The Story of Village Palampur Class 9 Notes

Farming plays an indispensable role in the working of an economy, especially the Indian economy. The Indian horticulture segment represents 18% of India’s total national output (GDP) and utilizes half of the nation’s workforce. Class 9 Economics chapter on The Story of Village Palampur explores the essentials of farming, crop production and agricultural activities in an Indian village. The purpose of the story of village Palampur is to introduce the basic concepts of farming and production such as the association of creation, work, capital, crops production, transport, and so on. This blog brings you the study notes and chapter summary of the Story of Village Palampur chapter in Class 9.

About Village Palampur

The story of Palampur village resembles a village of the western part of the state of Uttar Pradesh. It is a hypothetical village, and its story will help explain various resources combined to produce the desired goods and services in the village. Farming is the main activity in Palampur. The village is also involved in dairy, transport, small scale manufacturing, etc.

The story of Palampur village is unique. Palampur has good connectivity with adjacent villages and towns and comprises about 450 families of different castes. The village also has adequate electricity that powers all the tube wells in the fields. It has a government-run primary health centre and one dispensary. Palampur has a good system of roads, transport, electricity, irrigation, schools and health centre.

Organization of Production

Production is a key aspect of class 9 economics ncert solutions. The main aim of production is to produce the required goods and services. 

There are four requirements for the production of goods and services:

1. Land and natural resources like water, forests, and minerals.
2. Labour
3. Capital is divided into physical assets like tools, machines, buildings, raw materials and money capital.
4. Enterprise- which is the knowledge which will help to combine land, labour and physical capital to create a marketable product.

Must Read: Class 9 Tissues

Farming in Palampur

In the story of Palampur village, farming is central to the village economy. 

Land is Fixed

Around 75 per cent of the total population is dependent on farming for their livelihood. The land in Palampur has been fixed since the year 1960. Thus,  there is no expansion in the land area except for some wasteland that has been converted to cultivable land. There is also no scope for extension of land for cultivation which constrains farm production.

Is there any Scope to Grow More from the Same Land?

In the rainy season, Jowar and Bajra are grown. They are used to feed cattle. The cultivation of Potato takes place from October to December. During the rainy season, wheat is produced by farmers. A part of the land area is devoted to growing sugarcane which is harvested once every year and is sold as jaggery to traders. It is possible to grow one or more crops on a piece of land due to the developed irrigation system. This is also known as Multiple Cropping.

Multiple Cropping is the most common way to increase production on a single piece of land.  Earlier,  farmers used traditional seeds for cultivation which had relatively low yields. During the late 1960s, the Green revolution introduced HYV (High yielding varieties) of seeds which helped the farmers grow a larger amount of grain in the same land.

Is Land Sustainable?

The Green revolution has increased the use of chemical fertilizers and groundwater for irrigation due to which soil fertility has decreased. It takes many years to restore. Land degradation is a downside to farming in the story of Palampur village. 

How is Land Distributed between the Farmers of Palampur?

The land is scarce for cultivation. About one-third of the 450 families are landless. Around 240 families cultivate in small plots of less than 2 hectares which is inadequate income to the farmer family.

Must Read: Forest Society and Colonialism Class 9 – Study Notes

Who will Provide the Labour?

Farming involves a great deal of hard work. In the story of Palampur village, small families cultivate their fields and act as labourers.  Medium and large farms hire farm labourers to work in their fields. They are paid wages for their work.

The Capital Needed in Farming

In the story of Palampur village, small farmers borrow money from large farmers and village money lenders to arrange capital. The medium and large farmers use their savings from farming for the required capital.

Sale of Surplus Farm Products:

Farmers retain a part of their production for their consumption and sell the surplus. It is usually the medium and larger families who sell their surplus production to the market.

Non-farm Activities in Palampur

The story of Palampur village includes non-farming activities. Apart from farming, 25 per cent of the people working in Palampur are engaged in other activities.

• Dairy is an everyday activity apart from agriculture. The milk produced is sold in nearby towns and villages.
• People are engaged in small scale production at home or in fields with simple methods.
• Traders of Palampur are shopkeepers who buy goods from wholesale markets and sell in their native place. General stores with a wide range of items like rice, wheat, sugar, tea, oil biscuit, toothpaste, soap. Notebooks, candles, pen, etc. essentials can be found.
• Few families who are close to the bus stand open small shops to sell eatables.

Must Read: Class 9 Food Security in India

The Story of Village Palampur Important Questions

Now that you are familiarized with the chapter summary, here are some important questions the Story of Village Palampur:

• What are the reasons behind the low wages of labourers in Palampur?
• How can farmers increase their production by using the same piece of land? Describe the different ways.
• Why is it important to increase the area under irrigation?
• List down the non-farming activities in your region.
• How to boost non-farming activities in villages?

Thus, we hope that our study notes on the Class 9 chapter of The Story of Village Palampur helped you understand the major concepts and topics covered. Want to know how to choose the right stream after 10th? Get in touch with our Leverage Edu experts and we will guide you in selecting the best stream as per your aspirations and interests!