ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.

E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Q1 With reference to Pakistan, describe the types of agricultural systems?

Ans.

Q2 (i) What is the difference between small scale subsistence farming and cash crop farming?
Cash Crops Farming Subsistence Crops Farming
1. They are grown on the large scale for sale or They are grown on small scale for personal use
profit.
2. Modern methods and machinery are used Traditional methods and equipments are used.
3. Ploughing in done with tractors and sowing is Ploughing and sowing of seeds are done
done with machines. manually.
4. HYV’s (High Yield variety of Seeds) are used Ordinary or DESI seeds are used which give
which give more output. less output.
5. Water is used from canals or tube wells. Water from wells is used.
6. Chemical fertilizers are used to enrich the Natural manure (Animal Dung) is used to
soil. enrich the soil.
7. Harvesting and threshing are done with Harvesting and threshing are done manually or
machines. with animal power.
8. Pesticides are used and crop production is No pesticides are used and crop production is
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

more and high quality. less and of low quality.

(ii) How do the human inputs of a cash crop farm differ from those of a subsistence farm?

(iii) How can education and training help a small-scale farmer to increase his output?
A small scale farmer (or subsistence farmer) in Pakistan is usually poor and not literate. He
uses age old or traditional methods of farming which gives low yield. Because of poverty he
has no resources to invest in the land. He cannot buy fertilizer or good seeds or pesticides
because he has no money. Because of lack of education he does not know modern and
scientific methods of farming.

A literate farmer makes use of the facilities provided by the department of agriculture or the
credit facilities given by the government by way of loans. The agriculture department prints
booklets and literature for guidance of farmers. Proper knowledge and guidance is needed in
use of chemical fertilizers and insecticides. Only a literate farmer can make use of such
facilities to increase his outputs.

b. (i) State the meaning of the term ‘transhumance’.

(ii) Name one area in Pakistan where transhumance takes place.

 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

(iii) Describe and account for the main features of transhumance in the area you named in (b)
(ii).

Q 3 (i) Describe the main areas of vegetable farming in Pakistan.

The demand of vegetables has become so high due to growing population. The most important
is potato which is about 30 % of total area and Punjab is the main area for its production.
Tomato is another important vegetable and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the main area then Sind
and Baluchistan. Sindh produces 80% Chillies then Punjab and Baluchistan. There are a large
number of vegetable grown in different areas but Punjab is dominant in its production.

(ii) Describe the main areas of vegetable farming in Pakistan.

About 3 % of cultivable area is used for fruit farming in Pakistan. Punjab is the main area
followed by Baluchistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan produces four tropical fruits
namely citrus fruit, mangoes, banana and dates. Dates are commonly grown in the areas of
Baluchistan where Karez system is used like Turbot and Mire Hal. In areas of Sindh it is grown
in Khairpur District. Banana is grown in some parts of Sindh like Hyderabad and Badin (90%). In
Sindh and Punjab there are many areas where mangoes are grown and they are famous in
many parts of the world like Mirpur Khas, Sangarh and Hyderabad in Sindh while Multan,
Bahawalpur and Sargodha in Punjab. Citrus fruits like Oranges are grown in central and eastern
Punjab. In the areas of low temperature in Baluchistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa almond,
apricot and apples are grown like Quetta, Chaman (Baluchistan) and Swat, Dir and Waziristan
(Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Q4 Developments in farming in Pakistan during recent years have included the following:
Use of farms machinery;
Introduction of high yield seeds;
Control of pests and diseases;

i Describe the changes which have taken place in farming processes with the use of farm
machinery.
Some changes have taken place in the farming process with the use of farm machinery. Firstly,
the ploughing and preparation of fields is done with the help of tractors and iron ploughing of
different shapes. Sowing is done with the help of drill machines instead of traditional methods.
Harvesting is still done by employing manual labour, but harvesters have also been used. In the
end threshing, especially of wheat, is done with the help of mechanical threshers. On the
whole the work is done more quickly and efficiently with the help of machines.

ii Describe advantages and disadvantages for farmers and also for Pakistan of the use of
machinery on farms.
Advantages
Advantages of using farm machinery are that the work is done more quickly and efficiently.
Ploughing is deep and fields are prepared in a better manner. Sowing of seeds is in a line which
makes weeding easy. Threshing is also done very quickly and efficiently.

