Learning Objectives
- Understand the meaning of agriculture and factors influencing it
- Learn about different types of farming practised across the world
- Study major crops and their geographical requirements
- Understand the concept of agricultural development
Key Concepts
What is Agriculture?
Agriculture is the primary activity that involves cultivation of crops and rearing of animals. It is also called farming. About 50% of the world population is engaged in agricultural activity. The word agriculture is derived from Latin words "ager" (field) and "cultura" (cultivation).
Agriculture depends on: favourable topography (flat land), fertile soil, adequate water supply, and suitable climate (temperature and rainfall). Human factors include labour, capital, technology, and government policies.
Types of Farming
Subsistence Farming: Farming done to meet the needs of the farmer's family. Uses low levels of technology and household labour. Common in developing countries. Divided into:
Intensive Subsistence Farming: Small plots, high labour input, high output per unit area. Common in densely populated areas of monsoon Asia (India, China, Bangladesh).
Primitive Subsistence Farming: Includes shifting cultivation (jhum/slash and burn) and nomadic herding.
Commercial Farming: Crops are grown for sale in the market. Uses high doses of modern inputs like HYV seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and machinery. Examples: wheat farming in USA, sugarcane farming in Brazil.
Mixed Farming: Growing crops and rearing animals simultaneously. Common in Europe, eastern USA, Argentina, southeast Australia.
Plantation Agriculture: Large estates growing a single cash crop (tea, coffee, sugarcane, rubber, banana) for commercial purposes. Requires large capital and labour. Examples: tea in India and Sri Lanka, coffee in Brazil, rubber in Malaysia.
Major Crops
Rice: Staple food of tropical and sub-tropical regions. Requires high temperature (above 25ยฐC), high humidity, and annual rainfall above 100 cm. Grown in India, China, Japan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.
Wheat: Requires moderate temperature (10-15ยฐC) during growing season and bright sunshine at the time of harvest. Rainfall of 50-75 cm. Grown in USA, Canada, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, India.
Millets: Also known as coarse grains. Include jowar, bajra, ragi. Hardy crops that can grow on less fertile soils with low rainfall. India, Nigeria, China are major producers.
Maize: Requires moderate temperature, rainfall, and lots of sunshine. Needs well-drained fertile soil. Major producers: North America, Brazil, China, Russia, Canada, India.
Cotton: Requires high temperature, light rainfall, 210 frost-free days. Grown on black and alluvial soils. Major producers: China, USA, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Egypt.
Jute: Known as "golden fibre". Requires high temperature, heavy rainfall, and alluvial soil. Grown in warm and wet areas of India and Bangladesh (Ganga-Brahmaputra delta).
Tea: Requires cool climate, well-distributed rainfall throughout the year, well-drained loamy soil on hill slopes. Leading producers: India (Assam, Darjeeling, Kerala), China, Sri Lanka, Kenya.
Coffee: Requires warm wet climate, well-drained loamy soil, hill slopes. Brazil is the largest producer. In India: Karnataka (Coorg), Kerala, Tamil Nadu.
Agricultural Development
Agricultural development refers to increasing farm production to meet growing demand. It can be achieved by increasing the cultivated area, improving irrigation facilities, using fertilisers, HYV seeds, and modern technology. The goal is to increase food security and improve rural livelihoods.
Summary
Agriculture is the primary economic activity involving crop cultivation and animal rearing. Types of farming range from subsistence to commercial, each suited to different geographic and economic conditions. Major crops like rice, wheat, cotton, and tea have specific climatic and soil requirements. Agricultural development aims to increase productivity through technology, better inputs, and improved farming practices.
Important Terms
- Agriculture
- Primary activity involving cultivation of crops and rearing of animals
- Subsistence Farming
- Farming done to meet the basic needs of the farmer's family
- Commercial Farming
- Crops grown and animals raised for sale in market
- Plantation
- Large estate where a single cash crop is grown for commercial purpose
- Shifting Cultivation
- Slash and burn farming where a plot is used and then abandoned
- Mixed Farming
- Growing crops and rearing livestock together
- Sericulture
- The rearing of silkworms for production of silk
- Horticulture
- Growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants
Quick Revision
- Agriculture involves crop cultivation and animal rearing
- Subsistence farming = for family needs; Commercial farming = for market sale
- Rice needs high temperature + high rainfall (>100 cm); Wheat needs moderate temperature + moderate rainfall (50-75 cm)
- Jute is called "golden fibre"; grown in Ganga-Brahmaputra delta
- Brazil = largest coffee producer; India and China = largest tea producers
- Plantation farming = single crop on large estates with high capital
Practice Tips
- Make a comparison table for climatic requirements of rice, wheat, cotton, tea, and coffee
- Practise locating major crop-producing regions on a world map
- Differentiate between intensive and extensive farming in a short answer