Agriculture and minerals are the backbone of India’s economy. Agriculture provides food for people and raw material for industries. India grows two main types of crops: food crops (like rice, wheat, maize, pulses) and cash crops (like sugarcane, cotton, jute, tea, coffee). Food crops are grown to feed people, while cash crops are sold to earn money.

Crops are divided into Kharif and Rabi. Kharif crops (like rice, maize, cotton) are grown in the rainy season. Rabi crops (like wheat, barley, mustard) are grown in winter. Plantation crops such as tea, coffee, and rubber grow in special areas with suitable climate.

Minerals are valuable natural resources. They may be metallic (iron, copper, aluminium) or non-metallic (mica, limestone). Some are fossil fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas. Coal is used for cooking, heating and producing electricity. Petroleum gives us petrol, diesel, kerosene and other fuels. Minerals are also used in making tools, machinery, aeroplanes and in industries.

India has large reserves of coal in Jharkhand and West Bengal, petroleum in Assam and Gujarat, and bauxite in Odisha. These resources must be used carefully because they take millions of years to form and are non-renewable. The government helps farmers with seeds, irrigation and subsidies, and also manages mines for minerals.

Thus, agriculture provides food and income, while minerals provide energy and raw materials. Both are essential for our daily life and development.

कृषि और खनिज भारत की अर्थव्यवस्था की रीढ़ हैं। कृषि हमें भोजन और उद्योगों के लिए कच्चा माल देती है। भारत में दो प्रकार की फसलें होती हैं – खाद्य फसलें (चावल, गेहूं, मक्का, दालें) और नकदी फसलें (गन्ना, कपास, जूट, चाय, कॉफी)। खाद्य फसलें खाने के लिए उगाई जाती हैं, जबकि नकदी फसलें बेचकर किसान पैसे कमाते हैं।

फसलें खरीफ और रबी में बाँटी जाती हैं। खरीफ फसलें (जैसे चावल, मक्का, कपास) बरसात में बोई जाती हैं। रबी फसलें (जैसे गेहूं, जौ, सरसों) सर्दियों में बोई जाती हैं। चाय, कॉफी और रबर जैसी बागान फसलें विशेष क्षेत्रों में उगाई जाती हैं।

खनिज भी बहुत महत्वपूर्ण प्राकृतिक संसाधन हैं। ये धातु (लोहा, तांबा, एल्युमिनियम) और गैर-धातु (माइका, चूना पत्थर) हो सकते हैं। कुछ खनिज जीवाश्म ईंधन हैं – कोयला, पेट्रोलियम, प्राकृतिक गैस। कोयला बिजली, खाना पकाने और गर्मी के लिए काम आता है। पेट्रोलियम से हमें पेट्रोल, डीजल, केरोसिन और अन्य ईंधन मिलते हैं।

भारत में झारखंड और पश्चिम बंगाल में कोयले, असम और गुजरात में पेट्रोलियम, और ओडिशा में बॉक्साइट के बड़े भंडार हैं। ये अक्षय नहीं हैं, इसलिए इनका सावधानी से उपयोग करना चाहिए। सरकार किसानों की मदद बीज, सिंचाई और सब्सिडी से करती है और खनिजों की खदानें भी नियंत्रित करती है।

इस प्रकार कृषि हमें भोजन और आय देती है और खनिज हमें ऊर्जा और कच्चा माल देते हैं। दोनों हमारे जीवन और देश के विकास के लिए आवश्यक हैं।

1) Why is India called an agricultural country?

Because most people depend on farming for food and livelihood.

2) What are food and cash crops?

Food crops like rice and wheat are eaten by people. Cash crops like cotton and sugarcane are sold for money.

3) How does government help farmers?

By providing irrigation, better seeds, fertilizers, subsidies, and support prices.

4) Which is the most important metal? Why?

Aluminium – because it is light, strong, and used in aeroplanes and industries.

5) Why conserve mineral resources?

Because they are non-renewable and take millions of years to form.

6) What is a plantation crop?

Crops grown on large estates like tea, coffee, and rubber.

7) Name two fossil fuels.

Coal and Petroleum.

8) Where are large reserves of petroleum in India?

Assam and Gujarat.

9) Which minerals are non-metallic?

Mica and Limestone.

10) What is coal mainly used for?

Cooking, heating, and generating electricity.

1) Why is India called an agricultural country?

Because agriculture is the main occupation and majority of Indians depend on it for food and livelihood.

2) Explain food crop and cash crop with examples.

Food crops are grown for eating, e.g. rice, wheat. Cash crops are grown to sell and earn, e.g. cotton, sugarcane, tea.

3) How does government help farmers?

By providing irrigation facilities, good seeds, fertilizers, loans, subsidies and MSP (minimum support price).

4) Which is the most important metal? Why?

Aluminium, because it is light, strong and used in aeroplanes and industries.

5) Why is it important to conserve our mineral resources?

Because minerals are non-renewable and exhaustible; once used, they cannot be replaced quickly.