Chapter 1.3 The Call of the Soil Solutions

Definitely planting and growing more crops a year need to be the target of the farmers but that should not be done at the cost of health hazards due to spraying of chemicals on the plants, using hybrid seeds and most importantly, forgetting our own tradition. Progress is always welcome but it should go hand in hand with safety of health and environment, importance of tradition and sentiment and last but not the least care for the rich biodiversity of our land.

Question (ii)
Describe in 150 words your experience similar to the writer’s when you pursued something and reached your goal.
Answer:
I believe “A man without an aim is like a ship without a radar”. I have been taught from my childhood to set a goal for myself. The choice of my ambition was left to me only and I was never forced to do anything.

I had multiple interests like playing football, drawing / painting and also writing about my various experiences. I started writing blogs on different social topics of my interest as well as of my own experiences in multiple walks of life. Gradually, after getting positive responses to my blogs, I got the confidence of writing short stories which were quite well accepted too by my friends and relatives. That gave me immense faith to choose writing as my profession.

One day, I saw an advertisement of ‘Crossword’ bookstore asking young writers to take part in a story-writing competition. About forty stories will be published as a book titled “ I want to be an author” without thinking twice, I took part in the competition and the rest is history. Today, I am one of those forty-one young story-tellers.

Question (iii)
The writer goes in search of an invaluable indigenous variety of seeds. List three reasons for the importance of keeping records of our indigenous agricultural practices.
Answer:
The reasons for the importance of keeping records of our indigenous agricultural practices are:
(i) (a) Reducing environmental stress by channelling water from mountain peaks to areas of demand and this practice has been going on for centuries.
(b) Using natural fertilizers made from cow dung, cow urine, evaporated cane juice of raw sugar and water to save sick plants. This practice has been mentioned in the vedas.
(ii) Traditional techniques like crop rotation, erosion prevention, systematic use of composts and manures lead to natural agricultural practices and promise better yields.
(iii) (a) Chemical fertilizers lead to degraded soil condition, deterioration in the health of quality of crops and livestock.
(b) Organic agriculture combined with tradition, innovation and science, benefits the health of the soil, people and the environment.

Question (iv)
Write a blog in about 100 to 150 words on organic farming.
Answer:
Organic Farming – A Blessing or Curse

Early 20th century saw the birth of organic farming which is an alternative to agricultural system in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices. It encourages the use of naturally occurring substances and strictly prohibits synthetic substances. Organic farming allows organically made fertilizers like compost manure, green manure and bone meal manure. Though they do not stop the use of some naturally occurring pesticides but synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are strongly prohibited. They are in favour of techniques like crop rotation, biological pest control, mixed cropping and nurturing insect killers.

Organic farming methods are internationally regulated since it has proved advantageous for health and food safety, food security, soil fertility and most importantly sustainability and biodiversity. That is why, the demand for organic farming has been steadily growing and is being encouraged all over the world. Organic farmers believe that agriculture was practised for thousands of years without the use of chemicals. If it was possible then, nothing should be impossible now.

Question (v)
Write a short paragraph in about 120 words, to be used as Counter-View for the following topic. ‘Buy a bigger cloth for your coat’.
View Section:
(a) We cannot survive by the dictum ‘Cut your cloth according to your coat’ in today’s world.
(b) In the modern world we should ‘Think Big’
(c) Think of increasing your income instead of reducing your needs.
(d) We cannot deny ourselves, what the new world offers us.
Answer:
Counter-view:
Today’s world is full of attractions. But we need to he careful about spending according to our means. We have to be prudent (wise) enough to save for the rainy days so that we don’t have to beg or borrow during emergency. It is, of course, essential to think big but at the same time over-ambition should not lead us to a point of no-return.

We should be well-aware of our capabilities and try to reach our goal judiciously instead of foolishly increasing our demands. We must make “slow but steady wins the race”, the motto of our life. Even if the new world has lots of offer, we must develop the quality of patience to wait for the right thing to come at the right time.

