CLASS - 5 // SUBJECT - EVS // Chapter 19 // A Seed Tells A Farmers Story //

 

Chapter 19

A Seed Tells A Farmers Story

 

1.     Are rotis made in your home? From which grains are they made?
Ans. Yes, rotis are made in my home. They are usually made from wheat and sometimes from maize.

 

2.     In your house what is done to protect grains and pulses from insects?
Ans. My mother keeps grains and pulses in air-tight containers. Sometimes, she dries them in the sun.

 

3.     Which are the different festivals related to farming celebrated in different seasons? Find out more about any one such festival and write in your notebook— The name of the festival, in which season is it celebrated, in which states of India, what special foods are made, is it celebrated only at home with the family, or together with many people?
Ans. There are many festivals related to farming, e.g. Lohri, Holi, Baisakhi, etc. Let us take example of Lohri. Lohri is celebrated in the winter season; on 13th January, in Punjab. It is celebrated by different names in different states. It is celebrated as Poiigal in Tamil Nadu. It is celebrated as Yella Bella in Karnataka. Different special dish are made in different states. Sesame seeds and jaggery are’commonIn almost all states. In some states it is celebrated with many people; like in Punjab. In some states it is celebrated in family only. Kite flying is done in Gujarat on this day.

 

4.     Find out about the crops—cereals, vegetables, pulses—that are grown in your area. Of those, is there anything that is famous across the country?
Ans. Many crops like wheat, maize, rice, potatoes, mangoes, litchi, etc. are grown in my area. Of these litchi is famous across the country.

5.    The bajra seed saw differences in the way Damjibhai and Hasmukh did farming
(for example, in irrigation, ploughing, etc.). What were these differences?
Ans. Damjibhai did farming in a different way than how Hasmukh did.
Damjibhai followed the traditional methods of farming. He used bullocks to plough the field. He stored grains to be used as seeds. Hasmukh, on the other hand started using new methods of farming. He bpught a tractor to plough the field. He also bought a motorcycle. He stopped grdwing those crops which did not fetch good price in the market. He need not store grains to be used as seeds because he could buy seeds from the market. Expensive fertilizers were used for farming.

6.    Hasmukh said, “With profits from our fields, we can progress”. What is your understanding of ‘progress’?
Ans. Progress means a better lifestyle. People get better houses to live in. They get more nutritious food to eat. Children get better schooling. Houses have all modern gadgets like TV, fridge, radio, etc. People may buy a vehicle for personal transport.

7.    What kind of progress would you like to see in your area?
Ans. I would like to see following progress in my area:
(a) Better roads
(b) All around cleanliness with no overflowing drain
(c) A good public transport system
(d) A big park and playground where children can play and others can do some recreation.

8.    What can happen to Hasmukh’s farm after some years?
Ans. Hasmukh’s farm will lose fertility after some years because Hasmukh is using chemical fertilizers. Hasmukh is in danger of falling in debt trap as he has taken loans to buy tractor, seeds and fertilizers. In future he may not be able to properly work on his farm.

9.     The seeds were not sure that what Hasmukh was talking about was really progress? What do you feel?
Ans. I think the seeds were correct in their thinking. New method of agriculture tend to overexploit the soil and other resources. This leads to loss of fertility of soil which may result in the land becoming barren. Too much irrigation depletes the groundwater and thus leaves little water for future. A machine can do the work of many people which leaves many people jobless. Apparently it looks like progress, but it is not the real progress.

 

10.            What would happen if all the farmers were to use only one kind of seed and grow only one kind of crop?
Ans. It will be a scary situation. We cannot survive by eating just one kind of crop. We need dal and sabji, along with rice. We cannot eat a diet which contains only rice or only chapatti. We need many other food to satisfy our taste or also our nutritional needs.