Class 10 Geography - Agriculture

Inequitous distribution of cultivable land is detrimental to agricultural development. Comment

Indian peasantry had been exploited for a longtime as there had been unequal distribution of land. Among the three revenue systems operational during British period, i.e.,Mahalwari, Ryotwari and Zamindari, the last one was most exploitative for the peasants. After Independence, land reforms were accorded priority, but these reforms were not implemented effectively due to lack of strong political will. Most of the state governments avoided taking politically tough decisions which went against strong political lobbies of landlords. Lack of implementation of land reforms has resulted in continuation of inequitous distribution of cultivable land which is detrimental to agricultural development.

Name the two major regions growing this crop

Two major regions of rice production are :
(a) The Ganga-Brahmaputra Plains of north and northeastern India comprising West Bengal, Assam, Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
(b) Coastal areas and deltaic regions with alluvial soil like Orissa, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

State the climatic conditions required for the cultivation of this crop.

The climatic conditions required for cultivation of rice are as follows : Rice is a Kharif crop and requires hot and humid climate for cultivation. Temperature above 25C, and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm are favourable for cultivation of rice. Rice requires sufficient rainfall and flooded fields during the earlier part of its growing season in June-July. It needs plenty of sunshine.

Name the crop shown in the picture.

The crop shown in the picture is paddy or rice, the main staple food grain for the majority of the people in India.

Name the crops which are grown on large plantations in India.

Plantation is a type of commercial farming. In this type of farming, a single crop is grown on a large area. In India, tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, banana, etc. are important plantation crops.

What is plantation agriculture?

Plantations are a type of commercial farming where a single crop of tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton is grown. A large amount of labor and capital are required. The produce may be processed on the farm itself or in nearby factories. The development of a transport network is thus essential for such farming. Rubber in Malaysia, coffee in Brazil, tea in India and Sri Lanka are some examples.

Name one important beverage crop and specify the geographical conditions required for its growth.

Tea is an important beverage crop introduced in India by the British.Geographical conditions: The ideal maximum monthly temperature is $$24^\circ$$ to $$30^\circ$$. High humidity, heavy dew and morning fog are good for the rapid development of young leaves.The tea plant grows well in a humid climate, and cannot stand long spells of dry weather at any time of the year. It must have abundant rainfall at least 150 cm, well distributed throughout the year.

Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice.

Rice is the staple food crop of south India. The hot and wet climate is favourable for rice among the following. Rice is grown in the months of April to October which includes summer and rainy seasons providing essential hot and wet climate. Hence rice is a Kharif crop. India stands second in the production of rice producing 155.682 Million Metric Tonnes per annum after China with the highest production. Rice is the staple food for Indians and India’s climate is very much suitable for rice cultivation.

In India, West Bengal is the leading rice producer. It is also found more in Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Assam etc.

Name one staple crop of India and the regions where it is produced.

Rice is the staple food crop of India. The Hot and wet climate is favorable for rice. Rice is grown in the months of April to October which includes summer and rainy seasons providing essential hot and wet climate. Hence, rice is a Kharif crop. India stands second in the production of rice producing 155.682 Million Metric Tonnes per annum after China with the highest production. Rice is the staple food for Indians and India’s climate is very much suitable for rice cultivation. In India, West Bengal is the leading rice-producing state. It is also grown more in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, Assam, etc.

Describe the various uses of jowar and ragi.

Ragi is helpful in controlling diabetes, anemia, it's rich in calcium, helps in loss of weight and improves stress tolerance.
Jowar is rich in fiber and calcium. Jowar helps in loss of weight and obesity.

Where in India can millets be successfully grown and why?

Millets grow well in dry as wells as rainfed areas.
They are grown under conditions where the soil is rather infertile owing to its rocky or sandy character.
Millet growing states are UP, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan.
Some of the millet crops are jowar, bajra, ragi etc

Explain the factors affecting heavy damage to the standing wheat crop.

Rain more than 100 cm of rainfall damage the crop.
Rise of temperature during the maturity period affects the yield drastically.
Severe frost during the flowering time also affects the crop badly.
Hail storm at the ripening time affects the crop severely.

Name important states of India producing jowar, bajra and ragi respectively.

Jowar- Maharashtra, Karnataka
Bajra- Rajasthan, Gujarat
Ragi- Karnataka, Tamilnadu

Name the states which produce maximum wheat in India.

Wheat is the staple food for north Indians. Wheat is a rabi crop. Though, this crop is grown in large parts of India, states from the north and north western parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh are important for the production of wheat.

