Improvement in food resources with Important Textual Questions

Improvement in food resources NCERT Solutions for Class 9th with Textual questions and answers based on the latest syllabus of CBSE and JKBOSE NCERT Books

In our journey towards a sustainable future, improving food resources is crucial. This involves not just increasing crop yields but also ensuring that our methods are sustainable and efficient. Let’s delve into the various aspects of improving food resources.

1. Improvement in Crop Yields

Improving crop yields is essential to meet the growing food demands of our population. This can be achieved through several methods:

Crop Variety Improvement

• Hybridization: This method involves cross-breeding two different plant varieties to produce hybrids with desirable traits. For example, hybrid maize varieties can yield more grains and are resistant to diseases.
• Genetic Engineering: This involves incorporating specific genes into crops to enhance their productivity and resistance to pests and diseases. Genetically modified crops like Bt cotton are resistant to bollworm, a major pest.
• Selection: This traditional method involves choosing the best-performing plants for breeding to enhance crop quality and yield. For instance, selecting rice plants that produce the most grains can lead to higher overall yields.

2. Crop Production Improvements

Enhancing the methods and inputs used in farming can significantly improve crop production. Key areas include:

Nutrient Management

• Ensuring that crops receive the necessary nutrients at the right time is crucial for their growth and yield. This involves understanding the nutrient requirements of different crops and providing them through soil amendments or fertilizers.

Manure and Fertilizer

• Manure: Organic matter such as compost and animal waste improves soil fertility naturally. Manure adds organic content to the soil, improving its structure and water-holding capacity.
• Fertilizers: Chemical compounds (NPK – Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) provide specific nutrients required for plant growth. Nitrogen promotes leafy growth, phosphorus is important for root development, and potassium enhances overall plant health.

Irrigation

• Effective irrigation methods ensure that crops receive adequate water. Traditional methods include wells, canals, and tanks, which rely on gravity flow. Modern methods like sprinkler systems and drip irrigation are more efficient, reducing water wastage and providing water directly to the plant roots.

Cropping Patterns

• Mixed Cropping: Growing two or more crops together on the same land to maximize resource use. For example, growing legumes with cereals can improve soil fertility as legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen.
• Intercropping: Planting different crops in alternate rows to improve soil health and reduce pest infestation. For example, intercropping maize with beans can reduce the incidence of maize stem borers.
• Crop Rotation: Growing different crops in succession to maintain soil fertility and reduce the risk of pests and diseases. For instance, rotating cereal crops with legumes can break the life cycle of pests and reduce soil depletion.

3. Crop Protection Management

Protecting crops from pests, diseases, and other harmful factors is crucial for healthy growth and yield.

Weed Control

• Weeds compete with crops for nutrients, water, and light. Methods to manage weeds include manual weeding, using herbicides, and practicing crop rotation to reduce weed growth effectively.

Pest and Disease Management

• Using pesticides can help manage pest populations. However, integrated pest management (IPM) techniques, such as introducing natural predators, using biological control methods, and cultivating resistant crop varieties, are more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

4. Storage of Grains

Proper storage is essential to prevent post-harvest losses and maintain grain quality.

Proper Drying

• Ensuring that grains are sufficiently dried before storage to prevent mold growth and spoilage. Grains should be dried to a moisture content of around 12-14% to ensure safe storage.

Silos and Warehouses

• Using pest-proof and moisture-proof storage facilities to protect grains. Silos are tall structures made of metal or concrete that can store large quantities of grains, while warehouses are large buildings designed for storage.

Fumigation

• Applying chemicals to eliminate pests during storage. Fumigation is essential to protect grains from insects like weevils and beetles that can cause significant damage.

5. Animal Husbandry

Raising animals for food, fiber, and other products is a vital part of improving food resources.

Cattle Farming

• Dairy Farming: Focused on milk production. Proper housing, nutritious feeding, and regular veterinary care are essential. Dairy farms produce milk and milk products like cheese, butter, and yogurt.
• Beef Farming: Focused on meat production. Similar management practices are followed to ensure healthy livestock. Beef farming involves raising cattle specifically for their meat, which is a major source of protein.

Poultry Farming

• Layer Farming: For egg production. Birds are kept in well-ventilated shelters and provided with a balanced diet. Layers are chickens that are specifically raised for laying eggs.
• Broiler Farming: For meat production. Proper feeding and health care practices ensure healthy birds and quality meat. Broilers are chickens that are raised for their meat.

