TS 6th Class Social Study Material 7th Lesson Agriculture in Our Times

Telangana SCERT TS 6th Class Social Study Material Pdf 7th Lesson Agriculture in Our Times Textbook Questions and Answers.

TS 6th Class Social 7th Lesson Questions and Answers -Agriculture in Our Times

(Improve Your Learning)

Question 1.
How can the Government help the farmers in Venkatapuram and prevent migration? (Appreciation and Sensitivity)
Answer:

1. Nearly two-fifths of all rural families are mainly agricultural labourers in Andhra Pradesh.
2. In Venkatapuram majority of the people are agricultural Labourers.
3. These poor labouring families face a lot of challenges in maintaining their income to run their families.
4. Earnings are higher in non-agricultural jobs, such jobs are scarce in rural areas.
5. That is why many families in Venkatapuram have migrated to towns and cities.
6. The government has to arrange some schemes like food for work, Swarna Jayanthi. Gram Samridhi Yojana, Prime Minister Rojgar Yojana. Chief Minister’s Rojgar Yojana during non-harvesting period.
7. I think, by implementing all these welfare schemes to the needy people, government can easily curb the migrations of agricultural labourers,

Question 2.
Fill in the following table: (Information Skills)
Answer:

Person	Wages during normal season	Wages during harvesting season	Wages in non –agriculture works	Wages paid In government schemes
Men	₹  120	₹ 150-200	₹ 200-250	₹ 120
Women	₹ 70-80	₹ 120-150	₹ 200	₹ 120

Question 3.
Compare the condition of a big farmer of your village with that of Vijaya Kumar in
Venkatapuram. (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:
Like Vijaya Kumar in Venkatapuram in my village, Subbaiah is a big farmer. He has nearly 50 acres of bnd and also has Ongole breed oxen and cows and use for hire also. He is also having rice mills. (The student should collect the information about big farmers with the help of the teacher)

Question 4.
Who took bank loan in Venkatapuram? What was the reason for taking a bank loan? (Conceptual Understanding)
Answer:
Vijaya Kumar has 25 acres of land. He borrowed 25 Lakhs from a bank to buy the harvester and thresher. He hires them out to other farmers on rent basis. Many farmers in Venkatapuram and surrounding villages use these equipments.

Question 5.
How do banks and money lenders give loans to farmers? Do you think borrowing from money lenders is profitable? What are the alternative sources? (Reflection on contemporary issues and questioning)
Answer:

1. The banks and money lenders are giving loans to the Iarmers by mortgaging the properties or taking sureties.
2. Taking money from money lenders is not at all profitable when compared to bank loans, because money lenders change higher rate of interest according to the necessity of the farmers.
3. The best alternative source to all types of farmers is to get loans from Agricultural Cooperative Societies.

Question 6.
How do you think the conditions of farmers can be improved? (Appreciation and Sensitivity)
Answer:

1. Nowadays agriculture totally depends on their fate. So the farmers can change their attitude in agricultural methods.
2. Farmers must change the crops according to the season and fertility of the soil.
3. So that they can get good profits.
4. Instead of totally depending upon cultivation throughout the year, they have to maintain livestock which is a part of agriculture.
5. Farmers must implement new agricultural methods from time to time for their improvement.

Question 7.
Compare three farmers in Venkatapuram and furnish details. (Conceptual understanding)
Answer:

Subject	Ravi	Ramu	Vijaya Kumar
1. Size of land (in acres)	4 acres	2 acres	25 acres
2. Source of Irrigation	bore well,	tank	bore well tank
3. Agriculture tools and implements	manual	manual	tractor, harvester, thresher
4. Use of fertilizers	pesticides		fertilizers, pesticides
5. Manner of selling groundnut	wet  groundnuts	Wet groundnuts	dried groundnuts
6. Other works		tractor driver	money broker

Question 8.
Collect news items on problems faced by small and marginal farmers and the measures taken by the government to solve their problems. (information Skills)
Answer:

Kamareddy(Nizamabad) 5.6.2014 Poor power supply, drinking water problem, incomplete delta modernisation works, compensation for damaged crops and other problems welcomed Agriculture Minister who attended the launch of yeruvaka’ programme in the district on Monday.

Problems galore: Rythu Sangam leader K. Nageswara Rao said about 2 lakh farmers Left agriculture sector and some thousands committed suicide due to losses.