Name the cereals included in the category of millets.

The most important millets cultivated in India are jowar (or cholam), bajra (or cumbu) and ragi.

Rice is the major food crop in India. Justify.

Rice is the most important staple food crop of India, which feeds more than half of our population. It accounts for one-third production of foodgrains in the country. India is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China. It is an indigenous crop and is grown all over the country with highest concentration in north-eastern and southern parts of India. It occupies above 43 million hectares of land.

Why is Punjab called "India's bread basket"?

Punjab is known as the ‘Granary of India’ and 'India’s Bread Basket'. Punjab is most fertile place because of five tributaries of Indus flowing through this region. Thus it supports growth of wheat. Apart from this rice, sugar cane, fruits and vegetables are also grown.
Being the largest contributor of main cereals to the country, Punjab has earned the title of 'Granary of India' or 'India’s Bread Basket'. Punjab produces roughly 12% of the total cereals produced in India.

Think and write five uses of rubber in our everyday life.

Rubber, in one form or another has been used since the times of old, evidence of its use going back 2,000,000 years or more. In those days the substance was derived naturally from the rubber tree. As time went on more and more uses for rubber was discovered. Here we will see 5 uses of rubber in everyday life.

1. Rubber bands

2. Car / bike tires

3. Rubber gloves

4. Footwear

5. Cookware.

What are coarse grains?

Cereal other than rice and wheat are called as coarse grains.
They have very high nutritional value.
Examples- jowar, bajra, ragi and maize.

What is flax? What is it used for?

Flax is a linseed Linum usitatissimum. Flax fibres are broken to make linen. It is used for its oil, as a nutritional supplement and as an ingredient in wood furnishing products.

Tea and rubber are _________ crops.

Plantation

Tea cultivation needs enough cheap and skilled labour. Give reasons.

Tea is a labour intensive crop and requires abundant supply of cheap and skilled labour especially at the time of plucking the tea leaves. It requires skilled manipulation of fingers for plucking two leaves and a bud at a time.

For this women labourers are employed in large numbers. Currently, tea industry provides employment to one million workers.

What geographical conditions are necessary for the development and progress of rubber plantations in India?

It is an equatorial crop, but under special conditions, it is also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas. It requires moist and humid climate with rainfall of more than 200 cm. and temperature above 25°C.

Describe the Geographical conditions for Rice production in India.

The geographical conditions required for the growth of rice are as follows:

i) It is a kharif crop which requires hot and humid climate for cultivation. Temperature (above 25°C) and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm are favourable for the growth of rice.

ii) Rich alluvial soils of the floodplains and deltaic areas which are renewed every year are ideal for rice cultivation.

iii) Rice requires abundant rainfall or good water supply through irrigation and flooded fields during the earlier part of its growing season in June-July.

Give the Geographical requirements for the cultivation of Sugarcane.

It can be grown on a variety of soils, but alluvial clayey loam of the Indo-Gangetic plains are ideal for its growth. It is also grown in black soil in the South. It can grow in any type of soil as long as the soil can retain moisture. The soil should be rich in nitrogen, calcium and phosphorous.It requires temperature between $$20^0C$$ and $$24^0C$$. For ripening and harvesting, dry winter is ideal. It needs rainfall of 100-155 cm distributed throughout the year.

With reference to rice cultivation answer the following:
(i) Why does the cultivation of rice requires a lot of manual labour?
(ii) Mention two geographical conditions which suit the cultivation of rice.

The cultivation of rice requires a lot of manual labour because of several reasons like land preparation, water management , seed management, manual sowing, nutrient management, manual harvesting and manual threshing.
16°C – 27°C of temperature and rainfall of 100 cms to 200 cms are the ideal conditions for growing rice.

With reference to the cultivation of tea answer the following:
(i) Why is tea grown on hill slopes?
(ii) Why tea bushes have to be pruned at regular intervals?

Tea requires heavy rainfall for its growth, but stagnant water is injurious to its roots.
Tea plantation demands evenly distributed rainfall with no water logging problems.

The hill slopes provide an easy drainage of the rainwater, hence prevents the conditions of waterlogging.
Tea bushes have to be pruned at regular intervals because it is convenient for picking the tea leaves on a regular basis. Also, pruning helps in bring fresh leaves and buds on the tea plant.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:
'Kammakara' was a word used for _________.

Landless agriculture laborers

Very Short Answer Type Questions:
Name any two grain bearing grasses

1. wheat .
2. rice.
3. barley.

