Geography ยท Economics

Agricultural Practices in India

2,453 Questions

Agricultural practices in India form a core segment of geography and economics syllabi. This hub covers crop distribution, farming techniques, and land measurement terms. These concepts regularly appear in SSC, state PSC, and civil services examinations.

Plantation and food cropsCrop cultivation regionsLand measurement unitsAgricultural storage techniquesIntercropping systemsWater resource management

Agricultural Practices in India Questions

Multiple choice

Match the following:

a. Mixed cropping 1. is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same piece of land
b. Crop rotation 2. is a multiple cropping practice involving growing two or more crops in definite row patterns in proximity
c. Intercropping 3. is the practice of growing of different crops on a piece of land in a preplanned succession

  1. a - 1, b - 3, c - 2

  2. a - 1, b - 2, c - 3

  3. a - 2, b - 1, c - 3

  4. a - 3, b - 1, c - 2

  5. a - 2, b - 3, c - 1
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option. Mixed cropping is the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously in the same piece of land. Crop rotation is the practice of growing different crops on a piece of land in a preplanned succession. Intercropping is a multiple cropping practice involving growing two or more crops in definite row patterns in proximity.

Multiple choice

A type of farming in which higher doses of modern inputs are used to obtain higher productivity is known as

  1. commercial farming

  2. extensive agriculture

  3. shifting agriculture

  4. subsistence farming
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Commercial farming is characterized by high inputs of modern agricultural resources (HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, machinery) to maximize output for sale in markets. Subsistence farming focuses on self-consumption, shifting cultivation involves clearing new land, and extensive agriculture uses low inputs over large areas.

Multiple choice

In India, 'Marginal Farmers' are those who hold land up to

  1. 1 hectare

  2. 2 hectares

  3. 3 hectares

  4. 4 hectares
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

In India's official agricultural land classification, 'Marginal Farmers' are those who hold land up to 1 hectare (2.47 acres). Small farmers have 1-2 hectares, semi-medium have 2-4 hectares, and medium/large farmers hold more than 4 hectares. This classification is used for policy targeting and agricultural development programs.

Multiple choice

One of the biggest challenges of Indian agriculture is the 'marginal' size of land holdings. What do you mean by 'marginal land holdings'?

  1. Holdings of less than 0.5 hectare

  2. Holdings of less than 1 hectare

  3. Holdings of less than 2 hectares

  4. Holdings of less than 5 hectares
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

In India, marginal holdings of less than 1 hectare (ha) accounts for 60% of all holdings but only 20% of total cultivated area. On the other hand, holdings above 2 hectares accounts for only around 20% of all holdings but 60% of cultivated area, with holdings above 10 hectares accounting for just 1% of holdings, but 12% of area.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. The pasteurization of milk decreases its nutritional value.
  2. 'Olericulture' is related to plants being used as vegetable.

Which of the given statements is/are correct?

  1. Only (1)

  2. Only (2)

  3. Both (1) and (2)

  4. Neither (1) nor (2)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Statement (1) is incorrect. The pasteurization of milk does not affect its nutritional value. It is the process of the heating of milk at 600C temperature for 30 minutes to kill all the microorganisms. Statement (2) is correct. Olericulture is the science of vegetable growing, dealing with the culture of non-woody (herbaceous) plants for food.

Multiple choice

Which of these is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned and allowed to revert to their natural vegetation?

  1. Crop rotation

  2. Multiple cropping

  3. Monoculture

  4. Intercropping

  5. Shifting cultivation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Shifting cultivation is an agricultural system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned and allowed to revert to their natural vegetation while the cultivator moves on to another plot.

Multiple choice

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

  1. The production of food grains has witnessed an increase of more than four times from 1950 to 2010.
  2. An agricultural year in India follows calendar year.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Both of these

  4. Neither of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: The production of food grains has increased from 54.92 million tones to 234.52 million tones in 2010-11. Statement 2 is incorrect: An agricultural year in India is from July to June, while a calendar year is from January to December.

Multiple choice

Which of the following is not a criterion for the selection of crops for mixed cropping?

  1. One crop should be of longer duration than the other crop.

  2. Both the crops should need equal amount of water.

  3. One crop should be deep rooted and the other crop should be shallow rooted.

  4. One crop should be tall growing and the other crop should be short growing.

  5. One crop should require lesser nutrients than the other crop.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

This is the correct option as this is not a criterion for the selection of crops for mixed cropping. One component crop should need lesser water than the other component crop.