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Questions and Answers
What percentage of India's agricultural GDP is contributed by horticulture and animal husbandry?
What percentage of India's agricultural GDP is contributed by horticulture and animal husbandry?
Over 60%
What is the correct definition of agriculture?
What is the correct definition of agriculture?
Agriculture is a major contributor to the Indian economy.
Agriculture is a major contributor to the Indian economy.
True
What is the main environmental factor that impacts Indian agriculture?
What is the main environmental factor that impacts Indian agriculture?
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What percentage of India's net sown area is dependent on rainfall?
What percentage of India's net sown area is dependent on rainfall?
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India has the smallest irrigated area in the world.
India has the smallest irrigated area in the world.
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What are the four main factors contributing to the problems of Indian agriculture?
What are the four main factors contributing to the problems of Indian agriculture?
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Which of the following is NOT an institutional factor that affects Indian agriculture?
Which of the following is NOT an institutional factor that affects Indian agriculture?
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The Zamindari system, which was abolished in India, had a positive impact on agricultural productivity.
The Zamindari system, which was abolished in India, had a positive impact on agricultural productivity.
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What is the main characteristic of subsistence agriculture?
What is the main characteristic of subsistence agriculture?
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Which of the following is NOT a challenge posed by globalization to Indian agriculture?
Which of the following is NOT a challenge posed by globalization to Indian agriculture?
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The Indian government has stopped providing support to farmers.
The Indian government has stopped providing support to farmers.
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What is the term used to describe the significant increase in food grain production in India during the 1960s and 1970s?
What is the term used to describe the significant increase in food grain production in India during the 1960s and 1970s?
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Which of the following is NOT an element of the new agriculture strategy?
Which of the following is NOT an element of the new agriculture strategy?
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The Green Revolution had only positive impacts on Indian agriculture.
The Green Revolution had only positive impacts on Indian agriculture.
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Which type of farming is characterized by a focus on one crop in a large field?
Which type of farming is characterized by a focus on one crop in a large field?
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The goal of the National Agriculture Policy is to achieve a growth rate of over 4% per annum.
The goal of the National Agriculture Policy is to achieve a growth rate of over 4% per annum.
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Which of the following is NOT a feature of subsistence farming?
Which of the following is NOT a feature of subsistence farming?
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Commercial farming is characterized by large landholdings and high output.
Commercial farming is characterized by large landholdings and high output.
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Which type of farming is also known as the 'slash and burn method'?
Which type of farming is also known as the 'slash and burn method'?
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Intensive farming is characterized by multiple crops being grown on the same land.
Intensive farming is characterized by multiple crops being grown on the same land.
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Which type of farming is characterized by large landholdings and the use of large machinery?
Which type of farming is characterized by large landholdings and the use of large machinery?
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Mixed farming involves raising both crops and animals on the same farm.
Mixed farming involves raising both crops and animals on the same farm.
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Study Notes
Indian Agriculture
- Indian agriculture is diverse, including horticulture and animal husbandry, contributing over 60% of India's agricultural GDP.
- India is a global leader in milk production, ranking second in vegetables and fruits, and third in fish, egg, and poultry.
- Agriculture is the backbone of India's economy, comprising 17.1% of its GDP, employing 58% of the labor force, and contributing 13% of total exports.
- Agriculture provides food for the population, raw materials for industries (e.g., sugarcane to sugar), a market for industrial goods (fertilizers, pesticides), and employment for millions.
Problems in Indian Agriculture
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Environmental Factors:
- Unreliable Rainfall: Indian agriculture heavily relies on unpredictable monsoons, with 55% of the cropland depending on rainfall.
- Lack of Irrigation: While India has vast irrigated land, a significant portion relies solely on monsoon, leading to crop failures due to droughts or floods.
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Economic Factors:
- Subsistence Agriculture: Most Indian farms are small-scale, producing primarily for consumption, with little surplus for sale.
- Poor Farmer Conditions: Farmers are often poor, in debt, and lack education, limiting their adoption of modern techniques and access to resources like technology.
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Institutional Factors:
- Small and Fragmented Landholdings: Small farm sizes hinder the efficient application of modern farming practices.
- Land Tenure Issues: The legacy of the Zamindari system, though abolished, still impacts land ownership and tenant rights causing problems for farmers.
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Technological Factors:
- Outdated Techniques: Many farmers use traditional, inefficient methods, lacking access to modern equipment and know-how.
- Limited Mechanization: Limited farm mechanization and access to modern technology hinder crop yields and productivity.
National Agricultural Policy
- Aims for 4% annual growth rate.
- Supports contract farming, animal husbandry (poultry, dairy, aquaculture).
- Aims to improve rural electrification and promote crop insurance to support farmers.
Types of Farming in India
- Subsistence Farming: Small landholdings, traditional methods, low output, primarily for family use, and limited surplus for the market.
- Commercial Farming: Large landholdings, modern techniques, high output, crops primarily for market.
Other Agricultural Practices
- Shifting Agriculture (Slash-and-Burn): Temporary clearing and cultivation of small patches of land, often with limited environmental sustainability.
- Intensive Farming: Intensive cultivation on small plots of land through various methods such as high-yielding crops, fertilizers, and irrigation.
- Extensive Farming: Farming on large tracts of land with fewer inputs; may feature large-scale plantation agriculture.
- Plantation Farming: Large-scale cultivation of a single crop on a large piece of land (e.g., tea, coffee).
- Mixed Farming: Combining crop production with animal rearing for a sustainable and diverse income source.
Green Revolution
- Introduced improved seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation leading to a dramatic increase in food grain production in India in the 1960s and 70s.
Impacts of the Green Revolution
- Positive: Helped change agriculture from subsistence to commercial; made India self-sufficient in food; improved farmer profits, and increased village prosperity.
- Negative: Led to land degradation and loss of biodiversity through overuse of chemical inputs.
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Description
This quiz explores the complexities of Indian agriculture, covering its diversity, economic contributions, and major challenges. Learn about the significance of horticulture, animal husbandry, and environmental issues affecting agricultural productivity in India.
