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Chapter Analysis
Beginner8 pages • EnglishQuick Summary
This chapter narrates the journey of a bajra seed from its early days in a farmer's box in 1940 to modern-day farming challenges. Through the seed’s perspective, it highlights the cultural and technological changes in farming over time. The chapter discusses the effects of modernization on farming practices, the environment, and community life in an Indian village.
Key Topics
- •Traditional farming practices
- •Modernization of agriculture
- •Impact of chemical fertilizers
- •Cultural changes in village life
- •Challenges faced by contemporary farmers
- •Community and family dynamics in farming
- •Effects of economic pressures on agriculture
- •Sustainability and environmental concerns
Learning Objectives
- ✓Understand the transition from traditional to modern farming methods.
- ✓Identify the socio-economic challenges faced by farmers today.
- ✓Recognize the impact of agricultural changes on community life.
- ✓Explain the environmental effects of modern farming practices.
- ✓Reflect on the concept of progress in the context of agriculture.
- ✓Discuss the significance of conserving traditional seeds and methods.
Questions in Chapter
Are rotis made in your home? From which grains are they made?
Page 175
Have you eaten roti made from bajra or jowar? Did you like these?
Page 175
What is done in your house to protect grains and pulses from insects?
Page 175
Which are the different festivals related to farming, celebrated in different seasons?
Page 175
What can happen to Hasmukh’s farm after some years?
Page 179
What questions come to your mind about farmers and farming?
Page 179
Visit a farm near your area and talk to the people there. Write a report.
Page 179
Damjibhai’s son Hasmukh chose to become a farmer like his father. Why didn't Paresh choose farming?
Page 179
What is your understanding of ‘progress’?
Page 178
Additional Practice Questions
Why did farmers shift from traditional crops like bajra and jowar to cotton and wheat?
mediumAnswer: Farmers shifted to crops like cotton and wheat because they yielded better prices in the market, which promised more profitability.
What are the consequences of using chemical fertilizers and insecticides on soil quality?
hardAnswer: The use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides leads to soil degradation and loss of fertility, making it challenging to grow crops effectively.
Discuss the cultural significance of food festivals related to farming in your region.
mediumAnswer: Food festivals celebrated during harvest seasons often involve preparing traditional dishes and signify the joy of a good harvest, enhancing community bonding.
Explain why the seed in Damjibhai’s wooden box felt uncertain about modern progress.
hardAnswer: The seed felt uncertain about modern progress because it saw the decline in traditional farming practices and community-centric living, leading to environmental and social issues.
How do technological advancements in farming, like tractors and electric pumps, impact traditional labor?
mediumAnswer: Technological advancements reduce the need for traditional labor, which can lead to unemployment among farmworkers who relied on manual farming methods.