Disadvantages
Disadvantages of using farm machinery are that it creates unemployment in the rural areas.
Unemployment persons try to move to towns to seek jobs. Machinery, spare parts and fuel are
expensive. Many small farmers find the use of machinery beyond their reach and continue
working on traditional methods.

iii Explain why the use of machinery is limited on some farms in Pakistan.
In Pakistan there are a large number of subsistence farmers owing small farms 5-10 acres.
These poor farmers have no resources to buy farm machinery and they use traditional farming
methods. Also machinery can be effectively used on large farms. Therefore, the use of farm
machinery is limited on farms in Pakistan.

Q5a With reference to high Yielding seeds in Pakistan:

i) Name two varieties which are used on farms;
Two varieties of good seeds are Mexi–Pak wheat and Irri-Pak rice.

ii) Describe the methods which have been introduced by the government to increase their
availability for farmers and also to encourage farmers to use them;
The government has set up seeds processing plants in order to supply good seeds to the
farmers. The government provides seeds at subsidised rates. Their usefulness is explained
through media. Model farms have been created by government at many agriculture research
stations to exhibit the effectiveness of good seeds to the farmers.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

iii) Describe the problems which have resulted from their use and the methods required to
overcome the problems.
High yielding varieties of seeds need high doses of fertilizers and good supply of water. These
seeds consume the fertility of soil which becomes unproductive after several successive crops.
As a cure the fertility of the soil can be maintained by using some system of crop rotation.

iv) Describe the methods which have been used to prevent crops from being affected by pests
and diseases.
There are two methods of preventing crops from being affected by pests and diseases.

Firstly, the preventing method is to give a treatment to the seeds before sowing. Treated seeds
can fight the attack of pests and diseases. Secondly, the crops are sprayed with pesticides to
kill pests and control plant disease. The government arranges aerial spraying at subsidised
rates, but mostly ground spraying is done.

bi Describe three other processes that may be carried out before a crop is harvested.

ii What is subsistence farming?

iii What is Cash Crop farming?

 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Iv What is alluvial soil?

Alluvial soil is the soil which is transported and deposited by the rivers on their flood plains and
deltas mainly during floods. Alluvial soil is composed of silt, clay and fine sand particles. It
contains nutrients and minerals.

V Explain why alluvial soil is good for crops growth.

Alluvial soil is good for crop growth because it is easily worked and ploughed. Alluvial soil is
retentive of moisture and helps proper growth of crops. Land can be easily levelled and making
of irrigation channels is easy.
Normally alluvial soils are fertile because nutrients and minerals particles are present.
Alluvial soil is replaced after floods.

WHEAT

Q 6 a(i) Why is an increase in wheat production important?

Ans. Population of Pakistan is increasing at a rapid rate. Pakistan is barely self sufficient in wheat.
An increasing population makes it necessary to increase the food production in the country.
In case of shortage, wheat is to be imported which is a drain on Pakistan’s meagre foreign
exchange reserves. On the other side there is much room to increase the yield I.e. per acre
production of the crop, which is much less as compared with that of developed countries. In
good years wheat export can bring foreign exchange.

(ii) State two natural inputs necessary for wheat production and for each explain importance.

