Important Questions for Chapter 1 The Story of Village Palampur Class 9 Economics
Important Questions1
Who provides capital to the small farmers at high rate of interest?
Answer
Money lenders and traders provide capital to the small farmers at high rate of interest.
VSAQ
2
What is the aim of production?
Answer
The aim of production is to produce goods and services that we want.
VSAQ
3
What are raw materials and money in hand called?
Answer
Raw materials and money in hand are called working capitals.
VSAQ
4
Farmer’s plough is an example of which factor of production?
Answer
Farmer’s plough is an example of the fixed physical capital.
VSAQ
5
What is the standard unit of measuring land area?
Answer
Hectare.
VSAQ
6
How did the introduction of the Green Revolution affect the cost of cultivation?
Answer
The cost of cultivation went up due to the introduction of the Green Revolution.
VSAQ
7
Which is the basic constraint in raising farm production?
Answer
Land is fixed.
VSAQ
8
Which three Indian states were the first to try out the modern farming?
Answer
Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh were the first three Indian states to try out the modern farming.
VSAQ
9
Write the name of main factor of production in Palampur?
Answer
Land, labour and capital are the main factor of production in Palampur.
VSAQ
10
What is the main cause of degradation of soil health in Punjab?
Answer
Massive use of chemical fertilizers is the main cause of degradation of soil health in Punjab.
VSAQ
11
What is bogeys?
Answer
A wooden cart drawn by buffalos.
VSAQ
12
Write the name of three sources of irrigation?
Answer
Tubewells, canals and tanks are the name of three sources of irrigation.
VSAQ
13
When was Green Revolution launched?
Answer
Green Revolution was launched in 1960.
VSAQ
1
Explain any three differences between physical capital and human capital.
Answer
• Physical capital has variety of inputs, while human capital is labours, using those inputs.
• Tools, machines can be used over the years, while human capital can produce an output only if they have experience.
• Example: Physical capital includes tools, machines, generators, etc. Human capital includes farmers, factory workers, engineers, etc.
SAQ
2
What factors have led to the reduction of water level in Palampur?
Answer
• Continuous use of water for tube well irrigation has decreased the water level in Palampur.
• Water table once reduced is difficult to improve, thus the height of the water level cannot be increased here.
SAQ
3
How did the people of Palampur enhance their production? Explain the methods used for this.
Answer
Introduction of the Green Revolution with the help of HYV seeds, the yield went up to 3200 kg per hectare.
Two ways of increasing production:
• Multiple cropping: To grow more than one crop on the same piece of land. Even a third crop like potato was also grown.
• Use of modern farming methods: Use of HYV seeds and chemical fertilizers.
SAQ
4
Describe the work of a farmer with more than 2 hectare of land.
Answer
Farmers working in with more than 2 hectare of land are generally middle or large farmers. They borrow money from moneylenders at high rate of interest. Small farmers sell their surplus to middle or large farmers and the middle or large farmers sell the surplus to the traders. About 60 families are middle or large families in the village of Palampur.
SAQ
5
What is done with surplus foodgrains in the village Palampur?
Answer
In Palampur, small farmers sell their surplus to the middle or large farmers. Middle or large farmers sell their surplus of foodgrains directly to market. The traders buy the surplus of foodgrains from the market and sell that to the shopkeepers of town or cities.
SAQ
6
How is land distributed between farmers of Palampur?
Answer
In Palampur, small farmers have less than 2 hectare of land. Middle or large farmers have more than 2 hectare of land. A few of the large farmers have 10 or more than 10 hectare of land. Some farmers are landless. They work on another land and get paid for that.
SAQ
7
How farmers are able to grow three different crops in a year in Palampur? Explain any three reasons.
OR
Why are farmers of Palampur able to grow different crops in a year? Explain.
Answer
Farmers of Palampur are able to grow three different crops in a year because of the following reasons:
• Well–developed system of irrigation.
• Continuous supply of electricity.
• Introduction of multiple cropping.
• Modern farming methods.
SAQ
8
Describe the role of farmers after the crop is harvested and production is completed.
Answer
• The farmers retain a part of the crop for the family’s consumption and sell the surplus products.
• Small farmers grow just enough to fulfil the needs of the family and hence do not have any surplus to sell in the market.
• The medium and large farmers make big earnings by selling main crops in the market.
SAQ
9
How do the medium and large farmers make their own savings and how do they utilize it? Explain.
OR
How do the medium and large farmers obtain capital for farming?
Answer
The medium and large farmers have surplus production even after keeping a substantial part for their own family needs. They sell it in the market and have good earnings and save it in their bank accounts. They utilize their savings:
• By lending to small farmers who are in need of a loan.
• As working capital for farming in the next season.
• As fixed capital for buying tractors, etc.
SAQ
10
How is the distribution of land among farmers related to the productivity from the land?
Answer
Distribution of land is closely related to the productivity of the land.
• Cultivation on small land holdings is just sufficient to fulfil the need of the family.
• As small farmers do not have any surplus grain to sell in the market, they have no earnings.
• They are not able to use any modern methods of cultivation like buying HYV seeds, tractors, fertilizers, etc.
