Best case study questions from chapter-1 The Story of Indian Farming
Source-Based Question 1:
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
India’s Agricultural Landscape
Farming or agriculture is one of the oldest occupations of humankind. It encompasses the preparation of soil, cultivation of plants, rearing of livestock, and, in many cases, the growing of trees as part of a comprehensive farming system. In some areas, farmers also practice pisciculture (fish rearing) or rear cocoons to extract silk thread. Very broadly, the term ‘agriculture’ encompasses farming, animal husbandry (raising livestock), forestry, and horticulture. The word agriculture comes from Latin. Agri means field and culture means to cultivate. The Government of India classifies economic activities related to agriculture as ‘agriculture and allied activities’. Broadly, this includes agriculture, livestock-related activities, beekeeping (apiculture), fisheries, rearing of silkworms and preparing silk yarn, and fibre production, such as cotton and hemp. A little over 18 per cent of the country’s total value of goods and services produced in a year (gross domestic product) comes from agriculture and allied activities (2022-2023). Approximately 46 per cent of India’s working population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities for their livelihood (2022-2023). A large proportion of families in India are closely connected to the land in one way or another, and in many cases, have been cultivating it for generations. Farming activities are, of course, essential for nurturing and sustaining the human population.
1. From which language is the word ‘Agriculture’ derived?
Answer: Latin.
2. What does the term ‘Pisciculture’ mean?
Answer: Fish rearing.
3. What is the percentage of India’s working population engaged in agriculture and allied activities?
Answer: Approximately 46 per cent.
4. Give one example of a fibre crop mentioned in the text.
Answer: Cotton or Hemp.
2 Marks Questions:
5. How does the chapter define ‘Agriculture’ in a very broad sense? (2 Marks)
Answer: Very broadly, the term ‘agriculture’ encompasses farming, animal husbandry (raising livestock), forestry, and horticulture.
6. Name any four activities that are classified under ‘agriculture and allied activities’ by the Government of India. (2 Marks)
Answer: Four activities are: agriculture, livestock-related activities, beekeeping (apiculture), fisheries, rearing of silkworms, preparing silk yarn, or fibre production (like cotton and hemp).
Source-Based Question 2: Echoes from the Past (Ancient Crops)
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
The story of Indian farming goes back to prehistory. 1Archaeological investigations have shown the presence of rice grains in the Ganga Plain as early as the 7th or 8th millennium BCE. Some experts have, however, pointed out that this need not mean that rice cultivation was already systematic; that may have taken a few more millennia to be mastered. At Mehrgarh (in Baluchistan, a site antecedent of the Sindhu-Sarasvatī civilisation), the cultivation of barley and millets is also dated to the 7th millennium BCE. Later, barley and wheat were the staple crops of the Harappans; several Harappan sites also point to the presence of rice in the 3rd millennium BCE, at least in some regions, apart from millets and several vegetables. Over time, farmers learned to cultivate oilseeds (such as sesame, safflower, linseed, mustard, and castor), legumes (green gram, black gram, and fenugreek), fibre crops (cotton, hemp, jute), more vegetables, and fruits (grapes, dates, jujube, jackfruit, mango, mulberry, and black plum). The Vedas also mention yava (barley), godhūma (wheat) and vrīhi (rice) as well as other crops such as sesame, black gram, and various types of pulses and legumes.
One Mark Questions:
1. What evidence shows that Indian farming has prehistoric roots?
Answer: Archaeological findings of rice grains in the Ganga Plain from the 7th or 8th millennium BCE.
2. Which two crops were cultivated at Mehrgarh in the 7th millennium BCE?
Answer: Barley and millets.
3. What were the staple crops of the Harappans?
Answer: Barley and wheat.
4. What does the Vedic word godhūma refer to?
Answer: Wheat.
Two Mark Questions:
5. List any four oilseeds that farmers learned to cultivate over time, as mentioned in the text. (2 Marks)
Answer: Four oilseeds are: sesame, safflower, linseed, mustard, and castor. (Any four)
6. Name the three main cereals mentioned in the Vedas along with their Vedic names. (2 Marks)
Answer: The three cereals are: yava (barley), godhūma (wheat) and vrīhi (rice).
Source-Based Question 3:
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Ancient Indian Texts and Practices
In the historical period, ancient Indian texts provide a wealth of information on agriculture. Kautilya’s Arthashastra, the Sangam literature of the early Tamils, Amarakosha, Krishiparāśhara, Varāhamihira’s Brihatsamhitā, and Surapāla’s Vrikshāyurveda, among others, contain writings on agriculture, horticulture, and plant biodiversity. Some texts also refer to the rearing and care of animals. Surapāla’s Vrikshāyurveda provides recommendations on seed preparation, soil cultivation methods, planting techniques, and more. “Seeds sprinkled with milk, rubbed with cow dung, dried and profusely smeared with maksika (honey) and bidanga (false black pepper) definitely sprout.” On watering of trees – “Newly planted trees in arid land should be watered every morning and evening for a period of fifteen days until the soil is fully soaked.” Further recommendations include irrigation methods for other types of soils. The Brihatsamhitā describes a method of grafting still in use today. Grafting: A technique that joins one plant with another to grow as a single plant enabling the combining of desirable traits like resistance to pests or sweetness of the fruit.
