Agriculture in India: Key Facts Quiz

Agriculture is the foundation of India's economy, providing jobs and resources for a large portion of its population, contributing significantly to its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and playing a vital role in supporting industries and foreign trade.

At India's independence, a large majority (72%) of its population depended on agriculture for their livelihood. While that proportion has decreased, agriculture still supports a significant portion (43% in 2019) of the Indian population.

Agriculture plays a crucial role in India's economy by contributing significantly to its total output (GDP). In the early years, agriculture contributed over half of the national income, but this percentage has decreased due to growth in other sectors.

Agriculture provides raw materials such as cotton, jute, sugarcane and rubber, which are essential for various industries in India. The growth of agriculture also leads to higher demand for manufactured goods, boosting the industrial sector.

Agricultural exports, such as tea, coffee, spices, and other products, contribute significantly to India's foreign trade. These exports generate crucial foreign income, which is important for the country's growth and development.

The practice where a large number of people rely on a limited amount of arable land for their livelihood, leading to smaller plots and increased competition for resources.

The dependence of Indian agriculture on monsoon rains for water, making it vulnerable to erratic rainfall patterns and impacting crop yields.

The system of land ownership and taxation in India, often characterized by high rents, insecure tenancy and limited access to resources for farmers.

Small and fragmented landholdings that make efficient farming difficult due to limited resources and challenges in adopting modern technologies.

The lack of access to financial resources from formal institutions, forcing farmers to rely on exploitative moneylenders and limiting their ability to invest in improvements.

A disorganized network of buying and selling agricultural products, often with farmers facing exploitation by middlemen and limited access to markets for fair prices.

The lack of proper storage infrastructure for perishable agricultural produce leading to significant losses after harvesting.

Farmers' reluctance to adopt new technologies due to traditional practices, socio-economic factors like illiteracy, and lack of access to information.

Abolition of intermediaries, like Zamindars, gave ownership rights to the tillers of the land, encouraging improvements and benefiting millions of tenants.

Tenancy reforms ensured tenant farmers' rights and set rent limits, typically at one-third of the produce.

Landholding limits aimed to promote equality by redistributing surplus land to smaller farmers or landless laborers.

Combining scattered small plots into larger ones to improve efficiency and ease management.

Expanding irrigation through multi-purpose projects and tubewells increased the area under irrigation, greatly boosting productivity.

High-yielding variety (HYV) seeds produce larger quantities of crops, but require regular water, fertilizers, and pesticides.

The government supports HYV technology by offering discounts on seeds, subsidies for crops, and research for Indian-suitable seeds.

Government measures include testing soil quality and providing incentives to encourage farmers to adopt modern agricultural practices.

Government programs providing subsidized fertilizers to farmers, encouraging the use of Neem-coated urea, and supporting the transition to organic farming methods.

A comprehensive program focusing on high-yielding seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation to increase food production.

The period in India's history when the country focused on increasing food production using modern agricultural techniques, leading to a significant increase in yields.

This campaign aims to educate farmers and consumers about the importance of safe and responsible pesticide use to ensure food safety.

The Central Insecticide Board and Registration Committee regulates the use of pesticides in India, setting standards and controlling their distribution.

A strategy that involves managing pests using natural methods and minimal chemical intervention to protect the environment and human health.

Regulated markets ensure fair prices for farmers by establishing a controlled environment for agricultural produce sales.

Cooperative marketing societies help farmers sell their produce collectively, leveraging their bargaining power and achieving better prices.

Instead of distributing resources evenly across India, the Green Revolution focused on areas most likely to benefit from modern farming techniques, maximizing impact.

The Green Revolution introduced new farming practices that increased crop yields, such as high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds, chemical fertilizers, controlled irrigation, and pesticides.

High-yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds were developed to produce more crops per unit of land, leading to higher yields and faster growth, allowing more harvests each year.

Chemical fertilizers were essential for providing HYV seeds with the necessary nutrients for optimal growth, as they require higher levels of nutrients compared to traditional varieties.

Proper irrigation was vital for HYV seeds, ensuring a consistent water supply for successful cultivation. This involved building reliable systems and efficient water management.

Pesticides were used in combination with fertilizers to control weeds that compete with crops, ensuring better yields and maximizing the benefits of other modern inputs.

The Green Revolution's first phase (mid-1960s to mid-1970s) saw the adoption of HYV seeds in states like Punjab, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and western Uttar Pradesh, primarily focusing on wheat production.

The second phase of the Green Revolution (mid-1970s to mid-1980s) expanded to more states and included a wider range of crops, like rice, millets, barley, and maize, emphasizing a more decentralized approach to increasing production.

The Green Revolution involved using HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation to significantly boost food production in India.

The Green Revolution allowed India to produce enough food grains for its own people, ending the need to import food from other countries.

The Green Revolution primarily focused on increasing production of wheat and rice, which benefited farmers in specific regions like Punjab, Haryana, and Andhra Pradesh, boosting their income.

