“IMPROVEMENT IN FOOD RESOURCES”
The following will provide you with a lot of interesting
topics thus these NCERT Solutions will be useful in understanding in depth
concepts well. You will develop the ability to identify what improvements and
changes need to be made. It will also help nurture the interests and inherent
talents of the students.
5.
THE
FUNDAMENTAL UNIT OF LIFE
6.
TISSUES
7.
MOTION
9.
GRAVITATION
10.
WORK
AND ENERGY
11.
SOUND
12.
IMPROVEMENT
IN FOOD RESOURCES
Q/A Begins here…..
1. What do we get from cereals,
pulses, fruits and vegetables?
Answer:
ü Cereals provide us with
carbohydrates. Also, they are a rich source of energy.
ü Pulses give us proteins.
ü Fruits and vegetables are a rich
source of vitamins and minerals. A small amount of proteins, carbohydrates, and
fats are also present in them.
2. How do biotic and abiotic factors
affect crop production?
Answer:
Biotic factors such as pests, insects and diseases reduce the crop production.
A pest causes damage to our crops by feeding. Weeds also reduce crop
productivity by competing with the main crop for nutrients and light.
Similarly, abiotic factors such as temperature, wind, rain etc. affect the net
crop production. For example droughts and floods have a great impact on crops
sometimes, destroying the entire crop.
3. What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements?
Answer:
The desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements are:
* Tallness and profuse branching in any fodder crop.
* Dwarfness in cereals.
4. What are macro-nutrients and why are they called
macro-nutrients?
Answer:
Macro-nutrients are those nutrients which are required in large quantities for
growth and development of plants. Since they are required in large quantities,
they are known as macro-nutrient. The six macro-nutrients required by plants
are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and Sulphur.
5. How do plants get nutrients?
Answer:
Plants get nutrients from air, water, and soil. Soil is the major source of
nutrients. Thirteen of these nutrients are available from soil. The remaining
three nutrients (carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen) are obtained from air and water.
6.
Compare the use of manure and fertilizers in maintaining soil fertility.
Answer:
Manures increase soil fertility by enriching the soil with
organic matter and nutrients as it is prepared by the decomposition of animal
excreta and plant wastes. On the other hand, fertilizers are mostly inorganic
compounds whose excessive use is harmful to the symbiotic micro-organisms
living in soil. Their excessive use also reduces soil fertility. Hence,
fertilizers are considered good for only short-term use.
7. Which of the following conditions will give the most
benefits? Why?
(a) Farmers use high-quality seeds, do not adopt irrigation or use fertilizers.
(b) Farmers use ordinary seeds, adopt irrigation and use fertilizer.
(c) Farmers use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop
protection measures.
Answer:
(c) Farmers using good quality seeds, adopting irrigation,
using fertilizers, and using crop protection measures will derive most
benefits.
*The use of good quality seeds increases the total crop production. If a farmer
is using good quality seeds, then a majority of the seeds will germinate
properly, and will grow into a healthy plant.
*Proper irrigation methods improve the water availability to
crops.
*Fertilizers ensure healthy growth and development in plants
by providing the essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
etc.
*Crop protection measures include various methods to control weeds, pests, and
infectious agents. If all these necessary measures are taken by a farmer, then
the overall production of crops will increase.
8. Why should preventive measures and biological control methods be preferred
for protecting crops?
Answer:
Preventive measures and biological control methods should be preferred for
protecting crops because excessive use of chemicals leads to environmental
problems. Biological methods cause harm neither to crop nor to the environment.
9. What factors may be responsible for losses of grains during storage?
Answer:
Factors causing loss of grains during storage:
*Biotic Factors: Insects, rodents, fungi and bacteria etc.
* Abiotic Factors: Moisture Content and Temprature etc.
10. Which method is commonly used for
improving cattle breeds and why?
Answer:
Cross Breeding is commonly used for improving cattle breeds.Cross breeding
between two good varieties of cattle will produce a new improved variety. For
example, the cross between foreign breeds such as Jersey Brown, Swiss and
Indian breeds such as Red Sindhi, Sahiwal produces a new variety having
qualities of both breeds.
11. Discuss the implications of the following statement:
"It is interesting to note that poultry is India's most
efficient converter of low fibre food stuff (which is unfit for human
consumption) into highly nutritious animal protein food."
Answer:
Poultry in India is the most efficient converter of low fibre food stuff into
highly nutritious animal protein food. In poultry farming, domestic fowls are
raised to produce eggs and chicken. For this, the fowls are given animal feeds
in the form of roughage, which mainly consists of fibres. Thus, by feeding
animals a fibre rich diet, the poultry gives highly nutritious food in the form
of eggs and chicken.
12. What management practices are common in dairy and poultry farming?
Answer:
Common management practices in dairy and poultry farming are:
* Proper shelter facilities and their
regular cleaning.
* Some basic hygienic conditions such
as clean water, nutritious food, etc.
