A. 1. a. 2. d. 3. a. 4. a. 5. d.
B. 1. soil, cultivation 2. 49
- Sedentary 4. Shifting
- intensive
- organic, chemical
- Transhumance
- Prairie, steppe lands
- White Revolution, producers,
exporters 10. Plains
C. 1. Agriculture is practised in over 49
per cent of the land surface of the
Earth. T - Favourable topography of soil and
climate are not vital for agriculture
activity. F - Crop rotation is practised to increase
soil fertility. T - A variety of crops are grown under
dairy farming. F - Modern machinery is utilised to
process the crop on the plantation.
T
D. 1. b. 2. d. 3. e. 4. c. 5. a.
E. 1. The term agriculture comes from
Latin words ‘ager’ and ‘culture’,
meaning ‘soil’ and ‘cultivation’,
respectively. Agriculture is a primary
activity. It includes growing crops,
fruits, vegetables, flowers and
rearing of livestock. In the world ,
50 percent of persons are engaged
in agricultural activity. Two thirds of
Indian’s population is still dependent
on agriculture. - Key Factors Responsible for
Agricultural Growth
Climate: Climate is the dominant
factor that influences agriculture.
Soil: Soils determine the type of
crops that can be grown in any
region. Most crops require specific
soil characteristics.
Relief and drainage: The
agricultural regions are located
largly in the plains; rugged relief
hinders farming. A good drainage
system means a supply of river
water that favours irrigation.
Human factor: Social, economic
and political factors all play an
important role in influencing the
type of agriculture practised and
even the crops and animals that are
grown and raised. The agricultural
activity is primarily concentrated in
those regions where the key factors
for suitable agricultural growth
exist. - Intensive subsistence agriculture is
the kind of agricultural practice that
is practiced in areas with large
population with small farms to
support them. Thus agriculture is
intensive, where farming is practiced
on every available piece of land.
Such intensive tilling of soil
generates high yields, with rice as
the main crop along with other
crops like wheat, barley or maize
alongside to practice multiple
cropping. - Plantation agriculture can be defined
as the growing and processing of a
single cash crop on a very large scale
mostly for the purpose of export. In
each plantation, the crop is chosen
according to the prevailing physical
conditions, with focus on commercial
cash crop like tea, coffee, rubber, pal
oil, cotton or cocoa. - Commercial dairy farming involves
the raising of animals primarily for
their milk and milk products, like
cream, butter, condensed milk and
cheese.
• on large commercial dairy farms
in temperate lands, to meet the
large international demand for
dairy products.
• near large cities and towns to meet
their requirements, as seen in the
tropics and subtropics.
Modern scientific methods of
breeding ensure high quality
products. Animal and fodder storage
sheds are constructed on the farms.
Expensive equipment like milking
machines, feeding towers and
troughs are used. Dairy farming is
practised around urban and industrial
centres all over the world.
F. 1. By mixed farming, it means a kind
of farming that is carried out in the
temperate grasslands with low
rainfall, where along with cultivation
of crops, livestock is also reared.
Large number of one type of
livestock is raised on huge ranches
for their milk, meat and wool. The
animals that are kept in the mixed
farms are mostly cattle, sheep, hogs,
poultry and horses. It is a beneficial
practice because the crops produce
high yields to feed the farmers and
the livestock, with a large amount
of crop that is sold commercially.
Because skilled labour is hired it
leads to large scale employment
specifically during planting and
harvesting. - White Revolution means a revolution
in the field of production of milk
and milk products which has turned
India into one of the finest and
foremost producer as well as
exporter of milk as well as milk
products. This has brought about a
large scale employment in India as
well as awareness among the
farmers about the benefits of dairy
farming. - By plantation agriculture, we mean
large scale growth and production
of a single cash crop for the purpose
of export. This kind of farming is
carried out in large estates where
machines are used to fasten the
process, with the help of skilled
labourer. Here all the work beginning
from ploughing to processing of the
crop is organized on an extremely
efficient and scientific basis, with
careful monitoring so that the end
product is traded both nationally and
internationally. - Some animal herders move from
one place to another in search of
forage and water for their animals.
