The Story Of Village Palampur

Question 1

What are the factors of production?

Answer 1

The factors of production are Land, Labor, Capital, and Entrepreneurship.

Question 2

What is land as a factor of production?

Answer 2

Land is an immovable property used for agriculture, manufacturing, and service industries.

Question 3

What is labor as a factor of production?

Answer 3

Labor refers to human effort used in production, including primary, secondary, and tertiary sectors.

Question 4

What is capital as a factor of production?

Answer 4

Capital is the amount of money or assets invested in a business.

Question 5

What is working capital?

Answer 5

Working capital includes raw materials, money, and cash in hand or in the bank.

Question 6

What is fixed capital?

Answer 6

Fixed capital consists of assets that can be used in production for many years, such as land, buildings, and machinery.

Question 7

What is multiple cropping?

Answer 7

Multiple cropping is growing more than one crop on the same piece of land in a year.

Question 8

What are HYV seeds?

Answer 8

HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds are specially developed seeds that produce higher crop yields.

Question 9

What was the Green Revolution?

Answer 9

The Green Revolution (1965-1970) was a period when crop production increased significantly due to government and farmer efforts.

Question 10

What are non-farm activities?

Answer 10

Non-farm activities are activities not related to farming, such as small businesses, dairy farming, and transportation services.

Question 11

Do modern farming methods require more input which are manufactured in industry?

Answer 11

Yes, modern farming methods require more input which are manufactured in industry. The input requirements include chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yield variety (HYV) seeds, all of which require capital.

Question 12

How did the spread of electricity help farmers in Palampur?

Answer 12

Electricity helped farmers in Palampur to run tube wells and pump sets for irrigation, allowing them to grow crops even during the non-rainy season. It also enabled the use of machines like sugarcane crushers and supported various small businesses.

Question 13

Is it important to increase the area under irrigation?

Answer 13

Yes, it is important to increase the area under irrigation because:

• Agricultural land can be used during the off-rainy season.
• Crop losses can be avoided due to low or insufficient rainfall during the monsoon.
• Irrigation helps retain soil fertility for longer use.

Question 14

Why are the wages per farm laborer in Palampur less than the minimum wages?

Answer 14

The wages per farm labourer in Palampur are lower than the minimum wages because:

• There is heavy competition for work among farm labourers.
• The number of job seekers is higher than the available jobs.
• Although the government set the minimum wage at Rs.300 per day, labourers were actually receiving only Rs.160 per day. Minimum Wages Act (March 2017)

Question 15

What are the different ways of increasing production on the same piece of land? Use examples to explain.

Answer 15

The different ways of increasing production on the same piece of land are:

1. Modern Farming Methods – These help in increasing the yield of the land by using:
   * High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds
   * Pesticides
   * Chemical fertilizers

Example: Farmers using HYV seeds and chemical fertilizers can grow more crops in the same area.

2. Multiple Cropping – More than one crop is grown on a single piece of land in a year, increasing production.

Example: Wheat, bajra, and potato can be grown on the same land in different seasons and climates.

Question 16

Describe the work of a farmer with one hectare of land.

Answer 16

The work of a farmer with one hectare of land includes:

1. Ploughing the field using oxen or hiring tractors.
2. Sowing seeds in the ploughed land.
3. Spraying insecticides regularly to protect the crop from insects.
4. Irrigating the land when required.
5. Harvesting the crop when it matures.
6. Storing the crop if it is for self-consumption or selling it in the market at prevailing prices.
7. Since a farmer with one hectare of land is considered a small farmer, traditional farming methods are usually used, and machines may be hired when needed.

Question 17

How do medium and large farmers obtain capital for farming? How is this different from small farmers?

Answer 17

Medium and large farmers obtain capital for farming from their surplus income from agriculture. Since they are financially stable, they can easily get loans from cooperative and rural development banks at lower interest rates.

In contrast, small farmers depend on loans from big farmers and moneylenders at higher interest rates, often leading them into debt and poverty.

Question 18

What are the non-production activities that take place around us?

