Class 12 Agriculture Question Paper 2020 Solved

Class 12 Agriculture PYQ 2020 Solved

SECTION A

(Employability Skills)

Answer any four questions out of the given 6 questions of 1 mark each: 4×1=4

1. __________ is the language of the soul. 

Ans: Music

2. __________ personality trait is related to being calm, self-confident, and cool. 

Ans: Emotional stability

3. In writing, __________ is more important than quantity. 

Ans: Quality

4. Keyboard shortcut to save presentation is __________ . 

Ans: Ctrl + Shift + S

5. What is Ecosystem? 

Ans: A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.

6. Define Stress Management. 

Ans: Stress management refers to taking systematic breaks, maintaining work-life balance, setting achievable goals, connecting with other like-minded entrepreneurs, etc.

Answer any three questions out of the given 5 questions of 2 marks each: 3×2=6

7. What do you mean by green job ?

Ans: Green jobs are decent jobs that contribute to preserving or restoring the environment, be they in traditional sectors, such as manufacturing and construction sectors or in the emerging green sectors, such as renewable energy.

8. List out the steps in active listening.

Ans: Steps in active listening (Any two)

• Pay Attention. Give the speaker your undivided attention
• Show That You’re Listening
• Provide Feedback.
• Defer Judgment.
• Respond Appropriately

9. What do you mean by Personality?

Ans: Personality is a relatively enduring set of traits. These traits are made up of an emotional, behavioral, and mental set of characteristics. Heredity has been found to be determining personality apart from environmental forces. Personality is shaped through family, culture, society, education, and other environmental factors.

10. Name any two software packages for presentations.

Ans: MS PowerPoint, OpenOffice Impress

11. List out the few sources of motivation and inspiration.

Ans: The following are the sources of motivation and inspiration. (Any four)

• Music
• Books
• Activities: Engaging in positive and skill-enhancing activities keeps our spirits high. Competitions, games, simulations, and interviews for various committee positions are found to encourage, motivate, and inspire students
• Expansive thoughts: Thinking and discussing big and positive ideas motivates us to reach our highest potential.
• Living in the present
• Mindfulness helps students pay attention, reduce stress, and promote a thoughtful approach towards life.
• Dreaming big: Dreaming big is a journey, not a destination. Dreaming big helps us to be mentally prepared to take that big step

SECTION B

(Subject Skills)

Answer any ten questions out of the given 12 questions of 1 mark each: 10×1=10

12. Name any two coarse cereals of India.

Ans: Coarse cereals of India are: Jowar (Sorghum), Bajra (Pearl millet), Maize, Ragi (finger millet) (Any two)

13. Name any two major Rabi cereal crops of India.

Ans: Major Rabi cereal crops of India: Wheat, Barley (Any two)

14. Name two major pests of oil seed crops.

Ans: Major pests of seed crops: Aphids, white grub, cut worm, pod borer, jassids (Any two)

15. Name any two major diseases of wheat.

Ans: Major diseases of wheat: Bunt, Karnal bunt, Yellow rust, Brown rust, loose smut (Any two)

16. Name any two bioagents used for controlling agricultural pests in India?

Ans: Bioagents used for controlling agricultural pests in India (Any two)

• 1. Ladybird beetle
• 2. Aphelinus mali
• 3. Videlia beetle

17. Name any two commercial varieties of mango in North India.

Ans: Commercial varieties of North India: (Any two)

• 1. Dashehari,
• 2. Langra,
• 3. Chausa,
• 4. Bombay green
• 5. Fajri
• 6. Amrapali

18. Name any two value-added products that can be prepared from mango fruit.

Ans: Value-added products from mango fruit: (Any two)

• 1. Amchur
• 2. Pickle
• 3. Panna
• 4. Squash
• 5. Chutney
• 6. Frooty

19. Write the scientific name of button mushroom.

Ans: Agaricus bisporus

20. Name any two Solanaceous vegetables.

Ans: Solanaceous vegetable: (Any two)

• 1. Potato
• 2. Tomato
• 3. Brinjal (Egg plant )
• 4. Chilli
• 5. Shimla Mirch (Capsicum)

