Access the latest NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter-3: Land Resources and Agriculture, updated for 2024-2025. Solution is designed to help students tackle difficult questions with ease. The content is written in simple, easy-to-understand language.
Exercise
Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.
(i) Which one of the following is NOT a land-use category?
(a) Fallow land (c) Net Area Sown
(b) Marginal land (d) Culturable Wasteland
Ans. (b) Marginal land
(ii) What one of the following is the main reason due to which share of forest
has shown an increase in the last forty years?
(a) Extensive and efficient efforts of afforestation
(b) Increase in community forest land
(c) Increase in notified area allocated for forest growth
(d) Better peoples’ participation in managing forest areas.
Ans. (c) Increase in notified area allocated for forest growth
(iii) Which one of the following is the main form of degradation in irrigated
areas?
(a) Gully erosion (c) Salinization of soils
(b) Wind erosion (d) Siltation of land
Ans. (c) Salinization of soils
(iv) Which one of the following crops is not cultivated under dryland farming?
(a) Ragi (c) Groundnut
(b) Jowar (d) Sugarcane
Ans. (d) Sugarcane
(v) In which of the following group of countries of the world, HYVs of wheat
and rice were developed?
(a) Japan and Australia (c) Mexico and Philippines
(b) U.S.A. and Japan (d) Mexico and Singapore
Ans. (c) Mexico and Philippines
Short Answer Questions
1.Differentiate between barren and wasteland and culturable wasteland.
Answer: Barren and wasteland include lands that are not suitable for cultivation, such as deserts or rocky terrains, while culturable wasteland refers to lands that are left uncultivated for over five years but can be made cultivable with reclamation practices.
2.How would you distinguish between net sown area and gross cropped area?
Answer: Net sown area is the land on which crops are sown once in a year, while gross cropped area refers to the total area sown more than once in an agricultural year, including both multiple and single cropping areas.
3.Why is the strategy of increasing cropping intensity important in a country like India?
Answer: Increasing cropping intensity ensures better land use, increases agricultural output, and reduces unemployment in a country like India, where the availability of cultivable land is limited but labor is abundant.
4.How do you measure total cultivable land?
Answer: Total cultivable land is measured by adding the net sown area, all fallow lands, and culturable wasteland.
5.What is the difference between dryland and wetland farming?
Answer: Dryland farming occurs in regions with less than 75 cm of annual rainfall and focuses on drought-resistant crops, while wetland farming is practiced in areas where rainfall exceeds soil moisture requirements, often leading to issues like waterlogging and soil erosion.
Long Answer Questions
1. What are the different types of environmental problems of land resources in India?
Answer: India faces various environmental problems, including soil erosion (caused by water and wind), salinization and alkalinization (due to improper irrigation), waterlogging, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity. These issues reduce land productivity, affect agricultural output, and lead to land degradation.
2.What are the important strategies for agricultural development followed in the post-independence period in India?
Answer: Post-independence strategies included land reforms, the introduction of high-yielding varieties (HYV) during the Green Revolution, expanding irrigation facilities, promoting the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and the adoption of modern farming techniques. Recent strategies focus on sustainable farming, crop diversification, and organic farming.
Other Important Short-answer Type Questions
Here are some important short-answer type questions and their answers based on NCERT Class 12 Geography Chapter 3, “Land Resources and Agriculture,” focusing on concepts asked in previous years’ exams and UPSC:
1. What are the main land-use categories in India?
Land-use categories include:
- Forests
- Barren and wastelands
- Land put to non-agricultural uses
- Permanent pastures and grazing land
- Area under miscellaneous tree crops
- Culturable wasteland
- Current fallow
- Fallow other than current fallow
- Net area sown
2. How does economic activity affect land use?
Economic activities significantly influence land use, leading to three types of changes:
Growth of the economy increases pressure on marginal lands.
- Expansion of the secondary and tertiary sectors shifts land from agricultural to non-agricultural uses.
- Despite reduced agricultural contribution to GDP, the pressure on agricultural land continues due to increasing population.
3. What factors contribute to land degradation in India?
Land degradation is caused by:
- Soil erosion (wind and water)
- Waterlogging
- Salinization and alkalization of soils
- Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
- Deforestation and overgrazing
4. Differentiate between net sown area and gross cropped area.
- Net Sown Area: The total area on which crops are sown and harvested in a given year.
- Gross Cropped Area: The total area sown once or more in a single agricultural year, including multiple crops.
5. What is cropping intensity, and why is it important for India?
Cropping intensity refers to the number of crops grown on a given piece of land during an agricultural year. It’s essential in India due to limited cultivable land, as increasing cropping intensity helps raise agricultural output without expanding land use.
6. What are common property resources (CPRs), and why are they important?
CPRs are resources like village forests, grazing lands, and water bodies accessible to the community. They are vital for rural livelihoods, particularly for landless and marginal farmers, as they provide fuel, fodder, and other essentials. They also play a crucial role in maintaining social and economic stability.
