Improvement in Food Resources Class 9 Notes Science Chapter 12

Introduction

Improvement in Food Resources refers to the methods and practices aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of food produced through agriculture and animal husbandry to meet the growing demand for food in a sustainable manner.

Various Food Resources

As living organisms, food is essential for our growth, health, and overall development. We obtain food primarily from plants and animals through agriculture and animal husbandry. With India's growing population, the demand for food is rising, and it is crucial to find ways to increase food production efficiently.

This chapter focuses on:

• The need to improve crop and livestock production to meet food demand.
• Successes like the Green Revolution and the White Revolution boosted food and milk production.
• The importance of sustainable practices in agriculture and animal husbandry to protect natural resources.
• The connection between food security, increased production, and access to food.
• Scientific methods like mixed farming, intercropping, and integrated farming improve yields without harming the environment.

Improvement in Crop Yields

Food Crops and their Nutritional Benefits

• Cereals like wheat, rice, maize, millet, and sorghum give us energy because they have carbohydrates. 
• Pulses such as gram, pea, black gram, green gram, pigeon pea, and lentils are good for protein. Oilseeds like soybean, groundnut, sesame, castor, mustard, linseed, and sunflower give us important fats. 
• Vegetables, spices, and fruits have vitamins, minerals, and a bit of protein, carbohydrates, and fats. And there are crops like berseem, oats, or Sudan grass that we grow to feed animals like cows and sheep.

Different Types of Crops in India

Factors Affecting Crop Growth

• Different crops need different climates, temperatures, and amounts of sunlight.
• Photoperiods, which mean how long there is sunlight, affect how plants grow and when they flower.
• Plants get their energy from photosynthesis, a process that relies on sunlight.
• During the Kharif season (June to October), crops like paddy, soybean, pigeon pea, maize, cotton, green gram, and black gram grow well.
• For the Rabi season (November to April), crops like wheat, gram, peas, mustard, and linseed do well.
• Three important stages in farming that lead to more production are choosing the right seeds, taking care of the crops, and protecting them.

Major Activities for Improvement:

1. Crop Variety Improvement: Enhancing crop varieties to optimize yields.
2. Crop Production Improvement: Implementing practices to enhance overall crop production.
3. Crop Protection Management: Implementing measures to protect crops from damage and losses.

Crop Variety Improvement

Methods for Crop Variety Improvement

• Breeding for useful characteristics: Selecting varieties or strains with traits like disease resistance, fertilizer response, product quality, and high yields.
• Hybridization: Hybridisation refers to crossing between genetically dissimilar plants. This crossing may be intervarietal (between different varieties), interspecific (between two different species of the same genus), or intergeneric (between different genera).
• Genetic modification: Introducing specific genes to provide desired characteristics in crops.

Cultivation practices and crop yield are related to weather, soil quality, and availability of water. Since weather conditions such as drought and flood situations are unpredictable, varieties that can be grown in diverse climatic conditions are useful.   

The factors for which variety improvement is done are:

• Higher yield: Increasing crop productivity per acre.
• Improved quality: Considering specific quality factors like baking quality, protein quality, oil quality, and preserving quality.
• Biotic and abiotic resistance: Developing varieties resistant to diseases, insects, nematodes, drought, salinity, waterlogging, heat, cold, and frost.
• Change in maturity duration: Shorter crop duration allows for multiple rounds of crops in a year, reduces production costs, and facilitates easier harvesting.
• Wider adaptability: Developing varieties that can grow in diverse environmental conditions to stabilize crop production.
• Desirable agronomic characteristics: Developing varieties with desired traits for higher productivity. 

Crop Production Management

In India, similar to many other countries where agriculture is prominent, farming can vary from small-scale to large-scale operations. 

• Financial conditions impact farming practices and technology adoption.
• Correlation between inputs, yields, and purchasing capacity.
• Production practices are categorized as 'no cost,' 'low cost,' and 'high cost.'
• Farmer's financial capacity influences cropping systems and practices

Nutrient Management

Plant Nutrients

• Essential nutrients: Plants require nutrients from air, water, and soil for growth and development.
• Macro-nutrients: Nutrients needed in large quantities, such as carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and those supplied by the soil.
• Micro-nutrients: Nutrients needed in small quantities, also supplied by the soil.

Deficiency of these nutrients affects reproduction, growth, and susceptibility to diseases in plants.