(iii) Explain how human inputs have contributed to the increase in wheat production.
Main human inputs are machinery, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

(iv) The production of wheat in Pakistan has more than double during the past thirty years.
Explain why this increase has taken place.
Production of wheat has more than double during the last 30 years in Pakistan. The reason
for the increase has been the increase in the area under wheat cultivation. The use of high
yield of seeds (Mexi-Pak, Chenab 70) has helped increase the per hectare production. More
water for irrigation was available after the completion of Mangla Dam and Tarbela Dam. Use
of chemical, fertilizer, insecticides and herbicides, use of machinery for ploughing and
threshing and better farm management have helped in the increase of wheat production.

(v) Wheat is an example of a rabi. State the meaning of term ‘rabi crop’ and why it is grown in
this season?

b (i) Name the areas of production and shade the areas on the Pakistan’s map.

(ii) Give one reason to explain why Mexi- Pak wheat is cultivated in the Punjab.
Mexi-Pak wheat is a high yielding of wheat. It is cultivated in order to increase the wheat
production. The fast increasing population necessities greater production of wheat.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Q 7 a. Wheat is the most important cereal crop grown in Pakistan. Over 70% of the total area
under cereals in the Punjab is used for growing wheat.
(i) An important region for the cultivation of wheat in Pakistan is in the Punjab. Describe how
natural inputs favour the cultivation of wheat in this region.

Natural inputs in agriculture are land, soil, climate and water supply. The flat and level land of
the Punjab plain favours wheat cultivation. It helps in the use of machinery as well as in
transport. Soil of Punjab plain is fertile because it is alluvial (Sand, silt, clay, gravel, or other matter
deposited by flowing water, as in a riverbed, floodplain, delta, or alluvial fan. Alluvium is generally considered
a young deposit in terms of geologic time.) Soil brought by large rivers of the Punjab. Mild to cool
winter season of Punjab plain suits the cultivation of wheat which requires cool temperatures
(10 C - 15 C) during the growing period. The network of canals in Punjab plain ensures
irrigation for the wheat crop.

(ii) How and why may production of wheat in the Punjab sometimes be affected by natural
hazards?

Natural hazards affecting the wheat crop are thunderstorm causing rain during the ripening
season and harvesting period in March, April. In the barani areas of Punjab (the Potwar
plateau) wheat is grown with the help of winter rainfall. Wheat crop will be affected if the
winter rainfall is too little or too much than the average amount. Winter frost during the
months of December and January may also affect the crop in its early period of growth.

b. From the information in fig. 2 below and from studies you have made:
Fig. 1
Land degradation and mismanagement
Against of irrigation schemes has led to 4 million
hectares being taken out of production,
forcing hundreds of thousands of

The grain farmers to abandon the land and

migrate to the cities. Water – logging
and salinity caused by misunderstanding
Farmers forced to of how to irrigate land correctly are
Abandon the land being blamed.

P akistan is a country richly endowed,

with good agricultural land, but in
10 years it has gone from being able
to feed itself to one of the world’s largest
importers of grain for its 130 million
In two weeks in November 1997 the
government was forced to buy 800,000
tonnes of wheat from Australia and the
United States to avoid food shortages,
which the previous year had led to riot.
population.

(i) Explain the causes of water logging and salinity.

 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Water logging and salinity is the result of perennial canal irrigation for a long period of time.
Water seeps through the beds and sides of un-lined canals and goes under the ground. It
makes the ground water table to rise gradually. When the ground water is about 1-2 meters
below the land surface, the moisture evaporates on account of the hot sun and salts (which
were dissolved in the moisture) are left behind. In course of time a layer of salt accumulate
on the surface which renders the land unfit for cultivation. This is called “Salinity”. When the
water table further rises and reaches the surface, the land gets fully soaked with water. This
condition is called “Water logging”. It also renders the land unfit for cultivation.

(ii) Describe measures which have been taken to overcome these problems.
The most effective method to overcome the problem of water logging and salinity is to install
tube-well to draw out the ground water. This lowers the water table and the land becomes fit
for cultivation. In Punjab the work of reclamation of the land is given to the department
called WAPDA.