Globalisation has brought challenges for the Indian Agriculture, although new technology has stimulated agriculture growth but agriculture is under threat from Globalisation in India. Comment.

Under globalisation, particularly after1990, the farmers in India have been exposed to new challenges. Despite being an important producer of rice, cotton, rubber, tea, coffee, jute and spices our agricultural products are not able to compete with the developed countries because of the highly subsidised agriculture in those countries.

Describe the seasons of production for various pulses.

Different type of pulses and their growing season:

Bengal gram is grown in rabi season. It is sown in September to November and harvested in February, March, and April.
Black gram is a Kharif crop and grown in rainy season.
Green gram is grown in Kharif season but in south India, it is grown as a rabi crop.
Pigeon pea can be grown in a wide variety of seasons.

Why coffee plantations are located on the slopes of the Eastern Ghats.

Coffee plantations are grown on hill slopes to avoid water logging and to supply even water. Coffee is especially grown on the slopes of Eastern Ghats because the climate here is cooler with temperature ranging between 24-28° Centigrade which is best for coffee production. Soils are also fertile in this area with sufficient amount of rainfall of about 150 cms on average, necessary for growth of coffee plantations.

Explain the following. The propagation of rubber by the bud grafting method.

Bud grafting: This is done by the insertion of a strip of bark containing a bud from high yielding clones under the bark of young seedling stem is sawn off above the grafted bud.

Name a state which produces short staple cotton. Which climatic and soil conditions favour the cultivation of cotton in the state mentioned?

Maharashtra.
Climate condition:
Temperature: $$20^o$$C to $$32^o$$C at least $$200$$ frost free climate.
Rainfall: Between $$50$$cm to $$120$$cm abundant sunshine is required during ripening.
Soil: Black Cotton soil is ideal.

Complete the following table with correct information for A and B :
Sugarcane Crop Annual Rainfall required Climate Temperature required for its growth (in degrees)
A - ? Hot and Humid B - ?

For Sugarcane following are conditions:-

A-- Rainfall :- between 75 cm to 100 cm ;

B-- Temp :- 21 to 27 degrees.

________ rice is the most exported commodity from the state of chhattisgarh?

Basmati rice is the most exported commodity from the state of chhattisgarh.

Besides rubber, what other crops are grown in Kerala?

Besides rubber many other crops are grown in Kerala. Other key crops include rice, coconut, tea, coffee,cashews, and spices—including pepper, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

What are the two components of food security system in India?

The two components of food security system in India are:
(i) Buffer stock: Buffer stock is the stock of foodgrains (wheat and rice) procured by the government through Food Corporation of India (FCI). Buffer stock is used to distribute foodgrains in the deficit areas and among the poorer strata of society at a price lower than the market price. This stock is also used during any natural calamity such as drought or earthquake.
(ii) Public distribution system: The food procured by the FCI is distributed through government regulated ration shops among the poorer section of the society. This is called the Public Distribution System.

Describe the role of NGOs in ensuring food security in India.

(i) In Maharashtra, Academy of Development Science (ADS) has facilitated a network of NGOs for setting up grain banks in different regions. ADS organises training and capacity building programmes on food security for NGOs.
(ii) Grain Banks are now slowly taking shape in different parts of Maharashtra. ADS efforts to set up Grain Banks to facilitate replication through other NGOs and to influence the Government's policy on food security are thus paying rich dividends.
(iii) The ADS Grain Banks programme is acknowledged as a successful and innovative food security intervention.

Which parts of India have commercial tea plantations?

The main tea producing places of India are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim, Nagaland, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Bihar and Odisha.

Which are the important coffee producing states in India?

Tamil Nadu
Karnataka
Kerala

Name the seasons of rice cultivation in India.

Rice is a Kharif crop. However, in India rice is grown under widely varying conditions of altitude and climate. Therefore, the rice growing seasons vary in different parts of the country, depending upon temperature, rainfall, soil types, water availability and other climatic conditions.

In eastern and southern regions of the country, the mean temperature is found favourable for rice cultivation through out the year. Hence, two or three crops of rice are grown in a year in eastern and southern states.
In northern and western parts of the country, where rainfall is high and winter temperature is fairly low, only one crop of rice is grown during the month from May to November.
There are three seasons for growing rice in India viz.- autumn, winter and summer. These three seasons are named according to the season of harvest of the crop. Autumn rice is known as pre-kharif rice. The sowing of pre-kharif rice is taken up during May to August.
However, the time of sowing slightly differs from state to state according to weather condition and rainfall pattern. It is harvested in September-October. Autumn rice crop is know as 'Aus' in West Bengal, 'Ahu' in Assam, 'Beali' in Orissa, 'Bhadai' in Bihar, 'Virippu' in Kerala and 'Kuruvai/kar/ Sornavari' in Tamil Nadu. About 7% crop is grown in this season.

