The Story of Village Palampur Class 9 NCERT Solutions
NCERT Class 9 Economics Chapter 1: The Story of Village Palampur – All Questions Answered
This post provides clear and concise answers to all the questions from The Story of Village Palampur Class 9 NCERT Solutions
Exercise Questions (Page 14)
1. Every village in India is surveyed once in ten years during the Census and some of the details are presented in the following format. Fill up the following based on information on Palampur.
- Location: Bulandshahr district, Western Uttar Pradesh
- Total Area of the Village: 226 hectares
- Land Use (in hectares):
- Cultivated Land: 200 hectares
- Irrigated Land: 200 hectares
- Unirrigated Land: 0 hectares
- Pastures: 1 hectare
- Waste Land: 5 hectares
- Area under Non-agricultural Use: 20 hectares
- Facilities: Electricity, two primary schools, one high school, a primary health centre, and a well-connected road network.
2. Modern farming methods require more inputs, which are manufactured in industry. Do you agree?
Yes, modern farming methods rely on industrially produced inputs like chemical fertilizers, pesticides, machinery (tractors, threshers), and electricity. These inputs increase productivity but also raise the cost of farming.
3. How did the spread of electricity help farmers in Palampur?
Electricity enabled the use of electric tube wells for irrigation, allowing farmers to grow multiple crops annually. It also supported small-scale industries and improved overall living standards.
4. Is it important to increase the area under irrigation? Why?
Yes, increasing irrigated areas ensures consistent water supply, leading to higher crop yields and the possibility of multiple cropping, which boosts farmers’ income.
5. Construct a table on the distribution of land among the 450 families of Palampur.
| Landholding Size | Number of Families |
|---|---|
| Landless | 150 families |
| Less than 1 hectare | 240 families |
| More than 2 hectares | 60 families |
6. Why are the wages for farm labourers in Palampur less than minimum wages?
Due to high competition for limited jobs and the abundance of laborers, employers can offer lower wages, which workers accept out of necessity.
7. In your region, talk to two labourers. Choose either farm labourers or labourers working at construction sites. What wages do they get? Are they paid in cash or kind? Do they get work regularly? Are they in debt?
Note: This is a practical activity. Students should conduct interviews with local laborers to gather information on their wages, payment methods, job regularity, and debt status.
8. What are the different ways of increasing production on the same piece of land? Use examples to explain.
- Multiple Cropping: Growing more than one crop on the same land in a year.
- Modern Farming Methods: Using HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, and machinery to increase yield.
9. Describe the work of a farmer with less than 2 hectares of land.
Such a farmer often faces challenges like limited land, lack of capital, and dependence on loans. They may work on their own field and also labor on others’ farms to earn additional income.
10. How do the medium and large farmers obtain capital for farming? How is it different from the small farmers?
Medium and large farmers use their own savings or profits from previous harvests. In contrast, small farmers often borrow money from moneylenders at high interest rates, leading to debt.
11. 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?
Savita borrowed ₹3,000 at 24% annual interest, to be repaid after four months, along with an additional ₹1,000 as collateral. If she had access to a bank loan at a lower interest rate, her repayment burden would be less, reducing financial stress.
12. Talk to some old residents in your region. Find out:
- What kinds of crops were grown around 20 years ago?
- What were the sources of irrigation?
- Have these changed and how?
Note: This is a practical activity. Students should interview local elders to learn about historical agricultural practices and changes over time.
13. What are the non-farm production activities in Palampur?
Non-farm activities include dairy farming, small-scale manufacturing (like tailoring), shopkeeping, and transport services (like rickshaws and trucks).
14. What can be done so that more non-farm production activities can be started in villages?
To promote non-farm activities:
- Provide access to credit at low interest rates.
- Offer training programs for skill development.
- Improve infrastructure like roads and electricity.
- Encourage small-scale industries and entrepreneurship.
These answers aim to help students understand the key concepts of the chapter in a simple and concise manner, facilitating better preparation for exams.