7. What is the significance of agricultural land use in India?
Agriculture is land-intensive and a significant livelihood source in rural areas. Agricultural land use determines productivity, income levels, and rural development. Moreover, land ownership in India is a social status symbol and a means of security for many farmers.
8. What are the main environmental problems related to land resources?
- Deforestation: Leading to soil erosion and biodiversity loss.
- Soil erosion: Accelerated by human activities like deforestation and improper farming.
- Waterlogging and salinization: Often due to improper irrigation methods.
- Chemical pollution: Caused by excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, affecting soil health.
9. Explain the difference between dryland and wetland farming.
- Dryland farming: Practiced in regions with less than 75 cm of rainfall, growing drought-resistant crops like ragi, bajra, and pulses.
- Wetland farming: Carried out in areas with excess rainfall, cultivating water-intensive crops like rice and jute.
10. How has agricultural land use changed in India between 1950-51 and 2014-15?
Between 1950-51 and 2014-15:
- The area under non-agricultural use has increased due to urbanization and industrialization.
- The net sown area has also increased marginally.
- Categories like barren land and wasteland have decreased as more land has been brought under cultivation.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Here are 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on NCERT Class 12 Geography Chapter 3, “Land Resources and Agriculture,” relevant for UPSC and other examinations. The answers are provided at the end.
1. What are the primary land-use categories in India?
a) Urban and rural
b) Forests and barren lands
c) Agricultural and industrial
d) Residential and commercial
2. What percentage of cultivated area is occupied by foodgrains in India?
a) 40%
b) 60%
c) 70%
d) 80%
3. Which of the following is classified as a non-agricultural land use?
a) Forests
b) Permanent pastures
c) Infrastructure
d) Current fallow
4. What is the main purpose of protective irrigation?
a) To increase crop yield
b) To prevent soil moisture deficiency
c) To conserve water
d) To enhance soil fertility
5. Which land-use category includes land left uncultivated for more than five years?
a) Current fallow
b) Culturable wasteland
c) Barren land
d) Net area sown
6. In the context of agriculture, what does the term “cropping intensity” refer to?
a) The area under cultivation
b) The number of crops grown per year
c) The productivity of crops
d) The type of crops cultivated
7. Which crop is primarily grown during the kharif season?
a) Wheat
b) Rice
c) Gram
d) Mustard
8. What was the significant agricultural development strategy introduced in India during the 1960s?
a) Green Revolution
b) Land Reforms
c) Agro-climatic Planning
d) Organic Farming
9. What is the main reason for the decline in the share of cultivable land in India?
a) Urbanization
b) Soil erosion
c) Flooding
d) Deforestation
10. Which state is the largest producer of rice in India?
a) Punjab
b) West Bengal
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Andhra Pradesh
11. Which of the following is a characteristic of dryland farming?
a) High rainfall
b) Irrigated fields
c) Hardy crops
d) Commercial agriculture
12. What type of farming primarily relies on rainfall?
a) Irrigated farming
b) Commercial farming
c) Rainfed farming
d) Organic farming
13. Which crop is mainly cultivated as a cash crop in India?
a) Wheat
b) Rice
c) Cotton
d) Pulses
14. What percentage of agricultural land in India is under irrigation?
a) 25%
b) 33%
c) 50%
d) 75%
15. What is the main function of common property resources (CPRs)?
a) Individual ownership
b) Community usage
c) Agricultural production
d) Urban development
16. Which of the following crops is known for its nitrogen-fixing ability?
a) Wheat
b) Rice
c) Pulses
d) Cotton
17. What is the primary reason for low agricultural productivity in India?
a) High yield varieties
b) Limited access to technology
c) Adequate rainfall
d) Large land holdings
18. The increase in the area under which type of land is attributed to urban expansion?
a) Forests
b) Agricultural land
c) Non-agricultural uses
d) Permanent pastures
19. Which oilseed occupies about 3.6% of the total cropped area in India?
a) Groundnut
b) Soyabean
c) Mustard
d) Sunflower
20. What was the main objective of the Intensive Agricultural District Programme (IADP)?
a) Increase food production
b) Reduce landholdings
c) Promote cash crops
d) Improve irrigation facilities
Answers:
1. b) Forests and barren lands
2. c) 70%
3. c) Infrastructure
4. b) To prevent soil moisture deficiency
5. b) Culturable wasteland
6. b) The number of crops grown per year
7. b) Rice
8. a) Green Revolution
9. a) Urbanization
10. b) West Bengal
11. c) Hardy crops
12. c) Rainfed farming
13. c) Cotton
14. b) 33%
15. b) Community usage
16. c) Pulses
17. b) Limited access to technology
18. c) Non-agricultural uses
19. a) Groundnut
20. a) Increase food production
Other Chapter
| Chapter 1:- POPULATION: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition | Chapter 2:- HUMAN SETTLEMENTS |
| Chapter 4:– WATER RESOURCES | Chapter 5:- MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES |
| Chapter 6:- PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIAN CONTEXT | Chapter 7:- TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION |
| Chapter 8:- INTERNATIONAL TRADE | Chapter 9:- GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SELECTED ISSUES AND PROBLEMS |