Explain the climatic conditions needed for wheat cultivation in India.

It is a rabi crop and hence it is basically a winter crop.
Temperature must be between 10-15 degrees centigrade at the time of sowing
Temperature must be between 21-26 degrees centigrade at the time of harvesting
Wheat productivity is good if the rainfall is between 75 and 100 cm.
Well drained Fertile Clayey soil.
Plains are well suited for Wheat cultivation

Millets are known as dry crops. Why ?

The term millet refers to a number of inferior grains, which serve as foodgrains for the poorer sections of the society and whose straw makes valuable cattle fodder.
Millet crops are cereal crops which are grown well in dry conditions.
Millet crops show resistance to drought and are best suitable for dry land farming.
Millet crops in India are Ragi, Jowar, Bajra.

What are the main uses of jute fibre?

To make sacks and cloth for wrapping bales of cotton
Geo-textiles
Pulp and Paper
Household Products
Non-woven textiles

Name main producers of gram and arhar in India.

Gram is a rabi crop and is called by other names like chickpea and Chana. It is produced in arid and semi-arid parts of the country. The leading producers of the gram are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and Telangana.
Arhar is also called as pigeon pea. The leading producers of Arhar are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab.

Name the important pulses and their importance in the Indian food system.

Pulses are a type of leguminous crop but pulse term refers to dried seed. Some examples of pulses include beans, peas, dry beans like pinto beans, kidney beans, navy beans, dry peas, lentils, lupins, and peanuts, mung bean, golden gram, green gram. Pulses grow in pods and come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. Pulses are very high in protein and fibre, and are low in fat.

India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world. These are the major source of protein in vegetarian diet.

What type of temperature conditions are suitable for sugarcane farming in India?

it takes 10-18 months for growing.
It is a tropical crop.
Under rain fed condition, it is cultivated in sub-humid and humid climates.
Temperature must be between 20 to 30 degrees Celsius.
Frost is fatal for sugarcane crop.
Short, cool, dry winter season during ripening and harvesting is ideal.

Why is the yield per hectare of cotton low in our country?

Rain fed irrigation is not favorable for hybrid cotton seeds.
Proper irrigation and nutrients are needed by the soil.
Crop rotation is not practiced in most of the cotton growing regions in India.
Traditional cultivation techniques are in use.

Name the oilseeds produced in India. How and where are the different oilseeds used in our country?

Different oil seeds are grown covering approximately 12 per cent of the total cropped area of the country. Main oil-seeds produced in India are groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed and sunflower. Most of these are edible and used as cooking mediums. However, some of these are also used as raw material in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.

What are the reasons for jute being in great demand in the world?

Eco friendliness of Jute products
Change of mindset of Consumers towards Jute products over synthetic products
Bio degradable nature

What is the relationship between climate and yield of tea per hectare?

Yield of tea is greatly influenced by climatic conditions especially rainfall and temperature. Scanty rainfall causes severe losses and heavy rainfall result in soil erosion and wash away of fertilizers.

Highest tea production is seen at 4000 mm to 4600 mm. The temperature and humidity had no direct effect on tea leaf production. It depends on solar radiation and soil quality.

If there is a cool season, with average temperatures 20 °F (11 °C) or more below those of the warm season, the growth rate will decrease.

Climatic conditions required for cotton is tropical and subtropical. Justify.

Cotton is a tropical crop and it is raised in India as a Kharif crop. Cotton requires uniformly high temperature between 21 degree Celsius and 30 degree Celsius. During October, the day temperature should be above 26 degree Celsius which helps the ripening and bursting of cotton balls under the sunny skies. Along growing period of atleast 200 frost free days is also necessary for the plant to mature. Rainfall should be moderate, ranging between 50-75 cm. Cotton plant needs sufficient rainfall in the early stages of growth, but a sunny and dry weather is required after flowering.

What are the changes resulting from the use of technology in Agriculture?

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY

Farmers no longer have to apply water, fertilizers, and pesticides uniformly across entire fields. Instead, they can use the minimum quantities required and target very specific areas, or even treat individual plants differently. Benefits include:

Higher crop productivity

Decreased use of water, fertilizer, and pesticides, which in turn keeps food prices down

Reduced impact on natural ecosystems
Less runoff of chemicals into rivers and groundwater
Increased worker safety
In addition, robotic technologies enable more reliable monitoring and management of natural resources, such as air and water quality. It also gives producers greater control over plant and animal production, processing, distribution, and storage, which results in:
Greater efficiencies and lower prices
Safer growing conditions and safer foods
Reduced environmental and ecological impact

Give a geographical reason for the following.
Oilseeds are an important commercial crop grown in India.

Geographical reason: Oilseeds play a very important role in the Indian economy. They provide raw material to various industries.

Study the picture given above and answer the questions that follow :
i. Name one State where this crop grows well.
ii. Why are mostly women employed to harvest it?
iii. Mention two geographical conditions suitable for the cultivation of this crop.

1. Tea crop grows well in Assam.

2. Mostly women are employed to harvest tea leaves because tea plucking is a very skilled job requiring patience and judgement. Women are better pickers and can be employed at relatively cheaper rates.

3. Two geographical conditions suitable for the cultivation of tea are:

a. It requires the temperature ranging between $$24^{\circ}C$$ to $$30^{\circ}C$$.

b. Rainfall ranging between 150-200 cm annually is best suited. High humidity, heavy dew and morning fog are favourable for its growth.

Give a geographical reason for the following.
Cotton grows widely in Maharashtra.

Geographical reason: Cotton grows widely in Maharashtra because black soil is found there.

List the geographical conditions required for the cultivation of coffee and tea.

Tea and coffee both are important beverage crops. The following are the conditions required for their cultivation:
- Both require similar climate and soil condition.
- Require hot and humid climate, $$15^oC$$ to $$30^oC$$ temperature, shade of the tree not required for tea.
- Coffee requires 150 to 200 cm rainfall, shade of tree required.
- 200 to 250 cm rainfall for tea is required.
- Both require well-drained fertile soil rich in organic matter.

Name two states where coffee plantations are found.

Two states where coffee plantations are found: Karnataka and Kerala.

Explain briefly the following terms :
i. Shifting cultivation
ii. Bud grafting
iii. Oil cake.

1. Shifting cultivation: Shifting cultivation, also known as slash and burn agriculture, is an agricultural system that involves clearing a section of land and using it for farming activities for a relatively short time before abandoning it. Farmers then typically shift their agricultural operations to a new section of freshly cleared land.

2. Bud Grafting: is a technique in which budding is carried out by using buds of a selected quick-growing variety of a plant. After the seedlings grow, the buds from the mother plant are grafted onto the seedlings.

3. Oil Cake: is a residue left after the extraction of oil from the oil seeds. It is used as fodder for animals and also serves as a good manure in the fields.

State an important difference between the climatic requirements for growing cotton and jute.

Climatic requirements for growing cotton:

Temperature: $$20^{\circ}C$$ to $$32^{\circ}C$$ and at least 200 frost free days.

Rainfall: Ranging between 50 cm to 75 cm, abundant sunshine is required during ripening period.

Climatic requirement for Jute :

Temperature: $$24^{\circ}C$$ to $$35^{\circ}C$$ a hot climate with 90% relative humidity.

Rainfall: Ranging between 150 cm to 200 cm.

Mention the institutional reforms in the field of agriculture.

Many institutional reforms in agriculture have been introduced by the Government. The Government has abolished the zamindari system.b. The introduction of the Land to the Tiller Act has helped the tiller to acquire the right to ownership of the land.c. The Land Ceiling Act has reduced the inequalities which existed between the landowner and the farmers.

Give geographical reasons for the following. Jute has to be retted.

Jute has to the retted to separate the long strands of fibre from the stem.

What conditions of soil and climate are favourable for the cultivation of coffee?

Soil: Coffee cultivation requires rich, well-drained friable loamy soil, containing a good deal of vegetable mould.
Climate: It requires warm temperature ranging between $$15^o$$C to $$28^o$$C and rainfall between $$150$$cm to $$200$$cm.

Give a geographical reason for each of the following :
i. Tea is cultivated on hill slopes.
ii. The yield per hectare of sugarcane is higher in the Southern states.
iii. Pulses are important food crops.

Geographical reasons are:

(i) Tea is cultivated on hill slopes to avoid water logging.

(ii) Yield per hectare of sugarcane is higher in southern states as it has maritime climate free from the effects of loo and winter frost, sufficient irrigation and new farming techniques.