Commissioner (Agriculture) K. Madhu Sudhana Rao said that 8.5 lakh tonnes of fertilizer stocks were kept ready with dealers in the State and as regards cotton seed, 1.10 crore seed packets were readied for the coming season. Addressing farmers, the Minister stressed the need for increasing mechanisation and use of vermicompost.

Question 10.
Read about contract farming in page 59 and comment on it. (Reading the text (given), understanding and interpretation)
Some farmers have tried to get rid of this problem by entering into a contract with companies for production and supply of some special crops. Although not widespread, in some parts of Telangana, some companies have made contracts with farmers to cultivate crops such as palm oil, paddy, amia, maize, groundnut, soybean, cotton, chilli and cucumber.

In Contract farming, companies advise farmers to follow specific farming practices and also provide financial support. They buy the harvest at pre-determined prices and pay the farmers after deducting the input costs. The companies use the produce as a raw material for making their own products (like chips or tomato sauce or medicine) or export them directly to other countries.
Answer:

1. The above-mentioned paragraph describes the concept of contract farming, its advantages and disadvantages.
2. Contract farming is the new concept being observed in India in recent days where companies buy the harvest at pre-determined price after advising the farmers lo follow specific farming practices and providing financial support.
3. The harvest thus produced is used as raw material for making their own products like chips or tomato sauce by companies or export them directly to other countries.
4. The main advantages of this farming is farmers get advances for their crop inputs and are assured of the prices.
5. However, contract farming also has disadvantages like farmers bearing the risk of poor harvest. To avoid this, farmers apply excessive chemical fertilizers which in long run causes soil pollution and depletion of groundwater resources.
6. So, government and scientists should come up with an effective solution to handle the negative effects of this new practice and should assure profit to farmers.

Question 11.
On the map of India, point out the regions where groundnut Is grown. Take the help of atlas. (Mapping skills)
Answer:

(Intext Questions)
Text Book Page No. 58

Question 1.
What kind of work do the labourers find in Venkatapuram to meet their expenses?
Answer:
The labourers vi Vunkatapuram get only agricultural work like uprooting groundnut plants with root and stems, gather, bundle and carry the bundles to a place. Generally, women are engaged to pluck pods from the plants.

Question 2.
What are the different ways in which the labourers meet the expenses of the family
over the year?
Answer:
The agricultural labourers get ïncome during the harvest which last for a few weeks in a year. The rest ai the period they work in non-agricultural activities like loading and unloading of sand or bricks. They work in factories as casual labours. They earn money making handicraft goods like making papadams. papads in their own houses.

Question 3.
Compare the wages for women and men in different contexts. Why do you think this difference exists?
Answer:

1. Normally women workers earn about Rs. 70-SO per das’ whereas men workers get ₹120 per day.
2. During harvest or sowing seasons, women labourers get ₹ 120-150 per day whereas male working 150-200 per day.
3. In the government employment scheme, both men and women workers get about ₹ 120 per day.
4. In non-agricultural activities wages are ₹200-250 for men and ₹ 200 per day for women. On the basis of differences in physical fitness and working hours, women get less wages than the men.

Text Book Page Np. 60

Question 4.
Why do small farmers employ labourers during harvest time?
Answer:
Due to low yield, the small farmers could not pay any wages to the labourers – Throughout the season. So the small Farmers employ labourers during harvest time.

Question 5.
Are small farmers able to meet their household needs through farming?
Answer:

1. The income nl the small farmers is not sufficient to run their Family for more than three months in a year.
2. To meet their household needs they have to work as Labourers in others fields.

Question 6.
Why do small farmers and labourers prefer wages in cash rather than in kind?
Answer:
Nowadays, money is essential for livelihood. They can buy anything with the money. So the small farmers and labourers prefer wages In cash rather than in kind.

Question 7.
Why is it not possible for Ramu to grow two or three crops a year?
Answer:
Ramu cultivates his land only during Kharif season. Due to lack of Irrigation facility to his field, Ramu is not able to grow two or three crops a year.

Question 8.
How are small tanners dependent on big farmers? Give examples from Ramu’s case.
Answer:

1. Small farmers depend on big farmers for water facility, agricultural tools and equipments and for money also.
2. During non-harvesting period, small farmers has to work in big farmers’ fields and do whatever important task assigned to them.
3. In the case of Ramu. he gets employed as a tractor driver for ploughing the fields and transporting paddy and other things to the market.

Text Book Page No. 61

Question 9.
Why do you think are small farmers unable to borrow money easily from the banks?
Answer:
Generally, small farmers have Less acres of land under cultivation. They don’t have agricultural implements and irrigational facilities. Banks give loans as per the income of the farmer. So banks are not ready to give loans immediately.

