Agriculture Class 10 – Complete Notes, NCERT Solutions & CBSE 2025 Guide

 

Agriculture is a key chapter in Class 10 Social Science and is covered as Chapter 4 in the Geography textbook. With the CBSE 2024-25 Board Exams approaching, students need to be well-prepared for this important topic.

In this blog post, you'll find comprehensive and easy-to-understand notes on Agriculture – Class 10, carefully crafted as per the latest revised CBSE syllabus (2024-25). These notes have been prepared by subject experts and cover all the major concepts, definitions, and exam-relevant points.

Students are encouraged to go through these notes thoroughly and use them as a reliable resource for revision and practice. Following this guide will not only strengthen your understanding but also boost your confidence to excel in the exam.

Don’t wait—start preparing now and take a big step toward acing your Class 10 Geography paper!

 

Agriculture Class 10 Notes

Subject	Social Science (Geography)
Class	10
Board	CBSE and State Boards
Chapter No.	4
Chapter Name	Agriculture
Type	Notes
Session	2024-25
Weightage	05 marks

Table of Contents

• Types of Farming

·       1. Primitive Subsistence Farming

·       2. Intensive Subsistence Farming

·       3. Commercial Farming

• Cropping Pattern
• Major Crops

·       1. Rice

·       2. Wheat

·       3. Millets

·       4. Maize

·       5. Pulses

·       6. Sugarcane

·       7. Oil Seeds

·       8. Tea

·       9. Coffee

·       10. Horticulture Crops

·       11. Rubber

·       Fiber Crops

·       12. Cotton

·       13. Jute

• Technological and Institutional Reforms

·       Institutional reforms

·       Technological reforms

• Bhoodan and Gramdan

Agriculture is the mainstay of India due to the following reasons:

• Two-thirds of the population is engaged in agricultural activities.
• An age-old economic activity of India.
• Agriculture is a primary activity, which produces most of the food that we consume.
• Besides food grains, it also produces raw materials for various industries.
• Some agricultural products like tea, coffee, spices, etc., are also exported.

Types of Farming

1. Primitive Subsistence Farming

The characteristics of primitive subsistence farming are:

• In this type of farming, farmers grow crops for self-consumption.
• It is practiced on small patches of land.
• Farmers use primitive tools like hoe, dao, digging sticks, etc.
• Completely depends upon monsoon, natural fertility of the soil, and suitability of other environmental conditions for the crops grown.
• Only family labor is used for farming.
• Land productivity is low.
• It is also known as slash-and-burn agriculture.

Slash and Burn Agriculture: Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their families. When the soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation. This type of shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the soil through natural processes. Land productivity in this type of agriculture is low as the farmer does not use fertilizers or other modern inputs.

It is known by different names in different parts of India:

• Jhumming in north-eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
• Pamlou in Manipur
• Dipa in Bastar district of Chattishgarh and in Andaman and Nicobar islands.

Slash-and-burn farming or shifting agriculture is known by different names in different countries

• Mexico and Central America – Milpa
• Venzuela – Conuco
• Brazil – Roca
• Vietnam – Ray
• Central Africa – Masole.

2. Intensive Subsistence Farming

This type of farming is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land. It is labor-intensive farming, where high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used to obtain higher production.

The ‘right of inheritance’ leading to the division of land among successive generations has rendered land-holding size uneconomical.

3. Commercial Farming

The main characteristic of this type of farming is the use of higher doses of modern inputs, e.g. high yielding variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides in order to obtain higher productivity.

Plantation: The plantation is a type of commercial farming. In this type of farming, a single crop is grown on a large area using capital-intensive inputs, with the help of migrant laborers.

Examples: Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, etc.

Characteristics of plantation farming:

• Plantations have very large areas.
• Capital-intensive inputs are used.
• Migrant labor is used.
• It is done mainly for the market. The sole aim is to earn profit.
• It has an interface between agriculture and industry.
• All the produce is used as raw material in respective industries.

Cropping Pattern

India has three cropping seasons — rabi, kharif, and zaid.

• Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June. Wheat, barley, peas, gram, etc. are the main rabi crops.
• Kharif crops are sown with the onset of monsoon in June-July and harvested in September-October. Rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur, moong, cotton, jute, groundnut, etc. are the main kharif crops.
• In between the rabi and the kharif seasons, there is a short season during the summer months known as the Zaid season. Some of the crops of this season are watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, and fodder crops.

Major Crops

Food Crops	Non-food Crops
Rice, Wheat, Millets, Maize, Pulses, Sugarcane, Oilseeds, Tea, Coffee, Horticulture Crops	Rubber, Cotton, Jute

1. Rice

Rice is the staple food crop of a majority of people in India.

Growing conditions required for rice are:

• Temperature: High temperature (above 25°C).
• Rainfall: High humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
• Agricultural season: Kharif crop
• Major producing areas: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh.

2. Wheat

Wheat is the second staple food crop of a majority of people in India.

Growing conditions required for wheat are:

• Temperature: It requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
• Rainfall: 50-75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed over the growing season.
• Agricultural season: Rabi crop
• Major producing areas: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan.

There are two important wheat-growing zones in the country – the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and the black soil region of the Deccan.

3. Millets

Jowar, bajra, and ragi are the important millets grown in India. Though these are known as coarse grains, they have very high nutritional value.

Jowar: Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production. It is a rain-fed crop mostly grown in moist areas which hardly needs irrigation. The major Jowar-producing States are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

Bajra: Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil. Major Bajra-producing States are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana.

Ragi: Ragi is a crop of dry regions and grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy, and shallow black soils. Major ragi-producing states are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jharkhand, and Arunachal Pradesh. Ragi is very rich in iron, calcium, other micronutrients, and roughage.

4. Maize

It is a crop which is used both as food and fodder. It is a kharif crop that requires a temperature between 21°C to 27°C and grows well in old alluvial soil.

Major maize-producing states are Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

5. Pulses

• A major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
• Pulses need less moisture and survive even in dry conditions.
• Pulses are mostly grown in rotation with other crops because pulses being leguminous crops help restore soil fertility (except arhar) by fixing nitrogen from the air.
• Major pulse-producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.

6. Sugarcane

• Sugarcane grows well in a hot and humid climate
• Requires a temperature of 21°C to 27°C
• Needs annual rainfall between 75cm and 100cm
• Irrigation is required in regions of low rainfall.
• It can be grown on a variety of soils and needs manual labor from sowing to harvesting. All these conditions are available in Uttar Pradesh.
• It is the main source of sugar, gur (jaggary), khandsari, and molasses.
• The major sugarcane-producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

7. Oil Seeds

Major oil seeds produced in India are :

• Groundnut
• Mustard
• Coconut
• Sesamum (til)
• Soyabean
• Castor seeds

The importance of oilseeds are:

• Most of the oilseeds are edible and used as cooking mediums.
• Used as raw materials in the production of soap, cosmetics, and ointments.

The importance of groundnut are:

• Most of the oilseeds are edible and used as cooking mediums.
• Used as raw materials in the production of soap, cosmetics, and ointments.

8. Tea

Geographical conditions needed for the cultivation of tea are:

• Tea grows well in tropical and sub-tropical climates endowed with deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
• Tea bushes require a warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year.
• Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.

Two major tea-producing states are Assam and West Bengal (hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts).

9. Coffee

The Arabica variety initially brought from Yemen is produced in the country. This variety is in great demand all over the world.

Initially, its cultivation was introduced in the Baba Budan Hills and even today its cultivation is confined to the Nilgiri in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

10. Horticulture Crops

In 2018, India was the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world after China. India is a producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits.

11. Rubber

• Rubber is an important raw material for industries.
• Geographical conditions: It is an equatorial crop. It requires a moist and humid climate with rainfall of more than 200 cm and temperature above 25°C.
• Two rubber-producing states are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, etc.

Fiber Crops

• Cotton, jute, hemp, and natural silk are the four major fiber crops grown in India.
• The first three are derived from the crops grown in the soil, the latter is obtained from cocoons of the silkworms fed on green leaves, especially mulberry.
• The rearing of silkworms for the production of silk fiber is known as sericulture.

