Class 12 Geography Chapter 15 Land Resource and Agriculture The answer to each chapter is provided in the list so that you can easily browse throughout different chapters SCERT Class 12 Geography Chapter 15 Land Resource and Agriculture and select need one.
Class 12 Geography Chapter 15 Land Resource and Agriculture
Also, you can read the SCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per SCERT (CBSE) Book guidelines. These solutions are part of SCERT All Subject Solutions. Here we have given Assam Board/NCERT Class 12 Geography Chapter 15 Land Resource and Agriculture Solutions for All Subject, You can practice these here…
LONG TYPE QUESTION & ANSWERS (MARKS – 3)
Q.1. Write an account on cropping seasons in India.
Ans :- There are three distinct crop seasons in the northern and interior parts of the country, namely kharif, rabi and zaid. The kharif season largely coincides with Southwest Monsoon under which the cultivation of tropical crops such as rice, cotton, jute, jowar, bajra and tur is possible. The rahi season begins with the onset of winter in October November and ends in March-April.
The low temperature conditions during this season facilitate the cultivation of temperature and subtropical crops such as wheat, grain and mustard. Zaid is a short duration summer cropping season beginning after harvesting of rabi crops: The cultivation of watermelons, cucumber vegetables and fodder crops during this season is done on irrigated lands However, this type of distinction in the cropping season does not exist in southern parts of the country. Here, the temperature is high enough to grow tropical crops during any period in the years provided the soil moisture is available. Therefore, in this region same crops can be grown thrice in an agricultural year provided there is sufficient soil moisture.
Q.2. Give an account of rice cultivation in India.
Ans :- Rice is a staple food for the overwhelming majority of the population in India. More than 70% of its people depend on rice. In the production of rice, India stands second position after china. India contributes 22% of rice production in the world.
Area of cultivation : About one fourth of the total cropped area in the country is under rice cultivation. West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu were five leading rice producing states in the country in 2002-2003. The yield level of rice is high in Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Kerala.
The climatic conditions for the cultivation of rice in the southern states and West Bengal allow to cultivate two or three crops in an agricultural year. The three rice crops are named as “aus” “aman” and “boro”. But in northern and north western states it is grown as a “kharif” crop during the southwest monsoon season. The following map of India shows the distribution of rice.
Q.3. Discuss the geographical requirements and production of wheat in India.
Ans :- Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India after rice. India produces about 12 percent of total wheat production. It is primarily a crop of temperate zones. Hence, its cultivation in India is done during winter i.e. rabi season. About 85 percent of total area under this crop is concentrated in north and central regions of the country i.e. Indo- Gangetic Plain, Malwa Plateau and Himalayas up to 2,700 m altitude Being a rabi crop, it is mostly grown under irrigated conditions. But it is rainfed crop in Himalayan highlands and parts of Malwa plateau in Madhya Pradesh.
About 14 percent of the total cropped area in the country is under wheat cultivation. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryan, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are five leading wheat producing states. The yield level of wheat is very high (above 4,000 k.g. per ha) in Punjab and Haryana whereas, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar have moderate yields. The states like Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir growing wheat under rainfed conditions have low yield.
Q.4. Give an account of pulses cultivation in India.
Ans :- Pulses are a very important ingredient of vegetarian food as these are rich sources of proteins. These are legume crops which increase the natural fertility of soils through nitrogen fixation. India is a leading producer of pulse and accounts for about one-fifth of the total production of pulses in the world. The cultivation of pulses in the country is largely concentrated in the drylands of Deccan and central plateaus and northwestern parts of the country. Pulses occupy about 11 percent of the total cropped area in the country. Being the rainfed crops of drylands, the yields of pulses are low and fluctuate from year to year. Gram and tur are the main pulses cultivated in India.
Q.5. Describe the geographical requirements for sugarcane cultivation and its production pattern in India.
Ans :- Sugarcane is a crop of tropical areas. Under rainfed conditions, it is cultivated in sub-humid and humid climates. But it is largely an irrigated crop in India. In the Indo-Gangetic plain, its cultivation is largely concentrated in Uttar Pradesh. Sugarcane growing area in western India is spread over Maharashtra and Gujarat. In southern India, it is cultivated in irrigated tracts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
India is the second largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil. It accounts for about 23 percent of the world production of sugarcane. But it occupies only 2.4 percent of the total cropped area in the country. Uttar Pradesh produces about two-fifth of the sugarcane of the country. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are other leading producers of this crop where the yield level of sugarcane is high. Its yield is low in northern India.