This organization has undertaken projects known as SCARP (Salinity Control and Reclamation
Projects). A number of SCARP projects are working in different areas of the Punjab.

Beside the installation of tube wells, there are other methods also such as lining of canals,
making surface drains to collect the excess front water, planting of eucalyptus trees and
closure of canals. These methods are also being tried at many places.

(iii) Describe some of the problems for Pakistan from having to import large quantities of
wheat.
Pakistan has to spend its precious foreign exchange for the purchase of large amount of
wheat. The money which was to be used for the import of essential items such as machinery,
chemicals, fertilizers, etc. is used to pay wheat imports. Or the money which was to be used
for development projects is diverted to purchase of wheat. Sometimes the government has
to borrow money from the World Bank which increases the burden of foreign loans.

Q 8 a) There are about 04 million farms in Pakistan of which 89 % are smaller the 10 hectares.

i) Why are so many farms small in size?

In Pakistan many farms are in size because of fragmentation. Law of inheritance is an
important factor. Farms are divided and subdivided after the death of owner. Fragmentation
takes place also because parcels of both good and bad land have to be shared. Sale of parts
of the holding and division of small pieces of farm among tenants also leads to
fragmentation.

ii) Why is modernization of a farm made more difficult if it is small?

 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

On a farm it is difficult to use tractors and machinery. Irrigation becomes very difficult
because water has to flow through land belonging to other persons. The owner of a small
farm is usually a poor uneducated peasant. He has little money to buy human inputs
(machinery, fertilizers and pesticides)

iii) What factors, other than size of farms, have contributed to the slow rate of modernization
in agriculture?
The ignorance of the farmer is an important factor for slow modernization of small farms. An
average small farmer lacks modern scientific knowledge. He uses the inherited knowledge of
farming. He does not use good seeds of high yielding varieties, fertilizers in proper amount or
pesticides because of his poverty. Only sometimes he can hire some machinery.

iv) How has the government tried to encourage the use of chemical fertilizers?
In order to encourage the use of fertilizers the government subsidized the price of fertilizers
to popularise them. Model farms on agriculture Research Stations exhibit moderns methods
of cultivation including the use of fertilizers. Use of fertilizers is also encouraged through the
media of radio, TV and newspapers.

b (i) Name a plateau where barani wheat farming takes place.

SUGAR CANE

Table 1 and fig. 2

Year Area in thousand Production in million Provinces Production in 1985

hectares tones Percentage of Percentage of
total production total area.
1995 249 8836 Baluchistan 1.0
1965 492 18668 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 11.6 11.0
1975 631 21242 Punjab 67.5 70.0
1985 913 32140 Sind 19.9 18.9

Q 9 (i) Using the information about sugar cane in Pakistan in Fig. 2 (Insert, below) and table 1
(Insert below), describe the main features of each of the following:
Areas of cultivation
Production

Areas of Cultivation:
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Production:
The production of sugarcane has registered good increase. From 1955 to 1985, the area under
sugarcane and the production have both increased 04 times.
Punjab produces nearby 2/3rd where as Sindh produces about 1/5th of the Sugar crop.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa accounts for 11 % of both the area and production. Because of
geographical difficulties of soil and water, the share of Baluchistan is negligible.

(ii) Describe how the natural outputs (relief, soils, temperature) are suitable for the cultivation
of sugarcane in the areas shown in Fig. 2.

(iii) State and suggest reasons for the times during the year when sugar cane is planted and
harvested in Pakistan.

(iv) Give two reasons to explain why mills for the processing of sugar cane are situated in the
areas of cultivation.

(v) State the main products (excluding white sugar) which are obtained from sugar cane and
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

describe their uses.