Question (vi)
‘Organic farming is the need of the time’. Write your views in favour and against the statement.
Answer:

Views	Counter-views
1. Reduced exposure to pesticides and chemicals since natural fertilizers are used.	(a) Some organic pesticides can actually have a worse environmental impact, contrary to the popular belief.
2. One pays more for organic food but it is worth for a healthier diet.	(b) Organic products are costlier since production per unit is less than conventional farming.
3. Better effect on the environment by reducing global warming.	(c) Organic farming may reduce global warming but because of more use of land, this practice is not sustainable with a growing world population.
4. Organic food has better taste and more nutrition since they are given more time to develop and are not pumped with artificial things.	(d) Organic food generally gets spoilt faster since no preservatives are used to maintain their freshness and mishanding of products may deprive the market of their availability. Question (vii) Appeal your classmate to say ‘No to Junk Food’. Write an appeal to prefer organic food over junk food. Answer: Attention! Attention! Attention! My Dear Friends Do you know what you’re putting in your mouth? You surely know, you are what you eat. I’m here to advise you not to use your stomach as a trash can! Please Say ‘No’ To Junk Food. But, what is a junk food? They’re all your favourites – yes, they are ! French fries, chicken nuggets, nachos, taco burgers, chips, chocolates, pizzas, cakes – Ah! all are mouth-watering, aren’t they? But they are also slow-poisoning us everyday causing obesity, various liver diseases, diabetes, blood pressure at a very young age — the list is long but the choice is yours! Remember: Healthy organic foods bless us but junk foods mess us. Junk food which is rich in calories, fat, sugar and salt are yummier, I do agree with you. But are you ready to take such a big risk of spoiling your health and youth? Eat fresh, local and seasonal food because ‘health is wealth’, my dear friends! Friends, you must eat to live and not live to eat. Let’s all have a healthy mind in a healthy body. It is my call, your call – our call! (A6) Projects: Question (i) Plant the seed of a flower or fruit of your choice in a pot or in your garden. Note its growth every day and maintain a diary recording its progress. Question (ii) Find out more career opportunities in the field of agriculture, organic farming, sales, storage, distribution and marketing research. Yuvakbharati English 11th Digest Chapter 1.3 The Call of the Soil Additional Important Questions and Answers Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution Find words related to agriculture, Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: The words related to agriculture are: Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution The writer disagreed with Moru Dada because – Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: The writer disagreed with Moru Dada because he suggested the use of some pesticides on the plants. The author was absolutely clear in his mind not to use any chemical which will be harmful for the soil, the plants and ultimately for human health. But for Moru Dada and his friends who were used to the conventional farming, this decision of the author was unthinkable. Question 3 Maharashtra Board Solution The writer wanted to grow the traditional variety of rice because – Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: 1. It did not need very high variety of fertilizers 2. This variety is quite strong and is able to resist pests. Question 4 Maharashtra Board Solution The write almost gave up hope of finding the desi variety of rice because – Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: 1. In spite of his regular visits to the villages around in search of a good desi variety, he was not successful, 2. Most of the farmers, especially the younger generation, in and around the village of Peth had switched over to hybrids and looked down upon the ‘desi’ variety, as they called the local scented variety of rice. Question 5 Maharashtra Board Solution Mention the varieties of rice from the passage, “Most of the farmers…disappeared” Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: Question 6 Maharashtra Board Solution List ways in which the Government officer cooperated with the author. Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: 1. The agricultural officer felt that the villagers were fooling the author as they had no rice by the name ‘Kasbai’ and offered to give him some latest hybrid seeds free of cost for a trial. 2. The officer-in-charge of Adivasi Mahamandal at Kasa informed the author that he remembered buying Kasbai rice a few years ago. 3. The second gentleman definitely had more knowledge of rice which he shared with the author. Question 7 Maharashtra Board Solution Find synonyms of the word ‘insipid’. Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: The synonyms of ‘insipid’ are: Comprehension: Read the extract and complete the activities given below. Global Understanding: Question 1 Maharashtra Board Solution Pick out the sentences that are true. (i) The author thought that he would have some time to get familiar with farming. (ii) Moru Dada was not at all sure about sowing moong in that season. (iii) The moong seeds were brought from Gujarat. (iv) The author did not own the land where he started farming. Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: (i) True (iii) True Question 2 Maharashtra Board Solution State the advantages of the varieties as you find them in the extract. Solution & Step-by-Step Answer: Variety Advantages 1. Hybrid varieties Short duration crop so can have two crops a year 2. Traditional Rice Good quality rice with alluring aroma Question 3 Maharashtra Board Solution Match the pairs to complete the sentences / phrases in A with the alternatives in B.

‘A’	‘B’
1. Tales of Kasbai	(a) was enlightening
2. Visit to agricultural officer	(b) made us more determined to get it
3. Ex-sarpanch	(c) devu Handa
4. Hybrid	(d) insipid