Test: The Story of Palampur- 2 - UPSC MCQ

Small scale industries refers to those industries which requires less capital, less labour as well as less equipments for production. Nowadays, people get attracted more to large scale industry as they produce in large number, have skilled labour for working. Hence, opportunities are less in small scale industries.

• Rice: Rice is a Kharif crop, but it is not specifically mentioned as being grown in Palampur.


• Wheat: Wheat is a Rabi crop and not grown during the Kharif season in Palampur.


• Jowar: Jowar is a Kharif crop commonly grown in Palampur.


• Sugarcane: Sugarcane is also a Kharif crop and can be grown in Palampur during the season.

• Palampur being an agricultural village, it is likely that Kharif crops like Jowar and Sugarcane are grown due to the climate and soil suitability.


• Kharif crops are typically sown in the rainy season and harvested in the winter season, making them an important source of income for farmers in Palampur.


• Therefore, based on the options provided, Jowar is the most likely crop grown in Palampur during the Kharif season.

Fixed Capital:

• Definition: Fixed capital refers to the assets and resources that are used in the production process and are not used up in the production of goods and services. They are essential for the production process and are long-term in nature.



• Examples of Fixed Capital:
  
  
  
  • Machines & Tools: Machines and tools are used in the production process and are not consumed in a single use. They are essential for the production of goods and services.
  
  
  • Buildings: Buildings used for production purposes are considered fixed capital as they are long-term assets that are necessary for the production process.
  
  
  • Equipment: Equipment such as computers, vehicles, and other tools used in the production process are examples of fixed capital.
  
  
  
  



• Identification of Fixed Capital: Fixed capital can be identified based on the fact that they are long-term assets that are essential for the production process and are not used up in a single use.

Based on the given options:

• Option A: Money is not considered fixed capital as it is a liquid asset that is used for various purposes including investments, payments, and transactions.


• Option B: Seeds are not fixed capital as they are used in the production of crops but are consumed in the process and do not retain their original form.


• Option C: Machines & Tools are examples of fixed capital as they are essential assets used in the production process and are not consumed in a single use.


• Option D: All of these is not the correct answer as only machines & tools are considered fixed capital in this context.

Therefore, the correct answer is option C: Machines & Tools.

• Land is fixed: One of the primary constraints in raising farm production is the limited availability of land. As the population grows, the amount of arable land remains constant, leading to a decrease in the per capita availability of land for cultivation.


• Increased demand: With the increasing global population, there is a growing demand for food products. However, the limited land resources make it challenging to meet this demand through traditional farming methods.


• Need for sustainable practices: To address the issue of limited land availability, farmers need to adopt sustainable agricultural practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, and agroforestry to maximize the productivity of the land.


• Technological advancements: Implementing modern technologies like precision farming, hydroponics, and vertical farming can help farmers produce more food on limited land, thereby increasing farm production.


• Government support: Governments need to provide support to farmers through subsidies, training programs, and access to credit to help them adopt new technologies and sustainable practices to overcome the constraint of limited land availability.

option ( a) Between October and December is the correct answer. 

Explanation:- For example Jowar & Bajra grow during the rainy season, followed by potatoes between October & December and during the winter season, wheat is sown in the fields. During the rainy season (Kharif) farmers grow Jowar & Bajra. It is followed by the cultivation of Potatoes between October & December.

In the metric system the standard unit of land area is the hectare. A hectare is 10,000 square meters.

• Definition: Multiple cropping refers to the practice of growing more than one crop on a piece of land during the year.


• True or False: True, multiple cropping involves cultivating two or more crops in the same field during a single growing season.


• Benefits:
  
  
  
  • Increases agricultural productivity by maximizing the use of resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients.
  
  
  • Reduces the risk of crop failure as different crops have different growth requirements and are less susceptible to the same pests and diseases.
  
  
  • Improves soil fertility by diversifying crop types and reducing the depletion of specific nutrients.
  
  
  
  


• Examples:
  
  
  
  • Growing a winter crop of wheat followed by a summer crop of soybeans on the same piece of land.
  
