Give the answers on the basis of figure 6.4

a. Which are the land uses of 1990-91 that show a decline in 2010-11? What could be reasons for this?

b. Which type of land use is maximum? What would be the impact of this on India’s environment?

c. Can a decline in the area under agriculture be equated with a food shortage?

a. Pastures and other non-agricultural land have shown a decline comparing the land use in 1990-91 with 2010-11. With the growing population in India, the demand for an increase in the area under cultivation is rising. Thus more land has to be brought under cultivation in the case of India. India is well-endowed with the natural resources and the climate that gives the country an edge in increasing its agricultural productivity. Also, the demands of the increasing population have resulted in the conversion of such areas to other residential and community areas. This describes the increase in non-agricultural areas in 2010-11.

b. In all the three years of 1990-91, 2000-01 and 2010-11, the maximum land use shown is the agricultural area. With the growing population in India, the demand for an increase in the area under cultivation is rising. Thus more land has to be brought under cultivation in the case of India. Also, India is well-endowed with the natural resources and the climate that gives the country an edge in increasing its agricultural productivity. But this can have serious environmental impacts. The indiscriminate clearing of pastures and other areas for agricultural purposes can affect the ecosystem in which we survive. It can lead to the endangering and the extinction of many flora and fauna and ultimately a threat to ourselves.

c. The decline is agricultural area can be equated with a food shortage. With the growing population in India, the demand for the increase in the area under cultivation is rising. In such a situation, if the area under cultivation falls, then it can lead to food shortages to feed the increasing populace. Even though imports of food grains can be done, it will raise the import bills and also will not enable the country to achieve self-sufficiency in food production.