Q 10 (i) Explain why human inputs are very important for its successful cultivation in Pakistan.
Human inputs are very important for the cultivation of sugarcane. Sugarcane is an exhaustive
crop and it uses up the fertility of the soil. Therefore plenty of chemical fertilizer is needed.
Sugarcane needs plenty of water. It needs a number of watering during its long growing
season. Perennial canals ensure a good supply of irrigation water. Tube wells are very helpful
to supplement canal water. Pesticides are also used. Harvesting of sugarcane is laborious and
requires hired labour. Good of seeds are to be sown so that a high yield may be obtained.
Therefore human inputs are very important for successful growing of sugarcane.

(ii) State three processes necessary for the cultivation of sugarcane.

Three processes of sugarcane cultivation are sowing, watering and harvesting. Sowing is done
from cuttings which are placed horizontally in well prepared fields. Watering at regular
intervals is necessary and about 25 to 30 watering are required.

Harvesting is done by manual labour using hatchets (cut) or small axes.

(ii) State the form in which it is taken to the Sugar Mill.

After harvesting, the leaves are removed and chopped off from the top. The stalks are tied in
large bundles and are transported by tractors trolleys or by trucks or even by bullock carts to
the nearest sugar mills.

(iii) Explain why sugar mills need to be close to farms sowing sugar cane.
Sugarcane is a bulky commodity. The cost of transporting the cane to the mill will increase if
mills are located at great distance from the farms. Besides, the cane should be crushed soon
after harvesting because sugarcane starts losing weight after it is harvested and recovery of
sugar also decreases if crushing is delayed. Therefore, sugar-mills are to be located close to
farms growing sugarcane.

Q 11 (i) Why is there such a large production of sugar-cane from a small area?
Sugar cane is the stem of a tall plant. It is full of juice which makes it heavy. When harvested it
has great weight and gives high yield per plant as compared to wheat and rice which are
grains. Therefore there is a large production in weight from small area.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

(ii) Name the areas of high sugar-cane production.

There are three main areas of sugarcane production. These are:
1. In Punjab: Doabs especially Rechna Doab and Central Punjab districts of Faisalabad, Sargodha,
Gujranwala and Sialkot.
2. In Sindh: South Central Sindh close to river Indus where good supply of irrigation water is
ensured in Hyderabad and Badin districts.
3. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Charsadda, Peshawar - Mardan region

(iii) Why are these areas suitable for the cultivation of Sugar-Cane?
The areas named in (ii) consist of plain level land with fertile alluvial soil. The soil is sandy loam.
High summer temperature of 25 C – 35 C suits the sugarcane crop.

All these areas are served with a good network perennial canals which ensures sufficient water
for irrigation. Being a summer crop, sugar cane requires several watering during its long
growing season. Summer Monsoon rainfall is an added helpful factor. These conditions favour
the cultivation of sugarcane.

(iv) What happens to sugar cane from the time it is fully grown to when sugar juice is extracted?
Sugarcane is harvested manually. The leaves at the top are cut away and stalks of sugarcane
are tied into bundles and transported by trucks or tractors – trolleys to the nearest sugar mill.
At the sugar mill the cane is cut into small pieces and crushed between heavy rollers to extract
the juices.

(v) Explain why bagasse is an important by product of a sugar-cane factory.

Bagasse is the residue (remains) after the juice is extracted. Bagasse can be used in two ways.
Bagasse is burnt and is used to generate electric power which is used to run the sugar mill.
Secondly, biogases can be used to make chip boards, paper or can be used as animal feed.

(vi) Explain why it is important to increase the production of sugarcane and other agricultural
products in Pakistan.
It is important to increase agricultural production in order to supply the need of food crops for
a fast growing population.

Increased agriculture production will give more income to the farmer. It will increase the GDP
and bring prosperity in the country.

Increased agricultural production will provide more raw materials to agro-based industries
such as textile industry, sugar and leather etc. Progress in industrial sector will give
employment to a large number of people.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Increase in agricultural production will increase exports. Pakistan can earn more foreign
exchange by increasing the export of rice, fresh fruits and vegetables and animal products.