SAQ
11
Describe the role of farmers after the crop is harvested and production is completed.
Answer
• The farmers retain a part of the crop for the family’s consumption and sell the surplus products.
• Small farmers grow just enough to fulfil the needs of the family and hence do not have any surplus to sell in the market.
• The medium and large farmers make big earnings by selling main crops in the market.
SAQ
12
How do small farmers obtain capital for farming? What are its consequence?
Answer
Most small farmers have to borrow money to arrange for the capital. They borrow from large farmers or the money-lenders or the traders who supply various inputs for cultivation. Consequence: The rate of interest on such loans is very high. The small farmers are put to great distress to repay the loan.
SAQ
13
What are non-farming activities? Explain any two non-farming activities taken up by the people of Palampur village.
Answer
People working in activities other than agriculture are called non–farming activities. Two non-farming activities taken up by the people of Palampur village:
• Running grocery shops.
• Practicing various occupations such as barber, cobbler, blacksmith, coaching institutes, etc.
SAQ
1
Explain the meaning of ‘Physical Capital’. Explain its two types with the help of suitable example.
Answer
Physical capital is the variety of inputs required at every stage during production. Physical capital is divided into two types:
• Fixed Capital: Tools, machines and building, etc., are called fixed capitals. Tools and machines range from very simple tools such as a farmer’s plough to sophisticated machines such as generators, computers, etc. They are called fixed as they can be used for many years.
• Working Capital: Production requires a variety of raw materials such as the yarn used by the weaver and the clay used by the potter. Also, some money is always required during production to make payments and buy other necessary items. In this way, raw materials and money in hand are called working capital.
LAQ
2
Explain the four requirements for production of goods and services. Explain the importance of any one.
Answer
Four requirements:
• Land and other resources – Land, water, forests and minerals.
• Labour i.e. people who carry out work.
• Physical capital – It includes tools, machines, buildings and working capital like raw material.
• Human capital – Population which is educated, healthy and trained. Human capital is the most important requirement. Importance of human capital:
• Human capital is the most important as it can make use of other capitals.
• Knowledge and enterprise are used to put together land, labour and physical capital and produce an output.
LAQ
3
Why are farmers of Palampur able to grow different crops in a year? Explain.
Answer
Farmers of Palampur are able to grow three different crops in a year because of the following reasons:
• Well–developed system of irrigation.
• Continuous supply of electricity.
• Introduction of multiple cropping.
• Modern farming methods.
• The use of HYV seeds introduced to the farmers during the green revolution.
LAQ
4
State four steps of optimal utilization of land.
Answer
• Modern farming: In this type of farming , high yielding varieties seeds are used. As a result same piece of land produce larger quantities of foodgrains. Before, 1960 farmers were used cow-dung and other natural manure as fertilizers.
• Green Revolution: In mid-1960 Green Revolution was launched with the aim of producing wheat and rice using high yielding varieties of seeds. Through use of HYV seeds higher quantity of foodgrains can grown on a single piece of land.
• Use of modern technology: Optimum utilization of land is done through heavy production of foodgrains in farming activities. It is possible only with the use of modern technology i.e tubewell, canals etc.
• Multiple cropping: Method of multiple cropping is used in Palampur. Cultivation of different types of crops in the same piece of land at same or different time is known as Multiple cropping. For example, jowar and bajra grow during rainy season, potato is produced between October and December, wheat is produced during winter season.
LAQ
5
Distinguish between traditional farming and modern farming.
Answer
• Traditional farming: In traditional farming, cow-dung and other natural manure are used as fertilizers by the farmers. In traditional farming, farmers need less fund as compared as fund required in modern farming. Traditional seeds needed less irrigation. Traditional farming is comfortable for all types of farmer i.e small, middle and large farmers.
• Modern farming: In this type of farming , high yielding varieties seeds are used. As a result same piece of land produce larger quantities of foodgrains. Before, 1960 farmers were used cow-dung and other natural manure as fertilizers.
• In mid-1960 Green Revolution was launched with the aim of producing wheat and rice using high yielding varieties of seeds. Heavy expenditure is occurred in this method of farming. So, small farmers are unable to arrange this heavy amount.
LAQ
6
Explain any two merits and three demerits of the Green Revolution.
Answer
Merits:
• Helps in the progress of agriculture.
• Helps in the growth and yield of crops.
• HYV seeds are considered as miracle seeds due to the high produce when irrigated properly.
Demerits:
• Use of pesticides and other harmful chemicals during its production affect the crops and the consumer.
• These seeds need more irrigation and fertilizers than the traditional seeds.
• Excessive use of pesticides and chemicals while growing HYV seeds causes land degradation.
LAQ
7
How did the spread of electricity help farmers in Palampur?
Answer
The spread of electricity has helped the farmers of Palampur village in the following ways:
• Electricity has transformed the system of irrigation.
• Electricity is used to run tube wells in the fields. The Persian wheels are being replaced by tube wells.
• Electricity is also used to run small businesses. For example, sugarcane crushing machine.
• It is also a cheap and pollution-free source of irrigation.
• Electricity is also used for domestic works like running fans and lighting tube lights.
LAQ