NCERT Class 7 Social Science Chapter 13 The Story of Indian Farming

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NCERT Class 7 Social Science Chapter 13 The Story of Indian Farming

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The Story of Indian Farming

Chapter: 13

Part – 2: Exploring Society India and Beyond

The Big Questions:

1. What are the main characteristics of Indian agriculture?

Ans: Indian agriculture is a vibrant blend of traditional and modern farming practices that encompasses farming, animal husbandry, forestry, and horticulture. It is deeply connected to diverse climates, being divided into 15 agroclimatic zones, and relies heavily on the rhythm of the southwest and northeast monsoons to support three main cropping seasons: kharif, rabi, and zaid. Additionally, women play a crucial role, making up more than 75 per cent of the people working in the agriculture sector in rural areas.

2. How are farming, climate, soil, and water interrelated?

Ans: Growing crops is dependent on a combination of soil, climate, terrain, and the availability of water. Different climates dictate the quantity of sunshine and rainfall an area receives, which in turn determines the agroclimatic zone. Soil acts as the foundation by providing necessary nutrients, water, and support, with specific crops requiring specific soil types. Finally, water is a fundamental resource that determines farming practices, with the cropping seasons directly matching the availability of water from the monsoons or irrigation.

3. How can traditional practices and contemporary ones complement each other?

Ans: Modern farming methods, such as those introduced during the Green Revolution, are highly productive but have led to long-term harm like soil impoverishment, groundwater depletion, and contamination from chemical fertilizers. Traditional methods are more sustainable and resilient because they work in harmony with nature and protect the soil ecosystem, though they may yield lower results. The challenge is to find a balance by combining the two—using modern innovations to meet food needs efficiently while adopting sustainable, environment-friendly practices from our ancestors, such as organic farming and natural neem-based pesticides.

Questions and Activities:

1. Why do farmers in Kerala grow rice while farmers in Punjab grow mostly wheat? What would happen if they swapped?

Ans: Farmers in Kerala grow rice because the state has tropical climates with heavy monsoon rainfall and laterite/alluvial soil, which fits the needs of rice (a kharif crop requiring hot weather and heavy rainfall). Farmers in Punjab grow mostly wheat because wheat is a rabi crop that thrives in cooler climates with less water, and the region has fertile alluvial soil. If they swapped, the crops would fail because the climate, water availability, and soil types would not support the opposite crop’s specific needs.

2. Match the following:

Column A	Column B
(a) Kharif crops	(i) Crops during the winter
(b) Rabi crops	(ii) Crops grown during the monsoon
(c) Alluvial soil	(iii) Thin, rough, and rocky soil formed by freezing and melting of ice
(d) Terrace farming	(iv) Crops grown in summer
(e) Alpine soil	(v) Silt deposits (mud, sand and other fine particles) brought by rivers
(f) Zaid crops	(vi) Method used on hilly slopes where farmers cut steps or terraces

Ans: 

Column A	Column B
(a) Kharif crops	(ii) Crops grown during the monsoon
(b) Rabi crops	(i) Crops during the winter
(c) Alluvial soil	(v) Soil rich in nutrients deposited by rivers
(d) Terrace farming	(vi) Method of farming on hillsides
(e) Alpine soil	(iii) Thin, rough, and rocky soil found in mountainous regions
(f) Zaid crops	(iv) Crops grown in summer

3. Why do certain crops thrive in specific regions?

Ans: Certain crops thrive in specific regions because their growth is strongly influenced by regional factors such as the type of soil, the climate (sunshine and temperature), the terrain, and the availability of water. India’s diverse geography creates 15 different agroclimatic zones, dictating what grows where and when.

4. How has modern technology helped farmers?

Ans: Modern technology has given farmers high-yielding varieties (HYV) of seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, which significantly increased food grain production during the Green Revolution. Mechanized equipment like tractors and harvesters made farm work faster and easier. Modern irrigation techniques like drip and sprinkler systems help use water more efficiently, while new technologies like drones are used to assess soil moisture, and hydroponics allows plants to be grown in nutrient-rich water without soil.

5. Why is sustainable agriculture important? Write a short note on this.

Ans: Sustainable agriculture is important because modern farming practices have shown severe limits over the last few decades, including long-term impoverishment of the soil, rapid depletion of groundwater, and contamination of soil and water by pesticides. These issues disrupt ecosystems, harm important creatures like bees, and multiply health issues like cancer. Sustainable agriculture combines modern productivity with traditional wisdom—such as using organic compost, neem-based pesticides, and efficient irrigation—to create environment-friendly, long-lasting farming that protects nature while meeting our food needs.

6. Name some challenges that farmers face today. What might be their impact for people?

Ans: Farmers face challenges such as decreasing landholding sizes (averaging three-fourths of a hectare), which makes it difficult to earn enough income or afford modern machinery. They also face the severe impacts of climate change, resulting in unpredictable weather, untimely rains, and extreme droughts. Impact: These challenges lead to crop destruction and heavy financial losses, often trapping farmers in debt. Consequently, an estimated 2,300 farmers abandon agriculture every day, which threatens the livelihood of millions and puts India’s overall food production at risk.

7. Have a debate in class on the topic “Traditional irrigation methods are better than modern ones.”

Ans: Points for Traditional: Methods like community-based phad systems, bamboo drip irrigation, kunds, and small ponds capture natural rainwater and maintain moisture in the soil sustainably.

Points for Modern: Methods like modern drip and sprinkler irrigation deliver water slowly and directly to roots or spray it like rain, minimizing waste and enabling farming in areas with low rainfall, which increases crop yields and stabilizes the food supply. However, excessive pumping of groundwater and large dams for irrigation can interfere with natural river flows and deplete resources.

8. Write a short essay describing what farming might be like when you are 60 years old. You could also draw / paint a picture to illustrate what you envision.

Ans: Farming in the future will likely be a balance of ancient wisdom and advanced technology to combat climate change. Farmers will completely avoid harmful chemical fertilizers and use sustainable organic farming and natural pesticides to protect the soil. At the same time, farming will use advanced tools like drones to monitor crops, precision drip irrigation to save water, and hydroponics to grow vegetables in urban cities without relying on soil.

9. Form small groups and discuss the issues affecting the Ganga basin. Prepare a presentation proposing your solutions and their rationale (your reasons). Share and discuss in class. Your teacher will guide you in this exercise.

Ans: Student do yourself.

10. Looking at the crops listed in the section ‘Echoes from the Past’, which ones do you find in use in your home? What conclusion can you draw from your observations?

Ans: Observations: The past crops include rice, barley, millets, wheat, sesame, mustard, green gram, black gram, grapes, dates, mango, and jackfruit.

Conclusion: The food we currently consume in our homes is directly linked to prehistoric times. The continuous use of these same grains, pulses, and fruits shows that Indian agriculture has a deep-rooted, unbroken cultural tradition that dates back thousands of years to the Harappan civilization and beyond.