We have provided you with Extra and Important Questions from Class 10 Social Science Geography Chapter 4 Agriculture. This Extra and Important Questions will help you to score 100% in your Board Exams. These extra questions will be helpful to revise the important topics and concepts.

Agriculture Class 10 Important Questions with Answers Geography Chapter 4

Extra Questions for Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 Very Short Answer Type

Question: What is agriculture?

Answer: The art and science of cultivating soil, raising crops and rearing livestock including animal husbandry and forestry.

Question: Name any two farming system (agriculture type) which are practised in India.

Answer: (a) Primitive subsistence (b) Commercial farming

Question: What is slash and bum agriculture?

Answer: Under slash and bum agriculture, farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their family.

Question: Which type of agriculture is practised on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools?

Answer: Primitive subsistence farming.

Question: What is intensive subsistence farming.

Answer: It is a type of farming practised in areas with high density of population using modern inputs.

Question: Name any two states where commercial farming is practised.

Answer: Punjab and Haryana.

Question: Mention any four plantation crops produced in India.

Answer: Tea, coffee, rubber and sugarcane.

Question: What are rabi crops Give four examples.

Answer: The crops which are grown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June. Wheat, barley, peas, gram are some examples of rabi crops.

Question: What is the period of kharif crop [CBSE 2014]

Answer: Kharif season starts with the onset of the monsoon i.e., June-July and continues till the beginning of winter i.e., October-November. For example, rice, millets etc.

Question: What are zaid crops?

Answer: These are crops which are sown between the rabi and kharif crops. Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber and vegetables are some examples of zaid crops.

Question: Name the two most important wheat producing states of India.

Answer: Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

Question: Name the important millets of India.

Answer: (a) Jowar (b) Bajra (c) Ragi (d) Maize

Question: Which states are the major producers of rice in India?

Answer: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.

Question: Name any four cereal crops of India.

Answer: (a) Wheat (b) Rice (c) Millet (d) Maize

Extra Questions for Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 Short Answer Type

Question: Mention any three features of slash, and burn agriculture.

Answer: (i) Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their family.

(ii) When the soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation.

(iii) India has tropical climate with ample sunshine. So, we have a long growing season.

Question: Diversification of agriculture can be helpful for the Indian farmers. Explain.

Answer: (i) Most of the traditional crops like wheat and rice have very low market value as compare to fruits, medicinal herbs, flowers etc.

(ii) India’s diverse climate can be harnessed to grow a wide range of high value crops.

(iii) This type of shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes; land productivity in this type of agriculture is low as the farmer does not use fertilisers or other modem inputs.

Question: Mention any four features of the primitive subsistence farming. [CBSE Comp. (O) 2008, 14]

Answer: (i) Primitive subsistence agriculture is practised on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks with the help of family/community labour.

(ii) This type of farming depends upon the monsoon, natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other environmental conditions for the crops to be grown.

(iii) Under this, farmers produce for self-consumption.

(iv) Per hectare availability of land is very low.

Question: With reference to millets, answer the following questions : (a) What are the geographical conditions required for the cultivation of millets.

(b) Name any two states which are the leading producers of millets.

Answer: (a) (i) Millets need very low rainfall. (ii) They need sandy and shallow black soil,

(b) Rajasthan and Maharashtra are the leading producers of millets.

Question: Name two important beverage crops grown in India. Who introduced these crops to the country What type of agriculture is followed for their cultivation [CBSE 2013]

Answer: (i) Tea and coffee are the two important beverage crops grown in India.

(ii) Tea was initially introduced by the British in India. The Arabica variety of coffee initially brought from Yemen is produced in the country.

(iii) Plantation agriculture is followed for their cultivation.

Question: What is agricultural term used for cultivation of fruits and vegetables Mention its three features with reference to India. [CBSE 2014]

Answer: Horticulture Features :

(i) India is one of the major producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. (ii) It is a producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits. (iii) India produces about 13% of the world’s vegetable.

Question: With reference to fibre crops, answer the following questions :(i) Name the four fibre crops grown in India.(ii) Name the fibre crop which is known as golden fibre.

Answer: (i) Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the four major fibre crops grown in India. (ii) Jute.

Question: What is agricultural term used for cultivation of fruits and vegetables Mention its three features with reference to India. [CBSE 2014]

Answer: Horticulture Features :(i) India is one of the major producer of fruits and vegetables in the world.

(ii) It is a producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits.

(iii) India produces about 13% of the world’s vegetable.

Question: Which fibre is known as the ‘golden fibre’? Why is the fibre named by you losing the market?

Answer: Jute.

It is losing market because :(i) High cost of production. (ii) Cheap substitutes are available. (iii) Bangladesh giving a tough competition.

Question: What was Comprehensive Land Development Programme?

Answer: Under Comprehensive Land Development programme, institutional and technical reforms were introduced to increase the agricultural production.Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease, establishment of grameen banks, cooperative societies and banks for providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest were some important steps in this direction.

Extra Questions for Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 Long Answer Type

Question: What is the importance of agriculture in Indian economy?

Answer: Agriculture is the mainstay of Indian economy because about 60% of our population depends directly or indirectly on agriculture.It provides raw materials to the industries.India earns foreign exchange by exporting agricultural products.It contributes about 29% to the Gross Domestic Product.It provides food to over 1210.2 million population.

Question: Why is subsistence agriculture still practised in certain parts of the country Give four reasons. [CBSE Sept. 2010]

Answer: A farming in which the main production is consumed by the farmer’s household is known as subsistence farming.