21. Name the food given to the honeybee queen larvae.

Ans: Royal jelly

22. Name one earthworm species commercially used for making vermicompost.

Ans: Earthworm species suitable for vermicomposting (Any one)

• Perionyx excavatus
• Lampito mauritii
• Eisenia andrei
• Eisenia fetida (Red wigglers)
• Eudrilus eugeniae
• Lampito mauritii
• Lumbricus rubellus (Red worm)
• Metaphire posthuma
• Perionyx excavatus
• Polypheretima elongata
• Perionyx excavatus,
• Octochaetona serrata
• Lumbricus terrestris,

23. Name any two potassium-containing fertilizers.

Ans: 

• Muriate of potash or Potassium Chloride (KCl)
• Sulphate of potash (K₂SO₄).

Answer any seven questions out of the given 9 questions of 2 marks each: 7×2=14

24. Write two advantages of Organic farming.

Advantages of organic farming (any two)

• Farmers can reduce their production costs because they do not need to buy expensive chemicals and fertilizers
• Improvement in the fertility status of the soil
• Improves soil structure. In the long term, organic farms save energy and protect the  environment
• It can slow down global warming
• Fewer residues in soil

25. Define the term Crop Rotation.

Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of dissimilar or different types of crops in the same area in sequenced seasons. It is done so that the soil of farms is not used for only one set of nutrients. It helps in reducing soil erosion and increases soil fertility and crop yield.

26. Enlist major methods of irrigation.

Methods of irrigation:-Irrigation water can be applied to crop lands using one of the following irrigation methods : (any four)

(I) Surface irrigation

• Uncontrolled (or wild or free) flooding method,
• Border strip method,
• Check method,
• Basin method,
• Ring method and
• Furrow method.

(ii) Subsurface irrigation

(iii) Sprinkler irrigation

(iv) Trickle (Drip) irrigation

(v) Matka Irrigation Method

27. Define Post-harvest technology.

Post-harvest technology is an inter-disciplinary “Science and Technique” applied to agricultural produce after harvest for its protection, conservation, processing, packaging, distribution, marketing, and utilization to meet the food and nutritional requirements of the people in relation to their needs.

OR

Post-harvest technology is a set of handling practices and applications that protect the quality of fresh fruits and vegetables from the time of harvest until the time of consumption.

28. Explain the term ‘plant-based bio-pesticides’ with examples.

Plant-based bio-pesticides are naturally occurring plant material that may be crude preparations of the plant parts ground to produce a dust or powder that can be used in full strength or dilute form in a carrier such as clay, talc, or diatomaceous earth.

―Azadirachtin‖ effects the reproductive and digestive processes of the pest. Several plant-based insecticides as nicotinoids, natural pyrethrins, rotenoids, neem products, etc, are used.

29. Name different bee species which produce honey.

Bee species (any two)

• Apis dorsata (The rock- bee)
• Apis indica (The Indian bee)
• Apis florea (The little bee)
• Apis mellifera (The European bee or Italian bee)

30. Define Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a method of pest control that utilizes all suitable techniques of pest control to reduce pest populations and maintain them below the economic injury level.

OR

IPM is also defined as a stable system of crop protection, which, based on the ecological relations within the crop and the environment, combines several methods of pest control in such a way that the pest is prevented from causing economic injury.

31. Enlist value-added products of wheat.

Value-added products of wheat (Any four)

• Bread
• Pasta
• noodles
• crackers
• biscuits
• Semolina (sevian)
• cakes
• Muffins
• Cookies

32. Define vermicomposting.

Vermicomposting is the process of turning organic debris into worm castings. The worm castings are very important to the fertility of the soil. The castings contain high amounts of nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium. Castings contain: 5 times the available nitrogen, 7 times the available potash, and 1 1⁄2 times more calcium than found in good topsoil. It is inexpensive and only takes 2-3 months to produce vermicompost.

Answer any seven questions out of the given 9 questions of 3 marks each: 7×3=21

33. Write three major functions of nitrogen in plants.

Function of nitrogen in plants (Any three)

• N is biologically combined with C, H, O, and S to create amino acids, which are the building blocks of proteins. Amino acids are used in forming protoplasm, the site for cell division, and thus for plant growth and development.
• Since all plant enzymes are made of proteins, N is needed for all of the enzymatic reactions in a plant.
• N is a major part of the chlorophyll molecule and is therefore necessary for photosynthesis.
• N is a necessary component of several vitamins.
• N improves the quality and quantity of dry matter in leafy vegetables and protein in grain crops.

