The Story of Village Palampur

Q18. Who provides the labour for small, medium and large farmers?

Ans.

1. Small farmers along with their families cultivate their own fields. Thus they provide the labour required for farming.

2. Medium and large farmers hire farm labourers to work on their fields.

3. Farm labourers come either from landless families or families cultivating small plots of land.

Q19. ‘Migration is common in most villages across India.’ Why do people migrate?

Ans. In villages, there is huge competition for work among the labourers. They are ready to work even at low wages in the fields. This keeps their income at a low level. These labourers migrate to cities and towns in search of work. In cities, labourers are in great demand due to industries and construction work.

Q20. Explain the small scale manufacturing in the village Palampur.
Or
Describe the three features of small scale manufacturing as a non-farming activity in Palampur.

Ans. Features

                       i.        Manufacturing in Palampur involves very simple production methods and are done on a small scale.

                      ii.        They are carried out mostly at home or in the fields with the help of family labour.

                     iii.        Rarely are labourers hired.

Q21. Which three Indian states were first to try out modern farming?
Or
Which states were the first to use modern farming methods?
Or
Which states farmers were the first to try modern farming methods in India? Describe the method used by them.

Ans. Farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh were the first to try out the modern farming method in India. The farmers in these regions set up tubewells for irrigation, and made use of HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides in farming. Some of them bought farm machinery like tractors and threshers, which made ploughing and harvesting faster.

Q22. How did the spread of electricity help farmers in Palampur?

Ans. Electricity came early to Palampur. Its major impact was to transform the system of irrigation. Persian wheels were, till then, used by farmers to draw water from the wells and irrigate small fields. But after the spread of electricity electric-run tubewells replaced the Persian wheels. The first few tubewells were installed by the government. Soon, however, farmers started setting up private tubewells.

Q23. What is the main production activity in Palampur? Mention its features?

Ans. Farming is the main production activity in Palampur.

Features

                        i.        75 per cent of the people who are working are dependent on farming for their livelihood.

                       ii.        They could be farmers or farm labourers.

                      iii.        The wellbeing of these people is closely related to production on the farms.

 
Q24. How many people are engaged in the manufacturing sector in Palampur? What are their peculiarities?

Ans. At present, less than fifty people are engaged in manufacturing in Palampur. Unlike the manufacturing that takes place in the big factories in the towns and cities, manufacturing in Palampur involves very simple production methods and are done on a small scale. They are carried out mostly at home or in the fields with the help of family labour. Rarely are labourers hired.

Q25. What are the differences between physical and human capital?
Or
Distinguish between physical capital and human capital.

Ans. Difference between physical capital and human capital

Q26. Is it important to increase the area under irrigation? Why?

Ans. Not all villages in India have high levels of irrigation. Apart from the riverine plains, coastal regions in our country are well-irrigated. In contrast, plateau regions such as the Deccan plateau have low levels of irrigation. Of the total cultivated area in the country a little less than 40 per cent is irrigated even today. In the remaining areas, farming is largely dependent on rainfall. Thus, it is important to increase the area under irrigation.