Features :(i) Old technology and traditional implements are used. (ii) Agricultural fields are small and farmers possess scattered land holdings. (iii) Most of the farmers are poor, and do not use fertilisers and HYV seeds. (iv) The overall productivity is very low. *

Question: Describe any four characteristics of plantation agriculture. [CBSE Comp. (D) 2008]

Answer: This is a type of agriculture which involves growing and processing of a single cash crop purely meant for sale. Rubber, tea, coffee, spices, coconut and fruits are some of the important crops which come under the category of plantation agriculture.

Features :(i) It is a single crop farming and it is a capital intensive farming, i.e., a huge amount of capital is required.

(ii) It needs vast estates, managerial ability, technical know-how, sophisticated machinery, fertilisers, good transport facilities and a factory for processing.

(iiii) This type of agriculture has developed in areas of north-eastern India, Sub-Himalayan region, West Bengal and Nilgiri.

Question: What is shifting agriculture Why shifting agriculture is being discouraged?

Answer: It is that type of agriculture in which farmers clear the forest land and use it for growing crops. The crops are grown for 2 to 3 years, and when the fertility of the soil decreases, the farmer shifts to a new land. Dry paddy, maize, millets and vegetables are the crops commonly grown in this type of farming.

It is being discouraged because :(i) This leads to deforestation. (ii) The per hectare yield is very low.

Question: Explain the favourable geographical conditions required for the production of rice. Also mention the major rice producing states of India. [CBSE Sept. 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013]

Answer: (i) Temperature : It is a kharif crop which requires high temperature, and high humidity. This means monthly temperature of about 25°C with minor variation during the sowing, growing and harvesting season, is suitable for the growth of the plant.

(ii) Rainfall : Rice needs abundant rainfall, i.e., more than 100 cm. It can grow in areas with less rainfall, but with assured irrigation. Rice is grown in Punjab and Haryana with the help of irrigation.

(iii) Soil : Rice can grow in a variety of soils including silts, loams and gravels, but it is grown best in alluvial soil with a sub-soil of impervious clay.

Areas of production : Rice is cultivated in almost all the states of India, but most of its cultivation is concentrated in the river valleys, deltas of rivers and the coastal plains.

The main rice producing states are West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Odisha, Karnataka, Assam and Maharashtra.

Question: What type of climate is required for the cultivation of wheat Name any four important wheat producing states of India. [CBSE Sept. 2012]

Answer: (i) Temperature : Cool and moist weather during growth, and warm and dry climate during ripening is needed.

(ii) Rainfall : 50-75 cm rainfall is required. Rainfall is necessary and beneficial, 15 days after sowing, and 15 days before ripening. A few light winter showers or assured irrigation ensures a bumper harvest.

(iii) Soil : Light domat (loamy) soil is required. It can also be grown in black soil. Important producers : Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the main producers of wheat.

Question: What geographical conditions are required for the cultivation of sugarcane Name two largest producing states of sugarcane. [CBSE Sept. 2010]

Answer: (i) Temperature : Sugarcane needs hot and humid climate with temperature ranging between 21°C to 27°C. Very high temperature is harmful for its growth, while low temperature slows its growth. It cannot withstand frost. Cool temperature is needed at the time of ripening.

(ii) Rainfall : It grows best in areas receiving 75 cm to 100 cm of rainfall. Too heavy rainfall results in low sugar content.

(iii) Soil : Sugarcane grows on well-drained fertile soil. It can grow on a variety of soils including black, alluvial, loamy and reddish loam.

Sugarcane :But the best soil is the alluvial soil of the Ganga Plain and the black soil of southern India. Sugarcane exhausts the fertility of the soil. Hence, the use of manure is essential to ensure high yields.

Areas of Production :Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of sugarcane. The other states in the Ganga-Plain are Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

Question: Describe any four ‘ geographical conditions required for the growth of tea. Mention the two major tea producing states of South India. [CBSE 2012]

Answer: Tea is the most important beverage crop of India.

Climatic conditions :(i) Temperature : The tea plant grows well in tropical and sub tropical climate. Tea bushes require warm and moist, frost-free climate all through the year. Tea bushes need temperature of more than 25°C.

(ii) Rainfall : Tea plant needs heavy rainfall ranging between 150 cm to 250 cm. The rainfall should be well distributed throughout the year.

(iii) Soil : The plant requires a light loamy soil. The soil should be rich in humus and iron content. Tea is a soil exhausting crop, so frequent use of chemical fertilisers and manure is essential.

Producers :Major tea-producing states are Assam, West Bengal, (Hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri Districts), Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura are also tea producing states in the country.

Question: Describe various technological and institutional reforms which led to the Green and White Revolution in India. [CBSE Sept. 2012]

Answer: No description regarding white Revolution. Green Revolution means revolution in the field of agricultural production due to the introduction of various technological and institutional reforms.

Factors responsible :(i) Agriculture was given the top priority in Five Year Plans.The development of HYV seeds of wheat in the early 60s, and those of rice in 70s laid the foundation of the Green Revolution in India.

(ii) Several schemes for irrigation were undertaken, and arid and semi-arid areas were brought under cultivation.Collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, abolition of the Zamindari system, etc., were given top priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after independence.

(iii) Cropped insurance scheme was launched by the government to protect the farmers against losses caused by crop failure on account of natural calamities like drought, flood, hailstorm, cyclone, fire, etc.

(vi) Easy availability of capital or investment, input through a well knit network of rural banking and small scale co-operative societies with low interest rates were other facilities provided to the farmers for the modernisation of agriculture.