Chapter 5 Land Resource and Agriculture

Q Mention the land use categories in India

(i) Forest -

About 22% area of India is under forests. Area under actual forest cover is different from area classified
as forests. The area classified as forests is the area which the government has identified and
demarcated for forests growth.

(ii) Land put to non-agricultural uses –

Land under settlement, infrastructure loads, canals) industries, shops are included in this category. An
expansion of secondary and tertiary activities would lead to increase in this category of land use.

(iii) Barren and waste land –

It included hilly terrain, deserts, ravines etc which cannot be brought under cultivation with the available
technology.

(iv) Area – under permanent pasture and grazing land –

This type of land is owned by the village panchayat or the government. Only small proportion of this
land is privately owned.

(v) Area under miscellaneous trees and groves.

The land under orchards and fruits trees are included in this category. Much of this land is privately
owned. It is not included in net sown area.

(vi) Cultivable waste land –

Any land which is left uncultivated for more than few years is included in this category. It can be
brought under cultivation after improving it.

(vii) Current fallow –

This is the land which is left without cultivation for one or less than one year. The land which is left
uncultivation because of maintaining soil fertility.

(viii) Fallow other than the current fallow –

This is the cultivable land which is left uncultivated for more than a year but less than five year.

(ix) Net sown area –

The physical extent of land on which crops are sown and harvested is known as net sown area.
Q How do the change in the economy effect the change in land use? Explain.

(i) The size of the economy grows over time as a result of increasing population, change in income
level, available technology. As a result pressure on the land will increase with time and marginal land
would come under use.

(ii) The composition of the economy would undergo a change over time. The secondary and
territory sectors usually grow much faster than the primary sector specially the agricultural sector. This
process would result in a gradual shift of land from agricultural uses to not agricultural uses. The
agricultural land is used for building purposes.

(iii) The contribution agricultural activates reduce over time. The pressure on land for agricultural
activities does not decline. The number of people that the agricultural sector has to feed is increasing
day by day. On other hand share in GDP is declining from the agricultural sector.

(iv) India has undergone major changes within the economy over the past four or five decades and
this has influenced the land use in the country.

Q What are the changes took place in land use pattern during 1960 – 61 and 2008-09.

1 During 1960-61 and 2008-09 area under forests, non-agricultural uses, current fallow and not
sown are shown on increase where as Westland, land under pastures, cultivable waste land shown
declining trend.

2 The rate of increase is the highest in case of area under non-agricultural uses because of
development of industries and service sector and expansion of related infrastructure expansion of both
urban and rural settlements

3 Forest area increases by demarcation of forest area where as actual forest cover not increase
much.

4 The increase in net sown area a recent phenomena due to use of cultivable waste land for
agricultural purpose.

5 As the pressure on land increased both from the agricultural and non-agricultural sector, the
waste land and cultivable waste land have shown declining trend.

6 The decline in pasture land and grazing land can be explained by encroachment due to
expansion of cultivation on common pasture land.

Q What do you many by common property resources?

(i) CPR can be defined as community’s natural resources where every member has the right of
access and usage with specified obligation.

(ii) Community forests, pasture land, village water bodies and other public space are included in
CPR.
(iii) CPR provide folder, fuel, fruits, nuts, fiber, medicinal plants etc.

(iv) CPR is source of livelihood of the landless and marginal farmer and other weaker sections.

(v) CPR is very important for women as they have to devote long hours in collecting fuel and fodder.

Q How is land resources are more crucial to the livelihood of the people depending on agriculture in
India. Explain.

i) Agriculture is a purely land based activity unlike secondary and tertiary activities. Contribution
of land in agricultural output is more compared to contribution in output in other sectors. Thus lack of
access to land is directly correlated with incidence of poverty in rural areas.

ii) Quality of land has a direct bearing on the productivity of agricultural, which is not true for other
activities.

iii) In rural areas, aside from its value as a productive factors land ownership has a social value and
serve as a security for credit, natural hazards or life contingencies and also adds to the social status.

Q What is intensity of cropping? Name any four states in which the intensity of cropping is high.

Q What are the reason for uneven distribution of intensity of cropping?

The intensity of cropping refers to the number of crops raised on a field during an agriculture year. The
total cropped area as percentage of the net sown area gives measures of cropping intensity.

1 Punjab - 189% 2. Himachal Pradesh - 170%, 3 Haryana - 168%

4 West Bengal - 166%, 5 U.P - 150% , 6 Mizoram - 100%

Reasons for uneven distribution –

1 Irrigation appears to be the principal determinant of the intensity of cropping.

2 Fertility of soil

3 Workability

4 Pressure of population

5 Modern yielding variety of seeds.

State any two characteristics each of the three distinct cropping seasons of India.