Manure

Manure contains large quantities of organic matter and also supplies small quantities of nutrients to the soil. Manure is prepared by the decomposition of animal excreta and plant waste. Manure helps enrich the soil with nutrients and organic matter and increases soil fertility.Manure

Benefits of Manure

• Enriches soil: Manure contains organic matter and nutrients that improve soil fertility.
• Enhances soil structure: Organic matter in manure improves soil structure, increasing water-holding capacity in sandy soils and aiding drainage in clayey soils.
• Environmentally friendly: Using manure as a fertilizer reduces reliance on chemical fertilizers and helps in recycling farm waste.

Types of Manure

(i) Compost and vermicompost:

• Composting: Decomposition of farm waste material like livestock excreta, vegetable waste, etc., to produce nutrient-rich compost.
• Vermicomposting: Using earthworms to speed up the decomposition process and produce vermicompost.

Vermicomposting(ii) Green manure:

• Growing plants like sun hemp or guar before sowing crop seeds.
• Plowing these plants into the soil turns them into green manure.
• Enriches the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus.

Fertilizers

• Fertilizers are commercially produced plant nutrients. 
• Fertilizers supply nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. 
• They are used to ensure good vegetative growth (leaves, branches and flowers), giving rise to healthy plants. 
• Fertilizers are an important factor in the higher yields of high-cost farming.     

Fertilizers

Benefits and Considerations of Fertilizers

• Promote plant growth: Fertilizers supply essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, supporting healthy vegetative growth.
• Higher yields: Proper use of fertilizers can contribute to increased crop productivity in high-cost farming.

Proper Application and Precautions

• Careful application: Fertilizers should be applied in the correct dosage and timing to ensure their effective utilization by plants.
• Pre- and post-application precautions: Following recommended guidelines and taking precautions can prevent excess fertilizer runoff and water pollution.

Continuous use of fertilizers without replenishing organic matter can harm soil fertility and negatively affect microorganisms. Balancing the short-term benefits of fertilizers with the long-term benefits of using manure is important for maintaining soil fertility and achieving optimal crop yields.

Organic Farming

• Organic farming minimizes or avoids the use of chemicals like fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides.
• Emphasizes maximum use of organic manures and recycled farm-wastes.
• Utilizes bio-agents such as blue-green algae for biofertilizers.
• Deploys neem leaves or turmeric for grain storage as bio-pesticides.
• Incorporates healthy cropping systems like mixed cropping, inter-cropping, and crop rotation.
• These cropping systems benefit insect, pest, and weed control while providing essential nutrients to crops.

Irrigation

Proper irrigation is very important for the success of crops. Ensuring that the crop gets water at the right stages during its growing season, can increase the expected yield of a crop. 

IrrigationDifferent kinds of irrigation systems include wells, canals, rivers and tanks.

(i) Wells: These are of two types namely dug wells and tube wells. In a dug well, water is collected from water-bearing strata. Tube wells can tap water from the deeper strata. From these wells, water is lifted by pumps for irrigation.

(ii) Canals: This is usually an elaborate and extensive irrigation system. In this system canals receive water from one or more reservoirs or from rivers. The main canal is divided into branch canals having further distributaries to irrigate fields.

(iii) River lift system: In areas where canal flow is insufficient or irregular due to inadequate reservoir release, the lift system is more rational. Water is directly drawn from the rivers for supplementing irrigation in areas close to rivers.

(iv) Tanks: These are small storage reservoirs, which intercept and store the run-off of smaller catchment areas.  

Cropping Patterns

It includes different ways of growing crops so as to get the maximum benefit. These different ways include the following:

These different ways include the following:
(i) Mixed cropping: Mixed cropping is growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land, for example, wheat + gram, wheat + mustard, or groundnut + sunflower. This reduces disease risk and gives some insurance against the failure of one of the crops.

(ii) Inter-cropping: It involves growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field in a definite pattern. A few rows of one crop alternate with a few rows of a second crop, for example, soybean + maize, or finger millet (bajra) + cowpea (lobia). The crops are selected such that their nutrient requirements are different. This ensures maximum utilization of the nutrients supplied and also prevents pests and diseases from spreading to all the plants belonging to one crop in a field. This way, both crops can give better returns.

(iii) Crop rotation: The growing of different crops on a piece of land in a pre-planned succession is known as crop rotation. Depending upon the duration, crop rotation is done for different crop combinations. The availability of moisture and irrigation facilities decide the choice of the crop to be cultivated after one harvest. If crop rotation is done properly then two or three crops can be grown in a year with a good harvest.

