Chapter 3 – Agriculture

Chapter 3 – Agriculture

 

1. What is Agriculture? (What is Agriculture?)

•  Agriculture  is a primary activity that involves growing crops, raising livestock, and fishing.
• It comprises about  50% of the world’s population.
• Two-thirds of India’s population still depends on agriculture.
• Origin of the word agriculture: ‘Agra’ (or Agri) means soil and ‘Culture’ means cultivation.
• Other Agriculture-Related Activities:
  • Sericulture : rearing of silkworms.
  •  Pisciculture: Fish farming in specially designed ponds and tanks.
  • Viticulture : Cultivation of grapes.
  •  Horticulture:  Growing vegetables, flowers, and fruits.

 

2. Farm System

• Agriculture can be viewed as a  system, which involves many inputs,  processes, and outputs.
• Inputs :
  • Physical inputs: rainfall, sunshine, temperature, soil, slope.
  • Human Investment: Machinery, Labor, Fertilizer, Chemicals, Seeds, Storage.
•  Processes:
  •  Ploughing,  sowing,  irrigation  ,  weeding,  harvesting,  spraying, etc.
•  Outputs:
  • Crops, Wool,  Dairy products, Poultry products.

 

3. Types of Farming

Farming depends on various factors such as geographical location, amount of labor, and level of technology.

1. Subsistence Farming:

• • This type of farming  is done by farmers to fulfill the needs  of their family.
  • Production is usually not for sale.
  •  Intensive Subsistence Farming:
    • The farmer cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour.
    • Rice is the main crop. Other crops: wheat, maize, pulses, oilseeds.
    • Usually prevalent in densely populated monsoon regions (such as South, South-East, and East Asia).
  •  Primitive Subsistence Farming:
    • This includes  shifting cultivation and  nomadic herding.
      •  Shifting Cultivation:
        • In this, trees are cut and burnt (jhum cultivation). The ash is added to the soil.
        • After growing crops, farmers move to new plots when the fertility of the land is low.
        • It usually  occurs in the dense forests of the Amazon basin, Southeast Asia, and Northeast India.
        • Disadvantages: Deforestation, soil erosion.
      •  Nomadic Herding:
        • Shepherds    move from one place to another in search of pastures with their livestock  (sheep, camels, yaks, goats).
        • Animals provide milk, meat, wool and skins.
        • It is prevalent in Central Asia, parts of India (Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir).

1. Commercial Farming:

• • In this type of farming, crops  are grown for the purpose of selling them in the market.
  • It usually uses large plots, modern machinery and scientific methods.
  • Commercial Grain Farming :
    • The crops are grown for commercial purposes.
    • Wheat and maize are common commercial grains.
    • Major regions:  temperate grasslands of North America, Europe, and Asia.
  •  Mixed Farming:
    • The land is used for both growing food and fodder crops and raising livestock.
    • Major regions: Europe, eastern USA, Argentina, southeastern Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.
  •  Plantation Farming:
    • It is a type of commercial farming where a single crop (single crop) is grown, such as tea, coffee, cashew, rubber, banana, cotton.
    • It requires a large amount of labor and capital.
    • Major Sectors: Rubber in Malaysia, Coffee in Brazil, Tea in India and Sri Lanka.

 

4. Major Crops

Different types of crops are grown to meet the needs of the growing population.

1. Cereals :

• • Rice :
    • The world’s major food crop.
    • High temperature, high humidity and the need for more rainfall.
    • China is the largest producer of rice, followed by India, Japan, Sri Lanka and Egypt.
  • Wheat :
    • Moderate temperature and precipitation requirement (in the growing season) and bright sunshine (at the time of harvest).
    • Grown in USA, Canada, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Australia and India.
  • Millets :
    • Can be grown in less fertile and sandy soil.
    • Also known as ‘coarse grain’.
    • Examples: Jowar, Bajra, Ragi.
    • Grown in Nigeria, China and India.
  • Maize :
    • Moderate temperatures, precipitation and the need for bright sunlight.
    • Grown in North America, Brazil, China, Russia, Canada, India and Mexico.

 

 

 

1. Fibre Crops:

• • Cotton :
    • High temperature, light rainfall, 210 frost-free days and bright sunshine required.
    • Best in black and alluvial soils.
    • China, USA, India, Pakistan, Brazil and Egypt are the major producers.
  • Jute :
    • Also known as ‘Golden Fiber’.
    • The need for high temperatures, heavy rainfall and humid climate.
    • Alluvial grows well in soil.
    • India and Bangladesh are major producers.

iii.  Beverage Crops:

• • Tea :
    • The need for a cool climate and well-distributed high rainfall throughout the year.
    • The need for well-drained loamy soil and gentle slopes.
    • Kenya, India, China, Sri Lanka are the major producers.
  • Coffee :
    • The need for hot and humid climate and well-drained loamy soil.
    • More suitable for cultivation on mountain slopes.
    • Brazil is the largest producer of coffee, followed by Colombia and India.

 

5. Agricultural Development

• Agricultural development means increasing agricultural production to maintain food security.
• This can be done in a variety of ways:
  • Expansion of sowing area.
  • Increasing the number of crops.
  • Improvement in Irrigation Facilities.
  • Use of fertilizers and high-yielding seeds.
  • Increase in mechanization.
• Objective: To meet the growing demands of the growing population.
• Agriculture is developing at different speeds in different parts of the world.
  • India: Intensive agriculture (on small plots), farmers have less land and they grow for family needs.
  • USA: Large farms (250 hectares or more), low population, use of modern technology, works like a farmer trader.