Agriculture

Q55. Distinguish between subsistence farming and intensive farming.

Ans.  Difference between subsistence farming and intensive farming

Q56. What is plantation agriculture?

Ans.  Plantations are a type of commercial farming where single crop of tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton are grown. Large amount of labour and capital are required. The produce may be processed on the farm itself or in nearby factories. The development of a transport network is thus essential for such farming.

Q57. By what names is shifting cultivation known in different regions of the world?

Ans. Shifting cultivation is known by different names in different parts of the world.

Jhumming - North-East India

Milpa -Mexico

Roca - Brazil.

Ladang - Malaysia

Q58. Distinguish between primary activities and tertiary activities.

Ans.  Difference between primary activities and tertiary activities

Q59. What is commercial farming? Mention its major features.

Ans. In commercial farming crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in market.

Features of commercial farming

                          i.        The area cultivated and the amount of capital used is large.

                         ii.        Most of the work is done by machines.

                        iii.        Commercial farming includes commercial grain farming, mixed farming and plantation agriculture.

Q60. Name the fibre crops and the climatic conditions required for their growth.

Ans.  Jute and cotton are fibre crops. Climatic conditions required for their growth are:

Cotton - Cotton requires high temperature, light rainfall, two hundred and ten frost-free days and bright sunshine for its growth. It grows best on black and alluvial soils.

Jute - It grows well on alluvial soil and requires high temperature, heavy rainfall and humid climate.

Q61. What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?

Ans. Shifting cultivation is a type of agriculture in which a plot of land is cleared by felling the trees and burning them. The ashes are then mixed with the soil and crops like maize, yam, potatoes and cassava are grown. After the soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivator moves to a new plot. Shifting cultivation is also known as ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.

It is disadvantageous because it involves deforestation and burning of trees. Thus it is not good for environment.

Q62. What are the types of commercial farming?

Ans. Commercial farming includes commercial grain farming, mixed farming and plantation agriculture.

                         i.        In commercial grain farming crops are grown for commercial purpose. Wheat and maize are common commercially grown grains. Major areas where commercial grain farming is pracised are temperate grasslands of North America, Europe and Asia.

                        ii.        In mixed farming the land is used for growing food and fodder crops and rearing livestock. It is practised in Europe, eastern USA, Argentina, southeast Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

                       iii.        Plantations are a type of commercial farming where single crop of tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton are grown. Large amount of labour and capital are required. Major plantations are found in the tropical regions of the world.

Q63. What are the types of subsistence farming?

Ans. Subsistence farming can be further classified as intensive subsistence and primitive subsistence farming.

Intensive subsistence agriculture - In intensive subsistence agriculture the farmer cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour. Rice is the main crop. Other crops include wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds. Intensive subsistence agriculture is prevalent in the thickly populated areas of the monsoon regions of south, southeast and east Asia.

Primitive subsistence agriculture – It includes shifting cultivation and nomadic herding.

                         i.        Shifting cultivation is practised in the thickly forested areas of Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Northeast India. A plot of land is cleared by felling the trees and burning them. The ashes are then mixed with the soil and crops like maize, yam, potatoes and cassava are grown. After the soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivator moves to a new plot.

                        ii.        Nomadic herding is practised in the semi-arid and arid regions of Sahara, Central Asia and some parts of India, like Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. In this type of farming, herdsmen move from place to place with their animals for fodder and water, along defined routes.