ANNUAL EXAMINATION (2021-22)

REVISION WORKSHEET ANSWER KEY

CH-4: AGRICULTURE(GEOGRAPHY)
GRADE VIII
ANSWERS:

1. The word agriculture is derived from Latin words ager or agri meaning soil and culture meaning,
cultivation.
2. The operations involved in agriculture are:
Ploughing, sowing, irrigation, weeding and harvesting.
3. Intensive subsistence, Primitive subsistence farming.

4. Define the following terms: (2 each)

A. Organic Farming: In this type of farming, organic manure and natural pesticides are used
instead of chemicals. No genetic modification is done to increase the yield of the crop.

B. Pisciculture: Breeding of fish in specially constructed tanks and ponds

C. Agriculture: The science and art of cultivation on the soil, raising crops and rearing
livestock. It is also called farming.

D. Horticulture: Growing vegetables, flowers and fruits for commercial use

E. In Mexico practice of shifting cultivation is known as Milpa.

5. In commercial Farming crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market, that
is, for commercial purposes, while in Subsistence farming crops are grown mainly for the
farmer’s family needs

6. The two major plantation crops found in the tropical regions of the world. (ANY TWO)

 Rubber plantation in Malaysia

 Coffee plantation in Brazil
 Tea plantation in India and Sri Lanka.
7. Coffee requires warm and wet climate and well-drained loamy soil.
Hill slopes are more suitable for the growth of this crop.
8. The inputs in agriculture are seeds, fertilisers, machinery, labour, etc. The operations
involved in agriculture are ploughing, sowing, irrigation, weeding and harvesting. As
outputs of the farming activity, a farmer gets crops, wool, dairy products and poultry
products.
 9. (i)Nomadic Hoarding
(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.
10. (i)Farmers ploughing a field is shown.
(ii) Traditional method is used.

11. (i)Rice is a major food crop in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Its cultivation
needs high temperatures, high humidity and rainfall.
(ii) Its growth is best in alluvial clayey soils since they have water retention capacity.
(iii) China and India are the leading producers in the world. In favourable climatic
conditions, even two to three crops are grown in a year.

12. The three types of economic activities are primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary
Activities. Activities which involve direct extraction and production of natural resources are
called primary activities. Examples: agriculture, fishing, mining. Secondary Activities.
Activities which are concerned with the processing of natural resources are called secondary
activities. Examples: manufacturing of finished products. Tertiary Activities. Activities which
fall neither in the primary category nor the secondary category are called tertiary activities.
They form a support to primary and secondary activities. Examples: selling goods,
advertising and banking.

13. (i) Its ultimate aim is to increase food security. Farm production can be increased in the
following ways –

 Increasing the cropped area.

 The number of crops grown.
 Improving irrigation facilities.
 Use of fertilizers and high yielding variety of seeds.

(ii) In commercial farming crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market.(any
two)

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

 Most of the work is done by machines.
 In commercial grain farming crops are grown for commercial purpose. Wheat and
maize are common commercially grown grains.

14. Subsistence farming is practised to meet the needs of the farmer’s family.
Traditionally, low levels of technology and household labour are used to
produce on small output.
Subsistence farming can be further classified as intensive subsistence and
primitive
subsistence farming.
 Intensive subsistence farming: In this type of farming the farmer cultivates a small plot of
land using simple tools and more labour.
Intensive subsistence agriculture is prevalent in the thickly populated areas of the monsoon
regions of south, southeast and east Asia.
 Primitive subsistence farming: It includes shifting cultivation and nomadic herding.
  Shifting cultivation: 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 bum’ agriculture.
 Nomadic herding: It 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.
This type of movement arises in response to climatic constraints and terrain. Sheep, camel,
yak and goats are most commonly reared. They provide milk, meat, wool hides and other
products to the herders and their families.

