Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:

Land is very valuable – natural resource as land is required for the production of food, construction of buildings, roads, railways, lakes. Similarly, land is required for the growth of fodder, grass, trees etc. If the fertile land of country is more then the productivity of agriculture is more. Forest resources provide us medicinal plant, livestock farming and help to maintain the balance of environment. The geographical area of India is 32,87,263 Sq.Km. India ranks 7th according to area of world. Similarly, India ranks 7th in the cultivable area in the world. The total cultivable area is 18,64,00,000 hectares. It is about 77% of the total area but only 46% of this area is used for cultivation. Area under cultivation is reduced due to growth of population in the country, development of industries, construction of roads, lakes etc. The type of land is different, in different states of India. States in Northern India are the hilly region so the are under cultivation and fertility of land is less. The part of Rajasthan and Gujarat’s state is covered by deserts. The amount of fertile land is more in Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Maharashtra.

1. Which is the most important natural resource?
2. What are the different uses of land?
3. What is the rank of India with respect to area in the world?
4. Give suggestions to increase area under cultivations in India.

Answer 1

1. Land is the most important natural resource.
2. Land is required for the production of food, construction of buildings, roads, railways, lakes. Similarly, land is required for the growth of fodder, grass, trees etc.
3. India ranks 7^th according to area of world.
4. Any land which is left fallow (uncultivated) for more than five years is included in this category. It can be brought under cultivation after improving it through reclamation practices.