The Green Revolution led to more agricultural produce being available for sale in the market, as farmers had enough to meet their needs and sell the surplus.

The Green Revolution's focus on food crops, like wheat and rice, sometimes neglected other crops and traditional farming practices.

The Green Revolution resulted in lower food prices compared to other goods, benefiting people who spent a large part of their income on food.

Scientific methods, like using HYV seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, were introduced with the Green Revolution, transforming farming practices.

The Green Revolution was a significant period in Indian history when the country focused on increasing food production using modern agricultural techniques.

A lack of sufficient nutritious food due to poverty, leading to chronic poor health and development.

Hunger that occurs during specific times of the year, often related to agricultural cycles or seasonal unemployment.

The government's strategy to buy and store excess foodgrains to ensure availability during shortages and distribute them at subsidized prices.

The Minimum Support Price (MSP) is a guaranteed minimum price set by the government for certain crops. It prevents farmers from losing money and encourages crop production.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) is a network for distributing foodgrains, especially to poor and vulnerable populations, at subsidized prices.

Groups that are particularly susceptible to food insecurity in India due to limited resources and vulnerabilities, including landless farmers, daily wage workers, and people affected by natural disasters.

India's goal to produce enough foodgrains to meet its own needs, reducing dependence on imports.

States in India with high levels of food insecurity, facing challenges like poverty, lack of access to resources, and vulnerability to natural disasters.

Food security encompasses having enough food available, accessible, and affordable for everyone, all the time, ensuring a healthy and active life. It involves ensuring food is produced or imported in sufficient quantities, easily reachable by all, and priced reasonably for all.

Poverty makes it difficult for many to afford food, while natural disasters like droughts or floods can reduce food production and increase prices, making food unavailable to the poor.

Natural disasters like earthquakes, droughts, and floods decrease food production, making it less available. This shortage leads to higher prices, making food unaffordable for the poor.

Big farmers often benefit more from new technologies than smaller farmers, leading to inequality in income. This is due to the cost and intensity of modern farming methods.

The Green Revolution, while increasing food production, also led to increased machinery use, resulting in surplus agricultural labor. This, along with the tendency of big farms to cultivate land themselves, led to displacement of tenant farmers and a rise in landlessness.

India has faced several food crises, highlighting the need for a robust food security system. This includes measures like nationwide food grain distribution and government intervention.

Food security is vital for everyone's well-being, especially the poorest in society. It requires a collaborative effort to make food accessible, affordable, and available to all.

Food insecurity has major consequences, including poverty, hunger, and malnutrition. It is a complex issue that requires a multi-faceted approach to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations.

A system in India distributing essential goods like food grains to the poor, operating through "ration shops" found in villages, towns, and cities.

A type of ration card given to the poorest individuals who are unable to afford basic necessities. It provides access to subsidized food grains.

A ration card provided to people who are below the poverty line, giving them access to subsidized essentials at lower prices.

A ration card given to those above the poverty line, allowing them access to food grains at slightly higher prices compared to BPL and Antyodaya holders.

The system targeting the poor across all areas, using varying prices for different communities, replaced the old PDS system in 1997.

The scheme, implemented in 2000, aims to help the poorest of the poor families in the TPDS with subsidized food grains.

Aimed at meeting the food security needs of poor senior citizens and the most disadvantaged families, implemented in 2000.

A program launched in 2004 focusing on helping 150 backward districts in drought-prone states to address food security and provide jobs.

Launched in 1975, this program provides nutritional aid to mothers and children under 6 years old, aimed at improving their health and development. It also includes job creation initiatives to empower communities.

Enacted in 2013, this law guarantees 5 kilograms of foodgrains per person per month at subsidized prices. These prices include ₹3 per kg for rice, ₹2 per kg for wheat, and ₹1 per kg for coarse cereals. This ensures food security for poor families.

Established in 1965, the Food Corporation of India aims to provide farmers with fair prices for their produce and offers affordable food to vulnerable communities through the public distribution system. It also maintains buffer stocks to stabilize prices and reduce import dependence.

Cooperatives play a vital role in food security, especially in southern and western India. They act as an alternative to the Public Distribution System, often selling products at lower prices. These dairy cooperatives, like Amul and Mother Dairy, have been instrumental in the "White Revolution."

Agriculture is the backbone of India's economy, providing livelihoods for a large population. It contributes significantly to national income, promotes self-sufficiency in foodgrains, supports industries, and fuels trade. However, challenges like land fragmentation, limited credit facilities, and monsoon dependence hinder growth.

The Green Revolution, a period of agricultural transformation, focused on modernizing farming practices. It introduced high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of seeds, chemical fertilizers, improved irrigation systems, and pesticides. This led to substantial increases in crop yields, but came with environmental and social consequences.

Chemical fertilizers were crucial for providing HYV seeds with the necessary nutrients for optimal growth. These seeds require higher levels of nutrients compared to traditional varieties. However, excessive use of chemical fertilizers can have negative environmental impacts.