Harpal, a farmer, grows vegetables and flowers on a part of the land where he earlier grew only wheat. His son leaves farm work and takes a job in a leather goods unit in the village. Which of the following correctly describes the two changes?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Harpal: change in cropping pattern; his son: shift of workforce to a dynamic non-farm sub-sector
Harpal changes what he grows on his land. His son moves out of farm work into a leather unit, and the leather industry is a dynamic sub-sector of the non-farm economy.
Option (1) Harpal: change in cropping pattern; his son: shift of workforce to a dynamic non-farm sub-sector — Correct. Growing vegetables and flowers in place of wheat is a change in cropping pattern. The leather industry is named among the dynamic sub-sectors.
Option (2) Harpal: change in cropping pattern; his son: shift of workforce to an allied activity — Incorrect. Allied activities are livestock, poultry, fisheries and the like. A leather goods unit is a non-farm activity.
Option (3) Harpal: shift of workforce to an allied activity; his son: shift to a traditional home-based industry — Incorrect. Harpal still works on his farm, so he has not shifted out of agriculture. Traditional home-based industries are pottery, crafts and handlooms.
Option (4) Harpal: shift to organic farming; his son: shift of workforce to a dynamic non-farm sub-sector — Incorrect. Nothing tells us that Harpal has given up chemical inputs. He has only changed his crops.
NCERT (2026-27): “5.5 Diversification into Productive Activities Diversification includes two aspects - one relates to change in cropping pattern and the other relates to a shift of workforce from agriculture to other allied activities (livestock, poultry, fisheries etc.) and non-agriculture sector. …” “… As agriculture is already overcrowded, a major proportion of the increasing labour force needs to find alternate employment opportunities in other non-farm sectors. Non-farm economy has several segments in it; some possess dynamic linkages that permit healthy growth while others are in subsistence, low productivity propositions. The dynamic sub-sectors include agro-processing industries, food processing industries, leather industry, tourism, etc. Those sectors which have the potential but seriously lack infrastructure and other support include traditional home-based industries like pottery, crafts, handlooms etc. …” |