Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from region to region. If a crop is grown mainly for sale in the market, it is a commercial crop. If grown mainly for self-consumption, it is a subsistence crop.

Example: Rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana, where it is grown using HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, and modern inputs for market sale. However, in Odisha, rice is a subsistence crop, grown by farmers primarily to feed their own families.

Thus, the purpose of production — market or self-consumption — determines whether a crop is commercial or subsistence.

Source: Chapter 4 – Agriculture, Types of Farming (Commercial Farming)

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• The textbook directly states: "rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but in Odisha, it is a subsistence crop." Use this exact example — it is the safest choice for full marks.
• The key concept to highlight is purpose of production: market sale = commercial; self-consumption = subsistence.
• Mentioning modern inputs (HYV seeds, fertilisers) for commercial farming adds a mark-worthy detail.
• Keep the answer focused; no need to describe farming types at length.