(a) Two reasons for the importance of Agriculture are : 

(i) One-third of the India’s national income is earned through agriculture. 

(ii) About 70% of working population of India is directly involved in agriculture. 

(b) (i) Rice grow well in a soil with a clay like subsoil because rice requires stagnant water in the field. The subsoil layer prevents water from draining away and allows the water to stagnant in the field. 

(ii) Advantages of growing rice in nurseries before it is transplanted is that, the weeds are removed so problem of weeds is solved and there is less wastage of seeds. 

(c) (i) Assam. 

(ii) Mostly women are employed to harvest tea leaves because of their temprament. Tea leaves plucking is a very skilled job. They are able to pluck the leaves delicately. Other work on the fields is done by men.

(iii) Two geographical conditions suitable for the cultivation of tea are : 

1. It requires the temperature ranging between 13°C to 35°C. 

2. Rainfall ranging between 150-200 cm annually is best suited. Dry spell is harmful. High humidity, heavy dew and morning fog favours its growth. 

(d) (i) Shifting Cultivation: It is widely practiced on the hill slopes of north eastern states. In this farming a patch of ground is cleared by burning the trees. After cultivating for 2 to 3 years they switch over to another piece of land when soil is exhausted. Mainly practiced by tribals. This farming has been banned by the government as it encourages deforestation and increases the green house gases. 

(ii) Bud grafting: It is associated with rubber crop. This method is done by the insertion of a strip of bark containing a bud from high yielding clones under a bark of a young seedling about 5 cm high till they become united in 3 to 4 weeks. The old seedliqg stem is then cut off above the grafted bud, which then grows to form a new rubber plant. 

(iii) Oil Cake: The residue left after crushing the nuts is called oil cake. It makes an excellent feed for cattle.