34. Enlist maturity indices for apples.

Maturity indices of apple (Any six)

• Days from full bloom
• Visual (OECD colour charts)
• Calendar date
• Heat unit
• T-Stage
• Fruit retention strength
• Red color
• fruit size
• Firmness (Penetrometer /Fruit presser tester), soluble solids content (SS), Sugar content (Hand Refractometer)
• starch index (Starch content -Iodine test)
• background skin color

35. Discuss the role of maturity in post-harvest management of fruits.

Maturity at harvest is the most important factor that determines storage life and final fruit quality. Immature fruits are more subject to shrivelling and mechanical damage, and are of inferior flavour quality when ripe. Overripe fruits are likely to become soft and mealy with insipid flavour soon after harvest.

Fruits picked either too early or too late in their season are more susceptible to postharvest physiological disorders than fruits picked at the proper maturity.

All fruits, with a few exceptions (such as pears, avocados, and bananas), reach their best eating quality when allowed to ripen on the plant. However, some fruits are usually picked mature but unripe so that they can withstand the postharvest handling system when shipped long-distance.

36. Make a flow chart for milling of pulses.

Steps in milling of pulses

In general, the pulses have to undergo the following unit operations for milling:

• Cleaning and grading
• Drying
• Loosening of husk
• Dehusking
• Splitting
• Polishing

37. Discuss the functions of packaging horticultural produce.

The function of packaging is to contain, to protect the product, to communicate (product identification), and to market the product. (Any three)

A. To contain produce

• i. As an efficient handling unit, easy to handle by one person.
• ii. As a marketable unit. e.g. units with the same content and weight.

B. To protect produce against

• i. Rough handling during loading, unloading, and transport – rigid crate
• ii. Pressure during stacking.
• iii. Moisture or water loss with consequent weight and appearance loss.
• iv. Heat: air flow through crate or box via ventilation holes.
• v. Fumigation is possible through ventilation holes.

C. To communicate

i. Identification: a label with country of origin, volume, type or variety of product, manufacturing and expiry date, etc. printed on it.

D. Marketing, advertising: recognizable trade name and trademark.

• i. To market the product
• ii. Proper packaging will lead to reduced injuries to fruits and vegetables and subsequently to improvement of appearance.
• iii. Standard units (weight, count) of a certain product will increase the speed and efficiency of marketing.
• iv. With reduced costs of transport and handling, stacking and combining of packages into layer units like pallets is possible. A more efficient use of space and reduced losses will lower the marketing costs.
• v. Labels and slots facilitate inspection.

38. Make a list of lawn grasses. Discuss one method for establishing a lawn.

Lawn grasses (Any two)

• a) Cynodon dactylon – Hariyali (or) Arugu (or) Doob grass
• b) Stenotaphrum secundatum -St. Augustine grass or Buffalo grass
• c) Sporobolus tremulus -Chain grass (or) Upparugu
• d) Poa annua -Annual blue grass
• e) Pennisetum clandestinum -Kikuyu grass
• f) Zoisia japonica -Japan grass
• g) Z. matrella -Manila grass
• h) Z. tenuifolia -Korean grass or velvet grass or carpet grass
• i) Cynodon sp. -Bermuda grass (or) Hyderabad grass
• j) Cynodon sp. -Dwarf Bermuda
• k) Festuca sp. -Fescue grass
• l) Paspalum vaginatum -Paspalum grass

Methods of lawn making (Any one)