1 Kharif season –

(i) Kharif season started with the onset of the monsoon

(ii) It generally run between June to September

(iii) Rice, Maize, Ragi, Jowar, Bagara, cotton, jute are the major crops of this season.

2 Rabi Crop –

i) This season begins with the onset of winter

ii) It begins in October and November and ends in March & April.

iii) Wheat, Green, Rape seeds, mustard and barely are its major crops of this seasons.

2 Zaid seasons –

(i) Zaid is short growing season of summer season

(ii) It run from March to June

(iii) The cultivation of watermelon, cucumbers, fruits, vegetables and fodder crops are largely grown
in this season.

Q Classify the Indian farming into two groups on the basis of source of moisture for crops. Write two
features of it.

Q What is dry land farming? Describe three features of dry land and wet land farming.

Indian farming can be classify into two groups –

1 Irrigated farming

2 Rainfed farming (Barani)

1 Irrigated farming

(i) It depends on irrigation

(ii) Irrigation protect the crops from adverse effects of soil moisture deficiency.

(iii) Irrigation provide soil moisture to maximum possible area.

(iv) Through irrigated farming we achieve higher productivity as well as high production

(v) It also increase cropping areas.

2 Rainfed (Barani) farming –

It depends on rain and divided into two categories.

(i) Dry land farming –

(a) When rain water is the only source of moisture for the crops and the rainfall is less than 75 cms
is called dry land farming.
(b) Draught resistant crops or the crops require less water for this growth like Jowar, Ragi, Gram are
grown.

(c) This type of farming practices various measures of soil moisture conservation and rain water
harvesting.

(ii) Wetland farming –

(a) The rainfall is in excess of soil moisture requirement of plant during rainy season.

(b) Such reasons may face flood and soil erosion hazards.

(c) Various water intensive crops such as rice, jute , sugarcane are grown.

Q What do you mean by Green Revolution?

Introduction of package technology in Indian agriculture comprising HYV seeds, along with chemical
fertilizers. In irrigated areas of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat.
Assumed supply of moisture through irrigation was base for the success of new technology which
increased the food grain production at very faster rate. The agricultural growth is known as Green
Revolution.

Q Describe three main achievements of the Green Revolution in India.

(i) The most remarkable achievement of Green Revolution was increase in production of food
grains.

(ii) Increase in mechanisation of agriculture in India.

(iii) Increase in gross irrigated area.

Q Describe three main components of green revolution.

1 Irrigation - It led to increased agricultural production and productivity.

2 High Yielding varieties of seeds - Wide spread use of HYV seeds of wheat, Jawar, Maize
increased their production and made the country self dependent.

3 Fertilizers - Use of chemical fertilizer has increased agricultural production but it also polluted
land and water resources.

4 Farm Mechanization

5 Credit and marketing faculties

6 Use of pesticides and insecticides

7 Intensive area under development programme.

Q Establish relation between growth of agricultural output and technology.

Growth of agricultural out put –

1 There has been a remarkable increase in agricultural output during the last fifty years.

2 Production of many crops like wheat and rice has increased at impressive rate.

3 The production of sugarcane, oil seeds and cotton has also increased at a fast pace.

4 India ranks first in the production of rice, wheat, jute, milk.

5 India is second largest producer of rice, wheat, ground nut sugarcane and vegetables.

Expansion of irrigation –

1 It introduced modern agricultural technology like HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and
farm machinery.

2 The net irrigated area has increased from 208.5 lakh to 546.6 lakh hectors over the period
between 1950-51 and 2000-01.

3 Consumption of chemical fertilizers has increased 15 times per hector. Consumption of

chemical fertilizer in India was 90 Kg in 2001-02 which was equal to the consumption in the world.

4 In the irrigated areas of Punjab and Haryana, the consumption of chemical fertilizer is higher
than the national average.

5 Since the HYV seeds are vulnerable to pests and diseases, the use of pesticides has increased
significantly since 1960s.

Q What are the major problems of Indian agriculture?

1 Dependence on Erratic Monsoon –

Irrigation cover only 33% of the cultivated area in India. The crop production in rest of the cultivated
land depend on rainfall. The poor performance of South-west monsoon also affects adversely the
supply of canal water for irrigation. Drought is common phenomena in the low rainfall areas which may
also experience occasional floods. The Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan experienced occasional
flood in 2006.