Q.6. Discuss the relationship between the growth of agricultural output and technology in India.
Ans :- There has been a significant increase in agriculture output and improvement in technology during the last fifty years.
(i) Production and yield of many crops such as rice and wheat has increased at an impressive rate. Among the other crops, the production of sugarcane, oilseeds and cotton has also increased appreciably. India ranks first in the production of pulses, tea, jute, cattle and milk. It is the second largest producer of rice, wheat, groundnut, sugarcane and vegetables.
(ii) Expansion of irrigation has played a very crucial role in enhancing agricultural output in the country. It provides basis for introduction
of modern agricultural technology such as high yielding varieties of seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and farm machinery. The net irrigated area in the country has increased from 20,85 to 54.66 million ha over the period 1950-51 to 2000-01. Over these 50 years, area irrigated more than once in an agricultural year has increased from 1.71 to 20.46 million ha.
(iii) Modern agricultural technology has diffused very fast in various areas of the country. Consumption of chemical fertilizers has increased by 15 times since the mid-sixties. In 2001-02, per hectare consumption of chemical fertilizers in India was 91 kg which was equal to its average consumption in the world (90 kg). But in the irrigated areas of Punjab and Haryana, the consumption of chemical fertilizers per unit area is three to four times higher than that of the national average. Since the high yielding varieties are highly susceptible to pests and diseases, the use of pesticides has increased significantly since the 1960s.
Q.7. Discuss the major problems of Indian agriculture.
Ans :- The major problems confronting Indian agriculture are those of population pressure, small holdings, depleted soils, lack of modern technology and poor facilities for storage.
(a) Population Pressure : India has a huge population of ovum one billion and it is increasing at a very fast rate. According to 2001 census figures the overall density of population is 324 persons per sq. km. This is likely to increase further in future. This has created great demand for land. Every bit of land has been brought under the plough. Even the hill slopes have been cut into terraces for cultivation.
(b) Small and Fragmented Land Holdings : The pressure of increasing population and the practice of dividing land equally among the heirs has caused excessive subdivisions of farm holdings. Consequently, the holdings are small and fragmented. The small size of holdings makes farming activity uneconomical and leads to social tension, violence and discontentment.
(c) Inadequate Irrigation Facilities: By and large the irrigation facilities available in India are far from adequate. So half of the total area under food crops has been brought under irrigation and the remaining half is left to the mercy of monsoon rains which are erratic in time and space.
(d) Depleted Soils : Indian soils have been used for growing crops for thousands of years which have resulted in the depletion of soil fertility. With deforestation the sources of maintaining natural fertility of soil has been drying out. Lack of material resources and ignorance of scientific knowledge have further depleted the soils of natural fertility. Earlier only animal waste was enough to maintain soil fertility.
(e) Storage of food grains: Storage of food grains is a big problem. Nearly 10 percent of our harvest goes waste every year in the absence of proper storage facilities. This colossal wastage can be avoided by developing scientific warehousing facilities. The government has taken several steps to provide storage facilities.
(f) Farm Implements : Although some mechanisation of farming has taken place in some parts of the country, most of the farmers are poor and do not have enough resources to purchase modern farm implements and tools. This hampers the development of agriculture.
Q.8. Give the description of major oilseeds cultivation in India.
Ans :- The oilseeds are produced for extracting edible oils. Drylands of Malwa plateau, Marathwada, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana and . Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka plateau are oilseeds growing regions of India. These crops together occupy about 14 percent of the total cropped area in the country. Groundnut, rapeseed and mustard, soybean and sunflower are the main oilseed crops grown in India.
Q.9. Discuss the necessary geographical requirement for Sugarcane Cultivation
Ans :- Sugarcane is a crop of tropical areas. Under rainfed conditions, it is cultivated in sub-humid and humid climates. But it is largely an irrigated crop in India. In the Indo-Gangetic plain, its cultivation is largely concentrated in Uttar Pradesh. Sugarcane growing area in western India is spread over Maharashtra and Gujarat. In southern India, it is cultivated in irrigated tracts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
India is the second largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil. It accounts for about 23 percent of the world production of sugarcane. But it occupies only 2.4 percent of the total cropped area in the country. Uttar Pradesh produces about two-fifth of the sugarcane of the country. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are other leading producers of this crop where the yield level of sugarcane is high. Its yield is low in northern India.
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