Chapter 1: The Story of Village Palampur - NCERT Solutions
Exercises
Q1. Every village in India is surveyed once in ten years during the Census and some of details are presented in the following format. Fill up the following based on information on Palampur.
Answer - a. LOCATION: Western part of Uttar Pradesh
b. TOTAL AREA OF THE VILLAGE: 226 hectares
c. LAND USE (in hectares):
• Cultivated Land: 200 hectares
• Irrigated: 200 hectares (all cultivated land is irrigated)
• Unirrigated: 0 hectares
• Land not available for cultivation (Area covering dwellings, roads, ponds, grazing ground): 26 hectares
d. FACILITIES:
• Educational: Two primary schools and one high school
• Medical: One primary health centre and one private dispensary
• Market: Raiganj (big village, 3 km away) with markets
• Electricity Supply: Available to all houses and used in tube wells
• Communication: Good roads, transport services like bullock carts, tongas, bogeys, motorcycles, jeeps, tractors
• Nearest Town: Shahpur
b. TOTAL AREA OF THE VILLAGE: 226 hectares
c. LAND USE (in hectares):
• Cultivated Land: 200 hectares
• Irrigated: 200 hectares (all cultivated land is irrigated)
• Unirrigated: 0 hectares
• Land not available for cultivation (Area covering dwellings, roads, ponds, grazing ground): 26 hectares
d. FACILITIES:
• Educational: Two primary schools and one high school
• Medical: One primary health centre and one private dispensary
• Market: Raiganj (big village, 3 km away) with markets
• Electricity Supply: Available to all houses and used in tube wells
• Communication: Good roads, transport services like bullock carts, tongas, bogeys, motorcycles, jeeps, tractors
• Nearest Town: Shahpur
Q2. Modern farming methods require more inputs which are manufactured in industry. Do you agree?
Answer - Yes, I agree. Modern farming methods require chemical fertilizers, pesticides, HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds, and farm machinery like tractors and threshers. All these inputs are manufactured in industries and are essential for increasing agricultural productivity.
Q3. How did the spread of electricity help farmers in Palampur?
Answer - Electricity helped farmers in Palampur by powering tube wells for irrigation. This allowed them to irrigate larger areas more efficiently and practice modern farming methods, which increased agricultural production.
Q4. Is it important to increase the area under irrigation? Why?
Answer - Yes, it is important to increase the area under irrigation because it ensures a reliable water supply to crops. This helps in growing multiple crops in a year, increases food production, and reduces dependency on rainfall.
Q5. Construct a table on the distribution of land among the 450 families of Palampur.
Answer -
| Category of Farmers | Number of Families |
|---|---|
| Landless families | 150 families |
| Small farmers (less than 2 hectares) | 240 families |
| Medium and large farmers | 60 families |
Q6. Why are the wages for farm labourers in Palampur less than minimum wages?
Answer - The wages are less than the minimum wage because there is more supply of labourers than demand for work. Farm labourers are often landless and have no other source of income, so they are forced to accept lower wages.
Q7. In your region, talk to two labourers. Choose either farm labourers or labourers working at construction sites. What wages do they get? Are they paid in cash or kind? Do they get work regularly? Are they in debt?
Answer - Answer not available as it depends on local survey and field interaction. Please conduct this activity in your region to gather accurate data.
Q8. What are the different ways of increasing production on the same piece of land? Use examples to explain.
Answer - The different ways of increasing production on the same piece of land are:
1. Multiple Cropping: Growing more than one crop on the same land during a year.
Example: In Palampur, farmers grow jowar and bajra in the rainy season, followed by potatoes in winter, and wheat in the spring season.
2. Modern Farming Methods: Using High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and farm machinery.
These methods increase yield per hectare.
3. Efficient Irrigation: Using electric tube wells and proper irrigation systems to ensure timely water supply.
This allows crops to grow better and enables multiple cropping.
1. Multiple Cropping: Growing more than one crop on the same land during a year.
Example: In Palampur, farmers grow jowar and bajra in the rainy season, followed by potatoes in winter, and wheat in the spring season.
2. Modern Farming Methods: Using High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and farm machinery.
These methods increase yield per hectare.
3. Efficient Irrigation: Using electric tube wells and proper irrigation systems to ensure timely water supply.
This allows crops to grow better and enables multiple cropping.
Q9. Describe the work of a farmer with 1 hectare of land.
Answer - A farmer with 1 hectare of land is considered a small farmer. He:
- Grows crops mainly for his family's use.
- May not produce surplus to sell in the market.
- Faces difficulty in buying inputs like HYV seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides.
- Often takes loans from large farmers or moneylenders at high interest rates.
Q10. How do the medium and large farmers obtain capital for farming? How is it different from the small farmers?
Answer - Medium and large farmers use their own savings or earnings from the sale of farm produce to invest in farming. They can also get loans from banks. In contrast, small farmers borrow money from local lenders at high interest rates, which often puts them in debt.
Q11. On what terms did Savita get a loan from Tajpal Singh? Would Savita’s condition be different if she could get a loan from the bank at a low rate of interest?
Answer - Savita got a loan from Tajpal Singh at a high interest rate and had to repay after the harvest. If she got a loan from a bank at a low interest rate, her financial burden would reduce, and she could avoid falling into a debt trap.
Q12. Talk to some old residents in your region and write a short report on the changes in irrigation and changes in production methods during the last 30 years. (Optional)
Answer - Answer not available as it requires a local survey. Please speak to old residents in your area to complete this activity.
Q13. What are the non-farm production activities taking place in your region? Make a short list.
Answer - Answer not available as it depends on your local area. Common non-farm activities include shopkeeping, dairy, transportation, tailoring, etc.
Q14. What can be done so that more non-farm production activities can be started in villages?
Answer - To promote more non-farm activities in villages, the following steps can be taken:
1. Easy Credit: Provide low-interest loans through banks to help villagers start small businesses.
2. Skill Development: Offer training programs for youth in trades like carpentry, tailoring, computer skills, etc.
3. Infrastructure: Improve roads, electricity, and internet connectivity.
4. Market Access: Create local markets and connect villages to nearby towns for better sale opportunities.
5. Government Support: Launch schemes to support dairy farming, poultry, and other micro-industries.
1. Easy Credit: Provide low-interest loans through banks to help villagers start small businesses.
2. Skill Development: Offer training programs for youth in trades like carpentry, tailoring, computer skills, etc.
3. Infrastructure: Improve roads, electricity, and internet connectivity.
4. Market Access: Create local markets and connect villages to nearby towns for better sale opportunities.
5. Government Support: Launch schemes to support dairy farming, poultry, and other micro-industries.