RICE
Q 12 (i) Sate two climatic inputs for rice cultivation:

(ii) How can the yield (production) per hectare of rice be increased?

iii Explain why Rice grown in Kharif season.

Rice needs high temperature i.e., more than 25 C, a hot climate and plenty of water. Rain in
unimportant because canal water irrigation is used. It is sown in the month of May / June and
is harvested in September/ October, and is a kharif crop.

iv Name two of the main areas of production or shade the two areas on the outline map of
Pakistan.
Two main areas of rice production are;

1. Eastern Part of Punjab covering the district of Sialkot, Gujranwala and Shiekhupura.

2. Sindh is another important rice production; area especially the districts of Larkana,
Nawabshah, Hyderabad, Badin, and Thatta are prominent.

V Name the of double rice production.

 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

b (i) Explain why the cultivation of rice is labour –intensive. Refer in your answer to the work
done from planting the seeds to harvest.
Rice cultivation is labour intensive because much manual labour is employed for preparation of
land by deep ploughing, growing of seedlings in a nursery. Especially the transplanting of rice
seedlings by hand in well prepared and flooded rice fields needs much labour.

Female labour is employed in large number who sow rice seedling in ankle deep water.
Weeding g and harvesting is also done manually. Rice crop need several watering and manual
labour is required for irrigation as well as for drinking water. Using fertilizer for good growth
and pesticides for killing insects also needs manual labour.

(ii) Name a type of machine that can be used for rice cultivation instead of human labour.

C (i) Study the list below:

Soil Fertilizer Rain Irrigation
Seeds Sunshine Pesticides Drainage
Knowledge

(ii) Choose two physical inputs from the list above. Explain how these can increase rice yields.

(iii) Choose two human inputs from the list above. Explain how these can improve rice yield.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Live Stock Farming

Q 13 (i) In what ways are the uses of cattle and buffalo in Pakistan similar?
Both cattle (bullocks and cows) and buffalo provide meat, milk and hides. Both produce
manure and are used as draught animals on farms i.e., working Persian wheels for lifting
water, ploughing and pulling carts. Leather is an important by-product and it earns much
foreign exchange. Bones are also used in many ways.

(ii) For what purposes are buffalo more important to Pakistan than cattle?
Buffalo are more important than cattle in the matter of milk production and also for meat.
About 70% of milk production in Pakistan comes from buffaloes. Male buffaloes, old females
and sometimes animals that have gone dry are slaughter. Buffaloes supply more meat than
cattle.

(ii) Why do most farmers want to own a pair of bullocks?

Bullocks are very useful for draught purposes i.e. for the farm work. Ploughing, harvesting,
threshing in traditional way, lifting water and carrying loads on carts are some of the works
mainly done by bullocks. Poor farmers cannot afford to buy machinery and most fields are too
small for tractors. Traditionally farmers take pride in owing and keeping a pair of bullocks. They
consider it a matter of honour and prestige.

(iii) Explain the importance of cattle to Pakistan. In your answer you should refer to the different
breeds and type.
Cattle (cows and bullocks) are of great importance to Pakistan. They used as work animals on
farms and they provide milk, meat and leather.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

Cow dung is used as manure. In Pakistan the quality of cattle is generally poor but some good
breeds are found. Bhangari and Dhani are good work animals. Red Sindhi and Sahiwal breeds
are known for milk. Thari (from Tharparkar) are good for both draft and for milk.

However, cattle come next to buffaloes and goats in the production of meat. In rural areas
keeping a pair of bullocks on farms and cows for milk is a sign of status and prestige for the
farmer. Cattle are mostly found in Punjab and Sindh in the canal irrigation areas in Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa. A number of cattle farms have been established in order to improve the quality
of cattle.

(iv) Name the main areas where buffaloes are found in Pakistan. Explain why they are found in
the area found in the areas you have named.

