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Agriculture

NCERT Class 10 · Social Science Based on NCERT Class 10 Social Science textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter explains the importance of agriculture in India, where two-thirds of the population is engaged in this primary activity. It covers types of farming (primitive subsistence, intensive subsistence, commercial, and plantation), cropping patterns (rabi, kharif, zaid), major crops (food grains, cash crops, horticulture), and technological and institutional reforms. The one big idea a student must walk away with is that agriculture in India is diverse, shaped by physical environment, technology, and socio-cultural practices, and requires continuous reforms to sustain the growing population.
Key Concepts (27)
Agriculture
A primary activity that produces most of the food we consume and raw material for various industries.
e.g. Growing wheat for food or cotton for textile industries.
Primitive Subsistence Farming
A type of farming practised on small patches of land with primitive tools like hoe, dao, and digging sticks, depending on monsoon and natural fertility, often involving 'slash and burn' agriculture.
e.g. Jhumming in north-eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
Intensive Subsistence Farming
Labour-intensive farming practised in areas of high population pressure on land, using high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation for higher production.
e.g. Growing rice in West Bengal or Uttar Pradesh with high labour input.
Commercial Farming
Farming using higher doses of modern inputs like HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides, and pesticides to obtain higher productivity, with the degree of commercialisation varying by region.
e.g. Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab but a subsistence crop in Odisha.
Plantation Agriculture
A type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area, with an interface of agriculture and industry, using capital-intensive inputs and migrant labour.
e.g. Tea plantations in Assam and North Bengal, coffee plantations in Karnataka.
Rabi Crops
Crops sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June.
e.g. Wheat, barley, peas, gram, and mustard.
Kharif Crops
Crops grown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country and harvested in September-October.
e.g. Paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, and soyabean.
Zaid Season
A short cropping season during summer months between rabi and kharif.
e.g. Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, and fodder crops.
Rice
The staple food crop of a majority of people in India; India is the second largest producer in the world after China; a kharif crop requiring high temperature (above 25°C) and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
e.g. Grown in plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas, and deltaic regions.
Wheat
The second most important cereal crop and main food crop in north and north-western India; a rabi crop requiring a cool growing season and bright sunshine at ripening, with 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall.
e.g. Major wheat-producing states: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan.
Millets
Coarse grains with high nutritional value; include jowar, bajra, and ragi.
e.g. Jowar is the third most important food crop; ragi is rich in iron and calcium.
Pulses
Major source of protein in a vegetarian diet; India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world; leguminous crops that help restore soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air.
e.g. Tur (arhar), urad, moong, masur, peas, and gram.
Sugarcane
A tropical and subtropical crop growing well in hot and humid climate with temperature 21°C to 27°C and annual rainfall 75-100 cm; India is the second largest producer after Brazil.
e.g. Major states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.
Oil Seeds
Crops covering approximately 12 per cent of total cropped area; India was the second largest producer of groundnut in 2020 after China.
e.g. Groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed, and sunflower.
Tea
An important beverage crop and example of plantation agriculture; requires tropical and sub-tropical climate with deep, fertile, well-drained soil rich in humus, warm and moist frost-free climate; labour-intensive.
e.g. Major states: Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts (West Bengal), Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Coffee
Indian coffee, especially the Arabica variety brought from Yemen, is known for good quality; cultivation confined to Nilgiri in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
e.g. Baba Budan Hills is where coffee cultivation was initially introduced.
Horticulture Crops
India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China (2020); produces tropical and temperate fruits.
e.g. Mangoes of Maharashtra, oranges of Nagpur, bananas of Kerala, apples of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rubber
An equatorial crop also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas; requires moist and humid climate with rainfall more than 200 cm and temperature above 25°C; important industrial raw material.
e.g. Mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar islands, and Garo hills of Meghalaya.
Fibre Crops
Cotton, jute, hemp, and natural silk are the four major fibre crops grown in India; cotton and jute are derived from crops, natural silk from silkworms.
e.g. Cotton grows well in black cotton soil of Deccan plateau; jute is known as the golden fibre.
Sericulture
