# A Seed Tells a Farmer’s Story

## Overview

This chapter tells the story of a bajra (millet) seed, stored since 1940, narrating its journey and the changing life of a farming family across three generations in Gujarat. Through the seed’s point of view, the chapter explores traditional farming methods, the shift to modern practices, economic challenges, and the idea of progress in agriculture.

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## Key Topics Covered

### 1. The Seed's Story and Traditional Farming

* The narrator is a bajra seed from 1940, stored in a wooden box with neem leaves for protection.
* The seed belonged to Damjibhai, a traditional farmer who lived in a joint family in Gujarat.
* Traditional farming methods included:

* Growing various crops as per season.
* Sharing resources and helping each other in the community.
* Storing seeds from each harvest.
* Celebrating harvests with food like undhiya and bajra rotis.

### 2. Shift to Modern Farming

* Introduction of canal water and electricity changed farming practices.
* Farmers began focusing only on crops like wheat and cotton due to market demand.
* Traditional crops like bajra and jowar were abandoned.
* Seeds were now bought from the market instead of stored.
* Machines like tractors and water pumps were introduced, reducing the need for human and animal labour.

### 3. The Changing Concept of Progress

* Hasmukh, Damjibhai’s son, modernized the farm and emphasized profit and market-focused agriculture.
* The seed raises questions about whether this is real progress since it excluded traditional crops, community sharing, and the role of animals.
* Mechanization led to unemployment for many farm laborers.

### 4. Economic Challenges and Soil Degradation

* With no cow dung available, Hasmukh had to buy expensive fertilizers.
* New seeds were vulnerable to pests, requiring chemical sprays that smelled bad and were costly.
* Continuous cultivation of the same crop led to soil exhaustion.
* Falling crop prices and rising expenses caused many farmers to take bank loans and fall into debt.

### 5. The Family's Next Generation

* Hasmukh's son Paresh chose to become a truck driver rather than a farmer, reflecting a shift in livelihood preference.
* The symbolic end of the seed’s story occurs when Paresh wants to use the wooden seed box to store tools, not seeds.

### 6. Bhaskarbhai’s Organic Farming Approach

* A group of students visits a farm where organic methods are used:

* Croton plants help detect dry soil.
* Earthworms are used to fertilize the soil naturally.
* No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used.
* The method promotes natural balance and sustainability.

### 7. Journey of a Seed – Traditional to Modern Technology

* Illustrated steps show how bajra is harvested, processed, ground, and cooked.
* Technology is presented as both traditional (manual) and modern (machines like threshers and grinders).

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## New Terms and Simple Definitions

| Term | Definition |
| ------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Bajra | A type of millet (grain) commonly grown in India. |
| Undhiya | A Gujarati dish cooked upside-down in a pot. |
| Charkha | A traditional spinning wheel used to make thread from cotton. |
| Canal | A man-made waterway for irrigation. |
| Fertilizer | A substance added to soil to help plants grow. |
| Thresher | A machine that separates seeds from plants. |
| Croton Plant | A plant used to detect dry soil by observing its leaves. |
| Earthworm | A worm that lives in soil and helps keep it healthy. |
| Compost | Natural fertilizer made from decomposed organic matter. |
| Progress | Improvement over time, often debated when it comes to farming methods. |



## Practice Questions

### Easy (3 Questions)

1. **Who is telling the story in this chapter?**
**Answer**: A bajra (millet) seed.

**Explanation**: The story is narrated from the point of view of a seed stored since 1940.

2. **What did Damjibhai use to protect seeds from insects?**
**Answer**: Neem leaves.

**Explanation**: Neem leaves were placed in the seed box to keep insects away.

3. **Name two traditional dishes mentioned in the chapter.**
**Answer**: Undhiya and bajra roti.

**Explanation**: These dishes were cooked during winter festivals using fresh ingredients from the farm.

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### Medium (2 Questions)

4. **What are some changes Hasmukh made to the farm?**
**Answer**: He used tractors, electric pumps, bought new seeds, and focused on cash crops.

**Explanation**: Hasmukh modernized the farm for profit by using machines and changing the types of crops.

5. **What problem did farmers face after using the same kind of seeds repeatedly?**
**Answer**: The soil quality degraded and crops did not grow well.

**Explanation**: Monoculture and chemical use reduced soil fertility and increased farming difficulties.

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### Difficult (3 Questions)

6. **Why did the bajra seed question whether modern farming was real progress?**
**Answer**: Because traditional practices and diversity were lost, and people lost jobs and soil quality declined.

**Explanation**: The seed highlights that progress is not only about profit but also sustainability and community welfare.

7. **What role did earthworms play on Bhaskarbhai’s farm?**
**Answer**: They softened the soil and turned waste into natural fertilizer.

**Explanation**: Earthworms aerate soil and produce compost, supporting healthy farming without chemicals.

8. **How did Paresh’s job reflect the shift in livelihood choices?**
**Answer**: He became a truck driver instead of a farmer, showing a move away from agriculture.

**Explanation**: Economic pressures and changes in farming led younger generations to seek other jobs.

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### Very Difficult (2 Questions)

9. **Compare and contrast the farming techniques used by Damjibhai and Hasmukh.**
**Answer**:

* **Damjibhai**: Traditional methods, crop diversity, community-based, organic practices.
* **Hasmukh**: Modern methods, cash crops, market-focused, reliant on machines and chemicals.

**Explanation**: The two generations represent a major shift in Indian farming culture and technology.

10. **Why did farmers like Nallappa Reddy fall into debt, and what was the result?**
**Answer**: Because of crop failures and high-interest loans; he was jailed for unpaid debt.

**Explanation**: Modern farming risks and financial burdens led to widespread farmer distress, sometimes ending in tragic consequences.

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