• Seeding: The most popular grass suitable for seeding is “Doob” grass (Cynodon dactylon). It has a fast spreading mat-forming habit, radially forms roots at the nodes, the foliage is dark green, narrow, with parallel lines. A lawn from seed is thought of only when grass roots are not available. About 30 kg of seed is required for planting one hectare. The soil should be reduced to fine tilth and given a light rolling. The site should be divided into suitable small squares or rectangles. The seeds are mixed with double the quantity of finely sieved soil and should be rolled again and watered liberally with rose can. The seeds take four to five weeks for germination. Care should be taken not to flood the site. For the first few times, the grasses are cut with a scythe. A lawn mower may be used for easy maintenance and for spreading.
• Turfing: The turfs are nothing but pieces of earth with compact grass on them. These turfs should be cut uniformly in squares from a place where the grass is short, compact, and free from weeds. These turfs should be placed on the prepared ground site, side by side and beaten down flat with a turf beater. The cavities in between should be filled with fine soil. The entire turfed area should be rolled and watered liberally. This is the most expensive way of lawn making.
• Turf plastering: The doob grass can be procured in large quantities free from weeds and chopped properly into small bits of 5-7 cm long. Two baskets of chopped grass pieces should be mixed well with one basket each of garden soil and fresh cow dung and a shovel full of wood ash, with the required quantity of water to form a thick, pasty substance. This mixture is then spread uniformly on the surface of a previously wetted perfectly leveled ground to a thickness of at least 2.5cm and watering should be done with a rose can. The next day, the ground should be rolled and the grass should be allowed to spread. The grass will shoot up in a fortnight. To start with, cut with a scythe and after three months, use the lawn mower.
• Dibbling roots: This is the cheapest but time-consuming method. Small pieces of grass roots should be dibbled 10 – 15 cm apart in a leveled ground when it is wet after rain. The roots spread and grow underground in the course of six months, making a fairly compact lawn by frequent mowing, rolling, and watering.

39. Enlist various irrigation methods used in India. Discuss the sprinkler method in brief.

Methods of irrigation:-Irrigation water can be applied to crop lands using one of the following irrigation methods :

• (i)Surface irrigation
• (a)Uncontrolled (or wild or free) flooding method,
• (b)Border strip method,
• (c)Check method,
• (d)Basin method,
• (e) Ring method and
• (f)Furrow method.-
• (ii)Subsurface irrigation
• (iii)Sprinkler irrigation
• (iv)Trickle (Drip) irrigation
• (v) Matka Irrigation Method

SPRINKLER IRRIGATION:-

Sprinkling is the method of applying water to the soil surface in the form of a spray, which is somewhat similar to rain. In this method, water is sprayed into the air and allowed to fall on the soil surface in a uniform pattern at a rate less than the infiltration rate of the soil. This method started at the beginning of this century and was initially limited to nurseries and orchards. In the beginning, it was used in humid regions as a supplemental method of irrigation. This method is popular in developed countries and is gaining popularity in developing countries too.

Rotating sprinkler-head systems are commonly used for sprinkler irrigation. Each rotating sprinkler head applies water to a given area, the size of which is governed by the nozzle 58 size and the water pressure. Alternatively, a perforated pipe can be used to deliver water through very small holes, which are drilled at close intervals along a segment of the circumference of a pipe. The trajectories of these jets provide a fairly uniform application of water over a strip of cropland along both sides of the pipe. With the availability of flexible PVC pipes, the sprinkler systems can be made portable too. Sprinklers have been used on all types of soils on lands of different topography and slopes, and for many crops

40. Define value addition. Discuss preparation of rose water.

Value Addition: Extra value is created over and above the original value of any product. It can apply to products, services, companies, management, and other areas of business. In other words, value addition is an enhancement made by a company/individual to a product or service before offering it to the end customer.

Preparation of Rose Water

• Remove all the rose petals and wash them lightly under lukewarm water.
• Put the petals in a large pot and pour distilled water in it (just enough to cover them and not more).
• Cover it and let the water simmer on low heat until the petals have lost all their color.
• Strain the liquid and discard the petals.
• Store rose water in a glass jar.

41. Discuss advantages of beekeeping.

Advantages of beekeeping (Any three)

• Beekeeping requires less time, money, and infrastructure investments
• Honey and beeswax can be produced from an area of little agricultural value
• The Honey bee does not compete for resources with any other agricultural enterprise.
• Beekeeping has positive ecological consequences. Bees play an important role in the pollination of many flowering plants, thus increasing the yield of certain crops such as sunflowers and various fruits.
• Honey is a delicious and highly nutritious food. By the traditional method of honey hunting, many wild colonies of bees are destroyed. This can be prevented by raising bees in boxes and producing honey at home.
• Beekeeping can be initiated by individuals or groups
• The market potential for honey and wax is high

Answer any three questions out of the given 5 questions of 5 marks each : 3×5=15

42. Enlist the components of Integrated Pest Management. Discuss biological control of pests in detail.

Components of Integrated Pest Management.

