Class 8 Geography Chapter 1 Question Answers - Resources and Development

Q1: Why is agriculture called the mainstay of Indian economy
Ans:

• Agriculture is the mainstay of Indian economy because about 60% of our population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture.
• It provides raw materials to the industries.
• India earns foreign exchange by exporting agricultural products.
• It contributes about 29% to the Gross Domestic Product.
• It provides food to over 1210.2 million population.

Q2: What is intensive farming Write some features of intensive farming.
Ans: Intensive farming : It is a type of farming in which the agricultural production is increased by using scientific methods and better agricultural inputs.
Features:

• HYV seeds and modern inputs are used to increase the production.
• More than one crop is cultivated during a year.
• It is practised in thickly populated areas.
• The per hectare yield is very high.

Q3: What is shifting agriculture Why shifting agriculture is being discouraged
Ans: It is that type of agriculture in which farmers clear the forest land and use it for growing crops. The crops are grown for 2 to 3 years, and when the fertility of the soil decreases, the farmer shifts to a new land. Dry paddy, maize, millets and vegetables are the crops commonly grown in this type of farming.
It is being discouraged because :

• This leads to deforestation.
• The per hectare yield is very low.

Q4: What type of climate is required for the cultivation of wheat Name any four important wheat producing states of India.
Ans:

• Temperature: Cool and moist weather during growth, and warm and dry climate during ripening is needed.
• Rainfall: 50-75 cm rainfall is required. Rainfall is necessary and beneficial, 15 days after sowing, and 15 days before ripening. A few light winter showers or assured irrigation ensures a bumper harvest.
• Soil: Light domat (loamy) soil is required. It can also be grown in black soil. Important producers : Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the main producers of wheat.

Q5: Describe the temperature and climatic conditions required for the cultivation of sugarcane. Name two leading producers.
Ans:

• Temperature: Sugarcane needs hot and humid climate with temperature ranging between 21°C to 27°C. Very high temperature is harmful for its growth, while low temperature slows its growth. It cannot withstand frost. Cool temperature is needed at the time of ripening.
• Rainfall: It grows best in areas receiving 75 cm to 100 cm of rainfall. Too heavy rainfall results in low sugar content.
• Soil: Sugarcane grows on well-drained fertile soil. It can grow on a variety of soils including black, alluvial, loamy and reddish loam.

Sugarcane: But the best soil is the alluvial soil of the Ganga Plain and the black soil of southern India. Sugarcane exhausts the fertility of the soil. Hence, the use of manure is essential to ensure high yields.

Areas of Production: Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of sugarcane. The other states in the Ganga-Plain are Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

Q6: Explain the favourable climatic conditions required for the production of rubber. Also mention the states producing rubber.
Ans:

• Temperature: It is a tree of the tropical forests, and requires a constant high temperature above 25°C. Thus, the rubber tree cannot be grown at high altitudes.
• Rainfall: It needs heavy and well distributed rainfall throughout the year. The plant needs rainfall more than 200 cm.
• Soil: The plant requires alluvial or laterite soil. Areas of Production : India ranks fifth among the world’s natural rubber producers. The state of Kerala is the largest producer of rubber in India. Kerala accounts for about 91% of the total area under rubber plantation. Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and The Andaman and Nicobar islands including the Garo Hills of the Himalayas are the other producers.

Q7: Which crop is known as the “golden fibre” Explain two geographical conditions essential for the cultivation of this crop. Mention any four uses.
Ans:

• Jute is called golden fibre.
• Geographical conditions for its cultivation are as follows :
  • Jute grows well in well-drained fertile soils of the flood plains where the soil is renewed every year.
  • High temperature is required during the time of growth.
• It grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains.
• Therefore, it is grown in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha and Meghalaya.

Uses: It can be used to manufacture gunny bags, mats, ropes, yam, carpets and other artifacts.

