MCQs
(i) Which one of the following is NOT a land-use category?
- (a) Fallow land
- (b) Marginal land
- (c) Net Area Sown
- (d) Culturable Wasteland
Ans: (b) Marginal Land
Explanation: The land-use classification in India includes forests, barren and unculturable land, fallow land, net area sown, and culturable wasteland. “Marginal land” is not a formal category.
(ii) What one of the following is the main reason due to which share of forest has shown an increase in the last forty years?
- (a) Extensive and efficient efforts of afforestation
- (b) Increase in community forest land
- (c) Increase in notified area allocated for forest growth
- (d) Better peoples’ participation in managing forest area
Ans: (c) Increase in notified area allocated for forest growth
Explanation: The official expansion of notified forest area has led to statistical increase, even though actual tree cover has not risen at the same pace.
(iii) Which one of the following is the main form of degradation in irrigated areas?
- (a) Gully erosion
- (b) Wind erosion
- (c) Salinisation of soils
- (d) Siltation of land
Ans: (c) Salinisation of soils
Explanation: In irrigated regions, excess water leads to waterlogging and deposition of salts, reducing soil fertility.
(iv) Which one of the following crops is not cultivated under dryland farming?
- (a) Ragi
- (b) Jowar
- (c) Groundnut
- (d) Sugarcane
Ans: (d) Sugarcane
Explanation: Dryland farming relies on low rainfall and hardy crops like jowar, bajra, ragi, and pulses. Sugarcane requires high moisture, so it is a wetland crop.
(v) In which of the following group of countries of the world, HYVs of wheat and rice were developed?
- (a) Japan and Australia
- (b) U.S.A. and Japan
- (c) Mexico and Philippines
- (d) Mexico and Singapore
Ans: (c) Mexico and Philippines
Explanation: Wheat HYVs were developed in Mexico, while rice HYVs were developed in the Philippines, forming the basis of India’s Green Revolution.
Short Answer Type
- Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) Differentiate between barren and wasteland and culturable wasteland.
- Barren and Wasteland: Land unfit for cultivation due to degradation or natural conditions; cannot be reclaimed with current technology.
- Culturable Wasteland: Land left uncultivated for more than five years but can be made productive with improvements.
(ii) How would you distinguish between net sown area and gross cropped area?
- Net Sown Area: Actual cultivated land where crops are sown once in a year.
- Gross Cropped Area: Total cropped area including land used more than once due to multiple cropping.
(iii) Why is the strategy of increasing cropping intensity important in a country like India?
Increasing cropping intensity enhances agricultural output from the same land by allowing multiple crops in a year. In a land-scarce country like India, it helps meet rising food demand.
(iv) How do you measure total cultivable land?
Total cultivable land is the sum of net sown area, current fallow, fallow other than current, and culturable wasteland. It represents land that can be potentially cultivated.
(v) What is the difference between dryland and wetland farming?
- Dryland Farming: Practiced in <75 cm rainfall regions; crops like jowar, bajra, gram are grown.
- Wetland Farming: Practiced in >75 cm rainfall areas; water-intensive crops like rice, jute, sugarcane dominate.
Long Answer Type
- Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(i) What are the different types of environmental problems of land resources in India?
India faces several environmental issues affecting its land resources:
- Dependence on Monsoon: About two-thirds of agriculture is rainfed. Variability in rainfall causes both droughts and floods.
- Land Degradation: Overuse of chemical inputs, reduction in fallow periods, and displacement of leguminous crops reduce soil fertility.
- Soil Salinisation and Waterlogging: Faulty irrigation practices in canal-irrigated areas cause salinity and alkalinity.
- Soil Erosion: Wind erosion in arid regions and water erosion in hilly areas degrade vast tracts of cultivable land.
- Deforestation: Reduction of forest cover affects ecological balance and increases erosion.
Overall, India’s land resources face stress due to overuse, population pressure, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Proper conservation, afforestation, and scientific land management are crucial.
(ii) What are the important strategies for agricultural development followed in the post-independence period in India?
After Independence, India adopted several strategies to enhance agricultural productivity:
- Immediate Goals: Focus shifted from cash crops to food crops to achieve food security. Expansion of cultivated area was prioritized by bringing fallow and culturable wasteland under use.
- Intensification: Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP) and Intensive Agricultural Area Programme (IAAP) promoted productivity in select regions.
- Green Revolution: In the mid-1960s, high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice were introduced along with fertilizers, irrigation, and mechanization. This boosted foodgrain production, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.
- Diversification: From the 1980s, agro-climatic planning emphasized regional balance and diversification into horticulture, dairy, poultry, and aquaculture.
- Self-Reliance: These strategies transformed India from a food-deficient country into a largely self-sufficient nation in foodgrain production.
Thus, Indian agriculture evolved from subsistence farming to a more commercial and technology-driven system.