Geography · 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

Pick the odd one out.

  1. Maize

  2. Wheat

  3. Rice

  4. Chapatti
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Maize, wheat and rice are the crops which are used as raw materials for the preparation of food. Chapatti is cooked food prepared from flour and water. 

Multiple choice

The most tropical cereal crop in the world is

  1. rice

  2. maize

  3. jowar

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

Rice is the edible starchy cereal grain and the plant by which it is produced. Roughly one-half of the world population, including virtually all of East and Southeast Asia, is wholly dependent upon rice as a staple food; 95 percent of the world's rice crop is eaten by humans.

Multiple choice

Which is the first genetically modified food crop to get approval for cultivation in the European Union?

  1. Corn

  2. Maize

  3. Potato

  4. Brinjal

  5. Onion
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The European Union has approved the cultivation of GM potato - the first genetically modified food crop to get an approval there. The announcement was made by the European Commission on March 2, 2010. The potato approved by the EU has been genetically modified to produce starch composed almost exclusively of amylopectin. It will have starch content of 98 per cent, which is around 20 per cent higher than what potatoes normally have. This has industrial usage, like in paper, textile and adhesives units. The approval for cultivation of Amflora potato, which is developed by private German company BASF, has been given for industrial use and its by products for feed purposes.

Multiple choice

Directions: Read the following passage/information and answer the question that follows:

At the time of independence, the total area under cultivation was only 29%. Yet for almost 2 decades, the production of food grains kept on increasing. In 1965, food grains production was increasing at the rate of 7% per annum. In 1985, the total area under cultivation was 69%, but the rate of increase in the production was less than 1.5%. It was less than the minimum increase required to feed the increasing population.

It can properly be inferred from the passage that

  1. for the production rate to be high, there must be a relatively large area under cultivation

  2. the most significant factor influencing the food grains production is whether the country is politically stable

  3. unless there are extraordinary circumstances, the rate of production will not dip below the level needed to feed the population

  4. the food production rate is not directly proportional to the area under cultivation

  5. the rate of increase of per acre yield of food grains in India has been on the decline
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The evidence presented here falls into two categories: evidence of area under cultivation and rate of increase of food grain production. The last line is in fact misleading. There can only be a positive relationship between the rate of increase in grain production and rate of increase in area under cultivation. But as that is refuted by the evidence presented, the only other claim that can be made is that there is no direct relationship between the two factors. So, the correct answer is (4).

Multiple choice

A ten-year comparison between India and China in terms of crop yields per acre revealed that when only planted acreage is compared, Chinese yields are equal to 60 percent of India yields. When total agricultural acreage (planted acreage plus fallow acreage) is compared, however, Chinese yield is 110 percent of India's yield.

From the information above, which of the following can be most reliably inferred about India and Chinese agriculture during the ten-year period?

  1. A higher percentage of total agricultural acreage was fallow in India than in China.

  2. India had more fallow acreage than planted acreage.

  3. Fewer total acres of available agricultural land were fallow in China than in India.

  4. China had more planted acreage than fallow acreage.

  5. China had greater land mass than India and, therefore, had greater chances of increasing planted acerage by converting fallow acreage.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This is a simple inference type of question. When only planted acreage is compared, Indian yields are greater but when total agricultural acreage is compared, then Chinese yields are greater. This obviously means that India has more fallow area as compared to China, because only this would lead to the desired results. (To simplify the procedure, use the simple formula Yield = (Total Output) divided by (Planted Area + Fallow Area) The correct answer choice is (1). As a precaution, please note that nowhere are we told about the total planted area or total fallow area in India or China.

Multiple choice

Which agricultural activity should be undertaken before sowing?

  1. Threshing

  2. Preparation of soil

  3. Winnowing

  4. Harvesting
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Sowing should be done after the loosening and turning of soil. This process is known as preparation of soil. Harvesting refers to the cutting of mature crops. Threshing and winnowing are the post-harvesting processes.

Multiple choice

Which of the following crops is not a Rabi crop?

  1. Wheat

  2. Maize

  3. Gram

  4. Pea
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Rabi crops are the crops which are grown in the winter months as these require low temperature. If grown in winter season, maize cannot grow well and give good yield. Thus, it is not a Rabi crop.

Multiple choice

In which of the following months rabi crops are grown?

  1. October – March

  2. March – April

  3. June – July

  4. August – September

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 Rabi crops are the crops which are grown in the winter months as these require low temperatures. So, the appropriate months for the same are October to March. 

Multiple choice

Paddy, Maize, Soyabean and Groundnut etc. are classified under

  1. kharif crops

  2. rabi crops

  3. cash crops

  4. zaid crops

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Paddy, Maize etc. need large quantities of water for their proper growth and thus, are grown in rainy season. The crops grown in rainy season are called kharif crops, whereas Rabi crops are grown in winter season. Cash crops are the crops grown for extra profit whereas zaid crops include some vegetables and low grade cereals as extra harvest.