(v) Explain why buffaloes are important to Pakistan.

Buffaloes are main source of milk and meat in Pakistan. About 70% of the milk comes from
buffaloes. Male buffaloes and old female buffaloes are slaughtered for meat. The number of
buffaloes is steadily increasing in Pakistan.

C The number of goats in Pakistan has increased from 16 million in 1973 to 30 million in 1985
and then to 40 million in 1993.
(i) Explain why goats are so important in Pakistan.
Goats are important to Pakistan because they provide meat, skin and milk although the
quantity of milk is small.
Mountain goats give hair special kind of woollen cloth. Angora goats have been introduced. In
Pakistan goat’s meat is preferred to sheep’s meat or beef.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

(ii) Explain why the number of goats has increased.

The number of goats has increased because with the increase in population and better
standard of living, the demand for mutton has also increased. Goats are easily kept in hilly as
well as plain areas. The skin is used for the manufacture of leather garments which is an export
item.

(iii) Name three processes (activities) carried out by farmers in the keeping of goats.
Three processes used by farmers in keeping goats are:
1. Feeding: Goats are taken out for grazing. In some places goats are stall-fed.
2. Breeding
3. Milking

(iv) Why does the government of Pakistan encourage the keeping of stall-fed goats?
The government encourages stall-feeding of goats and keeping them in an enclosure. In
outside grazing goats over graze the grass. The soil gets exposed and it causes soil erosion.
Therefore the farmers are advised to keep goats in enclosures on farms and hand–feed them.

(v) How can livestock farming be improved in Pakistan?

Livestock farming can be improved in many ways. Firstly, breeds can be improved by selective
cross breeding on scientific lines.
Secondly, the animals should be properly fed for which cultivation of better fodder crops is
necessary.
Availability of proper veterinary facilities and medicines is important. Vaccination against
diseases and treatment in case of illness will improve the health of livestock. Research in
diseases, feeds and breeding should be carried out. Loans and subsidies may provide to
livestock farmers.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

b. Study photographs B and C which show parts of one of the many buffalo farms in the area
of Karachi called Buffalo (Cattle Colony).
(i) How can you tell from photograph B that this is a dairy farm?

Photograph shows cattle shed in the background. In the foreground there is a tank to provide
drinking water for animals. A number of large milk cans are seen in the photographs which
suggest that the photograph is that of a dairy farm.

(ii) Why is a large supply of water necessary for this farm?

Buffalo is a water loving animal. Therefore it is a common sight in Punjab village that
buffaloes are sitting in shallow water of a canal or pond. In the shed animals are given a good
shower at least twice a day. Buffalo is a large animal. It needs plenty of water to drink. Water
is also needed to keep the floor of dairy farm clean. Therefore the dairy farm needs a good
supply of water.

(iii) No fodder crops are grown on this farm. How are farms like this supplied with food for the
buffalo?
Fodder (Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle,
goats, sheep, horses, chickens etc.) is grown in the nearby canal – irrigated areas of districts of
Hyderabad, Badin and Thatta. Fodder is transported in trucks or tractor trolleys to the cattle
farms located near Karachi. In the suburbs of Karachi neither the soil is fit for farming, not
there is irrigation water available to grow fodder.

(iv) Explain the importance of the buffalo farms to Karachi.

Karachi is a large city with the population of about 14 million. To supply milk to the large
population makes it necessary to set up dairy farms in the suburbs of Karachi. Milk is
perishable commodity. It cannot be transported over long distances. Buffaloes give more milk
than cows and they account for 70 % of milk production in the country. Therefore buffalo
farms are built in the suburbs of Karachi. The government has provided land and allocated an
area for this purpose away from residential colonies of the city. The area is known as buffalo
colony. Old animals or those which stop giving milk are slaughtered for beef for large number
in Karachi. Hides and skin of buffalos are supplied to the leather industry of Pakistan. Drugs
are used for fuel purpose in the market for domestic and commercial use.
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

LAND REFORMS
The hectare is a unit of area defined as 10,000 square meters, which is primarily used in the
measurement of land.

