Class 10 Social Science – Agriculture (Geography: Chapter 4) Summary + MCQs + Q&A

CHAPTER SUMMARY- AGRICULTURE

1. Introduction:

India is an agricultural country where about two-thirds of the population depends on farming for livelihood.
Agriculture provides food, raw materials for industries, and export goods like tea, coffee, spices, and cotton.
It is the backbone of India’s economy, influencing employment, industry, and trade.

2. Types of Farming

Agriculture in India varies due to differences in climate, soil, technology, and social conditions.
There are mainly three types of farming practiced in India:

(a) Primitive Subsistence Farming

1. Practised on small patches with primitive tools like hoe and dao.
2. Depends on monsoon and natural fertility.
3. Known as “slash and burn” or shifting cultivation — farmers clear a patch, grow crops, and move when fertility declines.
4. Known by different names:

• Jhumming — Northeast India
• Pamlou — Manipur
• Dipa — Bastar (Chhattisgarh)
• Kumari — Western Ghats

(b) Intensive Subsistence Farming

1. Practised in densely populated areas.
2. Uses high labour, irrigation, and biochemical inputs to produce more from small landholdings.
3. Common in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, etc.
4. Land is intensively cultivated throughout the year.

(c) Commercial Farming

1. Uses modern inputs like HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery.
2. Main goal: profit and high productivity.
3. Common in Punjab, Haryana, and western Maharashtra.
4. Plantation farming is a form of commercial farming where a single crop (e.g., tea, coffee, rubber, banana) is grown on large estates.
5. Requires transport, capital, and labour.

3. Cropping Seasons in India

India has three main cropping seasons:
 

4. Major Crops in India

Food Crops

• Rice:

1. Kharif crop, needs >25°C and >100 cm rainfall.
2. Grown in: Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana.
3. India – 2nd largest producer after China.

• Wheat:

1. Rabi crop, needs cool climate and moderate rainfall (50–75 cm).
2. Grown in: Punjab, Haryana, UP, MP, Bihar.

• Millets (Coarse Grains):

1. Jowar, Bajra, Ragi — rich in nutrients and iron.
2. Jowar → Maharashtra, Bajra → Rajasthan, Ragi → Karnataka.

• Pulses:

1. Main source of protein for vegetarians.
2. Arhar, Moong, Urad, Gram, Masur.
3. Fix nitrogen in soil.
4. Grown in MP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, UP, Karnataka.
5. Food Crops Other Than Grains

• Sugarcane:

1. Tropical and subtropical crop.
2. Needs hot, humid climate (21–27°C, 75–100 cm rainfall).
3. India – 2nd largest producer after Brazil.
4. Grown in UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Punjab.

• Oilseeds:

1. Groundnut, mustard, soyabean, sesame, sunflower, linseed.
2. Used for cooking oils and cosmetics.
3. Groundnut → Gujarat & Rajasthan.

Beverage Crops

• Tea:

1. Grows in tropical/subtropical regions with high humidity and rainfall.
2. Labour-intensive crop.
3. Major states: Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala.
4. India – 2nd largest producer after China.

• Coffee:

1. Arabica variety (brought from Yemen).
2. Grown in Baba Budan Hills (Karnataka), Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu, Kerala).

Horticulture Crops (Fruits & Vegetables)

• India – 2nd largest producer after China.
• Mango (UP, WB, Maharashtra), Banana (Kerala, Tamil Nadu), Oranges (Nagpur), Apples (Himachal, J&K), Pineapple (Meghalaya).

Non-Food Crops

• Cotton:

1. Kharif crop, grows on black soil, needs high temp and 6–8 months.
2. Grown in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Tamil Nadu.

• Jute (Golden Fibre):

1. Needs high temperature and rainfall.
2. Grown in WB, Bihar, Assam, Odisha.

• Rubber:

1. Equatorial crop, requires >25°C and >200 cm rainfall.
2. Grown in Kerala, TN, Karnataka, Andaman & Nicobar, Meghalaya.

5. Technological and Institutional Reforms

Agriculture in India needed modernization and policy reforms to increase productivity.
 

• Early Reforms

1. Land reforms, abolition of zamindari system, consolidation of holdings.
2. Priority in First Five-Year Plan.

• Later Reforms

1. Green Revolution (1960s): HYV seeds, fertilizers, irrigation → rise in wheat & rice.
2. White Revolution (Operation Flood): Boosted milk production.

• Recent Initiatives

1. Crop insurance, Grameen Banks, Cooperatives, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), PAIS.
2. Minimum Support Price (MSP) to protect farmers.
3. Bhoodan and Gramdan Movement:

• Started by Vinoba Bhave.
• Rich landowners donated land to the landless.
• Known as a “Bloodless Revolution.”