12. Cotton

The geographical conditions required to grow cotton are:

• Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan plateau.
• It requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost-free days, and bright sun-shine for its growth.
• It is a kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature.
• Major cotton-producing states are – Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, etc.

13. Jute

The geographical conditions required to grow jute (also known as golden fiber) are:

• Grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains where soils are renewed every year.
• High temperature is required during the time of growth.

It is used in making:

• Gunny bags
• Mats
• Ropes
• Yarn
• Carpets, etc.

Technological and Institutional Reforms

We need technical and institutional reforms in agriculture because:

1. Sustained uses of land without compatible techno-institutional changes have hindered the pace of agricultural development.
2. In spite of the development of sources of irrigation, most of the farmers still depend upon monsoons and natural fertility in order to carry on their agriculture.
3. Agriculture which provides a livelihood for more than 60 % of its population, needs some serious technical and institutional reforms.

Institutional reforms

1. Collectivization, consolidation of holdings, cooperation, and abolition of zamindari, etc. were given priority to bring about institutional reforms after Independence.
2. Laws of land reforms were enacted.
3. Provision of crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire, and disease.
4. Establishment of Grameen banks, cooperative societies, and banks for providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest.
5. Introduction of Kissan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS).

Technological reforms

1. Green revolution and white revolution (operation flood)
2. HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides were provided.
3. Methods of irrigation modernized.
4. Latest agricultural equipment introduced.
5. Special weather bulletins and agricultural programs for farmers were introduced on Radio and Television.
6. Announcement of minimum support price (MSP), remunerative, and procurement prices for important crops.

Bhoodan and Gramdan

It is called a bloodless revolution because some zamindars, owners of many villages offered to distribute some villages among the landless, and many landowners chose to provide some part of their land to the poor farmers due to the fear of the Land Ceiling Act.

🌾 Class 10 Geography – Chapter 4: Agriculture | NCERT Solutions

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Q1. What is agriculture?

Answer:
Agriculture is the primary activity that involves the cultivation of crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and the rearing of livestock. It is the backbone of the Indian economy and provides employment to more than half of the Indian population.

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Q2. Name the factors influencing agriculture.

Answer:
The major factors influencing agriculture are:

• Natural factors: climate, soil, topography, rainfall

• Economic factors: market, capital, labour

• Technological factors: irrigation, HYV seeds, fertilizers, modern tools

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Q3. What are the different types of farming in India?

Answer:

1. Primitive Subsistence Farming:

   • Done on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools

   • Depends on monsoon

   • Example: Slash and burn (jhum cultivation)

2. Intensive Subsistence Farming:

   • Practiced in areas of high population pressure

   • High labour input, small landholding

   • Use of irrigation and high-yielding seeds

3. Commercial Farming:

   • Uses modern technology, machines, and chemical inputs

   • Large-scale production

   • Includes plantation farming

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Q4. Describe the main features of primitive subsistence farming.

Answer:

• Practised on small land areas using simple tools like hoe, dao, and digging sticks

• Depends on natural rainfall

• Uses family labour

• Low productivity

• Also known as shifting cultivation in some areas (e.g., jhum)

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Q5. What is shifting agriculture? What are its disadvantages?

Answer:
Shifting agriculture is a form of primitive subsistence farming in which a patch of forest is cleared for cultivation. After a few years, the fertility of the soil declines, and the farmer moves to a new patch.

Disadvantages:

• Leads to deforestation

• Soil erosion

• Low productivity

• Environmental degradation

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Q6. Distinguish between subsistence farming and commercial farming.

Feature	Subsistence Farming	Commercial Farming
Purpose	For self-consumption	For sale/profit
Scale	Small	Large
Inputs	Traditional	Modern (HYV, fertilizers, irrigation)
Productivity	Low	High
Labour	Family labour	Hired labour, machines

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Q7. Name one staple crop of India. What are the geographical conditions required for its growth?

Answer:
Staple Crop: Rice

Conditions:

• Temperature: 24°C to 30°C

• Rainfall: More than 100 cm

• Soil: Alluvial soil with good water retention

• Requires standing water and flooded fields

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Q8. Which are the major pulses grown in India?