Various components and techniques that can be utilized in Integrated Pest Management programmes are as follows:

• Cultural control: Use of resistant varieties of crops is a promising technique in IPM. A  moderate to low level of resistance is best integrated with chemical and biocontrol agents. Crop rotation and sanitation are also used to reduce the pest population to lower levels.
• Mechanical control: Use of screens or barriers, or handpicking in the nursery stage of the crops, and use of light traps to kill egg-laying adults can bring down the population for the other methods to be effective.
• Biological control: Natural enemies are commonly utilized in IPM programs. Emphasis is given to the protection and augmentation of indigenous natural enemies and the recolonisation of those that have been wiped out due to the indiscriminate use of insecticides.
• Chemical control: Minimal use of insecticides is recommended in IPM. The rule of thumb is not to use insecticides unless absolutely necessary. Application methods that do not bring insecticides in contact with natural enemies are favoured in IPM programmes
• Regulatory methods: Plant and animal quarantines by the government and collective eradication and suppression in large areas help in providing long-lasting management. International efforts to suppress noxious pests like locusts have proved fruitful.

Biological control

Biological control is the action of natural enemies (parasites, predators, and pathogens) in maintaining another organism‘s population density at a lower level than would occur in their absence.

Advantages and disadvantages of biological control

• Advantages:- It is a long-term, self-perpetuating control of the target pest. Unlike insecticides, there is no fear of pests developing resistance. There is no fear of environmental pollution. In this method balance of nature in the ecosystem is not disturbed. This is a long-term control method, and the cost of controlling the pest is economical. There is no fear of pest resurgence, as normally happens with the application of insecticides.
• Disadvantages:- Biological control is a long-term process and takes years before natural enemies can be established, and during this period, the pest can cause immense damage. Often, natural enemies fail to establish, leading to the failure of the entire programme. In case of a pest outbreak, biocontrol fails to provide immediate relief. In some cases, a natural enemy also damages some useful animals or plants. Biocontrol doesn‘t provide surety. The projects usually have equal chances of failure or success. 

Biological control of pest includes

• a) Use of Predators: Control of woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum, by Aphelinus mali
• b) Use of Parasitoids
• c) Use of Pathogens: Control of sugarcane stem borers in some states of India by inundative releases of Trichogramma minutum, T. japonicum and T. australicum.

43. What is the benefit of food processing? Discuss the process of Jam and Jelly preparation. 5

BENEFITS OF FOOD PROCESSING (Any one)

• To reduce wastage and losses: The Fruit and vegetable industry is the backbone of the horticulture industry, as it takes care of all possible waste that occurs despite improvements in the distribution and marketing of fresh produce.
• To handle glut: Produce during glut season is utilized for making different processed products, thus, fruit processing helps in reducing wastage and handling excess produce during glut season.
• To stabilize farm prices and income: It stabilizes farm prices by utilizing the excess produce in value addition to provide additional income to the farmers.
• To utilize marketable surplus: Processing utilizes marketable surplus as well as cull and deformed produce, to ensure remunerative returns to the growers.
• To generate employment: Processing of fruits and vegetables, being a labour-intensive process, helps to generate both direct and indirect employment for the masses.
• To add variety to the diet, Value addition/processing makes the food more attractive and palatable.
• To ensure nutritional security.
• To earn foreign exchange through the export of processed fruit and vegetable products.

