1. Tick (✓) the correct option.
a. Which of the following soils is suitable for cotton cultivation?
i. Red soil
ii. Mountain soil
iii. Black soil
iv. Sandy soil
Answer. iii. Black soil
b. Which of the following statements is/are true regarding beverage crops?
I. They grow mostly in tropical and subtropical regions.
II. They are known as vegetable fibres.
III. Maize and cotton are beverage crops.
i. Only I
ii. Only I and II
iii. Only III
iv. Only I and III
Answer. i. Only I
c. There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as the codes provided below:
Assertion (A): Tea gardens are usually set up in river valleys.
Reason (R): The high altitude provides the ideal climatic conditions for tea cultivation.
i. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
ii. A is true, but R is false.
iii. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A. ✓
iv. A is false, but R is true.
Explanation for (c): While tea gardens are often on hill slopes (which can be near river valleys) for drainage, the crucial factor stated in the reason is high altitude, which is indeed true for tea. However, the reason they are set up on slopes/valleys is primarily for drainage, not just the altitude itself, so R is not the direct and correct explanation for A.
2. Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.
a. What is meant by fibre crops? Give an example.
Fibre crops are plants cultivated for their fibres, which are used to make textiles, ropes, and sacks. Example: Jute or Cotton.
b. What are the climatic conditions required for rice cultivation?
Rice requires high temperature (above 25°C), high humidity, and heavy rainfall (over 100 cm).
c. Name the leading producers of wheat in the world.
China, India, Russia, and the United States are leading producers of wheat.
d. What is jute used for?
Jute is used for making gunny bags, ropes, mats, and textiles.
e. State the importance of agricultural development.
It ensures food security, provides raw materials for industries, and creates employment.
3. Answer the following questions in 50 to 70 words.
a. Analyse the conditions necessary for growing cotton and jute.
Cotton:
- Climate: It grows best in a warm climate with plenty of sunshine. It requires a long frost-free period of about 180-200 days.
- Rainfall: It needs moderate rainfall of about 50-100 cm.
- Soil: It thrives best in deep, moisture-retentive, and well-drained black soils (regur).
Jute:
- Climate: It requires a hot and humid climate.
- Rainfall: It needs heavy rainfall, around 150-200 cm.
- Soil: It grows well in well-drained, fertile alluvial soil in river floodplains.
b. How do the conditions for growth of tea differ from those for growing coffee?
Tea:
- It is a beverage crop grown on well-drained, gentle hill slopes.
- It requires a cool to warm climate with high rainfall (150-250 cm) distributed throughout the year.
- It needs deep, fertile, well-drained loamy soil.
Coffee:
- It is also a beverage crop but thrives in a hot and humid climate.
- It requires less rainfall (150-200 cm) than tea and needs well-drained, rich loamy soil, ideally on hill slopes.
- The key difference is that coffee requires a warmer temperature range compared to tea, which can tolerate cooler conditions.
c. Define millets. State the geographical conditions required for the growth of millets. Which are the leading millets producing countries in the world?
Millets are a group of highly nutritious, coarse grains that are known for their hardiness and short growing season. They are also called “dryland crops” or “poor man’s crops.”
Geographical Conditions:
- Climate: They grow well in warm and dry climates.
- Rainfall: They require low to moderate rainfall, between 40-60 cm. They are highly drought-resistant.
- Soil: They can be grown on less fertile and shallow soils.
Leading Producers: India, Nigeria, and China are the leading producers of millets in the world.
4. Think Ahead [HOTS]
Every year, the small farmers of India face risks, such as low rainfall, price inconsistency, and debts. However, the COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges for the agricultural sector in the past. How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect the agricultural sector in India?
The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted the agricultural sector in India. Nationwide lockdowns led to a massive shortage of migrant labour during the crucial harvest season. This caused difficulties in harvesting and transporting produce. Supply chains were broken, with farmers unable to reach markets (mandis) and consumers, leading to massive food wastage and a drop in income. Simultaneously, the closure of industries reduced the demand for raw materials like cotton and jute, further impacting farmers’ livelihoods.