Maharashtra Board Class 5 EVS Part I Chapter 12 Food for All PDF Download

Food For All

Agriculture

Agricultural Seasons

We get food from plants. For that purpose, we sow grains in fields and plant fruit trees in orchards. About 60% of the land of our country is in use for agriculture. There are two main agricultural seasons in our country.

The season from June to October is called the kharif season. In this season, the crops are watered mainly by the rain.

The season from October to March is the rabi season. In this season, rainwater that has soaked into the soil, the retreating monsoons and dew are the sources of water for the crops.

In addition, some crops are grown from March to June. These are called summer crops.

Which is the season for growing rice?

Teacher's Note

In India, rice is grown in the kharif season from June to October with monsoon rains. This is the main rice season in our country.

Exam Trick

Remember: Kharif = rainy season = June to October. Think of monsoon rains coming, so wet crops like rice grow in kharif.

Points to Remember

Kharif season is from June to October with rain water.
Rabi season is from October to March with stored water.
Summer crops grow from March to June.
Two main seasons for farming in India.
60% of India's land is used for agriculture.

Agricultural Work

Every farmer wishes to get a good harvest. A good harvest provides a good income. Fertile land, good quality seeds and fertilizers, and availability of water are essential for a good harvest. It is also necessary to carry out the tasks of tilling the land. The crop in the field must be protected and the harvested crop must also be stored safely. All of these processes are important.

The population of our country is increasing, and still the needs of all the people are being met. This has been possible because of modern improved methods of agriculture.

Teacher's Note

A good harvest needs fertile soil, good seeds, water, and care. Just like you need food and care to grow healthy, crops also need the same things.

Exam Trick

Remember: Good harvest = fertile land + good seeds + water + protection. These four things always help crops grow well.

Points to Remember

Fertile land is needed for good crops.
Good quality seeds give better harvest.
Water must be available for crops.
Crops need protection from pests.
Stored crops must be kept safely.

Traditional Agriculture

In the traditional methods of agriculture, ploughing, tilling, etc. were done with the help of oxen. A 'mot' (a huge leather bag) driven with the help of oxen was used to draw water from the well. Harvesting, threshing, etc. was done by the members of the farmer's family themselves with the help of oxen. However, farmers now carry out all these tasks with the help of machines.

Teacher's Note

Long ago, farmers used oxen and their own hands to do farm work. Today, tractors and machines do all the work much faster and easier.

Exam Trick

Remember: Old farming = oxen and human hands. New farming = tractors and machines. This change makes work faster and easier for farmers.

Points to Remember

In old days, oxen pulled the plough.
A mot was used to get water from wells.
Farmers and their families did harvesting work.
Today machines do all farm work.
Modern machines save time and work.

Improved Methods Of Agriculture

Improved Seeds

Earlier it was customary to preserve the seeds of one harvest for sowing in the next season. Those seeds did not have a high yield. Nowadays, improved seeds are developed through research. They are available in the market for every crop such as jowar, rice, groundnut, wheat, etc. These have a higher yield. They can resist pest attacks. Some varieties become ripe for harvesting in a shorter period of time while some give a high yield even with a low water supply.

Teacher's Note

Scientists make better seeds that give more food and need less water. These seeds are like better quality things you buy from the market.

Exam Trick

Remember: Improved seeds = more production + pest resistance + less water needed. These three benefits make farming better.

Points to Remember

Improved seeds give higher yield than old seeds.
Better seeds can fight pest attacks.
Some seeds need less water to grow.
Improved seeds are made through research.
Scientists improve seeds for better crops.

Modern Methods Of Irrigation

Crops grow well if they are watered at the right time. Water from rivers, lakes and wells is used for irrigation in addition to rainwater. Greater quantities of water are stored by building dams and bunds on rivers to obstruct the flow of water downstream. This also helps to raise the levels of groundwater.

Crops were traditionally watered through canals. However, much water from the canals is lost due to evaporation and seepage into the ground. Now, certain improved methods of irrigation are used which provide enough water to the plants and at the same time, help to save a lot of water.

Drip irrigation and sprinkle irrigation are two of these modern methods.

The drip irrigation method makes use of pipes with holes. This ensures that the required amount of water drips only near the plants. Thus, full use is made of the available water.

Sprinkle irrigation makes use of sprinklers of different sizes that spray water directly on plants.

Teacher's Note

Drip irrigation is like giving water directly to plant roots through small pipes. Sprinkle irrigation is like a shower that spreads water over many plants at once.

Exam Trick

Remember: Drip irrigation = water drips drop by drop to roots = saves water. Sprinkle irrigation = water sprays like rain = covers more plants.

Points to Remember

Dams and bunds store water for crops.
Drip irrigation uses pipes with holes.
Sprinkle irrigation sprays water like rain.
Both methods save water from being wasted.
Right time watering helps crops grow well.

Fertilizers

If the same crops are grown frequently in a field, the fertility of the soil decreases. Then we have to add fertilizers to the soil to restore its productivity. Fertilizers provide the required nutritive substances to the crop. There are two kinds of fertilizers, natural and chemical.

Natural fertilizers are called manures. They are obtained from materials available in nature like green waste and animal dung.

Chemical or artificial fertilizers are mixtures of different chemical substances in specific proportions, useful for agriculture. In traditional agriculture, organic manures such as compost were used. Chemical fertilizers came to be used for quicker growth and higher yields. However, the harmful effects of the use of these fertilizers soon became clear. The overuse of chemical fertilizers leads to accumulation of excessive chemicals in the soil. This lowers the fertility of the soil and reduces its productivity.

Overwatering makes the land saline and fallow. This is seen especially in the parts where water is available in plenty, as for example, near dams or on river banks.

If land becomes saline and fallow, it has to be tested to find out which substances it lacks. The fertility can be restored by adding these substances. It is a costly and time-consuming procedure. Therefore, it is better to avoid excessive use of fertilizers and water.

Teacher's Note

Too much fertilizer and water can hurt the soil. We should use only as much fertilizer and water as the crops need, just like we should eat only healthy food in right amounts.

Exam Trick

Remember: Too much fertilizer = bad for soil. Too much water = saline land. Balance is needed = use fertilizer and water wisely.

Points to Remember

Natural fertilizers come from plants and animals.
Chemical fertilizers are man-made mixtures.
Too much fertilizer harms soil fertility.
Overwatering makes land saline and fallow.
We should use fertilizers and water carefully.

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