Fish Production

• Marine Fisheries: Harvesting fish from oceans and seas. Common species include tuna, mackerel, and sardines. Marine fisheries rely on capturing wild fish from their natural habitats.
• Inland Fisheries: Cultivating fish in freshwater bodies like rivers, lakes, and ponds. Species such as carp, catfish, and tilapia are commonly farmed. Inland fisheries involve rearing fish in controlled environments to ensure a steady supply of fish.
• Aquaculture: Controlled rearing of fish to boost production and ensure sustainability. Aquaculture systems include ponds, tanks, and cages where fish are grown under controlled conditions.

Beekeeping (Apiculture)

• Producing honey, beeswax, and other bee products. Providing artificial hives, supplementing bee diets with sugar syrup, and protecting bees from pests and diseases are key practices. Beekeeping involves managing bee colonies to produce honey and other valuable products.

Conclusion

Sustainable practices and government initiatives are vital to improving food resources. By adopting environmentally friendly methods and supporting farmers through subsidies and training, we can ensure a productive and sustainable agricultural future. Improving food resources is not just about increasing yields; it’s about creating a resilient and efficient food system for future generations. By focusing on crop variety improvement, better crop production methods, effective crop protection, proper grain storage, and efficient animal husbandry, we can enhance food security and support the well-being of our communities.

Textual Questions And Answers of Improvement in food resources

1. What do we get from cereals, pulses, fruits, and vegetables?

• Cereals: Provide essential carbohydrates and energy. Examples include rice, wheat, and maize.
• Pulses: Are rich in proteins and essential amino acids. Examples include beans, lentils, and chickpeas.
• Fruits and Vegetables: Supply vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. Examples include apples, oranges, spinach, and carrots.

2. How do biotic and abiotic factors affect crop production?

• Biotic Factors: Include living organisms such as pests, diseases, and weeds that can negatively affect crop health and yield.
• Abiotic Factors: Include non-living elements such as temperature, water availability, light, and soil quality, all of which can significantly influence crop growth and productivity.

3. What are the desirable agronomic characteristics for crop improvements?

Desirable agronomic characteristics include:

• High yield potential
• Disease and pest resistance
• Drought and flood tolerance
• Early maturity
• Good quality produce in terms of taste, color, and nutritional value

4. What are macronutrients and why are they called macronutrients?

Macronutrients are nutrients required by plants in large quantities for growth and development. They include:

• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorus (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Calcium (Ca)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Sulfur (S)
  They are called macronutrients because they are needed in larger amounts compared to micronutrients, which are required in trace amounts.

5. How do plants get nutrients?

Plants get nutrients through their roots from the soil. Nutrients can be supplied naturally through organic matter decomposition or artificially through fertilizers. Roots absorb water and dissolved nutrients, which are then transported throughout the plant.

6. Compare the use of manure and fertilizers in maintaining soil fertility.

• Manure: Organic, improves soil structure, water-holding capacity, and long-term soil fertility. Releases nutrients slowly.
• Fertilizers: Inorganic, provide specific nutrients quickly. They enhance immediate crop growth but can lead to soil degradation over time if not used judiciously.

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 use quality seeds, adopt irrigation, use fertilizer and use crop protection measures.
• This approach ensures high-quality inputs, adequate water supply, necessary nutrients, and protection from pests and diseases, leading to optimal crop growth and yield.

8. Why should preventive measures and biological control methods be preferred for protecting crops?

Preventive measures and biological control methods are environmentally friendly, reduce the use of chemical pesticides, minimize resistance development in pests, and help maintain ecological balance. They are sustainable and promote long-term agricultural health.

9. What factors may be responsible for losses of grains during storage?

Factors responsible for losses include:

• Inadequate drying leading to mold growth
• Pests such as rodents, insects, and birds
• Poor storage conditions with high moisture levels
• Lack of proper storage facilities

10. Which method is commonly used for improving cattle breeds and why?

The commonly used method for improving cattle breeds is cross-breeding. This involves mating cattle of different breeds to combine desirable traits such as higher milk yield, better growth rates, and disease resistance.

11. What management practices are common in dairy and poultry farming?

Common practices include:

• Proper housing with adequate ventilation and space
• Balanced and nutritious feeding
• Regular health check-ups and vaccinations
• Hygiene and sanitation to prevent diseases
• Record-keeping for production and health management

12. What are the differences between broilers and layers and in their management?

• Broilers: Chickens raised for meat production. Require high-protein feed, space for movement, and are managed for rapid growth.
• Layers: Chickens raised for egg production. Require calcium-rich feed for strong eggshells, nesting spaces, and lighting to stimulate egg-laying.