Question 10.
What similarities and differences do you find in the condition of Ravi and Ramu?
Answer:
Similarities:

1. Both Ravi and Ramu are small farmers.
2. Both of them get irrigation from tank,
3. During harvest, both of them will take the help of manual labour.
4. Both of them take loans from money lenders.

Differences:

1. Ravi has 4 acres of land and Ramu has 2 acres of land.
2. Ravi fully depends on his field whereas Ramu works under Vijaya Kumar as a driver.

Text Book Page No. 62

Question 11.
How is Vijayakumar able to wait for higher prices while small farmers have to sell It at low prices?
Answer:
Vijayakumar has so many sources of income. So he waits for higher prices before selling.

Question 12.
List the agriculture equipment owned by Vijayakumar. What kind of farmers can have such implements?
Answer:
List of agriculture equipments of Vijayakumar:

1. Harvester
2. Thresher
3. Tractor

Big farmers like Viayakumar also have this type of implements.

Question 13.
List all the sources of income of Vijayakumar.
Answer:
Sources of income of Vijayakumar:

1. Income from Paddy and Sugar cane fields.
2. Income from farm machines.
3. Income from bore wells and land lease.
4. Income from milk of Murrah buffaloes.
5. Income from fertilizer shop and
6. Income through money lending.

Question 14.
Do you agree with Vìjayakumar’s father’s opinion that farming is not as good as It was in the past? Give your reasons.
Answer:
I agree with Vijayakumar’s father’s opinion
Reasons:

1. In the past, the use of fertilizers and pesticides was less.
2. Groundwater level was always stable.
3. There was no failure nl crops.
4. They depended on manual labour.
5. Nowadays, the agricultural work Is entirely different from the past.

(Project Work)

Question 1.
Interview a small farmer and a big farmer with the help of your teacher. Find out about the conditions of their farming practices – how many acres they cultivate, what they grow, how they sell It, what problems do they face etc. Compare these details with what we find in Venkatapuram. (Information Skills)
Answer:
Collect information In your near by village and discuss with your teacher.
Note: Fill the details in the given tabular form.

Question 2.
In case your school is in a big city, prepare a list of occupations of families in your
street or in your colony. Classify them Into three groups: Self-employed, casual
labourers and regular salaried employees. Discuss the details in your class. (Information Skills)
Answer:

Additional Questions

Question 1.
What are your comments on ‘Indian agriculture’?
Answer:
Naturally, the groundnut harvesting season is from November to February in our State. It is a rabi crop. Many agricultural labourers are working in groundnut fields by getting less wages. Small farmers are cultivating groundnuts by taking loans from banks, money lenders and brokers by paying high interest. Small farmers are unable to get profits due to natural calamities and they turned as contract labourers. Due to seasonal cropping, people are migrating to nearby towns and cities for their livelihood. One or two landlords in villages are having agricultural equipments like tractors, harvesters and threshers for their use and hired to other farmers.

Nowadays agriculture depends on bore wells, especially in our State. Bearing the expenditure of bore wells is not only a burden to the small farmers but also ruins their lives.

Question 2.
Read the following passage and answer the questions given below.
Nearly two-fifths of all rural families are mainly agricultural labourers in Telangana, Of these hardly a few have small plots of land and the rest are landless. Although earnings are higher in non-agricultural jobs, they are scarce In rural areas. That is why many families in Venkatapuram have migrated to towns and cities.
Answer the following questions:
1. How many families in Telangana are agricultural labourers?
Answer:
Two – Fifths.

2. Which jobs are very scarce in rural areas?
Answer:
Non-agricultural jobs are very scarce.

3. Who have migrated from Venkatapuram to towns and cities?
Answer:
Rural families in Venkatapuram have migra Led to towns and cities.

4. How are the earnings ¡ri non-agricultural jobs?
Answer:
Higher in non-agricultural obs.

5. Are all the rural families have own lands?
Answer:
A few have small plots of land and rest are landless.

3. Read the information carefully arid answer the questions.
Ravi’s daughter was also plucking groundnuts, He didn’t send her in the college location In the nearly town as he found the fees arid other expenses are beyond his paying capacity.

Q. What Is the reason for not sending college Ravi’s daughter?
Answer:
Because of high fees and other expenses.

4. In some parts of Telangana companies have made contracts with farmers to cultivate crops such as oil palm, rice, cucumber, cocoa, amIa, maize, groundnut soybean, cotton and chilli.
Q. Give some examples of crops which come under contract farming.
Answer:
Maize, oil palm, rice etc.

