STORY OF VILLAGE PALAMPUR

Q1. Modern farming methods require more inputs which are manufactured in industries. Do you agree?
Answer: Yes, I agree that modern farming methods need more inputs made in industries. Modern farming uses high-yielding seeds which need chemical fertilisers, pesticides, tractors, and machines for irrigation like electric tube wells. All these things are made in factories. But traditional farming uses seeds that give lower yields. Farmers use cow dung and other natural manure as fertilisers. So, traditional farming depends less on things made in industries.

 Q2. How did the spread of electricity help farmers in Palampur?
Answer: The spread of electricity helped the farmers of Palampur by improving their irrigation
system.
Earlier, farmers used Persian wheels to pull water from wells and could only irrigate small fields.
After electricity came, electric tube wells were used instead. The government installed the first
tube well, and later many farmers set up their own.
As a result, by the 1970s, all 200 hectares of irrigated land in Palampur could be farmed properly.

Q3. Is it important to increase the area under irrigation? Why?
Answer: Yes, it is important to increase the area under irrigation.
In India, most people depend on farming for their income, but only about 40% of the land can be used for farming. Farmers depend a lot on monsoon rains, and if it doesn’t rain properly, they face big losses.
If more land gets water through irrigation, farmers can grow more crops. This will increase the total output and also help in using more land for farming. It will also help farmers try modern farming methods without worrying about loss due to lack of water.

Q4. Why are the wages for farm labourers in Palampur less than minimum wages?
Answer: In Palampur, farm workers get less money than the minimum wages set by the government. The minimum wage is Rs. 115 per day, but they only get around Rs. 70 to 80. This happens because there is a lot of competition for work, and many people are ready to work for less pay.

Q5. What are the different ways of increasing production on the same piece of land? Use examples to explain.
Answer: There are two main ways to increase production on the same piece of land:
1. Multiple Cropping:
This means growing more than one crop on the same land in a year.
For example, a farmer can grow wheat in winter and rice in the rainy season on the same field. This helps in using the land all through the year and increases production.
2. Modern Farming Methods:
This method uses High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, proper irrigation, chemical fertilisers, and machines like tractors.
For example, farmers in Punjab use modern methods and get much more crop from the same land compared to traditional methods.

Q6. How do the medium and large farmers obtain capital for farming? How is it different from the small farmers?
Answer: Medium and large farmers get money (capital) for farming by selling their crops. Since they have more land, they grow more and earn more. They use this money to buy good seeds, fertilisers, and machines.
Small farmers don’t have much land, so they earn less. They don’t have enough money to invest in farming. So, they have to take loans from moneylenders or shopkeepers because banks don’t give them loans easily.

Q7. On what terms did Savita get a loan from Tejpal Singh? Would Savita’s condition be different if she could get a loan from the bank at a low rate of interest?
Answer: Savita needed money to buy seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, water, and to repair her tools. She took a loan from Tejpal Singh, a big farmer in her village. He gave her the loan at a high interest rate of 24% for four months. He also made her work on his land for ₹100 per day. If Savita got a loan from the bank, things would be better for her. The bank would charge less interest, so she could repay the loan easily. She would not have to work on Tejpal Singh’s land and could focus on her own farm.

Q8. What are the non-farm production activities taking place in your region? Make a short list.
Answer: The non-farm activities in our region include:
1. Dairy – People keep cows and buffaloes and sell milk.
2. Transport – Some people drive rickshaws, autos, or trucks to earn money.
3. General Stores – Small shops selling daily-use items like food, soap, etc.
4. Fishing – Some people catch fish and sell them in the market.

Q9. What can be done so that more non-farm production activities can be started in villages?
Answer: To increase non-farm activities in villages, we can do the following:
1. Better Facilities: Build good roads, provide electricity, water, and internet so that businesses can grow.
2. Skill Training: Give training to villagers to help them learn new skills like tailoring, computer work, or repairing machines.
3. Easy Loans: Give small loans at low interest so people can start their own shops or small factories.
4. Government Help: The government should give support like subsidies and tax benefits to people who start
new businesses.