PROCESSING OF JAM (Discussion of the following points)

• Selection of fruit:- Fully ripe fruit should be harvested for Jam making. Jam is the best fruit for Jam making. Pineapple, carrot, strawberry, banana, peach, and pear are also used for jam making.
• Washing/Cleaning of fruit:- Fruit should be cleaned with clean water
• Preparation of Fruit:- Fruit should be peeled and remove the core material for Jam making.
• Blanching
• Cooking with Sugar:- Fruit pulp starts cooking with 1/3 quantity of sugar. After some time, add the remaining sugar
• Adding Citric Acid:- For the enhancement of the test, citric acid should be added at 103 °C.
• Judging of End-Point:-
• a) Sheet or Flake test
• b) Temperature:- 105⁰C
• c) . TSS:- 68-70%
• d) Weight Test:- If the total weight of the jam is 1.5 times more than the sugar weight, the jam is prepared.
• 8) Packing:- Jam should be filled in a glass jar
• 9) Storage:- Jam should be stored in a dry and cool place.

PROCESSING OF JELLY (Discussion of the following points)

• 1) Selection of fruit:
• 2) Washing/Cleaning of fruit:- Fruit should be cleaned with clean water.
• 3) Blanching:-
• 4) Extraction of fruit juice:- For jelly making, juice is extracted after blanching.
• 5) Pectin Test:- a) Jelmeter test, b) Alcohol Test:-
• 6) Cooking juice with sugar:- Start heating with 1/3 quantity of sugar. After some time, add the remaining sugar.
• 7) Adding Citric Acid:- For enhancement of taste, citric acid should be added at 103^oC temperature.
• 8) Judging of End-Point:-
• a) Drop test:- A drop of the concentrated mass is poured into a glass containing water. The settling down of the drop without disintegration denotes the end point
• b) Temperature:- 105.5⁰C
• c) TSS:- 65%
• d) Weight Test:- If total weight of jam is 1.5 time is more than sugar weight, jam is prepared
• 9) Packing:- Jam should be fill in glass jar.
• 10) Storage:- Jam should be stored at dry and cool place

44. Discuss in detail the methods of vermicomposting.

Methods of vermicomposting (Discussion on the following points)

1) Selection of site and bed preparation. Shade is required for composting.

• Bed Size:- 40-50×3-4×3-4 fit

2) Preparation of Vermicompost

• Vermibed (vermes= earthworms; bed= bedding) is the actual layer of good moist loamy soil placed at the bottom, about 15 to 20 cm thick above a thin layer (5 cm) of broken bricks and coarse sand. 
• Earthworms are introduced into the loamy soil, which the worms will inhabit as their home. 150 earthworms may be introduced into a compost pit of about 2m x 1m x 0.75m, with a vermibed of about 15 to 20 cm thick.
• Handful-lumps of fresh cattle dung are then placed at random over the vermibed. The compost pit is then layered to about 5 cm with dry leaves or preferably chopped hay/straw or agricultural waste biomass. For the next 30 days the pit is kept moist by watering it whenever necessary.
• The bed should neither be dry or soggy. The pit may then be covered with coconut or Palmyra leaves or an old jute (gunny) bag to discourage birds.
• Plastic sheets on the bed are to be avoided as they trap heat. After the first 30 days, wet organic waste of animal and/or plant origin from the kitchen or hotel or hostel or farm that has been pre-
• digested is spread over it to a thickness of about 5 cm. This can be repeated twice a week.
• All these organic wastes can be turned over or mixed periodically with a pickaxe or a spade
• Regular watering should be done to keep the right amount of moisture in the pits. If the weather is very dry it should be dampened periodically.

3) Harvesting of Vermicompost

The compost is ready when the material is moderately loose and crumbly, and the colour of the compost is dark brown. It will be black, granular, lightweight, and humus-rich. In 60 to 90 days (depends up on the size of the pits), the compost should be ready as indicated by the presence of earthworm castings (vermicompost) on the top of the bed. Vermicompost can now be harvested from the bin/pit.

To facilitate separating the worms from the compost, stop watering two to three days before emptying the beds. This will force about 80 per cent of the worms to the bottom of the bed. The worms can also be separated by using sieves/meshes. The earthworms and the thicker material, which remains on top of the sieve, goes back in the bin and the process starts again. The smell of the compost is earth-like. Any bad odour if formed is a sign that fermentation has not reached its final goal and that the bacterial processes are still going on. A musty smell indicates the presence of mold or overheating, which leads to loss of nitrogen. If this happens, aerate the heap better or start again, adding more fibrous material and keeping the heap drier. The compost is then sieved before being packed. 