Rearing of silk worms for the production of silk fibre.
e.g. Silkworms fed on green leaves, especially mulberry.
Jute
Known as the golden fibre; grows well on well-drained fertile soils in flood plains; used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets, and other artefacts.
e.g. Major states: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, and Meghalaya.
Green Revolution
A strategy initiated in the 1960s and 1970s based on the use of package technology (HYV seeds, fertilisers, irrigation) to improve Indian agriculture.
e.g. Success in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan for rabi crops.
White Revolution (Operation Flood)
A strategy initiated to improve the lot of Indian agriculture, focusing on dairy development.
e.g. Operation Flood led to increased milk production.
Bhoodan-Gramdan Movement
A blood-less revolution initiated by Vinoba Bhave, where landowners voluntarily offered land to landless villagers (Bhoodan) or entire villages (Gramdan).
e.g. Shri Ram Chandra Reddy offered 80 acres of land to be distributed among 80 landless villagers at Pochampally in Telangana.
Minimum Support Price (MSP)
A price announced by the government for important crops to check exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen.
e.g. Government announces MSP for wheat, paddy, etc.
Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
A scheme introduced by the Government of India for the benefit of farmers to provide easy access to credit.
e.g. Farmers can use KCC for purchasing inputs.
Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS)
A scheme introduced by the Government of India for the benefit of farmers to provide insurance coverage.
e.g. Provides financial support in case of accidental death or disability.
How It Works
Primitive Subsistence Farming (Slash and Burn)
  1. Farmers clear a patch of land by slashing and burning vegetation.
  2. They produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their family using primitive tools.
  3. When soil fertility decreases, farmers shift to a fresh patch of land.
  4. The abandoned land is left for nature to replenish fertility through natural processes.
  5. No fertilisers or modern inputs are used, leading to low land productivity.
💡 Students often confuse 'slash and burn' with 'shifting cultivation' — they are the same process. Also remember the local names: Jhumming (NE India), Bewar/Dahiya (MP), Podu/Penda (AP), etc.
Cropping Seasons in India
  1. Rabi: Sown in winter (October-December), harvested in summer (April-June). Crops: wheat, barley, peas, gram, mustard. Success aided by western temperate cyclones and Green Revolution.
  2. Kharif: Grown with onset of monsoon, harvested in September-October. Crops: paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, pulses, cotton, jute, groundnut, soyabean.
  3. Zaid: Short summer season between rabi and kharif. Crops: watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, fodder crops. Sugarcane takes almost a year.
💡 Students often forget that zaid is a separate season. Also, sugarcane is not a zaid crop — it takes almost a year to grow.
Institutional Reforms in Agriculture
  1. After Independence, collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, cooperation, and abolition of zamindari were prioritised.
  2. Land reform was the main focus of the First Five Year Plan.
  3. In the 1960s-70s, Green Revolution (package technology) and White Revolution (Operation Flood) were introduced.
  4. In the 1980s-90s, a comprehensive land development programme including institutional and technical reforms was initiated.
  5. Provision for crop insurance, Grameen banks, cooperative societies, and banks for lower interest loans were introduced.
  6. Schemes like Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) were launched.
  7. Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes on radio/TV, and announcement of Minimum Support Price (MSP) were implemented.
💡 Students often miss that the implementation of land reforms was 'lacking or lukewarm'. Also, Bhoodan-Gramdan was a voluntary movement, not a government scheme.
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing Rabi and Kharif Seasons
✗ Rabi crops are sown in summer and harvested in winter.
→ Rabi crops are sown in winter (October-December) and harvested in summer (April-June). The opposite is true for kharif.
✓ Rabi crops are sown in winter (October-December) and harvested in summer (April-June). Kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsoon and harvested in September-October.
⚠ Mixing Up Commercial vs. Subsistence Farming for Rice
✗ Rice is always a subsistence crop in India.
→ The degree of commercialisation varies by region. Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab but a subsistence crop in Odisha.
✓ Rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but in Odisha it is a subsistence crop.
⚠ Forgetting the Names of Slash and Burn Agriculture
✗ Slash and burn agriculture is only called Jhumming in India.
→ It has many local names in different parts of India: Jhumming (NE), Bewar/Dahiya (MP), Podu/Penda (AP), Pama Dabi/Koman/Bringa (Odisha), Kumari (Western Ghats), etc.
✓ In India, slash and burn agriculture is known by various names: Jhumming in north-eastern states, Bewar or Dahiya in Madhya Pradesh, Podu or Penda in Andhra Pradesh, etc.
⚠ Confusing Pulses with Other Crops
✗ All pulses are kharif crops.
→ Some pulses are rabi crops (e.g., gram, peas) and some are kharif (e.g., tur/arhar, moong, urad). The chapter asks students to distinguish which are grown in which season.
✓ Tur (arhar), moong, and urad are kharif pulses; gram and peas are rabi pulses.
⚠ Thinking Bhoodan-Gramdan is a Government Scheme
