Economics Class-IX

The Story of The Village Palampur (Final)

*Note:-

For

reference

only

TEXTBOK SOLUTIONS
Q.2: Modern farming methods require more inputs which are manufactured in
industry. Do you agree?
Ans: Yes, modern farming methods like - the use of fertilizers, pesticides, high
yielding variety of seeds, power driven tube-wells for irrigation, latest tools and
implements like tractors, harvesters, threshers etc. require more inputs which are
manufactured in industry. In fact, agriculture and industry can not be separated
from each other rather, they move hand in hand. Agriculture provides raw
materials for various agro-based industries in India and lays a strong foundation
of industry. On the other hand industry goes a long way in increasing the
agricultural production. The development and application of bio-technology has
not left much difference between agriculture and industry.
Q.3: How did spread of electricity help farmers in Palampur?
Ans: The spread of electricity helped the farmers of Palampur in a number of
ways:
>> It helped the farmers of Palampur to irrigate their lands in a far better way.
Earlier they used to irrigate their lands with the help of Persian wheels, which
was not so effective. But now with the help of electricity they could irrigate much
larger areas in lesser time and much effectively.
>> Due to the improvement in irrigation system by electricity, they could grow
different crops round the year.
>> They had no more to depend on monsoon rains which were uncertain and
erratic.
>> As a result of use of electricity the farmers of Palampur also got rid of many
manual labour, anxieties etc.
Q.4: Is it important to increase the area under irrigation? Why?
Ans: Monsoons are by their very nature erratic and variable. So,
farming cannot entirely depend upon rains. A large portion of the
cultivable land in India is not well irrigated and is dependent entirely
upon rains. As a result, when rain is late or inadequate, farmers incur
much loss. The loss is more acutely experienced by the small farmers.
Failure of rain means failure of crops and a total waste of efforts and
resources, both for the individual farmers and for the economy. To
avoid such situations, it is important for the entire cultivable area of
the country to be brought under the protective shield of proper
irrigation facilities. A well-irrigated land produces greater output. The
constant availability of water for irrigation provides a sense of stability

to the farmer, and also encourages him to practise newer farming

methods and patterns to maximise the productivity from his land.
Q.6: Why are the wages of the farm labourers in Palampur less than minimum
wages?
Ans: Farm labourers in the Palampur village come from the landless families
cultivating small plots of land. Dala is one such farm labourer. The minimum
wage fixed by the Government for a farm labourer is Rs. 115 per day but Dala is
paid only Rs. 80 a day. This is because of the fact that there is great competition
for work among the farm labourers of Palampur. Besides this, the use of
modern agricultural implements like tractors, threshers and harvesters
also reduces the amount of agricultural labour required. This further
intensifies the competition among the labourers looking for jobs. So
they themselves agree to work at much lower wages than what was fixed by the
Government.
Q.8: What are the different ways of increasing production on the same piece of
land? Use examples to explain.
Ans: The two most common ways of increasing the production are either by
multiple cropping or by adopting modern farming method. For example, many
farmers of Palampur village have adopted the process of multiple cropping to
increase their production from same piece of land. During the rainy (kharif)
season they grow jowar, bajra etc. which are used for cattle feeding. Between
October and December they cultivate potatoes. In winter (rabi) season they grow
wheat which is partly kept for family consumption and the surplus for selling.
The other way of increasing yield is by adopting modern farming
methods. Modern farming methods involve the use of high-yielding
variety seeds, irrigation, and chemical fertilisers and pesticides to
produce maximum output from the same piece of land. The highyielding varieties of seeds produce much greater amounts of grain on a
single plant than the traditional varieties. As a result, far larger
quantities of food grains can be produced from the same piece of land.
In this the way the farmers of Palampur increased their production by multiple
cropping.
Q.9: Describe the work of a farmer with 1 hectare of land.
Ans: A farmer who works in a farm of 1 hectare land has to face so many
problems:
>> A small farmer knows that he can not meet his both ends just by working on
such a small piece of land. So after working on his own field he has to work as a
labourer on the field of some big farmer for a petty amount of Rs. 80 per day.
>> Even to start cultivation his own land he has neither means nor money for
buying seeds, fertilizers, pesticides etc.
>> Being a very small farmer he does not have any equipment or working capital.
>> To arrange all these things he/she has to take a loan either from a large
farmer or a trader or a money lender at a hefty interest rate. Even after putting so