KEY TERMS

MCQs

1. Which type of farming is known as slash and burn?
a) Primitive Subsistence
b) Intensive
c) Commercial
d) Plantation
Answer: a

2. Which one is a rabi crop?
a) Rice
b) Wheat
c) Jowar
d) Cotton
Answer: b

3. Which crop is known as the golden fibre?
a) Cotton
b) Jute
c) Silk
d) Hemp
Answer: b

4. The Green Revolution mainly benefited which crop?
a) Rice
b) Wheat
c) Maize
d) Sugarcane
Answer: b

5. The Bhoodan Movement was started by:
a) Mahatma Gandhi
b) Sardar Patel
c) Vinoba Bhave
d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Answer: c

6. Which is the main beverage crop of India?
a) Coffee
b) Tea
c) Cocoa
d) Sugarcane
Answer: b

7. Plantation agriculture is mainly practiced in:
a) Punjab
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Rajasthan
d) Bihar
Answer: b

8. The White Revolution is related to:
a) Wheat production
b) Milk production
c) Rice production
d) Sugarcane production
Answer: b

9. Kharif crops are sown in:
a) Summer
b) Winter
c) Rainy season
d) Spring
Answer: c

10. Tea cultivation requires:
a) Cold and dry climate
b) Hot and humid climate
c) Dry desert soil
d) Low rainfall
Answer: b
 

CASE-BASED QUESTIONS 

CASE 1: Types of Farming

PASSAGE:
India practices different types of farming due to its varied physical and climatic conditions. Primitive subsistence farming is practiced on small patches of land using simple tools like hoe and dao. Intensive subsistence farming is common in areas of high population pressure, using labour-intensive techniques and irrigation. Commercial farming uses HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery for high productivity. Plantation farming grows a single crop like tea, coffee, rubber, or banana across large estates and relies on efficient transport and processing industries.

Questions:
1. Which type of farming uses HYV seeds and modern machinery?
Ans: Commercial farming

2. Name two tools used in primitive subsistence farming.
Ans: Hoe and dao

3. Why is intensive subsistence farming labour-intensive?
Ans: Because farmers cultivate small plots and need maximum output for survival.

4. Give two examples of plantation crops.
Ans: Tea, coffee, rubber, banana

CASE 2: Cropping Seasons in India

PASSAGE:
India has three distinct cropping seasons—Rabi, Kharif, and Zaid. Rabi crops are sown in winter and harvested in summer. Wheat, barley, peas, gram, and mustard are major Rabi crops. Kharif crops are sown with the onset of monsoon and harvested in early winter; important crops include paddy, maize, jowar, cotton, and groundnut. Between these seasons lies the Zaid season, where quick-growing crops like watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, and fodder crops are cultivated.

Questions:
1. When are Rabi crops sown?
Ans: October to December

2. Name any three Kharif crops.
Ans: Paddy, maize, cotton

3. Mention two Zaid crops.
Ans: Watermelon, cucumber

4. Why is Kharif farming dependent on the monsoon?
Ans: Because Kharif crops require abundant rainfall for growth.

CASE 3: Major Crops of India

PASSAGE:
Rice is the staple food of India and is grown as a Kharif crop, requiring high temperature and over 100 cm of rainfall. Wheat is a Rabi crop cultivated in cool climates with moderate rainfall. Millets like jowar, bajra, and ragi are rich in nutrients and grow well in dry regions. Pulses such as tur, urad, moong, and gram are important protein sources and improve soil fertility by fixing nitrogen. Plantation crops like tea, coffee, and rubber are important commercial crops grown for export.

Questions:
1. Which crop is known as a staple food of India?
Rice

2. Why are pulses important for soil fertility?
Ans: Because they fix nitrogen in the soil.

3. Which regions are suitable for growing rice?
Ans: Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

4. Name one millet and its major producing state.
Ans: Ragi – Karnataka / Jowar – Maharashtra / Bajra – Rajasthan

CASE 4: Technological and Institutional Reforms

PASSAGE:
To improve agriculture, the government introduced institutional reforms like abolition of zamindari, consolidation of landholdings, and the Green Revolution. The Green Revolution introduced HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation, boosting wheat and rice production. The White Revolution focused on increasing milk production. Recent initiatives include Kisan Credit Card (KCC), crop insurance, MSP, and Grameen banks. Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan and Gramdan movements encouraged land donation to the landless.