✗ The government introduced Bhoodan-Gramdan as a land reform programme.
→ Bhoodan-Gramdan was a voluntary movement initiated by Vinoba Bhave, not a government scheme. It is also known as the Blood-less Revolution.
✓ Bhoodan-Gramdan was a voluntary land reform movement initiated by Vinoba Bhave, where landowners offered land to the landless. It is known as the Blood-less Revolution.
⚠ Misidentifying the Largest Producer of Crops
✗ India is the largest producer of rice in the world.
→ India is the second largest producer of rice after China. Similarly, India is second in wheat, sugarcane (after Brazil), tea (after China), and cotton (after China).
✓ India is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China. India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world.
Compare & Contrast
Type of farming
Primitive Subsistence Farming
Intensive Subsistence Farming
Primitive subsistence uses primitive tools, depends on monsoon and natural fertility, and involves shifting cultivation; intensive subsistence uses high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation, is labour-intensive, and is practised in areas of high population pressure on land.
Cropping season
Rabi Crops
Kharif Crops
Rabi crops are sown in winter (October-December) and harvested in summer (April-June); kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsoon and harvested in September-October.
Type of commercial farming
Commercial Farming
Plantation Agriculture
Commercial farming uses higher doses of modern inputs and can involve multiple crops; plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area, with an interface of agriculture and industry, using capital-intensive inputs and migrant labour.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: This chapter typically appears in board exams with 2-3 MCQs (1 mark each), 1-2 Short Answer questions (3 marks each), and 1 Long Answer question (5 marks). Total marks: approximately 10-12 marks.
Most asked: Types of farming (primitive subsistence, intensive subsistence, commercial, plantation) · Cropping seasons (rabi, kharif, zaid) with examples · Major crops: rice, wheat, millets, pulses, sugarcane, tea, coffee, cotton, jute — geographical conditions and producing states · Technological and institutional reforms (Green Revolution, White Revolution, land reforms, Bhoodan-Gramdan) · Local names of slash and burn agriculture
Don't skip: Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice/wheat/tea/coffee/cotton (5 marks); Explain the different types of farming practised in India (5 marks); What are the institutional reforms introduced by the government to improve Indian agriculture? (5 marks); Differentiate between rabi and kharif crops with examples (3 marks)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. Agriculture is a primary activity that produces food and raw material for industries, engaging two-thirds of India's population.
  2. Primitive subsistence farming uses primitive tools and slash-and-burn method, known as Jhumming in north-eastern states.
  3. Intensive subsistence farming is labour-intensive, practised in high population pressure areas with high doses of inputs.
  4. Commercial farming uses HYV seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides for higher productivity; rice is commercial in Haryana/Punjab but subsistence in Odisha.
  5. Plantation agriculture grows a single crop on large areas, e.g., tea in Assam, coffee in Karnataka.
  6. Rabi crops are sown in winter (October-December) and harvested in summer (April-June); examples: wheat, barley, peas, gram, mustard.
  7. Kharif crops are grown with monsoon and harvested in September-October; examples: paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, cotton, jute.
  8. Zaid is a short summer season between rabi and kharif; crops include watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber.
  9. Rice is a kharif crop requiring high temperature (above 25°C) and rainfall above 100 cm; India is second largest producer after China.
  10. Wheat is a rabi crop requiring cool growing season and 50-75 cm rainfall; major states: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh.
  11. Millets (jowar, bajra, ragi) are coarse grains with high nutritional value; ragi is rich in iron and calcium.
  12. Pulses are leguminous crops that fix nitrogen from air, restoring soil fertility; India is largest producer and consumer.
  13. Tea is a plantation crop requiring tropical climate, deep fertile soil, and labour-intensive processing; India is second largest producer after China.
  14. Cotton is a kharif fibre crop grown in black cotton soil of Deccan plateau; India is second largest producer after China.
  15. Jute is known as the golden fibre, grown in flood plains of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam.
  16. Green Revolution (1960s-70s) used package technology (HYV seeds, fertilisers, irrigation) to increase production.
  17. White Revolution (Operation Flood) improved dairy production in India.
  18. Bhoodan-Gramdan movement by Vinoba Bhave was a blood-less revolution where landowners voluntarily gave land to landless.
  19. Minimum Support Price (MSP) is announced by government to protect farmers from exploitation by speculators.
  20. Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are farmer welfare schemes.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. A farmer in Punjab grows wheat during October-December and sells it in the market for profit. However, a farmer in Odisha grows the same wheat crop but consumes most of it at home. Based on the chapter, which farming type does each farmer practise respectively?

