How would income and employment increase if farmers were provided with irrigation and marketing facilities?
If farmers are provided with irrigation facilities, they can cultivate multiple crops in a year. For instance, a farmer with unirrigated land can grow a second crop like wheat during the rabi season if water is available through wells or canals. This creates more employment as one hectare of wheat can provide employment to two people for 50 days. Construction of dams and canals generates employment within the agricultural sector and reduces underemployment.
With better marketing facilities like transportation and storage, farmers can sell their surplus produce in nearby towns. Government investment in rural roads allows mini-trucks to reach everywhere, enabling farmers to transport and sell their crops. This creates productive employment not just for farmers but also for people in services like transport and trade. Thus, both income and employment opportunities increase significantly.
Explanation
This question is from the NCERT textbook discussion on 'How to Create More Employment?' The context uses Laxmi's example to show how irrigation enables multiple cropping, which increases employment days per hectare. Marketing facilities (transport, storage, rural roads) create employment in allied services. The answer must connect both irrigation AND marketing to income and employment generation. Key terms to highlight: underemployment, productive employment, transport, trade.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Explain how irrigation enables multiple cropping and increases employment days in agriculture
Step 2: Explain how marketing facilities (transport, storage, roads) create employment in services
Step 3: Conclude with overall impact on income and employment