much labour there is always a chance for him to be trapped in a debt cycle which
will be always a big cause of tension for him.
Q.10: How do the medium and large farmers obtain capital for farming? How is it
different from the small farmers?
Ans: It is a fact that the small farmers with less than 2 hectares of land have to
face much more problems than the medium or large farmers. As compared to
small farmers, medium and large farmers can quite easily obtain capital for
farming. The reasons are several:
>> Large farmers have their own savings from farming which they had
accumulated year after year so they dont stand any need for taking loan from
any where.
>> Generally medium farmers also have their own savings to spend for the
improvement of their farms. But even if they need to borrow, the amount would
be small. Such farmers can go to Bank directly and wont face any difficulty in
getting a loan from the Bank which will be at a reasonable interest too. The
Banks feel happy to advance a loan to such farmers as they dont see any risk
because of the sound economic conditions of medium or large farmers.
Q.11: On what terms did Savita get a loan from Tejpal Singh? Would Savitas
condition be different if she could get a loan from the Bank at a low interest rate?
Ans: Savita required money for buying seeds, fertilisers and pesticides,
and water for irrigation. She also needed money for repairing her farm
instruments. So, she decided to borrow money from Tejpal Singh, a
large farmer in her village.
Tejpal Singh agreed to give the loan of Rs. 3000 at an interest rate of
24 per cent for four months. He also got her to agree to work on his
field during the harvest season for Rs. 80 a day. Knowing that it was
difficult for a small farmer like herself to get a loan, she agreed to
these
tough
conditions.
If she could get a loan from a bank, then her situation would definitely
have been different.
First of all, she would have got the loan at a reasonable rate of
interest.
Secondly, she would have been able to focus her entire attention on
her farm.
She would also have been able to devote more time to the needs of
her family members, especially those of her three children.
Q.14: What can be done so that more non-farm production activities can be
started in villages?
Ans: Three things that need to be done to encourage non-farm
production
activities
in
villages:
(i) The government should set up schemes whereby landless labourers
and small farmers are able to get cheap loans to start small

individual/community

businesses.

(ii) In addition to financial assistance, the government should set up

rural workshops to enable the villagers to build on their skill levels.
(iii) The government should also work towards improving the
infrastructure of villages so that the rural parts of the country are well
connected to the urban areas.
(iv) Proper orientation programs should be started by the govt. to
impart knowledge of some more non-farm activities and ways to start
it to make them self-dependent.
(v) To help families start such activities they may be provided the required
training, some financial help at a reasonable interest by Bank.

ASSIGNMENT Questions
Q.1: What are the factors of production (resources required for production)?
Ans: These are Land, Labour, Physical capital and Human capital. The Physical capital include:
(a) Fixed capital i.e. man-made items like tools, machineries, buildings etc. (b) Working capital i.e.
raw materials and money in hand.
Q.2: What is the main production activity in Palampur?
Ans: Farming is the main production activity in Palampur. Nearly 75 percent people of this village
depend on farming activities.
Q.3: What is multiple cropping?
Ans: To grow more than one crop on a piece of land during the same year is called as Multiple
cropping.
Q.4: Who are farm labourers?
Ans: Farm labourers are those villagers who belong to either landless families or families
cultivating small plots. Unlike farmers they have no right over the crops. They get only wages in
the form of cash or kind.
Q.5: What are the differences between multiple cropping and modern farming methods?
Ans: The two major ways of increasing production and production yield are Multiple cropping and
Modern farming methods. The difference between these two methods is Multiple Cropping: To grow more than one crop on a piece of land during the same year is called
as Multiple cropping. With the improvement of irrigational facilities as a result of better availability
of electricity, farmers are able to grow two main crops i.e. Kharif (rice, millets, maze etc.) and
Rabi crops (wheat, barley, etc.). Many farmers are also growing a third crop i.e. potato, in
between these two.
Modern Farming Methods: In some parts of the country like Punjab, Haryana etc. farmers have
increased their production by using modern scientific methods which include using High Yielding
Varity (HYV) of seeds, more fertilizers, pesticides, improved irrigation techniques and also timesaving heavy duty machineries like, threshers, tractors, harvesters etc.
Q.6: What is Kishoras fixed capital?
Ans: A buffalo and a wooden cart.

(The Story of Village Palampur)

(The Story of Village Palampur)

Answer the following questions:
Q.1: What are the factors of production (resources required for
Production)?
Q.2: What is the main production activity in Palampur?
Q.3: What is multiple cropping?
Q.4: Who are farm labourers?
Q.5: What are the differences between multiple cropping and
modern farming methods?
Q.6: What is Kishoras fixed capital?
Q.7: Would you agree that the distribution of cultivated land is
unequal in Palampur?
Q.8: What is Fixed capital?
Q.9: What is Working capital?
Q10:What are the main requirement for production (factors of
production) of goods and services?
Q11:Explain any four non-farming activities and give their
importance?
Q12:Why, now-a-days, we see more people engaged in various
non-farm activities in villages?
Q13.Farming is the main occupation of people in villages but
has resulted in increasing pressure on land. Justify?
Q14.Growth in agricultural sector has not been shifted to all
categories farmers equally. Justify the statement giving
suitable example.
Q15.What are the two main agricultural seasons in India?