  • A. Commercial farming and Subsistence farming ✓
  • B. Intensive subsistence farming and Primitive subsistence farming
  • C. Plantation farming and Intensive subsistence farming
  • D. Commercial farming and Intensive subsistence farming

Answer: A — The Punjab farmer grows for market profit (commercial), while the Odisha farmer grows for family consumption (subsistence); the chapter explicitly states that rice/wheat's classification varies by region and intent.

Q2. Assertion (A): Primitive subsistence farming is practised by clearing a patch of land, growing crops, and then shifting to a new area when soil fertility decreases. Reason (R): This farming method allows natural processes to replenish soil fertility over time. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: A — Both statements are accurate and R directly explains why shifting cultivation works—farmers intentionally move to allow soil regeneration, making R the correct causal explanation of A.

Q3. Rinjha's family in Assam clears a patch of forest, burns it, grows food crops for one season, then abandons it. According to the chapter, this practice is known as 'Jhumming' in north-eastern India. What would happen if Rinjha's family did NOT shift to a new patch the following year?

  • A. Soil fertility would remain stable because the burning replenishes nutrients permanently
  • B. Productivity would decline because soil fertility would decrease without time for natural regeneration ✓
  • C. The family would automatically shift to commercial farming
  • D. The land would become suitable for plantation crops

Answer: B — The chapter explicitly states that shifting allows nature to replenish fertility; without shifting, fertility decreases and productivity drops, which is the fundamental reason for the shifting cultivation system.

Q4. A state government wants to increase rice production in a densely populated region where land holdings are very small and farmers cannot afford modern technology. Which farming type should the government promote to maximize output from limited land?

  • A. Primitive subsistence farming
  • B. Intensive subsistence farming ✓
  • C. Plantation farming
  • D. Commercial farming alone

Answer: B — Intensive subsistence farming uses high labour inputs and biochemical inputs on small plots in high-population areas to obtain maximum output; this matches the scenario of limited land and dense population.

Q5. Assertion (A): Tea plantations in Assam are examples of commercial farming because they use capital-intensive inputs and migrant labourers. Reason (R): Plantation farming is a type of commercial farming that grows a single crop on large tracts of land primarily for industrial processing. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: A — Both statements are true and R explains why A is true—plantation farming's defining characteristics (single crop, large scale, industrial raw material) make it commercial in nature.

