1) Agriculture is a primary activity as it includes growing crops, fruits, vegetables,
flowers and rearing of livestock.
2) The land on which the crops are grown is called arable land.
3) Primary activities include all those connected with extraction and production of
natural resources. Ex: Primary activities: Agriculture, fishing and gathering.
4) Secondary activities are concerned with the processing of these resources. Ex:
Manufacturing of steel, baking of bread and weaving of cloth, etc.
5) Tertiary activities provide support to the primary and secondary sectors
through services. Ex: Transport, trade, banking, insurance and advertising, etc.
6) 50% of persons engaged in agricultural activity in world and in India, two-
thirds of population is still dependant on it.
7) Favourable topography of soil and climate are vital for agricultural activity.
8) 50% of persons are engaged in agricultural activity worldwide.
9) In India, two-thirds of population is still dependant on it.
10) The four important inputs for farming or agriculture: seeds, fertilisers, machinery
and labour.
11) Subsistence farming is practised to meet the needs of farmer’s family.
12) The farmer cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour in
intensive subsistence farming.
13) Primitive Subsistence agriculture includes shifting cultivation and nomadic herding.
14) Shifting cultivation is also known as “slash and burn”.
15) Nomadic herding arises in response of climatic constraints and terrain.
16) The type farming that uses natural pesticides instead of chemicals – Organic
Farming
17) Name of shifting cultivation in
North East India – Jhumming cultivation
Milpa - Mexico
Roca - Brazil
Ladang – Malaysia
18) Coffee was discovered by Kaldi in AD 850 , an Arab goat-herder
19) The ultimate aim of agricultural development is to increase food security.
20) A typical farm size in USA is 250 hectares and in India is 1.5 hectares
NCERT
1. Answer the following questions.
Question 1(1).
What is agriculture?
Answer:
Agriculture is the primary activity which includes the growing of crops, fruits,
vegetables, flowers, and the rearing of livestock.
Question 1(2).
Name the factors influencing agriculture?
Answer:
Factors influencing agriculture: Favourable Topography; soil; climate; irrigation.
Question 1(3).
What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?
Answer:
In shifting agriculture a plot of land is cleared by felling trees and burning them. The
ashes are then mixed with the soil and crops are grown. After the soil loses its
fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivators move to a new plot.
Disadvantages of shifting agriculture : Soil erosion and Depletion of forest
Question 1(4).
What is plantation agriculture?
Answer:
Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial agriculture:
It is a single crop farming which resembles factory production,
A large amount of labour and capital is required.
The produce may be processed on the farm itself or in factories.
Crops like banana, rubber, tea, coffee, etc. are grown on plantations.
Question 1(5).
Name the fiber crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth.
Answer: The two fibre crops are cotton and jute. The conditions required are:
Cotton Jute
It requires high temperature. High temperature required.
Light rainfall, 210 frost free days, bright sunshine for its growth. Heavy rainfall.
Grows well in black and alluvial soil. Grows well in alluvial soils.
Area of cultivation: China, USA India, Pakistan, Brazil and Areas of prod: India and Bangladesh.
Egypt.
Question 2.
Tick the correct answer.
(1) Horticulture means
(a) growing of fruits and vegetables
(b) primitive farming
(c) growing of wheat
(2) Golden fiber refers to
(a) tea
(b) cotton
(c) jute
(3) Leading producers of coffee
(a) Brazil
(b) India
(c) Russia
Question 3(1).
Give reasons.
In India, agriculture is a primary activity.
Answer:
Because two-thirds of India’s population is still dependent on
agriculture.
The topography, soil, and climate are favourable for the cultivation of
various crops.
Question 3(2).
Different crops are grown in different regions because of the following reasons:
Answer: It happens due to variation in topography, climate, soil types, etc.
Question 4.
Distinguish between the following.
(1) Primary activities and tertiary activities.
(2) Subsistence farming and intensive farming.
Primary Activities
Tertiary Activities
1. Primary activities are those activities in which
1. Tertiary activities are those activities which
natural resources are obtained.
provide support to primary and secondary sectors.
2. Examples: Extraction, hunting, mining,
2. Examples: Transport, communication, trade,
gathering, agriculture, fishing, and rearing of
banking, insurance, and advertising.
livestocks.
Answer:
(1) Distinction between Primary Activities and Tertiary Activities.
(2) Distinction between Subsistence and Intensive Farming.
Intensive farming is a part of subsistence farming. So both have a little difference.
Still, some differences are:
Answer:
Subsistence Fanning Intensive Farming
1. Intensive farming is an agricultural practice in
1. Subsistence farming is the type of farming
which efforts are made to increase production
practice in which the farmer raises agricultural
with added units of labour and capital and raise
crops for himself and his family.
two to three crops in a year.
2. Household labour is used.
2. Outside labour is hired.
3. Subsistence farming is done on a traditional
3. Extra tools may be hired.
basis by traditional tools and implements.
4. Production is primarily meant for domestic
4. Production is meant for their own family only.
consumption. Excess is sold in the market.
5. Activity
Question 5 (1).
Collect seeds of wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, ragi, maize, oilseeds, and pulses available
in the market. Bring them to the class and find out which type of soil they grow.
Answer:
Collect the seeds of wheat, rice, jowar, bajra, ragi, maize, oilseeds, and pulses
available in the market yourself and bring them to the class
Question 5(2).
Find out the differences between the lifestyle of farmers in the USA and India on the
basis of pictures collected from magazines, books, newspapers, and the internet.
Criteria Farm in India Farm in the USA
Average size 1.5 Hectares. 250 Hectares.
Tenancy, sharecropping
Land tenure Freehold ownership.
fragmentation due to hereditary.
Environment Use of fertilizers, HYV seeds and Physical factors are less important.
irrigation.
issues
Generally fertile gives two to three
Regular soil testing for nutrient
Soil crops a year, use traditional
deficiency.
knowledge.
Mainly food Crops along with other
Specialized farming like com, soya
Crops related activities. Wheat, rice, millets
bean, wheat, cotton etc.
etc.
Lack of use of scientific technology, Use of latest technical knowledge
Operations
machines, more of manual power. and satellite for information.
Lack of good transport,
Economic
Better facilities and prosperous
communication or even storage
conditions
farmers.
facilities, poor farmers.
Work as farm labour, many Work as a business person, not as a
Human factors
dependent on this activity. farmer.
Question 6. Solve the crossword puzzle with the help of given clues.
Across Down
1. Crop that needs well-drained fertile soils, 1. Coarse grains are also called (7)
3. Cultivation involving slash and bum (8)
moderate temperatures, and lots of sunshine (5) 5. Growing of crops, fruits, and vegetables (11)
2. Increasing production through the use of HYV 6. Tea, coffee, sugarcane, and rubber are grown in
seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides (5, 10) (11)
4. USA, Canada, Russia, Australia are major 7. Requires 210 frost-free days for growth (6)
producers of this crop (5) 8. Growing of flowers (12)
10. Type of farming to meet family needs (11) 9. Also called ‘Golden Fibre’ (4)
13. Rearing of animals for sale (9) 11. Also known as paddy (4)
14. Growing grapes for wines (11) 12. Activity concerned with the extraction of
natural resources (7)