2 Low productivity –

The yield of the crops in the country in low in comparison to the international level. Per hector output
of rice, wheat, cotton and oilseeds in India is much lower than that of USA, Russia, Japan. Because of
the very high pressure on the land resources, the labour productivity in Indian agriculture is also very
low in comparison to international level.
2 Lack of land reform –

Indian farmers had been explained for a long time as there had been unequal distribution of land.
Among three revenue system operational during British period i.e. Mahalwari, Ryotwari and Zamindari
the last one was most exploitative for the farmers. After independence land reforms were not
implemented effectively due to lack of strong political will.

4 Small size and fragmentation of land holdings –

There are large numbers of small and marginal farmers in the country. More than 60% of the ownership
holding have a size smaller than one hector. About 40% of the farmers have operational holding size
smaller than 0.5 hector. The average size of land holding are shrinking because of increasing population
pressure. The fragmented and small size of land holding are uneconomic. There are some states where
consolidating of holdings has not been carried out even once.

5 Lack of Commercialisation –

A large numbers of farmers produce crops for self consumption. These farmers do not have enough
land resources to produce more than their requirements. Most of the farmers grow food grains.
Modernisation and commercialization of agriculture have taken place in the irrigated areas.

6 Vast under employment –

There is a massive under employment particularly in the unirrigated areas. There is seasonal
unemployment ranging 4 to 8 month. Even in the cropping season work is not available. Hence the
people engaged in agriculture do not have opportunity to work round the year.

7 Degradation of land –

One of the serious problems that arises out of faulty strategy of irrigation and agricultural development
is degradation of land resources. The soil fertility is depleting particularly in irrigated areas. A large part
of the land has lost because of salinosation of soil and water logging. Excessive use of chemical fertilizer,
insecticide, pesticides has increased the toxic amount in the soil profile.

Q Fragmentation of land holdings and degradation of cultivable land are the serious problems of Indian
agriculture. Suggest and explain the measures to overcome these problems.

Ans. Point 48.7

Suggestion for fragmentation of land holdings –

(i) Consolidation is require time to time

(ii) Co-operative farming system is to be adopted

(iii) Stress on joint family norms

(iv) Tiller should be the owner of the land.

Suggestion for degradation of land –

(i) Adopt new techniques of agriculture

(ii) New methods of irrigation should be adopted

(iii) Emphasize on crops rotation Leguminous crops should be grown

Q ‘Erratic Monsoon and Indebtness are the major problems of India agriculture’. Suggest and explain
the measures to overcome these problems.

Suggestion to solve the problem of erratic monsoon are –

(i) Expansion of irrigation facilities

(ii) Efficient and maximum use of rain water is essential

(iii) Improve methods of irrigation should be adopted

(iv) Rain water harvesting is required to recharge ground water

(v) Linkage of rivers

(vi) Maintenance of existing water bodies such as lakes, ponds, tanks

(vii) Availability of drought resistant good quality seeds.

Suggestion for solving the problem of rural indebtedness

(i) Minimum support price

(ii) Provision of subsidies

(iii) Cheap loan facilities for their purchases and marriage

(iv) Gramin Banks and Cooperative banks should be opened more in rural areas

(v) Storage facilities should be provided to farmers

(vi) To supplement the economy of the farmers, rearing of animals should encourage.

Q Why is agricultural productivity still low in India? Write three main reasons.

1 Environmental factors –

(i) Dependency of monsoon

(ii) Erratic nature of monsoon

(iii) Variation in annual distribution of rain fall

(iv) Seasonal distribution of rainfall is highly variable

2 Economic factors –

(i) Low investment in agriculture

(ii) Low input in HYV seeds and fertilizers

(iii) Lack of transport facilities

(iv) Lack of marketing facilities

(v) Poor condition of farmer

3 Institutional Factors –

(i) Fragmentation of land holdings

(ii) Small size of land holdings

(iii) Land tenure system does not favour large scale investment by tenants.

4 Technological factors –

(i) Agricultural technique are old and inefficient

(ii) Mechanisation is very limited

(iii) Limited use of HYV seeds

(iv) Farmers used traditional methods of maintaining soil fertility

(v) Irrigation facilities are limited.

Q Explain three steps which India must take to stand in the global competition in agriculture.

1 India has to use its vast potential of agriculture in systemic and planned manner

2 India should develop some of the techniques, which the developed countries are using today.

3 Use of biotechnology and creation of a unified market for farm products within the country will
also facilitate the competitive spirit.

Q Explain the importance of food grains in the Indian economy. Describe three characteristics of rice
cultivation.

(i) Food grains crops occupy about two third of the total cropped area in the country
(ii) Food grains are classified as cereals and pulses

(iii) Cereals include rice, wheat, jowar, bajara, maize and ragi.

(iv) India accounts for about one fifth of the total production of pulses in the world.