Q6. Extract: 'Kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country and these are harvested in September-October. Important crops grown during this season are paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean.' Which of the following regions is NOT mentioned as an important rice-growing region in the kharif season?

  • A. Assam and West Bengal
  • B. Punjab and Haryana ✓
  • C. Coastal Odisha and Andhra Pradesh
  • D. Maharashtra and Kerala

Answer: B — The chapter states that Punjab has recently become important for paddy (kharif), but it is historically known as a rabi wheat-growing region; Haryana is not explicitly mentioned as a major kharif rice region in the provided text.

Q7. Assertion (A): High-yielding variety (HYV) seeds and chemical fertilisers are used in commercial farming to obtain higher productivity. Reason (R): Modern inputs are necessary because traditional subsistence farming methods cannot produce enough food for India's large population. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A ✓
  • C. A is true but R is false
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: B — A is true (HYV and chemicals are used in commercial farming), and R is true (subsistence farming cannot meet large-scale food needs), but R does not explain WHY commercial farmers use these inputs—they use them to maximize profit, not necessarily as a population response.

Q8. Extract: 'Availability of precipitation during winter months due to the western temperate cyclones helps in the success of these crops. However, the success of the green revolution in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan has also been an important factor in the growth of the above-mentioned rabi crops.' Based on this extract, rabi crop success in northern India depends on which combination of factors?

  • A. Only natural rainfall from western cyclones
  • B. Only technological advancement from the green revolution
  • C. Both natural precipitation patterns and technological development ✓
  • D. Monsoon winds and irrigation systems

Answer: C — The extract explicitly mentions both winter precipitation from cyclones AND the green revolution's technological success as contributing factors to rabi crop growth in northern India.

Q9. A farmer in Karnataka grows coffee on a large plantation using hired labourers and selling all produce to processing industries. According to the chapter, which characteristic of this farming system distinguishes it from other commercial farming?

  • A. Use of chemical fertilisers and modern inputs
  • B. Growing a single crop on large tracts of land with capital-intensive methods ✓
  • C. Earning profit from agricultural production
  • D. Employing family labour instead of wage labourers

Answer: B — Plantation farming is defined by its single-crop, large-scale, capital-intensive nature with migrant labourers—this distinguishes it from other commercial farming which may grow multiple crops.

Q10. Assertion (A): In India, rice is grown as a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab but as a subsistence crop in Odisha. Reason (R): The classification of a crop as commercial or subsistence depends on the region, market access, and farmer's primary purpose rather than the crop type itself. Choose the correct option:

  • A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A ✓
  • B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is true but R is false
  • D. A is false but R is true

Answer: A — A directly reflects the chapter's example, and R correctly explains why the same crop (rice) can have different classifications in different regions based on context and farmer intent.

Flashcards

What is primitive subsistence farming?

Farming on small patches of land using primitive tools, shifting to fresh land when soil fertility decreases; also called 'slash and burn' agriculture.

Name the local term for slash-and-burn farming in north-eastern India.

Jhumming in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland; also practised in other regions under different names.

What is intensive subsistence farming?

Labour-intensive farming in high population areas using high doses of chemicals, irrigation, and modern inputs to maximize output from limited land.

How does commercial farming differ from subsistence farming?

Commercial farming uses modern inputs like HYV seeds and fertilisers for higher productivity and market sale, while subsistence farming focuses on family food security.

What is plantation farming?

Commercial farming where a single crop is grown on large areas using capital-intensive inputs and migrant labour, with produce used as raw material for industries.

Name India's three cropping seasons and give one crop example for each.

Rabi (Oct-Dec): wheat; Kharif (Jun-Oct): rice/cotton; Zaid (summer): watermelon/cucumber.

Why is rabi crop production successful in Punjab and Haryana?

Winter precipitation from western temperate cyclones, suitable soil conditions, and the green revolution's adoption of modern farming technology.

Which states are major rice producers in India and which season is rice grown?

Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Bihar grow rice mainly in kharif season with high temperature and rainfall above 100 cm.

