question_answer

Compare the diagrams showing land use pattern of India and answer the questions that follow:

INDIA

Land use 1950-51 and 1998-99

 

(a) Name the two categories under which the area in use has increased/decreased.

(b) Give at least one reason for this increase/ decrease in these categories.                              [Al 2004]

 

Answer:

(a) The areas have increased in

(i) Net Sown Area 42 to 46%

(ii) Forests 14 to 22%

The areas have decreased in

(i) Land not available for cultivation17 to 14%

(ii) Cultural waste 8 to 5%

(iii) Fallow land 10 to 8%

(iv) Pasture and Tree crops 9 to 5%

(b)

(i) The reason for increase in area under cultivation is provision of better irrigation facilities and area under forests due to afforestation.

(ii) The reason for decrease in fallow land is use of fertilizers and better methods of irrigation and farming. Pasture has decreased due to greater demand for agricultural crops.