Question

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions.

Agriculture has been practised in India for thousands of years. Sustained uses of land without compatible techno-institutional changes have hindered the pace of agricultural development. Inspite of development of sources of irrigation most of the farmers in large parts of the country still depend upon monsoon and natural fertility in order to carry on their agriculture. For a growing population, this poses a serious challenge. Agriculture which provides livelihood for more than 60 per cent of its population, needs some serious technical and institutional reforms. Thus, collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, cooperation and abolition of zamindari, etc. were given priority to bring about institutional reforms in the country after Independence. ‘Land reform’ was the main focus of our First Five Year Plan. The right of inheritance had already lead to fragmentation of land holdings necessitating consolidation of holdings. The laws of land reforms were enacted but the implementation was lacking or lukewarm. The Government of India embarked upon introducing agricultural reforms to improve Indian agriculture in the1960s and 1970s. The Green Revolution based on the use of package technology and the White Revolution (Operation Flood) were some of the strategies initiated to improve the lot of Indian agriculture. But, this too led to the concentration of development in few selected areas. Therefore, in the 1980s and 1990s, a comprehensive land development programme was initiated, which included both institutional and technical reforms. Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease, establishment of Grameen banks, cooperative societies and banks for providing loan facilities to the farmers at lower rates of interest were some important steps in this direction.

1. Even in the era of technology, __________ can deliver a hard blow to Indian farmers.

2. _________________________ has obstructed the pace of agricultural development in our country.
a) techno-institutional changes
b) Sustained uses of land
c) less facilities
d) none of these

3. The main focus of our First Five Year Plan was ____________.

4. Name two strategies that were initiated to improve the lot of Indian agriculture.

Answer 1

Explanation:

2.techno-institutional changes

3.land reform

4.green revolution and white revolution

1.thousands of years

Answer 2

Answer:

1.

2.sustained use of land

3.land reform

4.comprehensive land development program which included institutional and technical reforms