What role does inheritance rights play in intensive subsistence farming?

Inheritance division of land among generations creates uneconomical small holdings, forcing farmers to use intensive methods to maximize output from limited land.

Give an example of a crop that is commercial in one region but subsistence in another.

Rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana but a subsistence crop in Odisha where families grow it primarily for food.

Important Board Questions

What is primitive subsistence farming? Name any two local terms used for this type of farming in different parts of India. [2 marks]

Define as slash-and-burn on small patches with primitive tools and family labour; then name any two regional terms like jhumming (N-E), podu (A.P.), bewar (M.P.), or kumari (Western Ghats).

Explain why intensive subsistence farming is practised in high population areas. How does it differ from commercial farming in terms of objectives? [3 marks]

Explain that land inheritance creates small uneconomical holdings, forcing farmers to use labour and chemicals to maximize output for survival (subsistence goal). Then contrast with commercial farming which uses modern tech to maximize profit and sell surplus in markets (market goal).

Analyse the role of climate and natural factors in determining the cropping pattern of India. Give specific examples of how rabi and kharif crops are grown in different regions according to their environmental conditions. [5 marks]

Explain that rainfall, temperature, and seasonal patterns determine crop choice. Rabi crops (wheat, gram) grow in Punjab-Haryana due to winter cyclone rainfall and cool temps; kharif crops (rice, cotton) grow in high-rainfall zones like Assam and Odisha during monsoon. Mention that rice requires above 25°C and 100+ cm rainfall. Connect physical environment to regional crop specialization.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Agriculture

Q1. Assertion (A):

Primitive subsistence farming is practiced in only a few pockets of India and has very low land productivity.

Reason (R):

Farmers in primitive subsistence farming do not use fertilizers or modern inputs like HYV seeds, and they practice 'slash and burn' agriculture by shifting to new patches of land when soil fertility decreases.

Answer: A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A — Both the assertion and reason are true. The assertion states facts about primitive subsistence farming's limited practice and low productivity. The reason explains WHY this is the case—lack of modern inputs and the shifting cultivation system directly result in low productivity. The reason correctly explains the assertion, making this the correct answer type A.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Rice is grown as both a subsistence crop and a commercial crop in different regions of India.

Reason (R):

Rice requires high temperature above 25°C and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm to grow successfully.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is true—the text explicitly states rice is commercial in Haryana and Punjab but subsistence in Odisha. However, the reason is false as an explanation for this regional difference. The reason describes rice's climatic requirements, which don't explain why it serves different economic roles in different regions. The reason is a true statement but doesn't explain the assertion, making this answer type C (assertion true, reason false).

Q3. Assertion (A):

Intensive subsistence farming requires high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation to obtain higher production.

Reason (R):

This type of farming is practiced in areas with high population pressure on land where farmers must maximize output from limited holdings due to inheritance-related land division.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — Both statements are true. The assertion correctly describes the characteristics of intensive subsistence farming. The reason correctly identifies the socio-economic cause for practicing this farming type. However, the reason does not explain WHY high biochemical inputs and irrigation are needed—it explains WHY this farming type exists. The reason is true but doesn't provide the causal explanation for the assertion's specifics, making this answer type B.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Agriculture

Case Study:

Farmer Ravi Kumar operates 2 hectares of land in Punjab. He uses high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, and modern irrigation systems. His primary crop is wheat, which he sows in October and harvests in April-May. He sells approximately 85% of his produce in the market and keeps 15% for family consumption. Recently, he introduced rice in summer months to maximize land utilization. Local agricultural experts note that Ravi's farming methods have increased his productivity threefold compared to traditional methods used by his grandfather.

Q1. What type of farming is Ravi Kumar primarily engaged in?

  • A. Primitive subsistence farming
  • B. Intensive subsistence farming
  • C. Commercial farming ✓
  • D. Plantation farming

Answer: C

Q2. Which cropping season does Ravi's primary crop (wheat) belong to?

  • A. Kharif season
  • B. Zaid season
  • C. Rabi season ✓
  • D. Monsoon season

Answer: C

Q3. What is the primary reason for Ravi's increased productivity?