(iii) Pulses are important food crops because they are a rich source of protein for vegetarian people.

"The Government of India had introduced various institutional and technological reforms to improve agriculture in the $$1980$$s and $$1990$$s." Support this statement with examples.

The technological advancement gave birth to Green Revolution, White Revolution or Operation Flood. The Government abolished the Zamindari system. Land Reforms and consolidation of landholdings started after independence.
Radio and television informed the farmers about the new improved techniques of farming whereas Rural banks, cooperative societies and Kisan Credit Card ensured easy availability of funds to farmers.
Agriculture was the backbone of the Indian economy. Considering the importance of agriculture, the Government of India took steps to modernize agriculture. Eventually, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) was established.
Kissan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS) are some other schemes introduced by the Government of India for the benefit of the farmers.

What are the main problems associated with the cultivation of oilseeds in our country?

India has capability to grow almost all types of oil seeds.
The production is high in the world but well below the current demand of the oilseeds in our country.
The demand for oil seeds is increasing in our country.
India is importing oil seeds to meet the rising demand.
To meet the demand, diversion of crop lands to oil seeds is the need of the hour.
NMOOP mission was launched by Government to meet the needs of oil seeds in our country.

Mention the factors that have favoured the growth of wheat in Punjab.

Temperature is between 10-15 degrees centigrade at the time of sowing
Temperature is between 21-26 degrees centigrade at the time of harvesting
Rainfall is between 75 and 100 cms. (Western disturbances)
Well drained Fertile Clayey soil.
Plains are well suited for Wheat cultivation.
Irrigation facilities

Why wheat is grown in the areas between Satluj, Beas and Ravi.

Irrigation facilities are good in these doab regions
Water is well distributed due to presence of these rivers
Climate in this region is excellent for wheat cultivation

Give a brief description of the jute cultivation in India. Also mention the climatic conditions required for jute cultivation.

Jute is known as the 'golden fibre'. West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Odisha and Meghalaya are major jute producing states. This fibre is very strong, but due to its roughness, it is used to make gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets and other artefacts. Due to its high cost, it is now losing the market to synthetic fibres and packing materials particularly the nylon.

Its growth is good on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year. High temperature is required during the time of growth.

What is the suitable climate for growing jute? Name the world leader in the production of this crop. Is it a cash crop or a food crop?

Temperature - Ideal is 26 degrees centigrade- Allowed range (24 and 37 degrees)
New alluvial soils
Plenty of water for soaking the jute plant

World leader in the production of Jute is India (56% of world production)

Jute is a cash crop.

Mention three differences in the geographical conditions and cultivation of rice and wheat.

Differences in the geographical conditions and cultivation of rice and wheat.

Rice	Wheat
(i) Requires temperature between $$22^o$$C to $$32^o$$C.	Requires temperature between $$10^o$$C to $$15^o$$C.
(ii) Requires rainfall between $$100$$ to $$200$$cm.	Requires rainfall between $$50$$ to $$100$$cm.
(iii) Harvested by hand.	Harvesters are used.

Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
(i) Cotton is a labour intensive crop.
(ii) Jute is retted after it has been harvested.
(iii) The growing of pulses is important in India.

Handpicking of cotton balls will help the plant to grow and it has a good effect on the yield.
Cotton is a labour-intensive crop due to its difficult processes like hand picking of cotton balls and picking the seeds from the cotton balls.
Although the automation machinery introduced in certain areas, the cotton crop has extensive manual labour at work even today.

Retting is a process in which the tied bundles of jute stalks are taken to the tank by which fibers get loosened and separated from the woody stalk.
After retting is complete, the bark is peeled from the plant and fiber is removed.
Fibre must be extracted as quickly as possible otherwise the quality will suffer.
The growing of pulses is important in India to overcome nutrition insecurity, improve soil fertility by nitrogen fixation and provide income support to farmers.

Describe the geographical conditions for the cultivation of cotton in India.

Temperature must be between 20 to 30 degree centigrade.
At least 210 days of frost free time.
Rainfall during and after sowing season and warm/dry conditions after flowering time.
Moderate rainfall between 50-75 cm.
Black soil / Regur soil in the Deccan trap is best suitable for cotton cultivation.

Sugarcane Crop	Annual Rainfall required	Climate	Temperature required for its growth (in degrees)
Sugarcane Crop	A - ?	Hot and Humid	B - ?

Agriculture - Class 10 Geography - Extra Questions