Answer:

• Tur (Arhar)

• Urad

• Moong

• Masur

• Peas

• Gram
  Pulses are grown in dry conditions and are important for protein content in the Indian diet.

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Q9. What is the importance of agriculture in the Indian economy?

Answer:

• Provides livelihood to more than 50% of the population

• Contributes to national income

• Source of food and raw material

• Supports agro-based industries

• Contributes to export earnings

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Q10. What is plantation agriculture? Mention some crops grown under it.

Answer:
Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area using modern inputs and labour.

Examples of plantation crops:

• Tea

• Coffee

• Rubber

• Sugarcane

• Banana

It requires capital investment, good transport, and processing facilities.

📘 Class 10 Geography – Chapter 4: Agriculture

📘 Past CBSE Board Questions – Class 10 Geography Chapter 4: Agriculture

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🔹 1-Mark Questions:

1. Name the two main cropping seasons of India. (CBSE 2019)

2. What is the slash and burn agriculture known as in the northeastern states of India? (CBSE 2020)

3. Name a millet that is rich in iron, calcium, and roughage. (CBSE 2023)

4. What type of farming is practiced to meet the needs of the farmer’s family? (CBSE 2021)

5. Which crop is used both as food and fodder? (CBSE 2018)

6. Which state is the largest producer of rice in India? (CBSE 2022)

7. Which crop requires a lot of water and is grown in the rainiest parts of India? (CBSE 2017)

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🔹 3-Mark Questions:

1. Explain the three types of farming practised in India. (CBSE 2019, 2022)

2. Mention the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice. (CBSE 2020)

3. Describe three institutional reforms introduced by the Indian government in the agricultural sector. (CBSE 2016)

4. What is intensive subsistence farming? How is it different from primitive subsistence farming? (CBSE 2021)

5. Why is agriculture considered the backbone of the Indian economy? Give three reasons. (CBSE 2018)

6. What are the main problems faced by Indian farmers today? Suggest three measures to improve their condition. (CBSE 2023)

7. Differentiate between rabi and kharif crops with examples. (CBSE 2022)

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🔹 5-Mark Questions:

1. What are millets? Mention their types, characteristics, and geographical conditions required for their cultivation. (CBSE 2020)

2. Discuss the role of the Green Revolution in Indian agriculture. What are its benefits and limitations? (CBSE 2017)

3. Explain the major institutional and technical reforms introduced by the government to improve agriculture. (CBSE 2019)

4. What are the different types of cropping patterns in India? Explain with examples. (CBSE 2021)

5. Describe any five features of commercial farming. (CBSE 2018)

6. Explain the main features of plantation agriculture. Mention two plantation crops and the regions where they are grown. (CBSE 2023)

✅ Past CBSE Exam Questions with Answers (1, 3, and 5 Marks)

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🔹 1-Mark Questions with Answers

1. Q: Name the two main cropping seasons of India. (CBSE 2019)
   A: The two main cropping seasons in India are Kharif and Rabi.

2. Q: What is the slash and burn agriculture known as in the northeastern states of India? (CBSE 2020)
   A: It is known as Jhum cultivation.

3. Q: Name a millet that is rich in iron, calcium, and roughage. (CBSE 2023)
   A: Ragi (finger millet) is rich in iron, calcium, and roughage.

4. Q: What type of farming is practiced to meet the needs of the farmer’s family? (CBSE 2021)
   A: Subsistence farming is practiced to meet the needs of the farmer’s family.

5. Q: Which crop is used both as food and fodder? (CBSE 2018)
   A: Maize is used both as food and fodder.

6. Q: Which state is the largest producer of rice in India? (CBSE 2022)
   A: West Bengal is the largest producer of rice in India.

7. Q: Which crop requires a lot of water and is grown in the rainiest parts of India? (CBSE 2017)
   A: Rice requires a lot of water and is grown in rainiest parts of India.

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🔹 3-Mark Questions with Answers

1. Q: Explain the three types of farming practised in India. (CBSE 2019, 2022)
   A:

   • Primitive Subsistence Farming: Practised on small patches using traditional tools; depends on monsoon (e.g., Jhum).

   • Intensive Subsistence Farming: High labour input on small land; used in densely populated areas.

