Agriculture Flashcards
What is Agriculture?
Agriculture is a primary activity that involves the cultivation of crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and rearing of livestock.
Name the factors influencing agriculture.
Topography of soil and climate.
What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?
Shifting cultivation is a type of farming in which agricultural activities are shifted from one field to another when the fertility of the soil of the former is diminished.
Disadvantages:
Deforestation
Soil erosion
Small patches for cultivation
Not sufficient for feeding a large population
What is Plantation Agriculture?
Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where only a single crop (like tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana, cotton) is grown. A large amount of labor and capital are required. The product is processed on the farm.
Name the fiber crops and name the climate conditions required for their growth.
Two major fiber crops are jute and cotton.
Jute grows well on alluvial soil and requires high temperature, heavy rainfall, and a humid climate for its growth.
Cotton needs high temperature, light rainfall, and bright sunshine for its proper growth.
Why is agriculture a primary activity in India?
Agriculture is an activity of growing crops, food, vegetables, flowers, and rearing of livestock. It is a primary activity since it directly involves natural resources. In India, a huge number of people derive this activity from their ancestors. Due to lack of literacy in general, farmers prefer agriculture since they acquire the required skills from their ancestors and so feel comfortable with it.
Why are different crops grown in different regions?
Different topography, different soil, different climate, different lifestyle of the people.
Distinguish between primary activities and secondary activities.
Primary activities are activities that involve direct extraction and production of natural resources, e.g. agriculture, fishing, and gathering.
Secondary activities are activities that are concerned with the processing of natural resources, e.g. manufacturing activities in the industry.
Distinguish between subsistence farming and intensive farming.
Subsistence farming uses low levels of technology and more household labor.
Intensive farming farmers use simple tools and more labor to cultivate a small plot of land.
What are the three different economic activities?
The three different economic activities are primary activities, secondary activities, and tertiary activities.
Primary activities include the extraction and production of natural resources, e.g. agriculture, fishing, and gathering.
Secondary activities are the processing of these resources, e.g. manufacture of steel, baking of bread, and weaving of cloth.
Tertiary activities provide support to the production and distribution, e.g. transportation, banking, education, etc.
Differentiate between a farm in India and a farm in the USA.
In India: Most farming is done by small and marginal farmers who often own small plots of land. They rely on traditional methods and may or may not have access to advanced technology.
In the USA: Farms are typically much larger, and the agriculture industry is highly mechanized. Farming is often done on a commercial scale in vast fields managed by farmers using advanced machinery, technology, and modern methods.