* Animals are kept in spacious, airy, and ventilated place.
* Prevention and cure of diseases at the right time is ensured.
13. What are the differences between broilers and layers and in their
management?
Answer:
Layers are meant for egg production, whereas broilers are meant for poultry
meat. Nutritional, environmental, and housing conditions required by broilers
are different from those required by egg layers. A broiler chicken, for their
proper growth, requires vitamin rich supplements especially vitamin A and K. Also,
their diet includes protein rich food and enough fat. They also require extra
care and maintenance to increase their survival rate in comparison to egg
layers.
14. How are fish obtained?
Answer:
Fish can be obtained by two ways:
* Capture fishing: It is the process of obtaining fish from natural resources.
* Culture fishery: It is the practice of farming fishes. Farming can be done in
both freshwater ecosystem
(which includes river water, pond
water) and marine ecosystem.
15. What are the desirable characters of bee varieties suitable for honey
production?
Answer:
Bee varieties having the following desirable characters are suitable for honey
production:
*They should yield high quantity of honey.
* They should not sting much.
* They should stay in the beehive for long durations.
* They should breed very well.
16. What are the advantages of composite fish culture?
Answer:
The advantages of composite fish culture are: → Fish can be grown in crop
fields especially paddy.
Ø Intensive Fish farming is possible
because plenty of water is available during crop seasons.
Ø In this system both local and
imported fish species can be cultivated
17. What is pasturage and how is it related to honey
production?
Answer:
Pasturage is the availability of flowers from which bees collect nectar and
pollen. It is related to the production of honey as it determines the taste and
quantity of honey.
Exercise Q/A…
1. Explain any one method of crop production which ensures high yield.
Answer:
Inter cropping is a method of crop production which ensures high yield. It is a
practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously. in the same field in
rows. In inter cropping definite row patterns are followed such as one row of
main crop of is followed by two row of intercrop.
In inter cropping there is greater utilisation of the interspaced area, light,
nutrients, water and air. As a result productivity per unit area increased.
2. Why are manures and fertilizers used in fields?
Answer:
Manures and fertilizers are used in fields to enrich the soil with the required
nutrients. Manure helps in enriching the soil with organic matter and
nutrients. This improves the fertility and structure of the soil. On the other
hand, fertilizers ensure a healthy growth and development in plants. They are a
good source of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. To get an optimum yield, it
is instructed to use a balanced combination of manures and fertilizers in the
soil.
3. What are the advantages of inter-cropping and crop rotation?
Answer:
Inter-cropping and crop rotation both are used to get maximum benefit on
limited land. Inter-cropping helps in preventing pests and diseases to spread
throughout the field. It also increases soil fertility, whereas crop rotation
prevents soil depletion, increases soil fertility, and reduces soil erosion.
Both these methods reduce the need for fertilizers. It also helps in
controlling weeds and controls the growth of pathogens and pests in crops.
4. What is genetic manipulation? How is it useful in agricultural practices?
Answer:
Genetic manipulation is a process where the gene for a particular character is
introduced inside the chromosome of a cell. When the gene for a particular
character is introduced in a plant cell, a transgenic plant is produced. These
transgenic plants exhibit characters governed by the newly introduced gene.
Genetic manipulation is useful in developing verities with Higher yield, Good
Quality, Biotic and Abiotic resistance, short maturity period, wider
adaptability and desirable agronomic characteristics
5. How do storage grain losses occur?
Answer:
There are various biotic and abiotic factors that act on stored grains and
result in degradation, poor germinability, discoloration, etc.
Biotic factors include insects or pests that cause direct
damage by feeding on seeds. They also deteriorate and contaminate the grain,
making it unfit for further consumption.
Abiotic factors such as temperature, light, moisture, etc.,
also affect the seed. They decrease the germinating ability of the seeds and
make them unfit for future use by farmers. Unpredictable occurrence of natural
calamities such as droughts and floods also causes destruction of crops.
6. How do good animal husbandry practices benefit farmers?
Answer:
Cattle farming is one of the methods of animal husbandry that is most
beneficial for farmers. Using this method, better breeds of draught animals can
be produced. Such draught animals are engaged in agricultural fields for labour
work such as carting, irrigation, tilling, etc.
7. What are the benefits of cattle farming?
Answer:
Benefits of cattle farming:
Ø Good quality and quantity of milk can be
produced.
Ø Draught labour animals can be produced for
agricultural work.
Ø New variety that are resistant to diseases can
be produced by crossing two varieties with the desired traits.
8. For increasing production, what is common in poultry,
fisheries and bee-keeping?
Answer:
The common factor for increasing production in poultry,
fisheries, and bee keeping is the proper management techniques that are to be
followed. Regular cleaning of farms is of utmost importance. Maintenance of
temperature and prevention and cure of diseases is also required to increase
the number of animals.
9. How do you differentiate between capture fishing, mariculture and
aquaculture?