15. Map for reference:

In commercial Farming crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market, that is, for
commercial purposes, while in Subsistence farming crops are grown mainly for the farmer’s family
needs.(2)
Mixed cropping involves the simultaneous growing of two or more crops intermingled on the same
land. Mixed farming is the combining of two independent agricultural enterprises on the same farm. A
typical case of mixed farming is the combination of crop enterprise with dairy farming, that is, crop
cultivation with livestock farming. Mixed farming may be treated as a special case of diversified
farming. This particular combination of enterprises, support each other and add to the farmer’s
profitability.(2)
Agricultural production can be increased by increasing area under cultivation and by increasing the
number of crops grown in a year. Agricultural production can be also be increased by improving
irrigational facilities and using fertilizers. Use high yielding variety of seeds and machinery in
cultivation increase crop yield.(2)
Agricultural production can be increased by increasing area under cultivation and by increasing the
number of crops grown in a year. Agricultural production can be also be increased by improving
irrigational facilities and using fertilizers. Use high yielding variety of seeds and machinery in
cultivation increase crop yield.(2)
Name the inputs and outputs of agriculture in general. Also mention the various operations
involved.
Answer.
Observe the picture given and answer the questions given below:
Which type of farming is shown in the image?
Nomadic herding
Where is it practiced in India and world?
92)

1. Rubber plantation in Malaysia

2. Coffee plantation in Brazil
3. Tea plantation in India and Sri Lanka.

Mention the two geographical conditions required for coffee cultivation.(2)

What is agricultural development? Also, write its ultimate aim and how can the
aim be achieved?(3)
Agricultural development refers to the efforts made to increase farm
production in order to meet the growing demand of increasing population.

Read the source and answer the following questions given below.

Agricultural Development refers to efforts made to increase farm production in order to meet
the growing demand of increasing population. This can be achieved in many ways such as
increasing the cropped area, the number of crops grown, improving irrigation facilities, use of
fertilisers and high yielding variety of seeds. Mechanisation of agriculture is also another aspect
of agricultural development. The ultimate aim of agricultural development is to increase food
security. Agriculture has developed at different places in different parts of the world. Developing
countries with large populations usually practise intensive agriculture where crops are grown on
small holdings mostly for subsistence. Larger holdings are more suitable for commercial
agriculture as in USA, Canada and Australia.

What is the ultimate aim of agricultural development and how can the aim
be achieved? (2)
Its ultimate aim is to increase food security. Farm production can be increased
in the following ways –

 Increasing the cropped area.

 The number of crops grown.
 Improving irrigation facilities.
 Use of fertilizers and high yielding variety of seeds.

Describe the term commercial farming(2)

Write the two main features of commercial farming?

Answer:
Main features of commercial farming are:

 Subsistence farming is practised to meet the needs of the farmer’s family.

Traditionally, low levels of technology and household labour are used to produce on
small output. Subsistence farming can be further classified as intensive subsistence
and primitive subsistence farming.
 Intensive subsistence farming: In this type of farming the farmer cultivates a small
plot of land using simple tools and more labour. Climate with large number of days
with sunshine and fertile soils permit growing of more than one crop annually on the
same plot. 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 farming: It includes shifting cultivation and nomadic herding.

Enlist the climate conditions required for the proper cultivation of rice. Mention the main
regions of its production.(3)
Answer. Rice is a major food crop‘in tropical and sub-tropical parts of the world. Its cultivation needs
high temperature, high humidity and rainfall. Its growth is best in alluvial clayey soils, since they have
water retention capacity. China and India are the leading producers in the world. In favourable
climatic conditions, even two to three crops are grown in a year.

Write a short note on the types of economic activities. Give examples. (3)
Answer. The three types of economic activities are primary, secondary and tertiary. Primary
Activities. Activities which involve direct extraction and production of natural resources are called
primary activities. Examples: agriculture, fishing, mining. Secondary Activities. Activities which are
concerned with the processing of natural resources are called secondary activities. Examples:
manufacturing of finished products. Tertiary Activities. Activities which fall neither in the primary
category nor the secondary category are called tertiary activities. They form a support to primary and
secondary activities. Examples: selling goods, advertising and banking.
What is subsistence farming? Briefly explain its classifications.
Answer:

On the political map of the India locate and name the following places 1 mark each

a)The leading tea producing state of India

b) A state where rice is grown

c) Wheat producing state

d) A state which is the Jute producer of India