Class 11 Economics

Rural Development

NCERT Solution

Question 1: What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.

Answer: Rural development is a comprehensive term which includes various aspects of economic development. It mainly focuses on those areas which are lagging behind in the overall development of the rural economy. The key issues in rural development are as follows:

Question 2: Discuss the importance of credit in rural development.

Answer: The gestation period between crop sowing and income realization is quite long for farmers. Farmers need infusion of capital at various stages of the farm cycle. This capital need is usually met by borrowings from various sources. Hence, credit is very important for rural development.

Question 3: Explain the role of micro-credit in meeting credit requirements of the poor.

Answer: Lending by organized sector; like banks and cooperative banks has its own limitations. As collateral is required for availing loans from banks, the poor are automatically excluded from its ambit. Micro-credit works on the involvement of SHGs (Self Help Groups). Such groups pool money from their members and grant loan to a member who is in need. SHGs promote spendthrift so that loan recovery can be realized. As experience of many villages shows, micro-credit has definitely helped in improving the status of rural poor.

Question 4: Explain the steps taken by the government in developing rural markets.

Answer: The government has taken following steps in developing rural markets:

Question 5: Why is agricultural diversification essential for sustainable livelihoods?

Answer: There are two major problems in agriculture; when ensuring sustainable livelihood is concerned. The first problem is over-dependency on cropping to earn livelihood. The second problem is over supply of labour to the farming sector. In India, while most of the farm labourers get engaged during kharif season, many of them remain unemployed during rabi season; especially in areas with poor irrigation facilities. Due to overcrowding of labourer in farming, many people suffer from disguised unemployment and seasonal unemployment. This does not ensure sustainable livelihoods for many. Hence, diversification in agriculture is essential.

Question 6: Critically evaluate the role of the rural banking system in the process of rural development in India.

Answer: The rural banking system has a positive effect on rural development. Especially after the green revolution, the rural banking system helped farmers to avail loans for various farm inputs. This ensured better farm productivity and as a result famines are a thing of the past. However, the formal credit system has failed to ensure that credit reaches to poor farmers. With some exception of the commercial banks, most of the financial institutions have failed to ensure availability of loans to the rural poor. High default rate is another major problem among rural farmers. The banking sector needs to turn into customer relationship specialist to ensure proper disbursal and recovery of loans. This will help in better development in rural India.

Question 7: What do you mean by agricultural marketing?

Answer: Agricultural marketing is a process that involves the assembling, storage, processing, transportation, packaging, grading and distribution of different agricultural commodities across the country.

Question 8: Mention some obstacles that hinder the mechanism of agricultural marketing.

Answer: Some obstacles that hinder the mechanism of agricultural marketing are as follows.

Question 9: What are the alternative channels available for agricultural marketing? Give some examples.

Answer: There are two types of alternative channels available for agricultural marketing. In many states; like Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh; mandis are available where farmers can directly sell to the buyers. This helps the farmers in earning good profit. Another trend has recently developed and that is of contract farming. Large MNCs make contracts with farmers. As per the contract, a farmer has to grow a particular crop exclusively for the MNC. The company provides seeds and inputs and ensures that all the farm produce would be bought by the company. This has helped many farmers in getting a steady source of income.

Question 10: Distinguish between ‘Green Revolution’ and ‘Golden Revolution’.

Answer: While Green Revolution is related to improved production of wheat and rice, Golden Revolution is related to horticulture, i.e. production of fruits and vegetables.

Question 11: Do you think various measures taken by the government to improve agricultural marketing are sufficient? Discuss.

Answer: The government has taken various measures to improve agriculture marketing. Let us look at them from a critical perspective. To ensure fair price for farm produce, the government announces MSP (Minimum Support Price) for some farm produce; like wheat, rice and sugarcane. On behalf of the government, the FCI (Food Corporation of India) procures farm produce from the farmers at MSP. The system of MSP helps in negating the impact of moneylenders and merchants to some extent but they still have a stranglehold on the major market share. Roads have been built but still a major part of the rural India needs to be connected with all weather road. Rail network has reached most parts of the country but lack of dedicated freight corridor means that farm produce often lie rotting in the warehouse of the railways. Number of cold storages is bare minimum which results in wastage of a huge quantity of perishable items.

Question 12: Explain the role of non-farm employment in promoting rural diversification.

Answer: We know that there is problem of over-dependency on farming activity which creates the problem of disguised unemployment and seasonal unemployment. This necessitates that farmers should diversify into non-farm activities; like food processing or beekeeping. Promotion of non-farm activities will help farmers in acquiring new skills and alternate sources of income. This will help in diversifying the rural economy.

Question 13: Bring out the importance of animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture as a source of diversification.

Answer: Animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture can be very important as a source of diversification in rural economy. While animal husbandry and horticulture can be practiced in almost every village, fishery can be practiced only at select locations. However, these activities will help in ensuring alternate sources of income to the farmers. These activities are also more sustainable compared to farming which involves just two major cropping seasons in a year. The success of Operation Flood has shown that dairy farming can help in making the farmers prosperous. At present, about 70 million small farmers earn their livelihood from animal husbandry. Animal husbandry can be especially helpful in ensuring livelihood for landless farmers. Similarly, the success of Blue Revolution has helped in improving the condition of the fishing community. Today, the total fish production accounts for 0.7% of the GDP.

Question 14: ‘Information technology plays a very significant role in achieving sustainable development and food security’ — comment.

Answer: Many modern thinkers believe that IT can play a significant role in achieving sustainable development and food security. IT by itself cannot bring change but proper use of IT as a tool can help in changing the scenario. The government can use information technology to disseminate timely information about areas susceptible to food insecurity so that timely action could be taken. Farmers can get real time information regarding weather, seed price and farm produce price. They can also get relevant information about best practices of farming if they can be connected through internet. Today, mobile phone has reached to most of the villages in India and it can be used as a tool to reach the benefits of information technology to the farmers.

Question 15: What is organic farming and how does it promote sustainable development?

Answer: Farming which is done without use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides is called organic farming. We know that excess use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has resulted in soil pollution and groundwater pollution. It has also resulted in many harmful chemicals reaching our biological system through food chain. Organic farming, on the other hand, does not carry the risk of soil pollution or groundwater pollution. Risk of harmful chemicals reaching our body through food is also minimized if we use organic farm produce. Thus, organic farming is the way which can be sustained in the long run. It can be said that organic farming promotes sustainable development.

Question 16: Identify the benefits and limitations of organic farming.

Answer: Benefits of Organic Farming: Organic farming is more environment friendly than modern farming. It helps in preventing pollution of soil and groundwater. Organic farming helps in promoting sustainable development. Organic farming has the potential of generating income through exports because organic farm produce are in high demand in many countries. Organic farming is highly labour intensive and hence can create more employment opportunities.

Limitations of Organic Farming: There is a need for increasing awareness about organic farming among the farmers. Proper infrastructure facilities need to be provided so that farmers can be encouraged to go for organic farming. Produce from organic farming may have shorter life span and more quality issues. Growing more crops or getting large yields is not possible through organic farming; unlike modern farming. Small and marginal farmers are not in a position to adapt to organic farming on a larger scale.

Question 17: Enlist some problems faced by farmers during the initial years of organic farming.

Answer: Some of the problems faced by farmers during the initial years of organic farming can be as follows: