Chapter 9: Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production – Very Short Answer Type Questions

CBSE Class 12 Biology Very Short Answer Questions (NCERT): Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production

Course & Examination Details

Course: CBSE Class 12 Biology
Unit: Unit III – Biology and Human Welfare
Chapter: Chapter 9 – Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production
Prescribed Textbook: NCERT Biology Class XII
Examination: CBSE Class 12 Board Examination
Question Type: Very Short Answer Type (VSA)
Answer Length: 20–30 words each
Syllabus Alignment: Strictly as per NCERT

Section A: Animal Husbandry

Q1. What is animal husbandry?

Answer: Animal husbandry is the scientific management of domesticated animals to improve production of milk, meat, eggs, and other animal products.

Q2. State one objective of animal husbandry.

Answer: The main objective of animal husbandry is to increase the quantity and quality of animal-based food products.

Q3. What is dairy farming?

Answer: Dairy farming involves breeding, feeding, and management of milk-producing animals like cows and buffaloes.

Q4. Mention one important practice in dairy farm management.

Answer: Proper nutrition and disease control are essential practices in dairy farm management.

Q5. What is poultry farming?

Answer: Poultry farming is the rearing of birds like chickens for egg and meat production.

Q6. Name one trait selected in poultry breeding.

Answer: High egg production or fast growth rate is a desirable trait in poultry breeding.

Q7. What is animal breeding?

Answer: Animal breeding is the process of mating animals to improve desirable genetic traits in livestock.

Q8. Define inbreeding.

Answer: Inbreeding is mating between closely related individuals of the same breed to enhance desirable traits.

Q9. What is inbreeding depression?

Answer: Inbreeding depression is reduced fertility and productivity due to accumulation of harmful recessive genes.

Q10. What is cross-breeding?

Answer: Cross-breeding involves mating animals of different breeds to combine desirable traits.

Section B: Apiculture (Bee-Keeping)

Q11. What is apiculture?

Answer: Apiculture is the scientific rearing and management of honeybees for honey and wax production.

Q12. Name one species of honeybee used in apiculture.

Answer: Apis mellifera is commonly used in apiculture.

Q13. Mention one benefit of apiculture.

Answer: Apiculture provides honey and enhances crop yield through pollination.

Q14. Why are bees important for agriculture?

Answer: Bees act as pollinators, increasing seed and fruit set in crops.

Section C: Plant Breeding

Q15. Define plant breeding.

Answer: Plant breeding is the science of developing improved plant varieties with higher yield and resistance.

Q16. State one objective of plant breeding.

Answer: One objective of plant breeding is to increase crop yield.

Q17. What is germplasm?

Answer: Germplasm is the collection of genetic resources or varieties of plants used in breeding programmes.

Q18. What is hybridisation in plant breeding?

Answer: Hybridisation is crossing genetically different plants to obtain superior offspring.

Q19. What is selection in plant breeding?

Answer: Selection is choosing plants with desirable traits from a breeding population.

Q20. Name one abiotic stress targeted in plant breeding.

Answer: Drought is a major abiotic stress targeted in plant breeding.

Q21. Why is disease resistance important in crops?

Answer: Disease resistance prevents crop loss and reduces pesticide use.

Q22. What is mutation breeding?

Answer: Mutation breeding uses induced mutations to develop improved crop varieties.

Section D: Biofortification

Q23. What is biofortification?

Answer: Biofortification is the process of increasing nutritional value of crops through breeding.

Q24. Name one nutrient enhanced through biofortification.

Answer: Iron is commonly enhanced through biofortification.

Q25. State one advantage of biofortification.

Answer: Biofortification improves nutritional quality of food crops sustainably.

Q26. How does biofortification help society?

Answer: It helps reduce micronutrient deficiency and malnutrition.

Section E: Single Cell Protein (SCP)

Q27. What is single cell protein?

Answer: Single cell protein is protein-rich biomass obtained from microorganisms.

Q28. Name one organism used as SCP.

Answer: Spirulina is used as a source of single cell protein.

Q29. Mention one advantage of SCP.

Answer: SCP provides high protein yield in less time and space.

Q30. Why is SCP considered eco-friendly?

Answer: SCP production utilises waste materials and reduces environmental pollution.

Q31. How does SCP help fight malnutrition?

Answer: SCP provides a cheap and rich protein source to supplement diets.

Section F: Tissue Culture

Q32. What is tissue culture?

Answer: Tissue culture is growing plant cells or tissues in a nutrient medium under sterile conditions.

Q33. What is totipotency?

Answer: Totipotency is the ability of a plant cell to regenerate into a complete plant.

Q34. What is an explant?

Answer: An explant is a small piece of plant tissue used to initiate tissue culture.

Q35. What is callus?

Answer: Callus is an unorganised mass of cells formed during tissue culture.

Q36. Define micropropagation.

Answer: Micropropagation is rapid multiplication of plants using tissue culture techniques.

Q37. What are somaclones?

Answer: Somaclones are plants produced through tissue culture.

Q38. State one advantage of tissue culture.

Answer: Tissue culture produces disease-free plants in large numbers.

Q39. Why is hardening important in tissue culture?

Answer: Hardening helps tissue culture plants adapt to external environment.

Section G: Integrated Concepts & Applications

Q40. How does plant breeding contribute to food security?

Answer: Plant breeding increases crop yield, resistance, and adaptability, ensuring food security.

Q41. Why is animal breeding important in food production?

Answer: It improves productivity and quality of animal-derived food products.

Q42. Name one benefit of cross-breeding in animals.

Answer: Cross-breeding results in hybrid vigour and improved performance.

Q43. How does tissue culture help conserve plants?

Answer: It helps conserve rare and endangered plant species.

Q44. Why is balanced feed essential in poultry farming?

Answer: Balanced feed ensures healthy growth and high egg or meat yield.

Q45. What role does biotechnology play in food production?

Answer: Biotechnology enhances yield, nutrition, and disease resistance in crops.

Q46. Why is SCP preferred over conventional protein sources?

Answer: SCP requires less land, water, and time than traditional protein sources.

Q47. Name one crop improved by biofortification.

Answer: Wheat improved with higher iron content is a biofortified crop.

Q48. How does apiculture indirectly increase crop yield?

Answer: Bees enhance pollination, improving fruit and seed formation.

Q49. Why is disease control important in animal husbandry?

Answer: Disease control improves productivity and prevents economic loss.

Q50. Why is Chapter 9 important for CBSE exams?

Answer: It covers applied biology concepts frequently asked in board exams.