Std 5 EVS 1 · Chapter 12

12. Food for All

Complete solutions to the Exercise. Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Standard 5 EVS 1.

Exercises

1What’s the solution? The plant in the pot is not growing well.

A plant in a pot needs the same four things a crop needs in a field. Check them one by one:

Sunlight — move the pot to a place where it gets enough light for a part of the day.

Water — give the right amount. Too little dries the plant; too much rots the roots.

Soil — use good soil. If the soil in the pot has become hard or has lost its nutrients, loosen it or change it.

Manure — mix in compost or manure if the soil is poor.

Pests — look under the leaves for insects and remove them.

After making these changes, wait patiently. A plant takes time to recover and grow.

2Use your brain power! What is the purpose of storing foodgrain in our house?

Grain is harvested only once or twice in a year, but we need food every day. So we store grain at home according to our needs, and it is then available to us whenever we need it, in every season.

3Find and correct the incorrect statements.

(a) There is only one method of farming.

Incorrect. Corrected statement: There are several methods of farming.

(b) India is an agricultural country.

Correct. No change is needed.

Incorrect. Corrected statement: Use of improved seeds leads to higher yields.

4Answer the following questions.

(a) What are the advantages of using improved seeds?

Improved seeds give a higher yield and can resist attacks by pests. Some varieties ripen and are ready for harvesting in a shorter time, while some give a good yield even where the supply of water is low.

(b) Which are the modern methods of irrigation? What are their advantages?

The two modern methods used today are drip irrigation and sprinkle irrigation.

Drip irrigationPipes with tiny holes let water drip at the base of each plant. Just the right amount is used and none is wasted. As the soil between the rows stays dry, fewer weeds grow.

Sprinkle irrigationSprinklers spray water over the plants like rain. A large area is covered evenly, and on hot days it also cools the plants.

Both methods give the plants enough water and at the same time save a great deal of it.

In drip irrigation, small tubes or pipes are laid along the rows of plants. These pipes have tiny holes through which water falls drop by drop at the base of each plant, straight onto the roots.

Its benefits are:

Saves water — water reaches only the plant, so almost none is wasted.

Healthier plants — the roots get a steady supply, so the plants grow well and the yield improves.

Fewer weeds — the ground between the rows stays dry, so weeds cannot grow easily and less weeding is needed.

Easy to use — it can be set up both in a small garden and on a large farm.

(d) What are the reasons due to which growing crops are damaged?

Insects and pestsThey attack the crop, spread disease and reduce the yield.

Natural calamitiesDrought, floods and storms damage the standing crop.

Infertile soilSoil without the needed nutrients makes the crop grow slowly and give less.

WeedsUnwanted plants take away the water, sunlight and nutrients meant for the crop.

Improper irrigationToo much or too little water harms the plants.

(e) What is done to avoid the damage to crops?

Crop rotation — a different crop is planted in the field each season.

Pest control — the crop is watched for pests, and pesticides, chemical or organic, are used when needed.

Proper irrigation — drip or sprinkle irrigation prevents both overwatering and waterlogging.

Weeding — weeds are removed regularly.

Improving the soil — compost and manure are added to restore fertility.

(f) What causes the fertility of the soil to diminish?

Wind and water carry away the topsoil, which is the layer rich in nutrients, leaving poorer soil behind. Growing the same crop again and again without giving the soil a chance to recover uses up its nutrients. Improper irrigation lets salt collect in the soil, and using too much chemical fertilizer makes the soil unsuitable for many crops.

(g) What changes has modern technology brought about in the methods of farming?

MachinesTractors and harvesters have made farm work faster and easier.

Improved seedsThey give a higher yield, resist pests, and some ripen sooner or need less water.

Modern irrigationDrip and sprinkle methods use water carefully and prevent waste.

Remote monitoringFarmers can now keep watch over their fields and animals from a distance, saving time and effort.

RoboticsMachines are used for work such as weeding and harvesting.

(h) What methods are used to preserve foodgrain?

Drying — the grain is dried well in the sun and filled into sacks, which are then stacked in the house or, after selling, in warehouses or shops.

Spraying — chemicals are sprayed at the storage place or all around it to keep pests away.

Neem leaves — neem leaves are mixed into the grain.

Protective chemicals — chemicals meant to be mixed with grain are available in the market; their smell drives insects away.

Dry, airy storage — the storage place is kept dry and well aired so that fungus does not form.

(i) How is water made available for farming?

Besides rainwater, water from rivers, lakes and wells is used for irrigation. Larger quantities are stored by building dams and bunds across rivers to hold back the water flowing downstream, which also helps to raise the level of the groundwater. Crops were traditionally watered through canals; today drip irrigation and sprinkle irrigation are used, which give the plants enough water and save a great deal of it at the same time.

5Match the following.

‘A’ Group	Answer
Grain stored in a damp place	Fungus attack
Grain stored in dry air	Prevents growth of fungus on the grain
Adding proper chemicals to the stored grain	Prevents insect infestation

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