One Mark Questions :
1. Which ancient text mentions a method of grafting?
Answer: Varāhamihira’s Brihatsamhitā.
2. Which text provides recommendations on seed preparation and planting techniques?
Answer: Surapāla’s Vrikshāyurveda.
3. According to the text, what is mixed with honey (maksika) and cow dung to smear on seeds?
Answer: Bidanga (false black pepper).
4. In which period of history did ancient Indian texts begin to provide information on agriculture?
Answer: The historical period.
Two Mark Questions:
5. Name any four ancient Indian texts that contain writings on agriculture and plant biodiversity. (2 Marks)
Answer: Arthashastra, Sangam literature, Amarakosha, Krishiparāśhara, Brihatsamhitā, and Vrikshāyurveda. (Any four)
6. Explain the technique of ‘Grafting’ as described in the passage. (2 Marks)
Answer: Grafting is a technique that joins one plant with another to grow as a single plant. This enables the combining of desirable traits, such as resistance to pests or the sweetness of the fruit.
Source-Based Question 4:
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
The Monsoon and Agriculture
The Indian monsoon system is a key factor in the country’s agricultural diversity. It brings rainfall, which is vital for many crops. India experiences the southwest monsoon and the northeast monsoon. The southwest monsoon brings rain from June to September. It is crucial for the seasonal growth of kharif crops in northern and central India. The northeast monsoon prevails from October to December. This brings rainfall to the east and south of India. Coastal regions, including the Malabar (Kerala) and Coromandel (Tamil Nadu) plains, receive rainfall from both the southwest and northeast monsoons. The rain from these two monsoon periods enables farmers in the south to grow crops during the period in between; this is a dry season for farmers in north India who depend on other sources of water like groundwater, water from rivers, canals and ponds, and moisture retained in the soil, to ensure irrigation for their crops. States like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh grow rice throughout the year on account of availability of water from the monsoon as well as irrigation.
One Mark Questions:
1. What is the time period for the southwest monsoon?
Answer: June to September.
2. Which type of crop is crucial for the seasonal growth of the southwest monsoon?
Answer: Kharif crops.
3. Which two coastal regions are mentioned as receiving rainfall from both monsoons?
Answer: Malabar (Kerala) and Coromandel (Tamil Nadu) plains.
4. When does the northeast monsoon generally prevail?
Answer: From October to December.
Two Mark Questions:
5. Explain why states like Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh can grow rice throughout the year. (2 Marks)
Answer: They can grow rice throughout the year because of the availability of water from both the monsoon systems (Southwest and Northeast) as well as from irrigation sources.
6. How do farmers in North India manage to irrigate their crops during the dry season between the monsoons? (2 Marks)
Answer: North Indian farmers rely on other sources of water like groundwater, water from rivers, canals and ponds, and moisture retained in the soil, since the period between monsoons is a dry season for them.
Source-Based Question 5:
Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow:
Nurturing the Soil (Traditional Methods)
Healthy soil is crucial for a good harvest. Soil is a complex ecosystem with organisms like bacteria, fungi, earthworms, and insects. It has minerals, organic matter (humus), water, and air. The organisms break down the organic material and improve the health of the soil enabling it to sustain healthy plants. To maintain its health and fertility, farmers use various soil conservation techniques. Traditional methods: Our ancestors employed numerous ingenious techniques to protect the soil. Crop rotation is one such method, where different types of crops are grown in the same field in different seasons to prevent the soil from losing specific nutrients. Equally important was multiple cropping where multiple crops were grown in the same field. This reduced the risk of pests and also ensured at least one crop. The crops were chosen in such a way that there would be periodic harvests from the same field. Another practice is contour ploughing, which involves ploughing along the natural curves of a hill slope to avoid soil erosion from rainwater. Farmers also used organic fertilisers, such as cow dung, to replenish the soil’s nutrients.
One Mark Questions:
1. What is essential for a good harvest?
Answer: Healthy soil.
2. Name any two organisms that live in the soil ecosystem.
Answer: Bacteria, fungi, earthworms, or insects. (Any two)
3. What material was used by farmers as an organic fertiliser to replenish the soil’s nutrients?
Answer: Cow dung.
4. What is the purpose of the organisms living in the soil?
Answer: They break down the organic material and improve the health of the soil.
Two Mark Questions:
5. Explain the traditional method of ‘Crop Rotation’ and its main benefit. (2 Marks)
Answer: Crop rotation is a method where different types of crops are grown in the same field in different seasons. Its main benefit is to prevent the soil from losing specific nutrients.
6. What is ‘Contour Ploughing’ and how does it help in soil conservation? (2 Marks)
Answer: Contour ploughing involves ploughing along the natural curves of a hill slope. It helps in soil conservation by avoiding soil erosion from rainwater.
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