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The Story of Indian Farming – Class 7 Social Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 7 Social Science, chapter 13. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

Farming in the Indian subcontinent began thousands of years ago at sites such as Mehrgarh. Over time farmers developed knowledge of soils, seasons, irrigation and crop varieties. In the 20th century the Green Revolution raised food production, and today farming faces new challenges of water, soil health and small landholdings.

Early and traditional farming

Farming began around 7000 BCE at Mehrgarh with wheat and barley and the domestication of cattle, sheep and goats.
Harappans grew wheat, barley, millets, pulses and cotton; rice cultivation spread in the Ganga valley.
Farmers developed knowledge of monsoon seasons, crop rotation, manure, tanks and canals; texts such as the Krishi Parashara describe farming practices.

Modern changes

The Green Revolution of the 1960s used high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, chemical fertilisers and irrigation; M.S. Swaminathan was a key scientist, and Punjab and Haryana gained most.
India became self-sufficient in food grains and now has a large public distribution system.
Overuse of groundwater and chemicals has harmed soil and water in some regions.

Farming today

Most farmers have small holdings and depend on the monsoon.
Millets, organic farming, drip irrigation and crop diversification are encouraged; 2023 was declared the International Year of Millets.

Key terms

Domestication: taming and breeding wild plants and animals for human use
Green Revolution: the sharp rise in food grain production from the 1960s using high-yielding seeds, fertilisers and irrigation
Crop rotation: growing different crops one after another on the same land to keep soil fertile
High-yielding variety: a type of seed that produces much more grain than ordinary seeds

Important questions with answers

What was the Green Revolution?2 marks

The Green Revolution was the sharp increase in food grain production in India from the 1960s. It used high-yielding varieties of wheat and rice, chemical fertilisers, pesticides and assured irrigation, and made India self-sufficient in food grains.

Mention three traditional farming practices of India.3 marks

Farmers followed crop rotation, growing pulses after cereals to restore soil fertility. They used animal dung and compost as manure. They stored water in tanks and ponds and used canals and wells for irrigation, and timed sowing according to the monsoon seasons.

Trace the story of Indian farming from early times to today, including its challenges.5 marks

Farming in the subcontinent began around 7000 BCE at Mehrgarh, where people grew wheat and barley and domesticated cattle, sheep and goats. The Harappans grew wheat, barley, millets, pulses and cotton, and rice cultivation spread in the Ganga valley. Over centuries, farmers built rich knowledge of soils, seasons, crop rotation, manure and irrigation through tanks, canals and wells, and texts such as the Krishi Parashara recorded farming practices. After Independence, India faced food shortages. From the 1960s the Green Revolution, supported by scientists such as M.S. Swaminathan, introduced high-yielding seeds, fertilisers and irrigation, mainly in Punjab and Haryana, making India self-sufficient in grain. However, overuse of groundwater and chemicals has degraded soil and water in some areas. Today most farmers have small holdings and depend on the monsoon. Efforts include promoting millets, organic farming, drip irrigation, soil testing and crop diversification so that farming becomes sustainable and profitable.

Quick revision

Mehrgarh: early farming about 7000 BCE.
Traditional knowledge: seasons, rotation, manure, irrigation.
Green Revolution 1960s: HYV seeds; M.S. Swaminathan.
Challenges: groundwater, soil health, small holdings.

Exam tips

Connect past and present: traditional knowledge (crop rotation, manure) and modern methods (HYV seeds, drip irrigation).
In answers on the Green Revolution, give both its benefits and its problems.

Practice MCQs

One of the earliest farming sites in the subcontinent is
1. Hampi
2. Delhi
3. Mehrgarh
4. Konark
Show answer
Answer: (c) Mehrgarh. It is in present-day Pakistan.
The Green Revolution began in the
1. 1920s
2. 1960s
3. 1990s
4. 2010s
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1960s. It raised wheat and rice production.
Growing different crops in turns on the same land is called
1. shifting cultivation
2. terrace farming
3. crop rotation
4. monoculture
Show answer
Answer: (c) crop rotation. It keeps soil fertile.
A key scientist associated with India's Green Revolution was
1. C.V. Raman
2. Homi Bhabha
3. M.S. Swaminathan
4. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Show answer
Answer: (c) M.S. Swaminathan. He promoted high-yielding varieties.
The states that benefited most from the Green Revolution were
1. Kerala and Assam
2. Punjab and Haryana
3. Rajasthan and Gujarat
4. Odisha and Bihar
Show answer
Answer: (b) Punjab and Haryana. They had irrigation and fertile land.
The year 2023 was declared the International Year of
1. Millets
2. Rice
3. Wheat
4. Pulses
Show answer
Answer: (a) Millets. India promoted millets as nutritious crops.
Which is a problem caused by intensive Green Revolution farming in some regions
1. rise in groundwater levels everywhere
2. fall in food production
3. end of irrigation
4. overuse of groundwater and soil degradation
Show answer
Answer: (d) overuse of groundwater and soil degradation. Heavy use of water and chemicals harmed resources.
Why are many Indian farmers still vulnerable
1. they own very large farms
2. they do not grow food
3. all farms have assured irrigation
4. most have small holdings and depend on the monsoon
Show answer
Answer: (d) most have small holdings and depend on the monsoon. Weather and size of holdings affect income.

All chapters of Class 7 Social Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.