NCERT Chapter Summary: Agriculture

NCERT Chapter Summary: Agriculture

1. What is agriculture?

The primary activity that involves cultivation of crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing of livestock is called agriculture.

2. Name the factors influencing agriculture.

The factors influencing agriculture are:

(i) Topography of soil (ii) Climate

3. What do you mean by agriculture?

Agriculture means cultivation on field. The term “agriculture’ is derived from Latin words ‘ager’ or ‘agri’ meaning soil and ‘culture’ meaning cultivation.

4. What is primary activity?

Primary activities are those activities which are connected with extraction and production of natural resources like agriculture, fishing, etc.

5. Define secondary activities.

Secondary activities are concerned with the processing of primary or natural products, i.e., manufacturing of the products like baking of bread, weaving of cloth, etc.

6. What is tertiary activity?

Tertiary activities provide support to the primary and secondary sectors through their services. It includes trade, transport, banking, insurance, etc.

7. What is arable land?

Favourable topography of soil and climate are vital for agriculture activity. The land on which the crops are grown is known as arable land.

8. Explain how intensive subsistence farming is done?

In intensive subsistence farming, the farmer uses simple tools and more labour to cultivate a small plot of land. Rice is the main crop which is produced under this farming.

9. What do you mean by organic farming?

In organic farming, organic manure and natural pesticides are used instead of chemicals. No genetic modification is done to increase the yield of the crops.

10. Name the classification of primitive subsistence agriculture.

The classification of primitive subsistence agriculture are: 

  1. Shifting cultivation
  2. Nomadic cultivation-herding

11. Define commercial farming.

In commercial farming, crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market. The area cultivated and the amount of capital used is large. Machines are used to do most of the farming work.

12. Describe plantation farming.

In plantation agriculture is a type of commercial agriculture where only a single crop like tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton are grown. Large amount of labour and capital are required.

13. Give examples of major plantations found in the world.

The major plantations are found in the tropical regions of the world like rubber in Malaysia, coffee in Brazil, tea in India and Sri Lanka.

14. What do you mean by major crops?

The large variety of crops that are grown to meet the requirement of the growing population are called major crops. Major crops are: food crops, fibre crops and beverage crops.

15. Name some of the major food crops.

The major food crops are rice, wheat millets and maize.