1. Why Improvement in Food Resources?
- To increase food production for growing population
- Improve quality & quantity of food
- Reduce losses from pests, diseases, and poor soil
2. Types of Crops
| Type | Grown In | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Kharif | June–Oct (Monsoon) | Rice, maize |
| Rabi | Nov–April (Winter) | Wheat, mustard |
3. Crop Improvement
- Developing better crop varieties by:
Disease resistance
Early maturation
Methods:
- Hybridization (crossing 2 varieties)
- Genetic modification (GM crops)
4. Crop Production
Factors affecting:
- Nutrients
- Irrigation
- Cropping patterns
Cropping patterns:
- Mixed cropping – 2 crops together (e.g., wheat + gram)
- Intercropping – Alternate rows (e.g., maize + beans)
- Crop rotation – Changing crops season-wise (maintains soil fertility)
| Manure | Fertilizer |
|---|---|
| Natural, organic | Synthetic chemicals |
| Improves soil | Quick growth |
| Less costly | More costly |
| Eco-friendly | Risk of pollution |
6. Irrigation Methods
- Traditional – Moat, Chain pump, Dhekli
- Modern – Sprinkler, Drip irrigation
Irrigation important because:
- Maintains soil moisture
- Supports crop growth
7. Crop Protection
From pests, diseases, weeds
Solutions:
- Pesticides, Insecticides, Fungicides
- Storage in dry, airtight, fumigated containers
8. Animal Husbandry
Includes:
- Cattle farming
- Poultry farming
- Fishery
- Beekeeping
Purpose:
- Milk, meat, eggs, honey, wool
- Milch animals – Cows, buffaloes for milk
- Draught animals – Bullocks for ploughing
- Need: Shelter, food, disease control
10. Poultry Farming
- Raising chickens for eggs and meat
- Layers – egg laying
- Broilers – meat purpose
- Capture fishing – Natural resources (rivers, sea)
- Culture fishing (aquaculture) – Fish farming
- Popular species: Rohu, Catla, Hilsa
- Managed by apiarist
- Bees produce honey + wax
- Bees collect nectar from flowers
- Rabi crops are sown in:
a) Summer
b) Rainy
c) Winter
d) Spring - Rice is a:
a) Rabi crop
b) Summer crop
c) Kharif crop
d) Zaid crop - Mixed cropping means:
a) Only one crop
b) Crop and animal together
c) Two crops together
d) Only fruits - Fertilizers are:
a) Organic
b) Natural
c) Chemicals
d) Insects - Sprinkler system is used in:
a) Hilly areas
b) Sandy soils
c) High rainfall areas
d) Dry, flat lands - Poultry farming provides:
a) Wool
b) Milk
c) Honey
d) Eggs & meat - Which is a Kharif crop?
a) Wheat
b) Mustard
c) Maize
d) Pea - Drip irrigation is best for:
a) Rice
b) Cotton
c) Fruit plants
d) Wheat - Which is not a benefit of crop rotation?
a) Maintains fertility
b) Saves money
c) Grows trees
d) Avoids pests - Which animal gives milk?
a) Hen
b) Bull
c) Buffalo
d) Horse - Hybridisation means:
a) Cross of two animals
b) Cross of two crops
c) Cutting plants
d) Mixing fertilizers - Catla is a type of:
a) Chicken
b) Crop
c) Fish
d) Cow - Animal husbandry includes:
a) Plants only
b) Insects only
c) Animals only
d) All above - Honey bees collect:
a) Wax
b) Nectar
c) Fruits
d) Flowers - Aquaculture is related to:
a) Chicken
b) Plants
c) Fish
d) Soil
Assertion & Reason
A: Mixed cropping prevents total crop failure.
R: It reduces risk from pests.
a) Both true, R explains A
b) Both true, R doesn’t explain A
c) A true, R false
d) A false, R true
A: Drip irrigation wastes water.
R: It delivers water directly to roots.
a) Both true
b) Both false
c) A false, R true
d) A true, R false
A: Hybrid seeds are less productive.
R: They are made for disease resistance.
a) Both true
b) Both false
c) A false, R true
d) A true, R false
A: Fertilizers make soil fertile long-term.
R: They increase nutrients in soil.
a) Both true
b) A false, R true
c) A true, R false
d) Both false
A: Honey bees help in pollination.
R: They sit on flowers to collect nectar.
a) Both true, R explains A
b) Both true, R doesn’t explain A
c) A true, R false
d) A false, R true
A farmer uses intercropping to grow maize and beans. He also practices aquaculture for fish and keeps honeybees on his farm.
- What type of farming is used for maize + beans?
a) Mixed
b) Intercropping
c) Rotation
d) Mono - Why is aquaculture useful?
a) For milk
b) For fish
c) For crop
d) For trees - Which benefit comes from bees?
a) Wool
b) Honey
c) Meat
d) Cotton - Intercropping helps in:
a) Increasing yield
b) Making clothes
c) Collecting water
d) Making manure - Which is not a part of animal husbandry?
a) Poultry
b) Dairy
c) Crop rotation
d) Fishery
Reason-Based Q&A
- Why do we improve crop varieties?
To increase yield, disease resistance, and better quality. - Why is crop rotation important?
It maintains soil fertility and reduces pests. - Why are fertilizers used?
To provide essential nutrients to plants quickly. - Why is manure better for long-term soil health?
It improves soil structure and fertility. - Why is drip irrigation efficient?
It reduces water waste by targeting plant roots. - Why is poultry farming popular?
Because it provides protein-rich food at low cost. - Why do farmers use hybrid seeds?
To get better yield and disease resistance. - Why is aquaculture necessary?
To meet growing demand of fish and seafood. - Why do bees help in farming?
They help in pollination which increases crop yield. - Why are animals vaccinated?
To prevent diseases and increase productivity. - Why is beekeeping profitable?
It gives honey, wax and helps crops grow better. - Why is intercropping beneficial?
Utilizes space well and reduces spread of disease. - Why should fertilizers not be overused?
It damages soil and pollutes water. - Why is Ganga river not suitable for fish culture always?
Due to pollution and flow variation. - Why is plant disease control important?
To avoid crop loss and ensure good harvest.
Final Answer Key
MCQs:
1–c, 2–c, 3–c, 4–c, 5–d, 6–d, 7–c, 8–c, 9–c, 10–c, 11–b, 12–c, 13–c, 14–b, 15–c
Assertion & Reason:
16–a, 17–c, 18–c, 19–b, 20–a
Case-Based:
21–b, 22–b, 23–b, 24–a, 25–c