  • A. Larger farm size compared to traditional farms
  • B. Use of HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, and modern irrigation ✓
  • C. Favorable monsoon conditions
  • D. Government subsidies on agricultural products

Answer: B

Q4. By introducing rice cultivation in summer, Ravi is utilizing which cropping strategy?

  • A. Multiple cropping in different seasons ✓
  • B. Shifting cultivation
  • C. Monoculture farming
  • D. Subsistence farming only

Answer: A

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for Agriculture

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/1 · 1 mark

In which of the following regions did the 'Beej-Bachao Andolan' of farmers begin?

  • Kumaon
  • Tehri
  • Almora
  • Chamoli

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/1 · 1 mark

Which one of the following crops grows well in hot and humid climate?

  • Sugarcane
  • Peas
  • Wheat
  • Gram

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/1 · 2 marks

If every farmer in India follows modern farming practices, explain any two positive changes this could bring to villages.

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/4/2 · 1 mark

In which of the following regions did the "Beej-Bachao Andolan" of farmers begin?

  • Kumaon
  • Tehri
  • Almora
  • Chamoli

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 1 mark

Identify the correct option related to major crops grown in the 'Kharif' cropping season in India:

  • Paddy, Peas, Mustard
  • Paddy, Mustard, Gram
  • Paddy, Jowar, Maize
  • Paddy, Maize, Gram

CBSE 2026 · Set 31/5/1 · 2 marks

Explain the measures made by government to improve Indian agriculture.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 1 mark

Imagine you are travelling from Delhi to Chandigarh to attend a wedding, by road in January. Which of the following crops will you notice prominently in the fields during the journey?

  • Paddy
  • Maize
  • Wheat
  • Jowar

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/1 · 3 marks

Rinjha lived with her family in a small village at the outskirts of Diphu in Assam. She enjoys watching her family members clearing, slashing and burning a patch of land for cultivation. She often helps them in irrigating the fields with water running through a bamboo canal from the nearby spring. She loves the surroundings and wants to stay here as long as she can, but this little girl has no idea about the declining fertility season.

Read the story of Rinjha and answer the question that follows: Story of Rinjha Rinjha lived with her family in a small village at the outskirts of Diphu in Assam. She enjoys watching her family members clearing, slashing and burning a patch of land for cultivation. She often helps them in irrigating the fields with water running through a bamboo canal from the nearby spring. She loves the surroundings and wants to stay here as long as she can, but this little girl has no idea about the declining fertility season. [Question incomplete in source]

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/2 · 1 mark

Imagine you are travelling from Delhi to Chandigarh to attend a wedding, by road in January. Which of the following crops will you notice prominently in the fields during the journey ?

  • Paddy
  • Maize
  • Wheat
  • Jowar

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/2 · 3 marks

[Question text not fully clear - appears to be about agriculture in Assam]

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/2 · 3 marks

Rinjha lived with her family in a small village at the outskirts of Diphu in Assam. She enjoys watching her family members clearing, slashing and burning a patch of land for cultivation. She often helps them in irrigating the fields with water running through a bamboo canal from the nearby spring. She loves the surroundings and wants to stay here as long as she can, but this little girl has no idea about the declining fertility season.

Read the story of Rinjha and answer the question that follows: Story of Rinjha: Rinjha lived with her family in a small village at the outskirts of Diphu in Assam. She enjoys watching her family members clearing, slashing and burning a patch of land for cultivation. She often helps them in irrigating the fields with water running through a bamboo canal from the nearby spring. She loves the surroundings and wants to stay here as long as she can, but this little girl has no idea about the declining fertility season. Mention any two of its characteristics.

CBSE 2025 · Set 31/1/3 · 3 marks

On the same political outline map of India, locate and label any three of the following with suitable symbols: (i) Leading state in production of Jute (ii) Atomic Power Plant located in Gujarat (iii) Iron and Steel Plant located in Jharkhand (iv) Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport

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