13. Discuss the implications of the following statement: “It is interesting to note that poultry is India’s most efficient converter of low-fibre foodstuff (which is unfit for human consumption) into highly nutritious animal protein food.”

Poultry farming efficiently converts feed with low nutritional value for humans into high-quality protein sources like eggs and meat. This makes poultry farming a valuable practice for utilizing agricultural by-products and reducing waste.

14. How are fish obtained?

Fish are obtained through:

• Capture Fishing: Harvesting wild fish from natural water bodies.
• Aquaculture: Rearing fish in controlled environments like ponds, tanks, and cages.

15. What are the advantages of composite fish culture?

Composite fish culture involves growing different species of fish together in a single pond. Advantages include:

• Efficient utilization of resources as different species occupy different niches
• Higher overall productivity
• Reduced competition for food and space

16. What are the desirable characters of bee varieties suitable for honey production?

Desirable characteristics include:

• High honey yield
• Disease resistance
• Gentle behavior
• Ability to thrive in local climatic conditions
• Good foraging ability

17. What is pasturage and how is it related to honey production?

Pasturage refers to the availability of flowers from which bees collect nectar and pollen. The quality and quantity of pasturage directly affect honey production, as it determines the food resources available to the bees.

Exercises

1. Explain any one method of crop production which ensures high yield.

One method of crop production that ensures high yield is hybridization. Hybridization involves cross-breeding two different plant varieties to produce hybrids with desirable traits such as higher yield, disease resistance, and climate tolerance. For example, hybrid maize varieties can yield more grains and are resistant to diseases.

2. Why are manure and fertilizers used in fields?

Manure and fertilizers are used in fields to provide essential nutrients that are necessary for plant growth. Manure, being organic, improves soil structure and water-holding capacity. Fertilizers, on the other hand, are chemical compounds that supply specific nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium to enhance plant growth and increase crop yield.

3. What are the advantages of inter-cropping and crop rotation?

Inter-cropping involves growing different crops in alternate rows to improve soil health and reduce pest infestation. It maximizes the use of available resources and can lead to better overall yield.
Crop rotation involves growing different crops in sequential seasons to maintain soil fertility and reduce the risk of pests and diseases. For instance, rotating cereal crops with legumes can break the life cycle of pests and reduce soil depletion.

4. What is genetic manipulation? How is it useful in agricultural practices?

Genetic manipulation involves incorporating specific genes into crops to enhance their productivity and resistance to pests and diseases. It is useful in agricultural practices as it can produce genetically modified crops like Bt cotton, which are resistant to pests such as bollworm, thereby reducing the need for chemical pesticides and increasing crop yields.

5. How do storage grain losses occur?

Storage grain losses occur due to various factors such as improper drying, which leads to mold growth, and pest infestations by insects like weevils and beetles. Poor storage conditions, including high moisture levels and inadequate pest control, can result in significant post-harvest losses.

6. How do good animal husbandry practices benefit farmers?

Good animal husbandry practices benefit farmers by ensuring the health and productivity of their livestock. Proper housing, nutritious feeding, and regular veterinary care lead to higher milk and meat production, which in turn increases farmers’ income and food security.

7. What are the benefits of cattle farming?

Cattle farming provides multiple benefits such as milk production, which is a source of dairy products like cheese, butter, and yogurt. It also provides meat, which is a major source of protein. Additionally, cattle farming offers by-products like leather and manure, which can be used as fertilizer.

8. For increasing production, what is common in poultry, fisheries, and bee-keeping?

For increasing production in poultry, fisheries, and bee-keeping, common practices include providing proper housing or habitat, ensuring adequate and nutritious feeding, and maintaining health care practices. These practices ensure the well-being of animals and insects, leading to higher yields and productivity.

9. How do you differentiate between capture fishing, mariculture, and aquaculture?

• Capture Fishing: Involves harvesting naturally occurring fish from their natural habitats, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes.
• Mariculture: A specialized branch of aquaculture that involves cultivating marine organisms in the open ocean, an enclosed section of the ocean, or tanks and ponds filled with seawater.
• Aquaculture: The controlled rearing, breeding, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in freshwater or saltwater environments. This includes both inland and marine systems.