Geography · Economics

Agricultural Practices in India

2,426 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 geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

Rotation of crop means _______.

  1. Some crops are grown again and again

  2. Two or more crops are grown simultaneously to increase productivity

  3. Growing of different crops in succession to maintain soil fertility

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Crop Rotation
Between harvesting one crop and planting the next crop, the fields lie bare; there is a time period when the farmland does not have any crops. During this period, the farmer either grows grass or grows other crops to prevent soil from erosion. This helps the soil to regain the lost minerals.
Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

Monoculture is a typical characteristic of ________.

  1. Shifting cultivation

  2. Commercial grain farming

  3. Subsistence farming

  4. Specialized horticulture
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Monoculture is a typical characteristics of Commercial grain farming.

Monoculture is the agricultural practice of producing or growing a single crop, plant, or livestock species, variety, or breed in a field or farming system at a time focussing commercial gains.

Monoculture is widely used in both industrial farming and organic farming and has allowed increased efficiency in planting and harvest.

Polyculture, where more than one crop is grown in the same space at the same time, is the alternative to monoculture.
Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

Groundnut, sunflower, gingelly, etc., are ________.

  1. Commercial crops

  2. Food crops

  3. Oil seeds

  4. Plantation crops
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Groundnut, sunflower, and gingelly (sesame) are primarily cultivated for the extraction of oil, thus they are classified as oilseeds.

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

What is subsistence intensive farming?

  1. Farming for local/self consumption

  2. Farming for commercial purposes

  3. Farming for community

  4. Farming for charity
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Farming that is carried on small land holdings that produce food crops for local consumption and not for external trade is known as subsistence intensive farming. Most farmers in Tamil Nadu practice subsistence intensive farming.

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

Paddy and sugarcane are the main crops grown under _______.

  1. Irrigation farming

  2. Subsistence farming

  3. Plantation farming

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Irrigation farming
Irrigation essentially means the watering of land to make it ready for agricultural purposes. An irrigation system is the supplying of water via artificial canals and channels to growing plants and crops in a field.

Sugarcane and paddy are water-intensive crops, and hence they need irrigation if adequate rainfall is not available.
Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

The cultivation of crops on a small scale to meet the consumption needs of the family is called _________.

  1. Commercial farming

  2. Subsistence farming

  3. Irrigation farming

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

Subsistence farming

Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow food crops to feed themselves and their families. In subsistence agriculture, farm output is targeted to survival and is mostly for local requirements with little or no surplus trade. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to feed and clothe themselves during the year. Planting decisions are made principally with an eye toward what the family will need during the coming year, and secondarily toward market prices. Tony Waters[1] writes: "Subsistence peasants are people who grow what they eat, build their own houses, and live without regularly making purchases in the marketplace."

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

Which one of the following farming practices is banned at present?

  1. Intensive farming

  2. Shifting cultivation

  3. Mixed farming

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

An agricultural system in which a person uses a piece of land only to abandon or alter the initial use a short time later is known as shifting cultivation. This system often involves clearing of a piece of land followed by several years of wood harvesting or farming until the soil loses fertility. Once the land becomes inadequate for crop production, it is left to be reclaimed by natural vegetation, or sometimes converted to a different long term cyclical farming practice. Ecological consequences from shifting cultivation are often deleterious. Shifting cultivation results in infertility of land. That’s why it is banned at present.

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

If the crops are grown for own use without commercial objective, then such type of farming is called _______.

  1. Primitive farming

  2. Subsistence farming

  3. Commercial farming

  4. Primitive commercial farming
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Subsistence farming
Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow food crops to feed themselves and their families. In subsistence agriculture, farm output is targeted to survival and is mostly for local requirements with little or no surplus trade. The typical subsistence farm has a range of crops and animals needed by the family to feed and clothe themselves during the year. Planting decisions are made principally with an eye toward what the family will need during the coming year, and secondarily toward market prices. Tony Waters  writes: "Subsistence peasants are people who grow what they eat, build their own houses, and live without regularly making purchases in the marketplace."
Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

The farming in which crops are raised and rearing of livestock is carried out in the same field is __________.

  1. Primitive farming

  2. Commercial farming

  3. Mixed farming

  4. Plantation farming
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A type of farming in which production of crops is done with rearing of livestock on one farm is known as mixed farming. It is a system of farming in which a farmer conducts different types of agricultural practices together. Mixed farming is done with the view of increasing his income through different sources. Mixed farming is the combining of two independent agricultural enterprises on the same farm.

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

The 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 is called _______.

  1. Shifting Cultivation

  2. Plantation farming

  3. Hybrid farming

  4. Crop rotation
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A 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 geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

In Karnataka, shifting cultivation is called ________.

  1. Ponama

  2. Podu

  3. Kumari

  4. Jhuming
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Shifting farming, an ancient type of farming is practiced by some tribal people from the outskirts of cities and villages in India. It is a form of agriculture in which an area of ground is cleared of vegetation and cultivated for a few years and then abandoned for a new area until its fertility has been naturally restored. Major crops like rice, corn, jowar, bajra, ragi, chillies, oil-seeds, etc are grown under shifting cultivation. It is known by various names in various regions like Kumari in Karnataka and Ponam in Kerala.

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

In areas where the rainfall is low and irrigation facilities are inadequate,the land farming carried out there is known as ________.

  1. Shifting agriculture

  2. Wet -farming

  3. Dry farming

  4. Biological farming
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

A type of farming practiced in arid areas without irrigation by planting drought-resistant crops or by employing moisture-enhancing techniques is called dry farming. Crops adapted to dry farming are usually smaller and quicker to mature than those grown under more humid conditions and are usually allotted more space. Dry farmed crops may include grapes, tomatoes, pumpkins, beans, etc.

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

The farming which is characterized by small and scattered land holding and with the use of primitive tools is called ____________.

  1. dry and wet farming

  2. subsistence farming

  3. shifting agriculture

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

Subsistence agriculture occurs when farmers grow food crops to feed themselves and their families. In subsistence agriculture, farm output is targeted to survival and is mostly for local requirements with little or no surplus trade.

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

What is the other name of slash and burn agriculture?

  1. Mixed agriculture

  2. Plantation agriculture

  3. Shifting Agriculture

  4. Subsistence agriculture
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Shifting agriculture is a type agricultural practice where a plot of land is clean and cultivation is done for a couple of years. After a few years when the fertility level of the soil decreases they leave that plot and shift to some other land. This type of cultivation is named differently in different places. Shifting cultivation is also known as slash and burn agriculture.

Multiple choice geography human environment interactions: the tropical and the subtropical region plantation of crops agricultural nature of indian economy the nature of the indian economy part 1

Farmers in India mostly engaged in which type of farming?

  1. Shifting farming

  2. Plantation farming

  3. Dry and wet farming

  4. Intensive subsistence agriculture
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Farmers in India are mostly engaged in Intensive subsistence agriculture.
The term, ‘intensive subsistence agriculture’ is used to describe a type of agriculture characterised by high output per unit of land and relatively low output per worker. Although the nature of this agriculture has changed and in many areas now it is no more subsistence.

But despite changes, the term ‘intensive subsistence’ is still used today to describe those agricultural systems which are clearly more sophisticated than the primitive agriculture. Sometimes it is also known as ‘monsoon type of agriculture’.