Land Resources and Agriculture — NCERT Solutions

Given: Two important agricultural land-use terms.

Net Sown Area (NSA):

• It refers to the total area of land on which crops are sown at least once in a year.
• Each piece of land is counted only once, regardless of how many crops are grown on it.
• It represents the actual physical area under cultivation.

Gross Cropped Area (GCA):

• It refers to the total area sown, counting the same piece of land as many times as crops are grown on it in a year.
• If a farmer grows two crops on the same field in a year, that field is counted twice.
• $\text{GCA} = \text{NSA} \times \text{Cropping Intensity}$

Key Distinction: NSA counts physical area once; GCA counts the same area multiple times based on the number of crops grown. GCA is always equal to or greater than NSA.

Given: India is a densely populated country with limited cultivable land.

Concept: Cropping Intensity = $\dfrac{\text{Gross Cropped Area}}{\text{Net Sown Area}} \times 100$

Importance of increasing cropping intensity:

1. Limited land availability: India has a large population but the scope for expanding Net Sown Area is very limited, as most cultivable land is already under use.
2. Increasing food demand: With a growing population, food production must increase without necessarily bringing new land under cultivation.
3. Better utilisation of land: By growing two or three crops on the same piece of land in a year (multiple cropping), land productivity is maximised.
4. Economic benefit to farmers: Multiple cropping increases farm income without requiring additional land.

Thus, increasing cropping intensity is a sustainable strategy to meet food security goals in India.

Total Cultivable Land is measured by adding together all land-use categories that are either currently under cultivation or have the potential to be brought under cultivation.

$$\text{Total Cultivable Land} = \text{Net Sown Area} + \text{Current Fallow} + \text{Fallow other than Current Fallow} + \text{Culturable Wasteland}$$

Explanation of components:

• Net Sown Area: Land actually under crops at least once a year.
• Current Fallow: Land left without crops for a period up to one year to restore fertility.
• Fallow other than Current Fallow: Land left uncultivated for 1–5 years.
• Culturable Wasteland: Land not cultivated for more than 5 years but capable of being reclaimed.

Thus, total cultivable land represents the maximum area that can potentially be used for agriculture.

Difference between Dryland and Wetland Farming:

In short: Dryland farming is rain-dependent and practised in low-rainfall areas with drought-resistant crops, while wetland farming requires abundant water and supports water-intensive crops.

Introduction: Land is a finite and precious resource. In India, land resources face serious environmental problems due to both natural processes and human activities.

Types of Environmental Problems of Land Resources in India:

1. Soil Erosion:

• Water erosion: In humid and semi-arid regions, heavy rainfall causes sheet erosion, rill erosion, and gully erosion, washing away the fertile topsoil. The Chambal ravines are a classic example.
• Wind erosion: In arid and semi-arid regions like Rajasthan, strong winds blow away the topsoil, leading to desertification.

2. Waterlogging:

• Excessive and faulty irrigation, especially in canal-irrigated areas, raises the water table. This deprives plant roots of oxygen and makes the land unfit for cultivation.
• It is a major problem in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.

3. Salinisation and Alkalisation:

• Waterlogging causes salts to accumulate on the soil surface through capillary action, making the soil saline (usar/reh land).
• This severely reduces soil fertility and crop productivity.
• Large tracts of land in irrigated areas of Punjab, Haryana, and UP are affected.

4. Chemical Degradation:

• Excessive use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and insecticides has led to the accumulation of toxic substances in the soil profile.
• This destroys soil micro-organisms, reduces natural fertility, and contaminates groundwater.

5. Loss of Natural Fertility:

• Multiple cropping and reduction of fallow periods have reduced the time available for natural processes like nitrogen fixation.
• Displacement of leguminous crops from cropping patterns has further reduced natural soil enrichment.

6. Deforestation and Land Degradation:

• Clearing of forests for agriculture and development exposes soil to erosion and reduces its water-holding capacity.

Conclusion: These problems collectively threaten India's food security and call for sustainable land management practices, including proper irrigation management, organic farming, afforestation, and soil conservation measures.

Introduction: After independence in 1947, India faced the challenge of feeding a large and growing population. Several strategies were adopted over the decades to develop agriculture.

Important Strategies for Agricultural Development in Post-Independence India:

1. Institutional Reforms (1950s):

• Land reforms were introduced to abolish the zamindari system and redistribute land to the actual tillers.
• Consolidation of land holdings was undertaken to reduce fragmentation.
• Cooperative farming was promoted to help small farmers pool resources.

2. Community Development Programme (1952):

• Launched to improve rural infrastructure, irrigation, and agricultural practices through community participation.

3. Expansion of Cultivated Area:

• New land was brought under cultivation by reclaiming wastelands and extending irrigation facilities.

4. Green Revolution (Mid-1960s onwards):

• Introduction of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds of wheat (from Mexico) and rice (from Philippines).
• Increased use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and irrigation to support HYV crops.
• This dramatically increased food grain production, especially in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh.
• India achieved self-sufficiency in food grains by the 1970s–80s.

5. Expansion of Irrigation:

• Large-scale development of irrigation infrastructure — major, medium, and minor irrigation projects — to reduce dependence on monsoon.

6. Diversification of Agriculture:

• Promotion of horticulture, floriculture, aquaculture, and animal husbandry to increase farmers' income and reduce over-dependence on food grains.

7. White Revolution (Operation Flood):

• Focused on increasing milk production and making India self-sufficient in dairy products.

8. Technology and Research:

• Establishment of agricultural research institutions (ICAR, agricultural universities) to develop better seeds, farming techniques, and pest management.

9. Liberalisation and Market Reforms (Post-1991):

• Opening of agricultural markets, promotion of contract farming, and encouragement of agro-based industries.

Conclusion: These strategies have transformed Indian agriculture from a subsistence level to a surplus-producing sector. However, challenges like regional disparities, environmental degradation, and farmer indebtedness still need to be addressed for sustainable agricultural development.