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TYPES OF AGRICULTURE AND MAJOR CROPS-Key Notes

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36 views4 pages

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE AND MAJOR CROPS-Key Notes

Uploaded by

Zafar Imam Khan
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SUBJECT: SOCIAL STUDIES

GRADE: 8
LESSON: TYPES OF AGRICULTURE AND MAJOR CROPS

Keynotes
What is agriculture?
The term ‘agriculture’ means the cultivation of soil for the growing of crops. It also includes raising livestock,
forestry and fishing.
Factors influencing agriculture:
a. Climate:
- Elements like temperature and rainfall play an important role.
- In warm tropical regions, agriculture can be practiced throughout the year while in higher latitudes,
the winter temperature is too low for the growth of crops.
- Crops like rice and jute require more moisture and hence grow in areas of high raimfall.
- Wheat and millets grow in dry areas.
b. Soil:
- Soils vary in their chemical composition.
- Different types of soil are suitable for different crops.
- Rice grows best in clayey alluvial soil.
- Black lava soil is suitable for cotton.
c. Relief:
- Low lying lands like plains, river valleys and deltas are more suitable for cultivation of crops.
- Northern plains in India are the best agricultural land as compared to the Himalayas or the Deccan
Plateau.
d. Socio-economic:
- Factors like cost of farming, market for a commodity, transport facilities, availability of labor,
capital, system of land ownership and government policy also influence agriculture.

TYPES OF FARMING –
The two main types of agriculture practiced in the world are – Subsistence and Commercial.
A. Subsistence Agriculture:
- It is the type of agriculture that is practiced for domestic consumption of the farmers is called
subsistence agriculture.
- It can be classified into two types – Primitive subsistence agriculture and Intensive subsistence
agriculture.

a. Primitive Subsistence Agriculture –


This includes two types of agriculture – shifting agriculture and nomadic herding.
i. Shifting Agriculture:
- This type of agriculture is mostly practiced by tribals living in the dense tropical forests of the
Congo basin, Amazon basin, Central America, Southeast Asia and North-east India.
- They clear a patch of forested land by cutting and burning trees.
- Hence this method is also known as slash and burn.
- Cultivation is then done on the cleared land with primitive tools like digging sticks and hoes.
- Crops grown in such a manner are – tapioca, cassava, yams, maize, millets, beans and bananas.
- After three or four years, the soil gets leached or covered by weeds and becomes infertile.
- The farmers then shift to another part of the forest and clear a new patch of land.
- Shifting cultivation leads to deforestation and soil erosion. Hence many countries have banned this
type of agriculture.
ii. Nomadic Herding:
- It is practiced by nomadic people who graze their animals on natural pastures.
- The herders move from one place to another in search of fodder and water.
- They also raise animals like cattle, sheep, goats, camel and yaks.
- This type of agriculture is practiced mainly in sparsely populated areas of the world where grass is
available.
- It is practiced in regions of West and Central Asia, northern Eurasia, East and Southwest Africa and
the Sahara Desert.
- Important herders include – Kirghiz and Kazakhs of Central Asia, the Bedouins and the Tuaregs of
Sahara Desert, the Masais of East Africa and the Gaddis and Bakarwals of India.
b. Intensive Subsistence Agriculture –
- This type of agriculture is practised in densely populated regions of the world.
- The regions are – south and south-east Asia (China, Japan and India).
- Land holdings are small.
- Farming is intensive.
- Large amount of labour is used.
- Simple tools are used instead of machines.
- Farmers make optimum use of land and grow two to three crops annually.
- Use of irrigation, high yielding varieties of seeds, natural manures and chemical fertilisers.
- Major crops grown are – wheat, millets, oilseeds, cotton and sugarcane.

B. Commercial Agriculture:
- Agriculture done with the aim of selling the product and earning profit is called commercial
agriculture.
Different types of Commercial Agriculture practised in different parts of the world are as follows:
a. Extensive agriculture:
- Common in regions with abundant land but very sparse population.
- It is practised in mid-latitude grasslands – prairies of North America, pampas of Argentina, steppes
of Eurasia and downs of Australia.
- Land holdings are very big.
- Farming operations are fully mechanized. Very little labour required.
- Chemical fertilizers are not used often.
- Total production is large but per hectare productivity is low.
- Specializes in one or two crops.
- Major crops grown are – wheat, oats, rye and cotton.
b. Plantation Agriculture:
- Mostly practiced in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world.
- Introduced by European colonizers in these countries.
- Done for commercial purposes specializing in one crop.
- Farms are huge called estates.
- Large amount of capital invested.
- Farming methods are efficient.
- Machinery and fertilizers are used whenever required.
- Manual labour is required while skilled labour is imported.
- Crop is processed before being sold in the market.
- Estates are well connected to ports and railheads.
- This type of farming is scientifically managed like a factory.

c. Mixed Farming:
- Crop cultivation and animal rearing is practised on the same farm.
- Mostly practised in developed parts like – the eastern part of North America, Western Europe,
Russia, Australia and New Zealand.
- The land is moderate sized and farming is intense.
- Use of modern machinery, improved seeds and chemical fertilizers ensure high yield.
- Crop rotation is practiced to ensure soil fertility.
- Crops grown are wheat, maize, barley, potatoes, turnips, and legumes like peas.
- Cattle for beef, sheep for mutton, pigs and poultry is also raised.

d. Pastoral Farming:
- Commercial rearing of livestock.
- Cattle, sheep and goats for milk, wool, hides and other products.
- Mostly practiced in temperate grasslands – prairies of USA, pampas of Argentina, veld of South
Africa, steppes of Eurasia and downs of Australia.
- Animals are kept in huge farms known as ranches.
- Fed on natural grasses and fodder like alfalfa and Lucerne.
- Ranches are scientifically managed and animals are well looked after.

e. Dairy Farming:
- It involves the rearing of dairy cattle to produce milk and milk products.
- It is practiced around urban areas.
- Use of modern machinery and scientific methods of breeding.
- Large labour force required to look after the cattle.
- Huge amount of capital to be invested.
- Mostly practised in the UK, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Northeastern USA,
Southeastern Australia and New Zealand.

f. Orchard Farming:
- This type of farming is mostly practised in the Mediterranean region.
- Orchards are found in Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece and the California state of the USA.
- Specialize in the commercial production of olives, figs, oranges and apricots.
- Viticulture or grape cultivation is also a speciality of the Mediterranean region.
g. Market Gardening and Horticulture:
- This includes the cultivation of vegetables, fruits and flowers solely for the urban markets.
- Market gardens are mostly located outside cities in suburban areas.
- They are small in size and intensely cultivated.
- Irrigation is used and soil fertility is maintained by use of chemical fertilizers.
- Large labour is required and yield is high.
- Also called truck gardening as fresh vegetables are transferred to the markets by trucks.
- Developed in densely populated regions of northwestern Europe like the UK, Belgium, Denmark,
Germany and the Netherlands and northeastern parts of the USA.

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