   • Commercial Farming: Uses modern technology and is practiced for profit (e.g., plantation farming).

2. Q: Mention the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice. (CBSE 2020)
   A:

   • Temperature: 24°C to 30°C

   • Rainfall: More than 100 cm annually

   • Soil: Clayey or alluvial soils

   • Requires standing water and level land.

3. Q: Describe three institutional reforms introduced by the Indian government in the agricultural sector. (CBSE 2016)
   A:

   • Land reforms like abolition of the Zamindari system.

   • Minimum Support Price (MSP) to ensure fair prices to farmers.

   • Subsidies on fertilizers, power, and seeds to encourage production.

4. Q: What is intensive subsistence farming? How is it different from primitive subsistence farming? (CBSE 2021)
   A:

   • Intensive Subsistence Farming: High labour, small landholding, use of irrigation and HYV seeds.

   • Primitive Subsistence Farming: Done with primitive tools, on forest land, shifting cultivation, rain-fed.

5. Q: Why is agriculture considered the backbone of the Indian economy? (CBSE 2018)
   A:

   • Provides livelihood to more than 50% population

   • Supplies raw materials to industries

   • Contributes to national income and exports

6. Q: What are the main problems faced by Indian farmers today? Suggest three measures to improve their condition. (CBSE 2023)
   A:
   Problems:

   • Fragmented landholdings

   • Uncertain monsoons

   • Market fluctuations
     Measures:

   • Better irrigation and crop insurance

   • MSP enforcement and loan waivers

   • Infrastructure and cold storage facilities

7. Q: Differentiate between Rabi and Kharif crops with examples. (CBSE 2022)
   A:

Feature	Rabi Crops	Kharif Crops
Sowing Season	Winter (Oct-Dec)	Rainy (June-July)
Harvesting	Spring (March-April)	Autumn (Sep-Oct)
Examples	Wheat, Barley, Mustard	Rice, Maize, Cotton

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🔹 5-Mark Questions with Answers

1. Q: What are millets? Mention their types, characteristics, and geographical conditions required for their cultivation. (CBSE 2020)
   A:
   Millets are coarse grains grown in dry areas. They are hardy crops and rich in nutrients.
   Types: Jowar, Bajra, Ragi
   Conditions:

   • Grows in low rainfall areas (50–100 cm)

   • Requires dry, sandy or shallow black soil

   • Heat-tolerant and drought-resistant

2. Q: Discuss the role of the Green Revolution in Indian agriculture. What are its benefits and limitations? (CBSE 2017)
   A:
   Role: Introduced in the 1960s to increase food grain production using HYV seeds, irrigation, and chemicals.
   Benefits:

   • Increased crop productivity

   • Self-sufficiency in food

   • Boosted rural economy
     Limitations:

   • Regional imbalance (mostly in Punjab, Haryana)

   • Soil degradation

   • Overuse of fertilizers and groundwater

3. Q: Explain the major institutional and technical reforms introduced by the government to improve agriculture. (CBSE 2019)
   A:
   Institutional Reforms:

   • Abolition of intermediaries

   • Consolidation of holdings

   • MSP and subsidies
     Technical Reforms:

   • Use of HYV seeds

   • Mechanization of agriculture

   • Crop insurance and drip irrigation

4. Q: What are the different types of cropping patterns in India? Explain with examples. (CBSE 2021)
   A:

   • Mono cropping: Growing one crop (e.g., wheat)

   • Multiple cropping: Growing more than one crop on the same field (e.g., wheat + pulses)

   • Intercropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously in rows (e.g., maize + soybean)

5. Q: Describe any five features of commercial farming. (CBSE 2018)
   A:

   • Uses modern inputs (HYV seeds, fertilizers, irrigation)

   • Large-scale farming

   • High productivity

   • Market-oriented

   • Less dependence on monsoon

6. Q: Explain the main features of plantation agriculture. Mention two plantation crops and the regions where they are grown. (CBSE 2023)
   A:

   • Single crop grown over large area

   • Capital and labour-intensive

   • Requires processing industries near fields

   • Export-oriented
     Examples:

   • Tea (Assam, Darjeeling)

   • Coffee (Karnataka, Kerala)