This is called nomadic herding.
The animal produce is for local
consumption. These nomadic
communities often exchange any
surplus for agricultural and
manufactured goods. However,
many groups are becoming sedentary
now. - Commercial farming refers to
agricultural practices primarily
aimed at generating profit. It
involves large-scale cultivation of
crops or raising livestock for sale in
markets rather than for personal
consumption. Commercial farms
often utilize modern technologies,
machinery, and inputs to maximize
yields and efficiency. They are
typically operated as businesses,
focusing on producing high volumes
of goods to meet market demand.
Commercial farming plays a
significant role in global food
production and supply chains.
G. 1.
Primary activities Secondary activities - Agriculture,
fishing, gathering - Steel
manufacturing,
weaving of cloth
and baking of
bread - Extraction and
production of
natural resources. - Processing of
available
resources - Difference between sedentary
primitive subsistence agriculture
and extensive commercial grain
farming is-
Sedentary primitive subsistence
agriculture – In this type of farming
practice, same fields are cultivated
again and again after a period of
fallowing and the farming
community stays permanently in
one place.
Extensive commercial grain
farming – This kind of agriculture
is practiced where population is
relatively low and fertile land is
available in plenty. - Slash and burn agriculture or
shifting cultivation is practised
mainly by tribal people. After two
or three years of producing vegetable
and grain crops on a recently cleared
piece of land, the migrants abandon
it for another newly cleared plot.
Each time a spot of virgin forest is
selected, as it is more productive.
Trees and bushes are cleared
Nomadic Farming–Some animal
herders move from one place to
another in search of forage and
water for their animals. Today many
of them are becoming sedentary.
The animal produce is for local
consumption. These nomadic
communities often exchange any
surplus for agricultural and
manufactured goods. However,
many groups are becoming sedentary
now.
H. 1. Lowlands are generally more
suitable for farming due to several
reasons. Firstly, they often have
fertile soil deposits from
sedimentation and erosion, which
support better crop growth. Secondly,
lowlands typically have a more
favorable climate with milder
temperatures and more consistent
rainfall, crucial for agriculture. - Shifting cultivation is also called
slash and burn agriculture because
after two or three years of producing
vegetable and grain crops on a
recently cleared piece of land, the
migrants abandon it for another
newly cleared plot. Each time a spot
of virgin forest is selected, as it is
more productive. Trees and bushes
are cleared by slashing and the
remaining vegetation is burnt. The
ashes add potash to the soil. Then
the seeds are sown after the rains.
DO AND LEARN
Assertion And Reasoning - a. 2. b.
Application/Competency Based Questions - Cheap labour is one of the human
factors that influence agriculture. Do
you think there are any disadvantages
of this practice for farmers? Explain
how is it?
Ans – Cheap labour in agriculture can
lead to lower productivity due to
unskilled work, high turnover rates,
and reduced motivation among
workers. It may result in ethical
concerns and legal issues regarding
labor rights and fair wages.
Additionally, over-reliance on cheap
labor can hinder innovation and
adoption of modern farming practices,
affecting long-term competitiveness
and sustainability of farms. - Find out how humans transformed
from nomadic food gatherers to settled
farmers.
Ans – Humans transitioned from
nomadic food gatherers to settled
farmers through a combination of
climate changes affecting food
availability, deliberate cultivation of
plants and domestication of animals
for reliable food sources, development
of agricultural techniques such as
irrigation and tools, establishment of
permanent settlements near fertile land,
and societal changes with division of
labor based on agriculture, leading to
the Neolithic Revolution and the rise
of complex civilizations.
