Discuss the importance of credit in rural development.
Finance and credit are the two essential requirements for rural development. The rural areas often suffer from low income leading to low rate of savings. Farmers find it very difficult to increase their productivity by investing on their farm lands. Further, the limited number of banks that are available in the rural areas prefer to forward credit to the farmers with large land-holdings. Getting credit from banks being difficult, the small and marginal farmers fall easy prey to the money lenders. The infusion of credit is very essential for the growth of agricultural sector, leading to rural economic development. The importance of credit in rural development is highlighted in the following points:
1. Credit helps the farmers to commercialise their farming. In other words, commercial farming requires funds that are provided via credit. As the small and the marginal farmers produce only for their subsistence, they fail to generate sufficient surplus to reinvest on their lands leading to degradation of the land.
2. Secondly, given the long gestation period between sowing and harvesting of the crops, credit is extended to the farmers for meeting their initial requirements of farm inputs like seeds, fertilisers, etc.
3. Credit saves the farmers from the vicious circle of poverty. The farmers require funds for meeting their general and specific needs. These needs are to be fulfilled via credit.
4. Lastly, agriculture has always been dependent at the vagaries of climate. In the absence of good monsoon or crop failure, farmers are worst hurt. Thus, in order to save them from such tragedy, crop insurance and farm credit plays a vital role.
Explain the steps taken by the government in developing rural markets.
Distinguish between ‘Green Revolution’ and ‘Golden Revolution’.
Why is agricultural diversification essential for sustainable livelihoods?
Bring out the importance of animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture as a source of diversification.
Explain the role of micro-credit in meeting credit requirements of the poor.
Critically evaluate the role of the rural banking system in the process of rural development in India.
What is organic farming and how does it promote sustainable development?
What do you mean by rural development? Bring out the key issues in rural development.
Explain the role of non-farm employment in promoting rural diversification.
‘Information technology plays a very significant role in achieving sustainable development and food security’ - comment.
What was the focus of the economic policies pursued by the colonial government in India? What were the impacts of these policies?
What are the two major sources of human capital in a country?
Define a plan?
Who is a worker?
Explain the term ‘infrastructure’.
What is meant by environment?
Why are regional and economic groupings formed?
Why were reforms introduced in India?
Why calorie-based norm is not adequate to identify the poor?
Name some notable economists who estimated India’s per capita income during the colonial period?
What is meant by environment?
Fill in the blanks
(a) First Five Year Plan of ________________ commenced in the year 1956. (Pakistan/China)
(b) Maternal mortality rate is high in _____________. (China/Pakistan)
(c) Proportion of people below poverty line is more in __________. (India/Pakistan)
(d) Reforms in ______________ were introduced in 1978. (China/Pakistan)
Who is a worker?
How can we increase the effectiveness of health care programmes?
Why did RBI have to change its role from controller to facilitator of financial sector in India?
What is the Green Revolution? Why was it implemented and how did Does it benefit the farmers? Explain in brief.
Do you think that in the last 50 years, employment generated in the country is commensurate with the growth of GDP in India? How?
Those public sector undertakings which are making profits should be privatised. Do you agree with this view? Why?
Name some modern industries which were in operation in our country at the time of independence?
Underscore some of India’s most crucial economic challenges at the time of independence.