Questions:
1. What was the main focus of the Green Revolution?
Ans: Increasing food grain production using HYV seeds and modern inputs

2. What is Kisan Credit Card used for?
Ans: Providing easy and timely credit to farmers

3. Who started the Bhoodan Movement?
Ans: Vinoba Bhave

4. Name two recent reforms introduced for farmers.
Ans: Crop insurance, Minimum Support Price (MSP)

ASSERTION–REASON QUESTIONS 

Set 1

A: Primitive subsistence farming uses simple tools.
R: It is practiced on large commercial plantations.
Answer: A is true, R is false

Set 2

A: Intensive subsistence farming is labour-intensive.
R: Farmers work on small landholdings and need maximum output.
Answer: A – Both A and R are true, R explains A

Set 3

A: Rice is a Kharif crop requiring high rainfall.
R: It needs above 25°C temperature and waterlogging conditions.
Answer: A

Set 4

A: Wheat grows well in cool climates.
R: Wheat is a Rabi crop requiring bright sunshine at maturity.
Answer: A

Set 5

A: Millets are rich in nutrients like iron and calcium.
R: Millets grow only in areas of high rainfall.
Answer: C – A true, R false

Set 6

A: Pulses help maintain soil fertility.
R: They fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil.
Answer: A

Set 7

A: Plantation farming requires large capital and labour.
R: It is practiced on small fragmented landholdings.
Answer: C – A true, R false

Set 8

A: The Green Revolution increased agricultural productivity.
R: It used HYV seeds and advanced irrigation methods.
Answer: A

Set 9

A: The Bhoodan Movement encouraged voluntary land donation.
R: Landlords feared land ceiling laws and donated land.
Answer: B – Both A and R are true but R is NOT the correct explanation
(Some donated voluntarily; some due to ceiling laws.)

Set 10

A: Tea cultivation is labour-intensive.
R: Tea leaves must be plucked carefully and processed immediately.
Answer: A
 

SHORT ANSWERS (3–4 MARKS)

1. What are the major cropping seasons in India?

India has three cropping seasons — Rabi (winter), Kharif (monsoon), and Zaid (summer).
Rabi crops include wheat and mustard; Kharif crops include rice, maize, and cotton; Zaid crops include watermelon and cucumber.

2. What are the main features of plantation farming?

It involves large-scale cultivation of a single crop like tea, coffee, or rubber using capital, technology, and labour.
Crops are grown for market sale and processed within the plantation area.

3. What are the steps taken by the government to help farmers?

Land reforms, Green and White Revolutions, crop insurance, MSP, Kisan Credit Cards, and PAIS are major initiatives.
They help increase productivity and provide financial protection to farmers.

LONG ANSWERS 

Q1. Describe the main features and types of farming in India.

India has diverse physical and cultural conditions that influence farming practices. There are three main types: primitive subsistence, intensive subsistence, and commercial farming. Primitive subsistence farming uses basic tools and depends on rainfall, mainly practiced by tribal communities in the northeast. Intensive subsistence farming uses high labour and modern inputs to maximize yield from small landholdings, common in states like UP and Bihar. Commercial farming focuses on large-scale production for profit, using advanced machinery and fertilizers. Plantation farming, a sub-type, grows single crops like tea, coffee, and rubber on large estates. Thus, Indian agriculture ranges from traditional to modern, blending old practices with technological advancements.

Q2. Explain the major institutional and technological reforms introduced in Indian agriculture.

After independence, India undertook several reforms to modernize agriculture. Institutional reforms included land redistribution, abolition of zamindari, and consolidation of holdings to ensure fairness. The Green Revolution of the 1960s introduced high-yielding varieties (HYV) of seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation, boosting food production. The White Revolution (Operation Flood) increased milk production. The government also introduced Kisan Credit Cards, crop insurance, and MSP to safeguard farmers. Bhoodan and Gramdan movements initiated by Vinoba Bhave encouraged voluntary land donation to the poor. These reforms aimed at making Indian agriculture self-sufficient, efficient, and equitable.
 

Q3. Describe the geographical conditions required for rice cultivation.

Rice is a kharif crop and the staple food of most Indians. It requires high temperature (above 25°C), high humidity, and rainfall above 100 cm. It grows best on clayey, fertile, and alluvial soil. In areas with less rainfall, irrigation helps in its cultivation. Major rice-producing states include West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Punjab. The development of canal and tube-well irrigation has made it possible to grow rice even in dry areas like Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh.
 

Q4. Discuss the role of the Green and White Revolutions in Indian agriculture.

The Green Revolution began in the 1960s to increase food production through HYV seeds, irrigation, and fertilizers. It made India self-sufficient in food grains, especially wheat and rice. However, it benefitted mainly Punjab, Haryana, and western UP, leading to regional imbalance. The White Revolution (Operation Flood) was launched to boost milk production, transforming India into the largest milk producer globally. Both revolutions improved income and food security, modernized agriculture, and reduced dependence on imports.

For full chapter click on:
https://smartachievers.online/ncert-class-10-social-science-agriculture