Hots - Despite a huge variety of options
available, people all over the world
continue to practice the world’s oldest
occupation which is agriculture because
it is considered as a traditional occupation
followed by the fore fathers. Also, the
value and the kind of recognition that a
farmer gets today has increased a lot
since the yesteryears. Agricultural
section does not exist in isolation either.
A lot of scientific innovations and
economic advancements have happened
in the field of agriculture making it a
viable option for occupation for many
people all over the world. - Agriculture impacts society in many
ways, including: supporting livelihoods
through food, habitat, and jobs; providing
raw materials for food and other
products; and building strong economies
through trade.
Picture Based Questions - Mixed farming
- Corn, wheat, and soyabeans.
WORKSHEET
A. 1. Agriculture - Plantation agriculture
- Animals
- Commercial dairy farming
B. 1. T 2. T 3. F 4. T
C. 1. a 2. d 3. d 4. a
Periodic Assessment 1
A. 1. Resource conservation - Land 3. continuous
- Soil profile
- Tropical deciduous
- Deciduous 7. plains
- Transhumance
B. 1. Contour ploughing: It is a farming
practice of ploughing across a slope
along its contours. This helps in the
slowing down of running water
during rainstorms allowing water to
percolate into the soil. - Resources are distributed unequally
over the Earth because different
physical factors vary massively
over the Earth. Distribution of
natural resources is dependent on
various physical factors like altitude,
climate, and terrain. - The areas that receive heavy
rainfall mostly have laterite type of
soil. It is also reddish in colour but
different from red soil in their
mineral composition. - Sustainable development is
development that meets the needs of
the present, without compromising
the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs. - Tropical evergreen forests are
found in regions with high
temperatures and heavy rainfall. In
India, the tropical evergreen forests
are found in the North-eastern
states, parts of West Bengal, along
the Western Ghats and in the
Andaman and Nicobar Islands. - India’s biggest national parks &
wildlife reserves –:
Hemis National Park (3,350 sq km)
Desert National Park (3,162 sq km) - The full form of CITES is the
Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora. - Branch of agriculture that
encompasses the breeding, raising,
and utilization of dairy animals,
primarily cows, for the production
of milk and the various dairy
products processed from it.
C. 1. Rainwater harvesting is crucial for
water conservation as it allows the
capture and storage of rainwater for
various purposes. It reduces reliance
on groundwater and surface water
sources, particularly during dry
seasons. By recharging aquifers and
replenishing water tables, rainwater
harvesting helps maintain ecological
balance and prevents depletion of
natural water reserves. It promotes
self-sufficiency in water supply for
households, agriculture, and
industries, contributing to
sustainable water management
practices and resilience against
droughts and water scarcity. - Drip irrigation is the slow release
of water to each plant to conserve
water and prevent soil run-off with
too much of water. - Greenhouse gases are formed
through natural processes and
human activities. They include
carbon dioxide (CO2
) from burning
fossil fuels and deforestation,
methane (CH4
) from livestock and
agriculture, nitrous oxide (N2
O)
from agricultural practices and
industrial processes, and fluorinated
gases from industrial activities.
These gases trap heat in the
atmosphere, leading to the
greenhouse effect and contributing
to global warming and climate
change. - Slash and burn agriculture or
shifting agriculture is practised
mainly by tribal people. This
practice is one of the oldest forms
of migratory agriculture. After two
or three years of producing
vegetable and grain crops on a
recently cleared piece of land, the
migrants abandon it for another
newly cleared plot. Each time a
spot of virgin forest is selected, as
it is more productive. Trees and
bushes are cleared by slashing and
the remaining vegetation is burnt.
The ashes add potash to the soil.
Shifting cultivation is practised in
different parts of the world and has
been named differently in the
regional languages of the areas
where they are grown. It is known
as Milpa in Central America,
Conuco in Venezuela, Roca in
Brazil, Tamrai in Thailand, Jhum,
Bewar or Poda in India, Chena in
Sri Lanka, Caingin in the Philippines
and Ray in Vietnam.