Class 10 Geography Chapter 1 Practice Question Answers - Contemporary India - II

Q1: In which season are rabi crops sown in India?
Ans: The rabi crops are sown in India in winter from October to December.

Q2: Which is the leading sugarcane producer state of India?
Ans: Uttar Pradesh is the leading producer of sugarcane in India.

Q3: What term is used for grouping of small land holdings with bigger ones?
Ans: The term used for grouping of small land holdings with bigger ones is consolidation of land holdings.

Q4: What is White Revolution related to?
Ans: White Revolution is related to the production of milk. It is also called Operation Flood.

Q5: Name the two most important staple food crops in India. Mention the geographical conditions required for their growth.
Ans: The two most important staple food crops in India are rice and wheat.
The geographical conditions required for the growth of rice are as follows.

• It requires high temperature—above 25°C.
• It requires high humidity for its growth.
• It requires annual rainfall above 100 cm.

The geographical conditions required for the growth of wheat arenas follows.

• It is a rabi crop and needs cool growing season.
• It requires bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
• It also requires 50 to 70 cm of annual rainfall, well distributed over the growing season.

Q6: Mention any three geographical conditions required for rice cultivation in India.
Ans: The term used for grouping of small land holdings with bigger ones is consolidation of land holdings.

Q7: Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of wheat in India.
Ans: The term used for grouping of small land holdings with bigger ones is consolidation of land holdings.

Q8: Mention the geographical conditions required for the growth of cotton along with any four cotton-producing states.
Ans: Cotton is a kharif crop. India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plants. The geographical conditions required for the growth of cotton are as follows.

• Cotton grows in the drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan Plateau.
• Cotton needs high temperature, light rainfall, 210 forest-free days and bright sunshine for its growth.
• It requires 6 to 8 months to grow.
• Major cotton-producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka.

Q9: Define plantation agriculture. Explain any four characteristics of plantation agriculture.
Ans: Plantation is a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area. The following are the four characteristics of plantation.

• Plantations have very large areas.
• Capital-intensive inputs are used.
• Migrant labourers are used.
• All the produce is used as raw material in respective industries.
• The development of plantations is the result of a well-developed network of transport and communication, connecting plantations to markets

Q10: How has irrigation changed the cropping pattern in many regions of India. Explain with examples.
Ans: Irrigation has changed the cropping pattern of many regions, with farmers shifting to water-intensive and commercial crops.

• Due to the success of the Green Revolution in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan, these states have started growing rabi crops like wheat, barley, peas and gram.
• Paddy has become an important crop of Punjab and Haryana. In states like Assam, West Bengal and Orissa, three crops of paddy are grown in a year. They are Aus, Aman and Boro.
• The development of canal irrigation and tubewells has made it possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall such as Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan.
• The use of modem inputs like HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds, fertilizers and irrigation has contributed to high production of maize.

Q11: What is intensive subsistence farming? Write three features of intensive subsistence farming.
Ans: Intensive subsistence farming is practised in areas of high density of population, where pressure of population is high on agricultural land.
The following are the three features of this type of farming.

• It is labour-intensive farming.
• High doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher , production.
• Farm size is small and uneconomical due to the division of land.
• Farmers take maximum output from the limited land.
• Farmers do not have any alternative source of livelihood. Thus, there is enormous pressure on agricultural land.

Q12: Write the geographical conditions required for the cultivation of rice and tea.
Ans: Various initiatives taken by the central and state governments to ensure the increase in agricultural production after independence are as follows.

• Collectivism, consolidation of holdings, cooperation and abolition of zamindari, etc. were given priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after independence.
• Land reforms were the main focus of the First Five Year Plan.
• The Green Revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution (Operation Flood) were some of the strategies initiated to improve Indian agriculture.
• Minimum Support Price Policy, provisions for crop insaurance, subsidy on agricultural inputs and resources such as power and fertilisers, Grameen banks, Kissan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme are some of the reforms brought by the government.
• Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural universities, veterinary services and animal breeding centres, horticulture development and weather forecast etc. were given priority for improving Indian agriculture.
• The term used for grouping of small land holdings with bigger ones is consolidation of land holdings.