The harvested material should be placed in a heap in the sun so that most of the worms move down to the cool base of the heap In the two or four pit system, watering should be stopped in the first chamber so that worms will automatically move to another chamber where the required environment for the worms are maintained in a cyclic manner and harvesting can be done continuously in cycles.

45. Discuss the status and importance of organic farming and suggest how it can be promoted.

Present Status of organic farming (Any two)

• The total area under organic certification in India is 1.49 million ha
• Total Organic production in India – 1.35 Million tonnes
• The states with the largest area under organic certification is Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan
• India‘s First organic state- Sikkim (Declared on Jan 18,2016); Second organic state-Uttarakhan
• The country with the largest area under organic farming– Australia (27.15 Mha
• The country with highest number of organic producers in the world :- India (More than 30 per cent of world‘s organic producers are in India)
• India‘s rank in terms of organically cultivated area is 15th
• National Organic Farming Research Institute (NOFRI) in Sikkim (February 2016)
• National Centre of Organic Farming, Ghaziabad, UP (2004)
• India‘s First Organic Farming University going to be set up in Vadodara, Gujarat
• Largest exported organic product in India- Oilseeds (50%)> Processed food products>Cereals & millets> Tea>Pulses>Spices

Importance of Organic Farming (Any two)

• Organic manures produce optimal conditions in the soil for high yields and good quality crops
• They supply the entire nutrients required by the plant (NPK, secondary, and micronutrients
• They improve plant growth and physiological activities of plants.
• They improve the soil physical properties such as granulation and good tilt, good giving good aeration easy rot penetration and improved water holding capacity.
• They improve the soil chemical properties, such as supply and retention of soil nutrients, and promote favorable chemical reactions.
• They reduce the need for purchased inputs.
• Most of the organic manures are wastes from byproducts that accumulate loads of pollution
• Organic fertilizers are considered complete plant food
• Organically grown crop are believed to provide more healthy and nationally superior food for man and animals that those grown with commercial fertilizers.
• Organically grown plants are more resistant to disease and insects, and hence only a few chemical sprays or other protective treatment are required.
• There is an increasing consumer are willing to pay more for organic foods.
• Organic farming helps to avoid chain reaction in the environment for chemical spray and dusts.
• Organic farming helps to prevent environmental degradation and can be used to regenerate degraded areas. 
• Since the basic aim is diversification of crops, much more secure income can be obtained that when they rely on only one crop or enterprise. The Government of India is promoting organic farming through various schemes like

• National Project on Organic Farming
• National Horticulture Mission
• Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana
• National Food Security Mission promoting the use of Biofertilizer
• ICAR Contribution in Promoting Organic Farming

46. What is post-harvest management? Discuss the different steps involved in PHM of mangoes.

Post-harvest management: Post-harvest management includes the processes done immediately after harvesting the produce, including cooling, cleaning, sorting, and packing. The instant a crop is removed from the ground or separated from its parent plant, it begins to deteriorate. Therefore, Postharvest treatments are given to increase its shelf life and maintain its quality. Thus, post-harvest management largely determines final quality.

Post-harvest management of mangoes

Post-harvest losses can be minimized by adopting certain pre-harvest strategies and post-harvest management/technology. Principal pre-harvest strategy and post-harvest technology for reducing post-harvest losses are as under.

(Discussion on the following points)

• Pre-harvest treatment;
• Proper curing
• Washing, cleaning, and grading;
• Scientific packing
• Pre-cooling
• Treatment: Vapor-heat treatment (VHT) is an accepted quarantine treatment for the export of Mangoes. Irradiation was also done.
• Use of cold storage : Storage at 10 to 13 °C (50 to 55 °F) with 85 to 90% RH, give a shelf life of 14 to 28 days for mature green fruit, depending upon variety. Ripe fruits can be stored at 7 to 8 °C (44.6 to 46.4 °F). Mature green fruits can be stored at room temperature for about 4-10 days, depending upon variety.
• Suitable use of transport and
• Efficient marketing.

Additional Practice Papers

• Class 12 Agriculture PYQ 2024
• Class 12 Agriculture PYQ 2023
• Class 12 Agriculture PYQ 2022
• Class 12 Agriculture Syllabus 2025-26