Answer:
Ø Capture fishing the method of
obtaining fishes from natural resources
Ø Mariculture is the culture of marine
fishes for commercial use.
Ø Aquaculture involves the production
of aquatic animals that are of high economic value such as prawns, lobsters,
fishes, crabs, etc.
Keywords:
|
Food resources Sustainable agriculture Crop improvement Soil fertility Irrigation techniques Fertilizers Pest management Hybrid crops
|
Organic farming Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) Animal husbandry Fish farming (Aquaculture) Nutrient management Water conservation Green Revolution
|
What you have learnt
ü There are several nutrients essential
for crops. Of these, some are required in large quantities and are known as
macro-nutrients whereas rest of the nutrients are required in small quantities
and are known as micro-nutrients.
ü Manure and fertilizers are the main
sources of nutrient supply to crops.
ü Organic farming is a farming system
with minimal or no use of chemicals as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides etc.
and with a maximum input of organic manures, recycled farm wastes, and
bio-agents, with healthy cropping systems.
ü Mixed farming is a system of farming
on a particular farm which includes crop production, raising of livestock etc.
ü Mixed cropping is growing of two or
more crops simultaneously on the same piece of land.
ü Growing two or more crops in definite
row patterns is known as inter cropping.
ü The growing of different crops on a
piece of land in pre-planned succession is called crop rotation.
ü Varietal improvement is required for
higher yield, good quality, biotic and abiotic resistance, shortening the
maturity duration, wider adaptability and desirable agronomic characteristics.
ü Farm animals require proper care and
management such as shelter, feeding, breeding and disease control. This is
called animal husbandry.
ü Poultry farming is done to raise
domestic fowls. Poultry production includes egg production and broiler
production for poultry meat.
ü To enhance poultry production, cross
breeding is done between Indian and exotic breeds for variety improvement.
ü Fish may be obtained from marine
resources as well as inland resources.
ü To increase production of fish, they
can be cultured in marine and inland ecosystems.
ü Marine fish capture is done by
fishing nets guided by echo-sounders and satellites.
ü Composite fish culture system is
commonly used for fish farming.
ü Bee-keeping is done to get honey and
wax.
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FAQ on Improvement in Food Resources
Q1. What does "improvement in food resources" mean?
Answer:
Improvement in food resources refers to various methods and
practices aimed at increasing the quantity and quality of food produced. This
involves better crop production, efficient water usage, enhanced soil
fertility, and sustainable farming techniques to meet the growing food demands
while protecting the environment.
Q2. Why is sustainable agriculture important?
Answer:
Sustainable agriculture is important because it allows
farmers to grow food without harming the environment or depleting natural
resources. It focuses on balancing food production with long-term soil health,
water conservation, and biodiversity, ensuring that future generations can also
benefit from these resources.
Q3. How do fertilizers help in improving food resources?
Answer:
Fertilizers provide essential nutrients like nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium to plants, helping them grow healthier and produce
higher yields. However, the proper use of fertilizers is important to avoid
soil degradation and pollution of water bodies.
Q4. What are hybrid crops, and how do they contribute to food
improvement?
Answer:
Hybrid crops are developed by crossbreeding two different
plant varieties to create a new one with desirable traits, such as better
yield, resistance to diseases, and tolerance to harsh conditions. These crops
help in improving food security by increasing productivity.
Q5. What is the role of pest management in agriculture?
Answer:
Pest management involves controlling harmful insects, weeds,
and diseases that can damage crops. Effective pest management ensures that
crops remain healthy, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and promoting
safer, more sustainable farming practices.
Q6. What is organic farming, and why is it gaining
popularity?
Answer:
Organic farming avoids synthetic chemicals like pesticides
and fertilizers, focusing on natural methods such as composting, crop rotation,
and biological pest control. It’s becoming popular because it promotes
healthier food, improves soil quality, and reduces environmental impact.
Q7. How does animal husbandry contribute to improving food
resources?
Answer:
Animal husbandry refers to the care and breeding of livestock
for products like milk, meat, and wool. Through better breeding techniques,
proper nutrition, and healthcare, farmers can improve the quality and quantity
of animal-based food products.
Q8. What is the Green Revolution, and how did it impact food
production?
Answer:
The Green Revolution was a period during the mid-20th century
when new farming techniques, high-yield crop varieties, and advanced technology
were introduced. It significantly increased food production, especially in
developing countries, helping to reduce hunger.
Q9. How does water conservation fit into improving food
resources?
Answer:
Water is a critical resource for farming. Conservation
methods such as drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting, and efficient irrigation
systems help reduce water waste and ensure that crops receive adequate water
without depleting local water sources.
Q10. What are genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and are
they safe?
Answer:
GMOs are plants or animals that have been altered at the
genetic level to improve certain traits, such as resistance to pests or better
nutritional content. They can help improve food production, but their safety
and environmental impact are often debated. Most scientific research supports
their safety when used appropriately.
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