  
  • Planting a cover crop like clover in between rows of a main crop like corn to add nitrogen to the soil.
  
  
  
  


• Challenges:
  
  
  
  • Requires careful planning and management to ensure that the different crops do not compete for resources.
  
  
  • May require additional labor and expertise to handle multiple crops simultaneously.
  
  
  • Climate and soil conditions must be suitable for the chosen combination of crops.
  
  
  
  

• Definition: Working capital is the amount of money a company has available to cover day-to-day operations.


• Importance: It is crucial for a company to have sufficient working capital to meet its short-term financial obligations.


• Components: Working capital includes cash, accounts receivable, inventory, and short-term investments.


• Money in hand: When a company has cash in hand, it is considered part of its working capital.


• Usage: Money in hand can be used to pay for expenses such as salaries, utilities, and other operating costs.

Reasons why farmers are able to grow two or three crops in a year:

• A well-developed system of irrigation: This is the main reason why farmers are able to grow multiple crops in a year. With a reliable water supply, farmers can ensure that their crops receive enough water to thrive.


• HYV seeds: High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds have been developed to produce more crops in a shorter amount of time. These seeds are more resistant to diseases and pests, leading to higher yields for farmers.

 

Overall, the combination of a well-developed irrigation system and the use of HYV seeds allows farmers to grow two or three crops in a year, increasing their productivity and income.

• HYV seeds stand for: High Yielding Variety of seeds


• High Yielding Variety of seeds: These are seeds that have been specially developed to produce higher yields compared to traditional seed varieties.


• Characteristics of HYV seeds:
  
  
  
  • They are genetically modified to be more resistant to pests and diseases.
  
  
  • They require specific conditions for optimal growth and yield.
  
  
  • They have a higher nutrient content, leading to better quality produce.
  
  
  
  


• Significance of HYV seeds:
  
  
  
  • Increased agricultural productivity and food security.
  
  
  • Reduced dependency on imports for food supply.
  
  
  • Improvement in farmers' income and livelihoods.
  
  
  
  


• Impact of HYV seeds:
  
  
  
  • Green Revolution in India led to the widespread adoption of HYV seeds.
  
  
  • Boosted agricultural production and transformed the rural economy.
  
  
  • Challenges such as environmental sustainability and genetic diversity have also been raised.
  
  
  
  

• Increased use of advanced agricultural inputs: Farmers are using more advanced agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery to increase their crop yields. These inputs come at a higher cost, contributing to the overall rise in cultivation expenses.


• Government policies: Government policies such as changes in subsidies, taxes, and regulations can impact the cost of cultivation for farmers. In some cases, government policies may lead to an increase in costs for farmers.


• Debt of farmers: Many farmers are burdened with high levels of debt, which can lead to increased costs of cultivation. Farmers may need to borrow money to purchase inputs or cover other expenses, leading to higher overall costs.


• Increase in land area: As the population grows and demand for agricultural products increases, farmers may need to expand their land holdings to meet this demand. Acquiring new land or renting additional land can be costly, contributing to the rising cost of cultivation.

• Buffalo Feeding in Palampur:

• Crops Fed: Jowar and Bajra

• Reasoning:

• Buffalos in Palampur are fed with Jowar and Bajra as these crops are commonly grown in the region and are suitable for the diet of buffalos.

• Fixed Land Area: In Palampur, the land area under cultivation is practically fixed, meaning that it remains relatively constant over time.


• No Expansion: Due to various factors such as population growth, land fragmentation, and limited availability of land, the area available for cultivation does not increase significantly.


• Lack of New Land: Palampur faces constraints in acquiring new land for cultivation, leading to a fixed land area under cultivation.


• Sustainable Agriculture: The fixed land area encourages farmers in Palampur to focus on sustainable agricultural practices and efficient land use to maximize productivity within the limited available land.

The statement is True.

A farmer's plough is indeed an example of fixed capital, which refers to physical assets that are used in the production process over a long period, such as machinery, buildings, and tools.

In Palampur, electricity powers all the tubewells in the fields and is used in various types of small business.