CBSE Class 10 Social Science Agriculture HOTS Question Set 01

Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS)

Question 1. Explain any three features of Indian agriculture.
Answer:
Two-thirds of India's population is engaged in agricultural activities.
Agriculture is a primary activity, which produces most of the food that is consumed.
It also produces raw material for various industries.
Some agricultural products like tea, coffee and spices are also exported to earn foreign exchange.

Teacher's Note:
a) Indian agriculture employs about two-thirds of the population.
b) It supplies both food for consumption and raw material for industry, and some products are exported.

Question 2. Why is there enormous pressure on land in intensive subsistence farming?
Answer:
Right of inheritance leading to the division of land among successive generations has rendered land holding size uneconomical.
The farmers continue to take maximum output from the limited land, in the absence of alternative sources of livelihood.
Thus, there is an enormous pressure on agricultural land.

Teacher's Note:
a) Repeated division of land through inheritance shrinks each holding over generations.
b) With no alternative livelihood, farmers push the same small plot for maximum output.

Question 3. Which crop is known as the 'golden fibre'? Explain any two geographical conditions essential for the cultivation of this crop. Mention its four uses.
Answer:
Jute is known as the 'golden fibre'.
It grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year.
West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha and Meghalaya are the major jute-producing states of India.
It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts.
Due to its high cost, it is losing market to synthetic fibres and packing material, particularly nylon.

Teacher's Note:
a) Jute needs well-drained, fertile, annually-renewed flood-plain soil.
b) It is used for gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn and carpets, but faces competition from synthetic fibres like nylon.

Question 4. “Agriculture is the mainstay of Indian economy.” Explain this statement.
Answer:
Agriculture has been the backbone of the Indian economy.
Agriculture's share in providing employment and livelihood to the population continues to be as high as 63 per cent (2001).
The government provides facilities like irrigation, power, rural roads, market access and mechanisation subsidy on fertilisers.
Reduction of import duties on agricultural products has proved detrimental to agriculture in the country.

Teacher's Note:
a) Agriculture remains India's largest source of employment and livelihood.
b) Government support (irrigation, power, roads, subsidies) sustains it, though falling import duties on farm products have hurt domestic farmers.

Question 5. Explain four technological reform initiatives taken by the government to ensure an increase in agricultural production.
Answer:
The Green Revolution in agriculture and the White Revolution in milk were introduced.
Tractors, harvesters, threshers, tubewells and other technological devices were introduced.
For better production, fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides were also produced.
The government also announced the minimum support price, which checks the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen.

Teacher's Note:
a) The Green and White Revolutions boosted food grain and milk output respectively.
b) Mechanisation (tractors, tubewells) and minimum support prices together protect and raise farm production.

Question 6. Why do we need to have technical and institutional reforms in India's agriculture?
Answer:
Agriculture has been practised in India for thousands of years.
Sustained use of land without compatible techno-institutional changes has hindered the pace of agricultural development.
In spite of the development of sources of irrigation, most farmers in large parts of the country still depend upon monsoon and natural fertility to carry on their agriculture.
For a growing population, this poses a serious challenge.
Agriculture, which provides livelihood for more than 60 per cent of the population, needs serious technical and institutional reforms.

Teacher's Note:
a) Old land-use practices without matching institutional change have slowed farm growth.
b) Continued dependence on monsoon and natural soil fertility, despite irrigation development, makes reform urgent for a growing population.

Question 7. Suggest the initiatives taken by the government to ensure an increase in agricultural production.
Answer:
The right of inheritance led to fragmentation of landholdings; collectivisation, consolidation of landholdings, cooperation and abolition of zamindari were given priority to bring about institutional reforms after independence.
The Green Revolution, based on package technology, and the White Revolution were initiated to improve Indian agriculture.
A land development programme was initiated, including provision for crop insurance against famine, flood, cyclone, fire and disease, and the establishment of Grameen banks and cooperative societies.
Kissan Credit Cards and the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme were introduced for the benefit of farmers.
Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers are run on radio and television.
To check the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen, the government announces minimum support, remunerative and procurement prices for important crops.

Teacher's Note:
a) Post-independence land reforms (consolidation, cooperation, abolition of zamindari) addressed fragmented holdings.
b) Crop insurance, Kissan Credit Cards and assured minimum prices together protect farmers from both natural and market risks.