5. Ravi cultivates his land only during the Kharif reason with the help of his family members.
Question.
What is the another name for Kharif season?
Answer:
Monsoon season

6. Vijaya Kumar has a large Kallam’ or threshing floor
Question.
What is the lise of KaJlam?
Answer:
It is used to dry the harvest.

7. A few decades back most of the farmers depend upon tanks and canals to irrigate their lands. Now more than half the lands in Telangana depend on bore wells.
Question.
At present are the farmers depending upon bore wells or tanks to irrigate their lands?
Answer:
Bore wells

8. Squatting on the floor in fields for long hours bearing the scorching sun and plucking groundnut Is not an easy job.
Question.
Prepare a thought-provoking question depending on this.
Answer:
Why are labourers not interested to work in agricultural fields?

(Reading The Text (Given), Understanding And Interpretation)

Many farmers welcome this arrangement as they get advances for the crop inputs and are assured of the prices. However, they have to bear the risk of poor harvest. In case the harvest Is not of the quality desired by the company it may refuse to buy the crop throwing the farmers In trouble. In order to get high yield under contract farming, farmers ply chemical fertilizers intensively and exploit groundwater resources, This may reduce groundwater level further and deteriorate the soil quality. Often small farmers use the best lands earmarked for their own food for contract farming – thus harming the security of their own food.
What are the disadvantages of contract farming?
Answer:
1. The farmers have to take the risk of poor harvest.
2. If the quality is not desired, the company may refuse to buy the crop putting the lenders in trouble.
3. In contract farming, farmers apply checkout fertilisers intensively and exploit groundwater resources.
4. The soil quality and groundwater level m.» be reduced.
5. Small farmers use their best land for contract farming and thus harm the security as their own Food

Two Marks Questions

Question 1.
Give some examples for food crops?
Answer:
Paddy. ragi. maize, jowar.

Question 2.
Give some examples for cab crops.
Answer:
Cotton, sugar cane, ground nut, turmeric, cashew, tobacco etc.

Question 3.
How many families in Telangana are agricultural labourers?
Answer:
Two-fifths of rural families.

Question 4.
What is meant by Contract farming?
Answer:
Farming on an agreement or high rates. In this, the lender generally asks part of the crop or in form of cash.

Question 5.
What is the use of thresher?
Answer:
Thresher separates grains of corn, rice etc. from the rest of the plant at low cost.

Question 6.
What is migration?
Answer:
Migration means move or shift to another place in search of livelihood.

Question 7.
What are the problems faced by the small farmers?
Answer:
Poor irrigation, facilities, pressure from money lenders, need investment for seeds, fertilisers, pesticides etc.

Objective Type Questions

Question 1.
The harvesting season for groundnut is …………. ( )
A) Nov. to Feb.
B) Sep. to May
C) May to Aug.
D) July to Nov.
Answer:
D) July to Nov.

Question 2.
……………. is a big farmer according to our lesson. ( )
A) Vijaya Kumar
B) Ravi
C) Ramu
D) Lakshmamma
Answer:
A) Vijaya Kumar

Question 3.
Vijaya Kumar provides water for paddy fields of ………………. . ( )
A) Ravi
B) Ramu
C) Ramana
D) Lakshmamma
Answer:
B) Ramu

Question 4.
Now the lands in Telangana depend on ………………….. . ( )
A) tanks
B) canals
C) bore wells
D) rain
Answer:
B) canals

Question 5.
Turmeric is a ……………….. crop. ( )
A) food
B) cash
C) Food & cash
D) none
Answer:
B) cash

Question 6.
Type of groundnut gets higher price ……………….. . ( )
A) Fresh
B) Dried
C) Soaked
D) Rotten
Answer:
B) Dried

Question 7.
If the seeds are not of good quality, their yield will be ………….. . ( )
A) high
B) constant
C) low
D) nil
Answer:
C) low

Question 8.
The main crop in our State ( )
A) Wheat
B) Paddy
C) Groundnut
D) Jowar
Answer:
B) Paddy

Question 9.
Where do we get non-agriculture employment? ( )
A) urban areas
B) rural areas
C) tribal areas
D) Forest areas
Answer:
A) urban areas

Question 10.
In which category, labour gets more wages? ( )
A) government schemes
B) non-agricultural works
C) harvesting season
D) normal season
Answer:
B) non-agricultural works