(v) Green and Tur are the main pulses cultivated in India.

Characteristics of rice cultivation –

(i) Rice is a staple food for the majority of population in India

(ii) It is considered to be a crop of tropical humid region.

(iii) It has about 3000 varieties of rice which are grown in different agro-climatic region.

(iv) In West-Bengal farmer grow three crops of rice called ‘aius’, ‘aman’ and ‘boro’.

(v) India contribute 22% of rice production in the world.

(vi) India is second largest producer of rice in the world.

Describe few characteristics of wheat cultivation.

(i) Wheat is the second important cereal crop

(ii) It is a crop of temperate zone. In India it is a rabi crop and grown in winter season.

(iii) India produces about 12% of the world production of wheat

(iv) About 85% of the total area under wheat is concentrated in north and central India.

(v) It is rainfed crop in Himalayan high lands and malwa plateau

(vi) Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are five leading wheat
producing states and others are Bihar, Himachal and J & K.

(vii) The yield of wheat is very high in Punjab and Haryana (4000 Kg per he.).

Q Describe the cultivation of cotton in India under the following heads.

(a) Climate (b) Production (c ) position of India in cotton production in the world.

(a) Climate and soil –

1 Cotton is a tropical crop grown in Kharif season in India.

2 It requires high temperature light rainfall of 60 – 85% cm or irrigation

3 210 frost free days, bright sunshine require for its optimum growth.
4 Black soil is ideal for growing cotton.

(b) Production and position

1 India ranks 4th and accounts 8.3% of the world production of cotton.

2 Indi’s cotton production was 9.7 million bales in 2000-01.

(c ) Growing areas –

There are three cotton growing areas –

(i) Gujarat and Maharashtra in the west

(ii) Plateau of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in south

(iii) Punjab, Haryana and north – west Rajasthan

Q Describe the few characteristics of growing of sugarcane.

1 Sugarcane is a tropical crop and cultivated in humid and sub-humid climates.

2 India was second largest producer and accounts 23% of the world sugar cane production after
Brazil in 2008-09.

3 Uttar Pradesh is leading producer and other producers are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.

Q Describe the few characteristics of cultivation of tea.

1 Tea is a plantation and beverage crop.

2 It is grown over undulating topography of hilly areas and well drained soil in humid and sub
humid tropics in India.

3 India is leading producer of tea and accounts 28% of the world’s production.

4 India is 3rd largest exporter of tea after Sri Lanka and China.

5 The major tea producing areas are Brahmaputra valley of Assam, Sub Himalayan region of West
Bengal, Nilgiri and cardamom hills of western ghats.

6 Assam is a leading producer of tea and other are West Bengal and Tamil nadu.

Q Write few characteristics of coffee plantation

1 Coffee is a tropical plantation crop

2 India produces 3.2% coffee of the world and rank 7th in the world production.
3 There are three varieties of coffee i.e. Arabica, robusta and liberica.

4 Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu are major producer of coffee.

Q Rice and wheat producing traditional areas presently over lap each other”. Justify the statement
with three arguments.

(i) Wheat and rice growing areas overlap because the climate condition required for these crops do
not vary significantly.

(ii) Rice can be grown in areas with low rainfall provided irrigation facilities are available. That’s
why rice cultivation is increasing in Punjab, Haryana and Terai region of Uttaranchal.

(iii) In north – west plains new and hybrid varieties of wheat is grown because of irrigation. Punjab
and Haryana have become wheat land of the country.

Q “Increasing use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides degraded the soil.” Write four
effect of its use to support the statement.

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides degrade the soil by destroying their
natural, physical, chemical and biological properties.

1 Chemical fertilizer destroy micro-organism of the soil which are agents of nitrogen conversion in
the soil

2 They increase sterility

3 They reduce water holding capacity of the soil and also leave their traces in the crop which act
as slow poison for human beings.

4 Organic phosphate compound used to kill insects can stay for longer time in soil destroying
micro-organism.

Q. Describe four methods to protect land from degradation.

1 Afforestation

2 Control over grazing

3 Limited use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides.

4 The cement industry, line kilns, grinding industries emits large quantity of dust which settle
down on the soil. So these industries should be located away from the arable land residential areas.

5 Industrial affulents should release after giving them proper treatment. 6 Controlling over
irrigation.

Q Explain food security. Suggest two effective measures of food security.

Food security refers to the access of all people at all time to the food require for healthy life.

Measures of food security –

1 The fast rate of growth in food production started with the introduction of hybrid varieties of
wheat and rice.

2 Grain stock pole

3 Food aid from various countries

4 Importing food grain.