Crop Protection Management  

• Weeds: Weeds are unwanted plants in the cultivated field, for example, Xanthium (gokhroo), Parthenium (gazar ghas) and Cyperus rotundas (motha). They compete for food, space, and light. Weeds take up nutrients and reduce the growth of the crop. Therefore, the removal of weeds from cultivated fields during the early stages of crop growth is essential for a good harvest.
• Insect pests: Generally insect pests attack plants in three ways:
  (i) They cut the root, stem, and leaf.
  (ii) They suck the cell sap from various parts of the plant.
  (iii) They bore into stems and fruits. They thus affect the health of the crop and reduce yields.
• Diseases: Caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which can spread through soil, water, and air, leading to reduced crop health.

Methods of Control

• Pesticides: Chemical pesticides such as herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides are commonly used to control weeds, pests, and diseases, but their excessive use can have negative environmental impacts.
• Mechanical removal: Physical methods like manual weeding can be employed to control weeds.
• Preventive measures: 
  - Seed Bed Preparation: Properly preparing the seed bed and sowing crops on time helps prevent weed growth.
  - Intercropping & Crop Rotation: Planting multiple crops together or rotating crops to minimize the impact of pests and diseases.
  - Resistant Varieties: Using crop varieties that are resistant to pests and diseases.
  - Summer Ploughing: Deep ploughing of fields in summer to destroy weeds and pests, reducing their impact on future crops.

Storage of Grains

Storage Loss Factors

• Biotic Factors: Insects, rodents, fungi, mites, and bacteria.
• Abiotic Factors: Inappropriate moisture and temperatures in storage.

Quality degradation, weight loss, poor germinability, and discoloration in produce result in poor marketability of stored grains.

Control Measures

Preventive Measures

• Implemented before storing grains.
• Strict cleaning of produce.
• Proper drying in sunlight and shade.
• Fumigation with pest-killing chemicals.

Systematic Warehouse Management

• Essential for controlling storage losses.
• Involves organized treatment of grains and systematic warehouse practices.

Animal Husbandry

Animal husbandry refers to the scientific management of animal livestock, encompassing activities like feeding, breeding, and disease control. 

• Involves cattle, goat, sheep, poultry, and fish farming.
• Increasing population and living standards lead to higher demand for milk, eggs, and meat.
• Growing awareness emphasizes the humane treatment of livestock.
• New limitations in livestock farming due to ethical considerations.
• Need for improvement in livestock production to meet increasing demands.

Cattle Farming

Cattle Husbandry

• Cattle husbandry serves two purposes: milk production and draught labour for agricultural work.
• Indian cattle consist of two species: Bos indicus (cows) and Bos bubalis (buffaloes).
• Milk-producing females are called milch animals, while those used for farm labor are called draught animals.
• Milk production can be increased by extending the lactation period.
• Exotic breeds have long lactation periods, while local breeds show resistance to diseases.

Cattle Farming

Proper Care and Shelter

• Cows and buffaloes require proper cleaning and shelter for humane farming and milk production.
• Regular brushing and well-ventilated roofed sheds are necessary.
• The cattle shed should have a sloping floor for cleanliness and drainage.

Feeding Requirements

• Dairy animals have two types of food requirements: maintenance and milk-producing.
• Animal feed includes roughage (fiber) and concentrates (protein-rich).
• Properly balanced rations with all nutrients are necessary for cattle.
• Feed additives containing micronutrients promote health and milk output.

Diseases and Control

• Cattle are susceptible to various diseases that can reduce milk production.
• External parasites cause skin diseases, while internal parasites affect the stomach, intestines, and liver.
• Infectious diseases caused by bacteria and viruses are also a concern.
• Vaccinations are given to farm animals to protect against major viral and bacterial diseases.

Poultry Farming

Poultry farming involves raising domestic fowl for egg production and chicken meat.
Improved poultry breeds are developed for specific purposes: layers for egg production and broilers for meat.

Indian and foreign breeds are cross-bred to develop new varieties with desirable traits which are :

• Number and quality of chicks.
• Dwarf broiler parent for commercial chick production.
• Summer adaptation capacity and tolerance to high temperatures.
• Low maintenance requirements.
• Reduction in the size of the egg-laying bird with the ability to utilize cheaper diets formulated using agricultural by-products.