Q13: Explain any five characteristics of commercial farming in India.
Ans: The following are the five characteristics of commercial farming in India.

• The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of high doses of modern inputs, like HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides, in order to obtain higher productivity.
• The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another, for example rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana but in Odisha it is a subsistence crop.
• Plantation is also a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area.
• Plantations cover large areas using capital intensive inputs with the help of migrant labourers.
• In India tea, coffee, rubber, sugar cane and banana are important plantation crops.

Q14: Write four geographical requirements each for the growth of tea and sugar cane.
Ans: For geographical conditions required for the growth of tea.
The following are the geographical conditions required for the production of sugar cane.

• It is a tropical as well as sub-tropical crop.
• It needs hot and humid climate with temperature of 21°C to 27°C.
• It requires annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm.
• It can grow on a variety of soil.

Q15: “Agriculture and industry are complementary to each other.” Justify the statement.
Ans: Agriculture and industry are complementary to each other in the following ways.

• Agro-based industries in India have given a major boost to agriculture by raising its productivity.
• Industry has contributed to agriculture by using the implements like irrigation pumps, fertilisers, insecticides, pesticides, plastic and PVC pipes, machines tools, sprinkles and drip irrigation systems.
• Thus, development and competitiveness, and manufacturing industry has not only assisted agriculturalists in increasing their productivity, but also made production process very efficient.
• In the present day world of globalisation, industry needs to be more efficient and competitive.
• Today we are not only self-sufficient in agriculture but our farmers are able to compete with other farmers in the world. Today, we are able to produce goods for international market.

Q16: Why is the growth rate in agriculture decelerating? How did the Government of India make efforts to modernise agriculture? Explain.
Ans: The growth rate in agriculture is decelerating due to the following reasons.

• Reduction in public investment in agriculture especially for irrigation, power, rural roads, etc.
• Subsidy on fertilisers has decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.
• Reduction in import of agricultural goods
•  Lack of employment in agriculture
•  Erratic nature of monsoon rainfall

To modernise agriculture the Government of India has taken concerted efforts like the following.

• Setting up of Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
• Setting up of agricultural universities, veterinary services and animal breeding centres.
• Horticulture development
•  Research and development in the field of meteorology and weather forecast
• Improvement of rural infrastructure

Q17: Describe the conditions required for the cultivation of tea. Name two major tea-producing states of India.
Ans: Tea is an important beverage crop. The following are the conditions required for its cultivation.

• The tea plant grows in tropical and sub-tropical regions, which have deep, fertile and well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
• Tea bushes require warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year.
• Tea bushes require frequent showers throughout the year to ensure continuous growth of tender leaves. It needs abundant, cheap and skilled labour.
• Two major tea-producing states are Assam and West Bengal.

Q18: Suggest any five measures to enhance the agricultural production in India
Ans: Agricultural is an important economic activity in our country. I would like to suggest the following measures to enhance the agricultural production in India.

• Each district and block can be made self-sufficient in agricultural production if the government provides proper agricultural infrastructure, irrigation facilities, electricity, etc.
• Loans can be provided at lower interest rates to cultivator.
• The use of latest techniques can be encouraged.
• Instead of concentrating only on rice or wheat, the food crop with a better growth potential in that particular area must be encouraged.
• attracting foreign investment in agriculture and also free trade in grains will not only increase agricultural production, but will also create massive employment and reduce poverty in rural areas.
• Farmers should diversify their cropping pattern from cereals to high-value crops.

Q19: Name the crop of which India is the largest producer and consumer.
Ans: India is the largest producer and consumer of the pulses in the world.

Q20: What are the two cotton-producing states of north India? Describe four geographical conditions required for the growth of cotton.
Ans: The two cotton-producing states of north India are Punjab and Haryana. It is a kharif crop. For geographical conditions required for the growth of cotton.