Answer 18

Non-production activities include dairy farming, tailoring, priesthood, money lending, beekeeping, carpentry, and small shopkeeping.

Three features of non-farming activities:

1. They create new jobs.
2. They help in earning income.
3. They contribute to the production of goods and services.

Question 19

What can be done so that more non-farm production activities can be started in villages?

Answer 19

• Regular electricity supply to support small-scale industries.
• Setting up schools and colleges to educate the rural population and make them employable.
• Introducing vocational courses like electrician, plumbing, and carpentry to help people take up non-farm jobs.
• Providing computer training to help villagers learn new technologies.
• Improving road and rail infrastructure to facilitate the transport of raw materials and finished goods.
• Connecting villages with all-weather roads to ensure better access to nearby towns.

Question 20

What is physical capital? What are its different types?

Answer 20

Physical capital refers to the tools, machines, buildings, and materials used to produce goods and services. It is one of the key factors of production, along with land, labor, and human capital.

Types of Physical Capital:
1. Fixed Capital – Long-term assets like machines, tractors, tools, and buildings that are used for many years.
2. Working Capital – Raw materials (like seeds, fertilizers) and money needed for daily production activities.

Example: A farmer’s tractor (fixed capital) helps plow the field every season, while seeds and fertilizers (working capital) are used for each crop cycle.

Question 21

Distinguish between fixed capital, working capital, and human capital.

Answer 21

Fixed capital:

Includes tools, machines, and buildings that can be used for production over many years.

It cannot be changed or built in a short period of time.

Working capital:

Includes factors of production like raw materials and money used in production.

It can be changed or built in a short period.

Human capital:

Refers to trained and skilled people who organize and use land, capital, and other resources.

It can only be built in the long run through education and training.

Question 22

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Green Revolution?

Answer 22

Advantages (Merits) of the Green Revolution:

1. HYV seeds produce a much greater amount of grains compared to normal seeds.
2. It has increased production on the same land.
3. Larger quantities of food grains are produced compared to earlier times.

Disadvantages (Demerits) of the Green Revolution:

1. Poor farmers cannot afford HYV seeds, fertilizers, and machinery, leading to heavy debts.
2. HYV seeds require more fertilizers and water, which are expensive.
3. It was limited to crops like rice and wheat.
4. The introduction of new machines replaced laborers, leading to unemployment.

Question 23

Why are farm laborers considered poor?

Answer 23

Farm laborers are considered poor because:

1. They are generally landless.
2. They have no permanent jobs.
3. They have to look for work daily.
4. They often have large families to support.
5. They are illiterate, unhealthy, and unskilled.
6. They are not paid the minimum wages they deserve.

Question 24

Define Green Revolution.

Answer 24

The Green Revolution refers to the significant increase in agricultural production after 1967-68 due to the adoption of modern farming techniques. It involved the introduction of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and improved irrigation methods. These advancements helped boost crop production and make countries like India self-sufficient in food grain production. The Green Revolution was introduced in India by the Indian government, with the help of Dr. Norman Borlaug, who brought high-yielding wheat varieties. M.S. Swaminathan and his team also contributed to its success. The Green Revolution was mainly implemented in Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

Question 25

Differentiate Between Green Revolution and Traditional Farming

Answer 25

The Green Revolution uses HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and modern irrigation methods, along with machines like tractors for large-scale production. In contrast, traditional farming relies on natural seeds, organic fertilizers like manure, and depends mainly on rainfall. 1. Before the mid-1960s, farmers used traditional seeds that had relatively low yields. 2. These seeds required less irrigation compared to modern ones. 3. Farmers used natural fertilizers like cow dung and manure, which were easily available and did not need to be purchased. 4. The Green Revolution in the late 1960s introduced HYV (High-Yielding Variety) seeds for wheat and rice cultivation. 5. HYV seeds had the potential to produce much greater amounts of grain per plant. 6. As a result, the same piece of land could now produce a significantly larger quantity of food grains than before. 7. HYV seeds, however, required plenty of water for irrigation. 8. They also needed chemical fertilizers and pesticides to maximize yields. 9. This led to increased dependence on modern agricultural inputs.