CBSE Class 10 Social Science Agriculture Important Questions Set 06

Important Questions

Question 1. By which name is the specialised cultivation of fruits and vegetables known?
Answer:
Horticulture is the name given to the specialised cultivation of fruits and vegetables.

Teacher's Note:
a) Horticulture refers to fruit and vegetable cultivation.
b) It is distinct from general field-crop farming.

Question 2. Describe 'Jhumming cultivation' in one sentence.
Answer:
Jhumming is slash-and-burn cultivation practised in the north-eastern region of India.

Teacher's Note:
a) Jhumming = slash-and-burn farming in North-East India.
b) Land is cleared by burning vegetation before sowing.

Question 3. How can small and marginal farmers be supported by the government?
Answer:
Through loan facilities to farmers at lower rates of interest, the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), and crop insurance, among other measures.

Teacher's Note:
a) Cheap loans, KCC and crop insurance all support small/marginal farmers.
b) These measures reduce the financial risk farmers face from crop failure or debt.

Question 4. By which other name is 'slash and burn' agriculture known?
Answer:
Slash-and-burn agriculture is also known as Jhum cultivation.

Teacher's Note:
a) 'Jhum cultivation' is another name for slash-and-burn farming.
b) It is practised mainly in India's North-East.

Question 5. India is the largest producer as well as consumer of which agricultural product in the world?
Answer:
India is the largest producer as well as consumer of pulses in the world.

Teacher's Note:
a) India leads the world in both producing and consuming pulses.
b) Pulses are a key source of dietary protein in India.

Question 6. What soil is perfect for the growth of cashew nuts?
Answer:
Deep, well-drained sandy or sandy-loam soil is recommended for the best production of cashew nuts.

Teacher's Note:
a) Cashew needs deep, well-drained sandy/sandy-loam soil.
b) This is often linked to laterite soil regions along India's coasts.

Question 7. What are the growing conditions required for the main staple food crop of India? Mention the main growing regions.
Answer:
Rice requires high temperature (above 25°C) and is a Kharif crop; it needs high humidity, with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
Main growing regions: the northern plains, north-eastern India, coastal areas, deltaic plains and river valleys.

Teacher's Note:
a) Rice needs high heat, high humidity and heavy rainfall (over 100 cm).
b) It thrives in plains, deltas and river valleys across India.

Question 8. How many cropping seasons are found in India? Name them and write a short note on each.
Answer:
There are three cropping seasons in India: Kharif, Rabi and Zaid.
Kharif largely coincides with the south-west monsoon, allowing cultivation of tropical crops such as rice, cotton, jute, jowar, bajra and tur.
Rabi begins with the onset of winter in October-November and ends in March-April; low temperatures during this season favour temperate and subtropical crops such as wheat, gram and mustard.
Zaid is a short-duration summer cropping season beginning after the Rabi crops are harvested.

Teacher's Note:
a) India's three seasons: Kharif (monsoon), Rabi (winter), Zaid (short summer).
b) Each season supports a different set of crops suited to its temperature and rainfall.

Question 9. Name the two most important staple food crops of India, the states where they are produced, and the geographical conditions required for their growth.
Answer:
The most important staple crops are rice and wheat.
Rice is mainly grown in West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Odisha (in decreasing order); wheat is mainly grown in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
Rice needs high temperature (above 25°C) and high humidity, with annual rainfall above 100 cm; wheat is a Rabi crop needing cool growing conditions and moderate rainfall, with a relatively dry period at harvest.

Teacher's Note:
a) Rice and wheat are India's two most important staple crops.
b) Rice dominates the wetter eastern/southern states; wheat dominates the drier northern plains.