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Explain by giving example?

Q16.Why is human capital an essential input for production of
goods and services?
Q17.How have modern farming methods led to loss of soil
fertility?

(The Story of Village Palampur)

Answer the following questions in one sentence only:
Q1. What is the main productive activity in India?
Q2. Write any four non-farm activities?
Q3. Write any two examples of fixed capital?
Q4. Write the names of the factor of production?
Q5. Of the total cultivated area in the country a little less than
.. per cent is irrigated even today.
Q6. When did the Green Revolution introduced in India?
Q7. Which crop is responsible for Green Revolution?
Q8. Which state was the first to introduce modern farming method in
India?
Q9. What is the minimum wages for a farm labour set by the government
Q10. Which is the major activity that people do in rural areas?
(The answers of the one sentence questions to be attempted by
students on their own)
*Note:- For reference only
Answer the following questions:

Ans 1 to Ans 6 already given in above.

Ans.7

Page 6, topic 4, 4th line

In Palampur, about.income to the farmer family.
(than last paragraph same page)
In Palampur, there are 60 families..10hactares or more.

Ans8.

Page 2, heading-Organisation of Production, 5th paragraph

Tools and machines rangefixed capital

Ans9.

Page 2, heading-Organisation of Production, 6th paragraph

Production requires a variety..these are used up in
production.

Ans10.

Page 2, heading-Organisation of Production, 2nd line

There are four.goods and services
1.
Land: The first requirement..minerals.
2.
labour: The second requirement..necessary for
production.
3.
Physical Capital: The third requirement..stage of
production.
a)
Tools, machines, building: Tools. Fixed
capital
b)
Raw materials, and money in hand:
Production ...are used up in production.
4.
Enterprise: There is a fourth requirement too. We
will need knowledge.either to use ourselves or
to.is called human capital.
The four non-farm activities are:
(Page 10, heading Non- Farm Activities in Palampur,
Point 1)
1. Dairy: Dairy is a common activity in many families.
People feed.the milk is sold in the nearby.village.
The traders from town chilling centres at nearby large
village where..and cities.
2. Small-scale manufacturing: Unlike the cities,
manufacturing in small villages involves..labourers
hired. For example people use mechanical sugarcane
crusher run on electricity. The also buys sugarcane from
other farmers and processes it into jaggery. The jaggery
is then sold to traders.
3. The shop keeping: The traders of small villages are
shopkeepers who..sell them in the village. Small

Ans11.

Ans 12.

Ans13.

Ans 14.

general.in village sell a wide range..They sell

eatables.
4. Transport: There are ..connecting small villages to
large villages. Rickshawallahs.last several years.
Sometimes people goes town with a load of jaggery or
other commodities.
Page 13, heading-summary, Last paragraph(make 5
points)
In the future, one.can set up non-farm activities. One
can either.in the coming years.
Page 13, heading-summary, first paragraph
1.
Farming.in the village.
2.
Over the ..is practiced.
3.
These haveamount of land.
4.
This is..and scarce.
5.
But in .other natural resources.
Page 13, heading-summary, second paragraph (Make
5 points)
The new ways..and their families.

Ans 15.
Kharif
1. The Kharif crop is the autumn harvest.
2. Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains
in July, during the south-west monsoon season.
3. The term Kharif means "autumn" in Arabic.
4. It is also known as the summer or monsoon crop
5. Example: Jawar, Bajra, Maize, Paddy, Cotton, etc.
Rabi
1.
The Rabi crop is the spring harvest.
2.
It usually span mid/late April to mid/late June, when the crop
is harvested.
3.
The term Rabi means "spring" in Arabic.
4.
It is also known as the "winter crop".
5.
Example: Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Sesame, Peas, etc.
Ans 16.
Enterprise plays a critical role in Production activities.
1.
Enterprise initiates the production process by investing in
assets.
2.
Enterprise combines all other factor of production viz. land,
labour and capital.
3.
They undertake risk involved in the production activities in
term of losses and manage production.
4.
They study market condition and put hard effort to boost
up the economy and lead to growth and development.

5.
Ans17.

Their entrepreneurial energy, creativity and motivation

trigger the production and sale of new products and
services.
Page 5, topic 3, second paragraph, 1st line(Make points)
In many areas.development of agriculture. So,
sustainable development is required.