Q8: Name any four oilseeds produced in India. What is their economic importance.
Ans: Main oilseeds produced in India are :

• Groundnut
• Mustard
• Coconut
• Sesamum

Economic importance of oilseeds:

• Most of these are edible, and used as a cooking medium in the form of oil.
• Extracted oil is also used as raw material for manufacturing large number of items like paints, varnishes, hydrogenated oil, soaps, perfumes, lubricants, etc.
• Oil cake which is the by product, obtained after the extraction of oil from oilseeds is an excellent cattle feed.
• Oil cake is also used as a fertilisers.

Q9: “Today Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition.” What are the various factors responsible for this situation.
Ans:

• The Indian government is going ahead with reduction in the public investment in the agriculture sector particularly in irrigation, power, rural roads, market and mechanisation.
• Subsidy on fertilisers is decreased leading to increase in the cost of production.
• Reduction in import duties on agricultural products have proved detrimental to agriculture in the country.
• Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture causing a downfall in the employment in agriculture.

Q10: Describe various technological and institutional reforms which led to the Green and White Revolution in India.
Ans: No description regarding white Revolution. Green Revolution means revolution in the field of agricultural production due to the introduction of various technological and institutional reforms.
Factors responsible:

• Agriculture was given the top priority in Five Year Plans.
• The development of HYV seeds of wheat in the early 60s, and those of rice in 70s laid the foundation of the Green Revolution in India.
• Several schemes for irrigation were undertaken, and arid and semi-arid areas were brought under cultivation.
• Collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, abolition of the Zamindari system, etc., were given top priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after independence.
• Cropped insurance scheme was launched by the government to protect the farmers against losses caused by crop failure on account of natural calamities like drought, flood, hailstorm, cyclone, fire, etc.
• Easy availability of capital or investment, input through a well knit network of rural banking and small scale co-operative societies with low interest rates were other facilities provided to the farmers for the modernisation of agriculture.

Q11: Why the Indian fanners should grow more pulses.
Ans:

• India is the one of the largest consumer of pulses as these are the major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
• Pulses need less moisture and can survive even in dry conditions.
• Pulses are leguminous crops as these help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air.

Q12: Explain any four factors which have hindered the pace of agricultural development in India.
Ans:

• Overcrowding in agriculture: The real problem of Indian agriculture is that there are too many people who depend on agriculture. Since 1901, the proportion of people dependent on agriculture has almost remained constant, i.e., 70%.
• Problem of inputs: Indian agriculture suffered because of the inadequacy of finance, seeds, fertilizers, marketing, transportation, etc.
• Size of landholdings: The average size of holding in India is very low, less than 2 hectares or 5 acres. Not only agricultural holdings are small, but they are also fragmented. In certain parts of the country, plots of land have become so small that it is impossible to use modern machinery.
• Over dependence on nature: In spite of the development of sources of irrigation, most of the farmers in large parts of the country still depend upon monsoon and natural fertility in order to carry on their agriculture.

Q13: “The decline share of agriculture in the GDP is a matter of serious concern”. Explain.
Ans:

• More than half the population of India’s work force is employed by the farm sector.
• Any decline in the share of agriculture means low production of foodgrains this may lead to food shortage.
• Any decline and stagnation in agriculture will lead to a decline in other spheres of the economy having wider implications for society.

Q14: What is primitive (subsistence) farming Write any four features of subsistence farming.
Ans: A farming in which the main production is consumed by the farmer’s household is known as subsistence farming.
Features :

• Old technology and traditional implements are used.
• Agricultural fields are small and farmers possess scattered land holdings.
• Most of the farmers are poor, and do not use fertilisers and HYV seeds.
• The overall productivity is very low.

Q15: What is plantation agriculture Write some features of the plantation agriculture.
Ans: This is a type of agriculture which involves growing and processing of a single cash crop purely meant for sale. Rubber, tea, coffee, spices, coconut and fruits are some of the important crops which come under the category of plantation agriculture.
Features:

• It is a single crop farming.
• It is a capital intensive farming, i.e., a huge amount of capital is required.
• It needs vast estates, managerial ability, technical know-how, sophisticated machinery, fertilisers, good transport facilities and a factory for processing.
• This type of agriculture has developed in areas of north-eastern India, Sub-Himalayan region, West Bengal and Nilgiri.