Find out whether plough agriculture, irrigation and transplantation are prevalent in your state. If not, are there any alternative systems in use?
Plough agriculture spread in fertile alluvial river valleys such as the Ganga and Kaveri from around the sixth century BCE. The iron-tipped ploughshare was used to turn the alluvial soil in areas with high rainfall. Transplantation was introduced in parts of the Ganga valley to dramatically increase paddy production, though it involved back-breaking work. Irrigation through wells and tanks was commonly used, while canals were less common.
However, these practices were not prevalent everywhere. In semi-arid areas like parts of Punjab and Rajasthan, plough agriculture was not adopted till the twentieth century. In the hilly tracts of the north-eastern and central parts of the subcontinent, cultivators practised hoe agriculture, which was much better suited to the terrain. Thus, alternative systems existed depending on geographical conditions.
Explanation
This question tests the student's understanding of regional variations in agricultural practices. The answer draws from the textbook's discussion in section 5.2 'Strategies for increasing production'. The context clearly explains that while plough agriculture, irrigation, and transplantation spread in fertile river valleys, semi-arid regions and hilly tracts had different agricultural systems suited to their terrain. Students should note that the textbook mentions hoe agriculture as an alternative system in hilly areas, and delayed adoption of plough agriculture in semi-arid regions like Punjab and Rajasthan.