Social Science Chapter 4 : Agriculture

Solution:

The word Agriculture is a Latin word which means soil cultivation. It is a primary activity which includes growing of crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing of livestock. It is also known as farming.

Solution:

Various factors influencing agriculture are – Favourable topography of the soil and Climate.

Solution:

Shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn cultivation is a type of farming activity which involves clearing a plot of land by felling trees, burning the felled trees, mixing the ashes with soil, and then growing crops like maize, yam, potatoes and cassava on the cleared land. After the soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivator moves on to a new plot. This type of farming has the following disadvantages.

(i) Deforestation

(ii) After some time the land loses its fertility.

(iii) Soil erosion.

(iv) Small patches of cultivation which is insufficient for feeding a large population.

Solution:

Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where a single crop of tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton is grown. Large amount of labour and capital is required in this type of farming. The produce is either processed on the farm itself or in nearby factories. Major plantations are found in the tropical regions of the world, like rubber in Malaysia, coffee in Brazil, tea in India and Sri Lanka, etc.

Solution:

Jute & cotton are known as fiber crops. The climatic conditions required for their growth are:

(i) Jute (Golden Fiber): High temperature more than 25°C, heavy rainfall, warm and humid climate.

(ii) Cotton: High temperature around 30 – 40°C, low rainfall and most importantly 210 frost- free days and bright sunshine. Means lot of cloud-free sunny days is essential for cotton growing.

Question 1: Horticulture means

(a) growing of fruits and vegetables (b) primitive farming (c) growing of wheat

Solution:

(a) Growing of fruits and vegetables

Question 2: Golden fibre refers to

(a) tea (b) cotton (c) jute

Solution:

(c) Jute

Question 3: Leading producers of coffee

(a) Brazil (b) India (c) Russia

Solution:

(a) Brazil

Solution:

Agriculture is the transformation of a plant to a finished product. It includes activities that are connected with the extraction and production of natural resources. Two-third of India’s population is dependent upon agriculture where people are engaged in growing crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing of livestock. Hence, in India, agriculture is a primary activity.

Solution:

Different crops are grown in different regions because growing of crops depends upon the geographical conditions, demand of produce, labour and level of technology. Favourable topography of soil and climate also play an important role in selection of crops to be grown in that area.