Agriculture 1. Can the agricultural development, we have achieved so far, be considered adequate? If so, why? If not, why not?

(80/II/5d/20) 2. Which are the States in India that produce (i) groundnut, (ii) tea, (iii) tobacco, and (iv) pepper? (80/II/7m/3) 3. Write short notes on the following: (81/I/13b/10) (i) Thai - Vaishet Project (ii) Operation flood 4. What is shifting cultivation? Where in India has this Geography been resorted to? Consider its consequences and examine the steps taken by Government to prevent this practice. (81/II/5c/20) 5. Discuss the geographical conditions favoring the cultivation of wheat or rice in India and describe the steps taken for improving its productivity. (About 150 words). (82/II/3a/30) 6. Name the cotton growing areas of India. Describe the various factors which favour its cultivation in these areas. What part does cotton play in the present day economy of India? (83/II/7d/15) 7. Government of India has given high priority to Oilseeds Development Programme. What strategy has been adopted to accelerate the efforts for increasing their production? Name important oilseeds cultivated in India with their distribution. (84/II/7a/15) 8. What are the important wheat growing regions in India and why? Are we now growing enough wheat in India to meet our own demand for it? (85/II/6d/20) 9. What is 'white revolution? Discuss the different factors which have helped to bring about this revolution in India. (86/II/6b/20) 10.The Government of India has recently set up a Department of Food Processing. What are its functions? (88/II/7a/20) 11.Explain the concept of 'social forestry' in India. (90/II/8c(A)/3 ) 12.Mention the states where shifting cultivation is still practiced in India. (90/II/8e(A)/3) 13.Briefly explain the use of various chemical fertilizers in Indian agriculture. (92/II/6d/15) 14.What is social forestry? Describe how social forestry can help in the uplift of the rural poor. (93/II/6d/15) 15.What is dry land agriculture? Discuss its importance to India. (94/II/6d/15) 16.What is shifting cultivation? Describe its salient characteristics with reference to India? (96/II/6b/15) 17.What is dry farming? Discuss its relevance in augmenting the food supply in India. (99/II/6b/15) 18.Give an account of the tea plantations of Assam and West Bengal and state the economic significance of these plantations. (02/I/4a/10) 19.Write short notes on Jhum cultivation - process and consequences. (02/I/5(ii)/2) 20.Write note on Negative impacts of shifting cultivation. (05/I/5c/2) 21.Agricultural Productivity in India remains low. Explain the reasons for this situation. (150 words) (08/I/3b/15) 22.Write about Organic Farming in 20 words. (08/I/4c/2) 23.Elaborate the steps taken by the Government for regionally differentiated approach to increase crop production and diversification in the country. (09/I/3c/15)

Basics Agriculture: The science and art of cultivation on the soil, raising crops and rearing livestock. It is also called farming. Sericulture: Commercial rearing of silk worms. It may supplement the income of the farmer. Pisciculture: Breeding of fish in specially constructed tanks and ponds. Viticulture: Cultivation of grapes. Horticulture: Growing vegetables, flowers and fruits for commercial use. Types OF Farming Subsistence Farming: practiced to meet the needs of the farmers family. It can be further classified as intensive subsistence and primitive subsistence farming. In intensive subsistence agriculture the farmer cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour. Primitive subsistence agriculture includes shifting cultivation and nomadic herding. Shifting cultivation (Jhumming): practiced in Assam, Meghalaya, Naga, Manipur, Tripura, MP, Orissa, Andhra, and AP. A plot of land is cleared by felling the trees and burning them. The ashes are then mixed with the soil and crops like maize, yam, potatoes and cassava are grown. After the soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivator moves to a new plot, leads to soil erosion and deforestration. Shifting cultivation is also known as slash and burn agriculture. Nomadic herding: semi-arid and arid regions of Sahara, Central Asia and some parts of India, like Rajasthan and J&K. Herdsmen move from place to place with their animals for fodder and water, along defined routes. This type of movement arises in response to climatic constraints and terrain. Sheep, camel, yak and goats are most commonly reared. They provide milk, meat, wool, hides and other products to the herders and their families. Mixed farming: the land is used for growing food and fodder crops and rearing livestock. Plantations: single crop of tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton are grown. Large amount of labour and capital are required. The produce may be processed on the farm itself or in nearby factories. The development of a transport network is thus essential for such farming. Cropping season in India Cropping Season Northern States Southern States Kharif June- Rice, Cotton, Bajra, Maize, Jowar, Tur Rice, Maize, Ragi, Jowar, September Groundnut Rabi October Wheat, Gram, Rapeseeds and Mustard, Rice, Maize, Ragi, Groundnut, March Barley Jowar Zaid April June Vegetables, Fruits, Fodder Rice, Vegetables, Fodder Major Food Crops crop Location Temp Rainf soil Yield Prodn all kg/H MT Rice WB, Andhra, UP, Punjab 25 125Deep Fertile Clayey or 2120 35 200 loamy Whe UP, Punjab, Hary, MP, 15-20 50 Light, sandy or clayey 2907 at Raj 75 loam Maiz Karnataka, UP, Bihar, 21-27 50-75 Well drained alluvial or 1850 e Andhra Pradesh and MP red loamy soil Jowar Maharashtra, KTKA, MP 27-32 30-65 Black clayey soil 770 Bajra Rajasthan, UP, 25-30 40-50 Light sandy Shallow 720 Maharashtra, Gujarat black and Haryana. Red upland soil Pulse MP, UP, Rajasthan,

Maharashtra Karnataka.

and

crop Sugarca ne Cotton Jute Tobacco Tea Coffee Rubber

Cash crops Location Temp Rainf all UP, MH, KTKA, TN, 21-27 75Andhra, Bihar, Punjab 100 and Haryana. WB, Bihar, Assam Andhra, Gujarat, UP Assam, WB, KTKA, TN KTKA, TN, Kerala 21-30 24-35 15-38 24-30 16-28 50-75 125200 50 150250 150250 300

soil Deep rich loamy

Yield kg/H 65

Prodn MT

Kerala, TN, KTKA, A&N 25-35 and Garo hills of Meghalaya.

black cotton soil Light sandy or clayey loams Well drained, sandy loams Well drained deep friable loams or Acidic Forest soil Well drained forest loam Deep well drained loams

403 2186 1496 1714 960 1705

Share of Agriculture in GDP Share of agriculture and allied sectors to GDP declined further to 13.9 % in 2011-12 from 14.5 per cent in 2010-11. Agriculture including allied activities, accounted for 14.5 % of GDP at 2004-05 prices, in 2010-11 as compared to 14.7 per cent in 2009-10. Population dependent upon Agriculture Critical from the income distribution perspective as it accounted for about 58 % employment acc. to Census 2001. This is the reason that growth in agriculture and allied sectors remains a necessary condition for inclusive growth.