Egg and Broiler Production

Broiler Chicken Farming and Management

• Broiler chickens are fed with vitamin-rich supplementary feed for optimal growth rate and feed efficiency.
• Care is taken to prevent mortality and maintain feathering and carcass quality.
• Broilers are raised specifically for meat production and sent to the market.

Importance of Good Management Practices

• Good management practices are crucial for the successful production of poultry birds.
• This includes maintaining appropriate temperature and hygienic conditions in housing and poultry feed.
• Prevention and control of diseases and pests are also important aspects of good management.

Different Requirements for Broilers

• Housing, nutritional, and environmental requirements for broilers are distinct from those of egg layers.
• The ration for broilers is protein-rich with adequate fat, and high levels of vitamins A and K are maintained in their feed.

Disease Prevention and Control

• Poultry fowl are susceptible to diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and nutritional deficiencies.
• Proper cleaning, sanitation, and regular disinfectant spraying are necessary to prevent disease.
• Appropriate vaccination plays a crucial role in preventing infectious diseases and reducing poultry losses during outbreaks.

Fish Production

• Objective: Fish is an affordable protein source in our diet.
• Fish production encompasses various types of fish, including finned true fish, as well as shellfish like prawns and mollusks.
• There are two methods of obtaining fish. The first is through capture fishing, which utilizes natural resources.
• The second method is fish farming, known as culture fishery.
• Fish can be sourced from either seawater or freshwater environments such as rivers and ponds.
• Therefore, fishing can be carried out through the capture or cultivation of fish in marine and freshwater ecosystems.

Marine Fisheries

Marine Fishery Resources in India

• India boasts a vast coastline stretching 7500 km and is rich in deep-sea resources.
• Some well-liked marine fish varieties found in these waters include pomphret, mackerel, tuna, sardines, and Bombay duck.
• Fishing boats equipped with various nets are employed to catch these marine fish.
• To enhance the fishing process, satellites and echo-sounders are used to locate large schools of fish in the open sea, which helps increase the overall catch.

Aquaculture in Seawater

• People grow certain valuable marine fish in seawater through a process called mariculture. 
• Examples of finned fish species that are farmed include mullets, bhetki, and pearl spots. Additionally, shellfish like prawns, mussels, and oysters are also cultivated in these waters. 
• Seaweed is another product that comes from mariculture. Oysters, besides being grown for their meat, are also cultivated for the production of pearls.

Meeting the Increasing Demand

• Depletion of marine fish stocks necessitates the development of culture fisheries.
• Mariculture, the practice of cultivating fish in controlled environments, helps meet the growing demand for fish.

Inland Fisheries

Inland FisheriesFreshwater and Brackish Water Resources

• Freshwater resources include canals, ponds, reservoirs, and rivers.
• Brackish water resources, such as estuaries and lagoons, are important fish reservoirs.
• Capture fishing is conducted in inland water bodies, but the yield is not high.
• Most fish production from these resources is through aquaculture.

Aquaculture in Freshwater Systems

• Fish culture can be combined with rice crops, where fish are grown in the water of paddy fields.
• Composite fish culture systems allow more intensive fish farming.
• Multiple fish species are selected for a single fishpond, each having different food habits to utilize all available food.
• Surface feeders, middle-zone feeders, bottom feeders, and weed eaters are combined to optimize food utilization and increase fish yield.

Challenges in Fish Farming

• Many fish species in composite fish culture only breed during the monsoon season.
• The availability of good-quality fish seed is a major problem in fish farming.
• Hormonal stimulation techniques have been developed to breed fish in ponds and ensure the supply of pure fish seed in desired quantities.

Bee-Keeping

Bee-keeping for honey production is an agricultural enterprise with low investment requirements. 

• Local bee varieties, such as Apis cerana indica and A. dorsata, are used alongside the Italian bee (A. mellifera) for commercial honey production. 
• The quality of honey depends on pasturage, and bee farms or apiaries are established for commercial honey production. 

• Honey production also provides wax for various medicinal preparations. 
• Bee-keeping is an additional income-generating activity for farmers due to its low-investment nature. 

Factors Affecting Honey Quality

• The value and quality of honey depend on the availability of pasturage (flowers) for bees to collect nectar and pollen.
• The taste of honey is determined by the type of flowers available in the vicinity, in addition to a sufficient quantity of pasturage.