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 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

Slash and burn agriculture is also known as _____________.

  1. Extensive cultivation

  2. Dry cultivation

  3. Jhum cultivation

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

Jhum cultivation, also known as the slash and burn agriculture, is the process of growing crops by first clearing the land of trees and vegetation and burning them thereafter. The burnt soil contains potash which increases the nutrient content of the soil.

Tribal groups in the northeastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland and the Bangladeshi districts of Rangamati, Khagrachari, Bandarban and Sylhet refer to slash-and-burn agriculture as jhum or jhoom cultivation

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 South-East Asia, shifting agriculture is known as ____.

  1. Chitemene

  2. Tavy

  3. Lading

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

Shifting cultivation is a traditional practice of agriculture prevalent in various parts of Asia, Africa and South-America. It is known as lading in south-east Asia, milpa in Central America, Chitemene or tavy in Africa and Chena in Sri Lanka. In India it has different local names like dhya, penda, bewar, nevad, Jhum, podu.

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 is not a plantation crop?

  1. Rubber

  2. Sugarcane

  3. Tea

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

Plantation crops constitute a large group of crops. The major plantation crops include coconut, oil palm, cashew, tea, coffee and rubber; the minor plantation crops include cocoa. 

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

______% of the pulses grown in Madhya Prades.

  1. 45

  2. 55

  3. 40

  4. 23
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Madhya Pradesh is India's largest pulse producing state, which accounts for 23% of total pulse production in the country. Madhya Pradesh is followed by Uttar Pradesh (18%), Maharashtra (14%), Rajasthan (11%) and Andhra Pradesh (9%).
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.