Q 14 (i) Why were land reforms introduced in Pakistan and how far were they successful in
consolidating the size of large holdings?
The aim of land reforms was to redistribute land more equally and fairly by fixing a ceiling on
land holdings. It was found that the big landlords had no incentive (encouragement) to
increase the yield because their land was worked by tenant’s cultivators. The poor small
subsistence farmers had no resources to invest in order to get a high yield. The idea of land
reforms was to increase the owner cultivated area in the country by providing economic
holding to each farmer. Therefore excess land was to be taken away from big landlords and
given to farmers who can work with interest and increase the yield. Land reforms protected
the tenants from eviction (to put out (a tenant, for example) by legal process; expel).

(ii) Explain how land tenure (ownership) and size of holdings have limited the outputs and
yields from agricultural land in Pakistan.
In Pakistan the land tenure (ownership) and area of farms show a strange feature. About 7 %
of land owners (big land lords) own about 53 % of the land. The remaining 47 % (less than
half) of cultivated area own is owned by 93 % of farms owners. It clearly means that there is
very large number of poor farmers owning very small farms. The poor small farmer cannot
have high yield and output because his methods are old and traditional. He does not have
money to invest in human inputs.
On the other hand, the big landlords give out their land to tenants under share cropping
system. Tenant cultivator does not give high yield or output, because if he increases the
 ISLAMIA ENGLISH SCHOOL, ABU DHABI, U.A.E
Subject: Pakistan Studies Unit 5: Agriculture
Class: IX

output, it will be shared by the landlord. Therefore, in both cases, whether it is a small farmer
or a landlord, the yield and output remains low.

(iii) Explain how land tenure (ownership) and size of holdings have limited the outputs and
yields from agricultural land in Pakistan.
In Pakistan the land tenure (ownership) and area of farms show a strange feature. About 7 %
of land owners (big land lords) own about 53 % of the land. The remaining 47 % (less than
half) of cultivated area own is owned by 93 % of farms owners. It clearly means that there is
very large number of poor farmers owning very small farms. The poor small farmer cannot
have high yield and output because his methods are old and traditional. He does not have
money to invest in human inputs.
On the other hand, the big landlords give out their land to tenants under share cropping
system. Tenant cultivator does not give high yield or output, because if he increases the
output, it will be shared by the landlord. Therefore, in both cases, whether it is a small farmer
or a landlord, the yield and output remains low.

(iv) What are the advantages of land consolidation?

Land consolidation means that the land belonging to one farmer should be located at one
place in one compact block. The situated in the country is that usually a farmer owns several
plots of land located at different places. The farmer waste time and energy on working at
scattered plots. The government advises the farmer to exchange or interchange their
holdings in such a manner that their holdings may lie at one spot covering a large area. This
also helps use of machinery and makes watering of fields easier.

(v) Describe and explain the importance for tenant farmers of the reforms which have been
introduced to overcome the problems of the size of farm holdings.
Pakistan inherited a land tenure system based on feudalism. It was found at the time of
partition that 7% of land owners owned 53% of the land. The remaining 47% of land was
owned by 93 % of land owners. This meant that there were a very large number of small
farmers. The size of many farms was so small that it could hardly support a farming family.
The big landlords had no incentives to cultivate the land and increase the productivity of the
land. They gave out their land to tenants under share cropping system.
Land Reforms introduced in 1959 and 1973. In 1959 land reforms, the ceiling of ownership
was placed at 200 hectares of irrigated land and 400 hectares of un-irrigated land. In 1972
the ceiling was reduced to 60 hectares of irrigated land and 120 hectares of un-irrigated land.
The excess land was to be taken away by Government and was given to landless peasants on
easy instalment.