Class 9 Economics Chapter 1 HOTS Questions - Economics

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) Questions

• In modem fanning inputs like chemical fertilisers, pesticides, HYV seeds are required. Farmers need more cash to obtain these things.
• HYV seeds need plenty of water to produce best results. So, farmers have to arrange for irrigation of their plants which again need more capital.
• Since modern farming is machine oriented, so farmers need to spend heavy cash on the purchase of machinery like tractors, threshers, etc.
• Labour is also required in modem farming which again need money.

Q2: How are the farmers in Palampur able to grow more crops from the same land?
Ans:

• The farmers in Palampur practise multiple cropping. They grow atleast two main crops, many are growing potato as the third crop.
• The main reason why farmers are able to grow three different crops in a year in Palampur is due to the well-developed system of irrigation.
• Farmers in the village also use modern farming methods for higher yields which are possible only from a combination of HYV seeds, irrigation, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, etc.Some of the farmers have bought farm machinery like tractors and threshers, which made ploughing and harvesting faster. They have been rewarded with high yields of wheat and other food grains.

Q3: What is the basic constraint in raising farm production? What is the way to overcome this problem?
Ans: Land is the basic constraint in raising farm production. We must know that land area under cultivation is practically fixed. Since 1960, there has been no expansion in land area under cultivation. By then, some of the wastelands in the village had been converted to cultivable land. There exists no further scope to increase farm production by bringing new land under cultivation.
The only way to overcome this problem is to produce more crops from the same amount of land. Multiple farming and use of modern farming methods for higher yield can be helpful in this regard.

Q4: The Green Revolution has adversely affected the environment. Do you agree? Give your opinion.
Ans:

• Although the Green Revolution proved very beneficial for the farmers and the country’s economy, there were also some issues with this period that affected our environment. The use of chemical fertilisers and synthetic herbicides and pesticides dramatically influenced the environment by increasing pollution and soil erosion.
• The new materials added to the soil and plants polluted the soil and water system around the fields.
• Continuous use of groundwater for tubewell irrigation has reduced the water table below the ground. This has created water crisis everywhere.
• The pollution of the soil resulted in the loss of soil fertility.
• The environment was also adversely affected by the Green Revolution due to the consumption of more energy. Environmental resources like soil fertility and groundwater are built up over many years. Once destroyed, it is very difficult to restore them. So, we must take care of the environment to ensure better future.

Q5: How did the Green Revolution in the late 1960s help the Indian farmers?
Ans:

• The Green Revolution in the late 1960s proved to be a boon for the Indian farmers. It introduced them to cultivation of wheat and rice using high yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds.
• Till the mid 1960s, the seeds used in cultivation were traditional ones with relatively low yields. With the introduction of the Green Revolution, HYV seeds began to be used which promised to produce much greater amounts of grain on a single plant.
• The same piece of land would now produce for greater quantities of food grains than was possible earlier. HYV seeds, however, needed plenty of water and also chemical fertilisers and pesticides to produce best results. Farmers used this method and were rewarded with high yields of wheat.
• Some farmers were also encouraged to buy farm machinery like tractors and threshers, which made ploughing and harvesting faster.
• There was a large increase in the production of wheat. Farmers now had greater amounts of surplus wheat to sell in the markets. This strengthened their financial position.

Q6: What is land? Mention some of the ways to sustain it.
Ans: Land is a natural resource. It is most important factor of production. It is required for growing crops, buildings, factories and infrastructure. Land being a natural resource, it is necessary to be very careful in its use. Once destroyed it is very difficult to restore it. Below are given some methods to sustain land:

• We should make minimum use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. Use of bio compost should be encouraged.
• Multiple cropping or growing more than one crop on a piece of land during the year should be practised. It is the most common way of increasing production on a given piece of land.
• Modern farming methods should be used but in a judicious manner, in order to make land sustainable.
• Afforestation should be encouraged as it reduces the chances of soil erosion. At the same time, the practice of community agriculture system will also be helpful to a great extent.

Value-based Questions (VBQs)

Mention three advantages of multiple cropping.
Ans:

• Multiple cropping means growing more than one crop on a piece of land during the year. It is the most common way of increasing production on a given piece of land. Its advantages are given below:
• This technique makes effective use of inputs such as soil, water, fertilisers, etc. Thus, output per unit area increases with manifold returns to the farmers.
• Multiple cropping can be done in annual food crops, fodders, vegetables, fruit plants and perennial crops.
• With multiple cropping the risk of total loss from drought, pests and diseases is reduced.

Q8: What do you mean by modern farming? Mention some of its features.
Ans: Modern farming means traditional farming with the facilities of modern agricultural equipments and technology. It is a way to increase production. Some of the features of this type of farming are:

• By using modern farming methods farmers are able to increase the yields of primary crops such as rice and wheat. As a result, the price of food has declined. The rate of increase in crop yields generally keeps pace with population growth, and the number of people who consistently go hungry is slightly reduced.
• This boost in food production has been mainly due to scientific advances and new technologies, including the development of new crop varieties, the use of pesticides and fertilisers, and the construction of large irrigation systems.
• It has helped in increasing the fertility of the soil. Now seeds are sown according to the fertility of the soil so that maximum yields may be procured.