies play a crucial role in promoting agricultural development in India by providing support, incentives, and regulatory frameworks to farmers, agribusinesses, and rural communities.
- These policies encompass various areas such as agricultural credit, subsidies, price support mechanisms, input supply, irrigation infrastructure, research and extension services, land reforms, and trade policies.
- For example, initiatives like the Green Revolution, National Food Security Mission, Rastriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, and Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana aim to enhance agricultural productivity, ensure food security, alleviate rural poverty, and promote sustainable farming practices.
- Effective implementation of government policies requires coordination among different stakeholders, transparency, accountability, and adaptive governance mechanisms to address emerging challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector.
Question 9: Explain the concept of agricultural marketing and its importance in the agricultural value chain.
Answer:
- Agricultural marketing encompasses the activities involved in the movement of agricultural products from producers to consumers, including processes such as buying, selling, storage, transportation, processing, and distribution.
- It plays a crucial role in the agricultural value chain by connecting farmers to markets, ensuring efficient price discovery, reducing market inefficiencies, and maximizing returns on agricultural produce.
- Agricultural marketing systems vary across regions and commodities, ranging from traditional marketplaces (e.g., mandis) to modern retail outlets, e-commerce platforms, and Agri-logistics networks.
- Effective agricultural marketing requires infrastructure development, market information systems, quality standards, price stabilization mechanisms, and institutional reforms to empower farmers, enhance market access, and promote inclusive growth in rural economies.
Question 10: Discuss the impact of climate change on agriculture in India and the adaptation strategies employed by farmers.
Answer:
- Climate change poses significant challenges to agriculture in India, affecting crop yields, water availability, soil fertility, pest and disease outbreaks, and agricultural livelihoods. Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, and sea-level rise are some of the key climate-related risks facing Indian farmers.
- In response, farmers are adopting various adaptation strategies such as crop diversification, water-saving techniques, soil conservation measures, agroforestry, improved crop varieties, weather forecasting, insurance schemes, and renewable energy technologies.
- Additionally, government initiatives such as the National Action Plan on Climate Change, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, and climate-resilient agriculture programs aim to build farmers’ resilience to climate change impacts, enhance adaptive capacity, and promote sustainable agricultural practices for long-term food security and rural development.
🌟 Why Choose CBSEJanta.com for Class 10 Social Science? 🌟
- ✔ Complete NCERT Solutions: Step-by-step solutions for all subjects!
- ✔ Chapter Summaries & Notes: Simplified explanations for quick understanding.
- ✔ Extra Practice Questions: Test yourself with additional exercises and questions.
- ✔ Interactive Learning: Engaging content to make learning Social Science fun!
📲 Download the CBSEJanta App NOW for instant access to Class 10 Social Science solutions, chapter notes, and practice materials. Ace your Social Science exams with CBSEJanta.com—your all-in-one learning guide! 🌟📖