Chapter 4: Agriculture| CBSE Class 8 Geography Notes

The term “agriculture” originates from the Latin words “ager” or “agri,” which refer to soil, and “culture,” meaning cultivation. Agriculture encompasses the primary activity of cultivating crops, fruits, vegetables, and flowers, and raising livestock. Globally, around 50% of the population is involved in agricultural activities.

In India, two-thirds of the population still rely on agriculture for their livelihood. For more in-depth information on this topic, students can refer to Chapter 4 of CBSE Class 8 Geography. Additionally, CBSE Notes Class 8 Geography Chapter 4-Agriculture are available to help students prepare comprehensively for their exams.

In the journey from raw material to the final product, economic activities are classified into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Primary activities involve the extraction and production of natural resources, such as agriculture, fishing, and gathering.

Secondary activities encompass the processing of these resources, including the manufacturing of steel, baking of bread, and weaving of cloth.

Tertiary activities provide support to the primary and secondary sectors through services such as transport, trade, banking, insurance, and advertising.

Agriculture constitutes a fundamental primary activity, heavily reliant on the topographical and climatic conditions of the soil for its success.

Agriculture, or farming, can be viewed as a structured system with crucial inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, machinery, and labor. Operations within this system include plowing, sowing, irrigation, weeding, and harvesting. The outputs generated from this system encompass various crops, wool, dairy products, and poultry.

Farming is broadly categorized into subsistence farming and commercial farming, with the specific type chosen based on geographical conditions, demand for produce, labor availability, and technological advancements.

Subsistence farming is a practice aimed at fulfilling the basic needs of the farmer’s family.

Within this category, there are two main types: intensive subsistence agriculture and primitive subsistence agriculture.

Intensive subsistence agriculture involves cultivating a small plot of land using basic tools and a higher amount of labor. Regions with a favorable climate, characterized by ample sunshine and fertile soil, allow for the cultivation of multiple crops annually on the same plot.

• The main crop in intensive subsistence agriculture is rice, while other crops like wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds are also grown.
• It is prevalent in densely populated areas of monsoon regions, particularly in South, Southeast, and East Asia.

On the other hand, primitive subsistence agriculture includes practices like shifting cultivation and nomadic herding.

Shifting cultivation, also known as “slash and burn” agriculture, involves clearing a plot of land by felling and burning trees. The ashes are then mixed with the soil to grow crops. Once the soil loses fertility, the land is abandoned, and the cultivator moves to a new plot.

• Crops such as maize, yam, potatoes, and cassava are commonly cultivated.
• It is practiced in thickly forested regions of the Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of Southeast Asia, and Northeast India.

Nomadic herding entails herdsmen traveling from place to place with their animals in search of fodder and water along defined routes. This practice is often dictated by climatic conditions and terrain.

• In nomadic herding, animals like sheep, camels, yaks, and goats are reared, providing milk, meat, wool, hides, and other products.
• Nomadic herding is common in semi-arid and arid regions like the Sahara, Central Asia, and certain parts of India such as Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir.

Commercial farming are of various types, including commercial grain farming, mixed farming, and plantation agriculture.

In commercial grain farming, crops are cultivated and animals are raised primarily for sale in the market. This type of farming typically involves large-scale cultivation over extensive areas, with significant capital investment. Mechanization plays a crucial role, with machinery performing much of the agricultural work.

• In terms of crops, commercial grain farming typically involves the cultivation of wheat and maize.
• It is prevalent in the temperate grasslands of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Mixed farming involves the cultivation of crops for commercial purposes alongside the rearing of livestock. These farms are often located in sparsely populated areas, covering vast expanses of land. Severe winters in some regions limit the growing season, allowing for only a single crop to be cultivated.

• Mixed farming incorporates the production of both food and fodder crops, along with livestock rearing.
• It is practiced in regions like Europe, the eastern USA, Argentina, southeast Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

Plantation agriculture, on the other hand, focuses on the cultivation of a single crop for commercial purposes. Considerable labor and capital are required for this type of farming, and the produce may be processed either on the farm itself or in nearby factories. A well-developed transportation network is essential to support this form of agriculture.

• Plantation agriculture includes crops such as tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana, or cotton.
• They are commonly found in tropical regions worldwide, with examples including rubber plantations in Malaysia, coffee plantations in Brazil, and tea plantations in India and Sri Lanka.

Food crops- wheat, rice, maize, and millet.

Fiber crops- jute and cotton.

Beverage crops- tea and coffee.

Rice, a staple food in tropical and subtropical regions, thrives in conditions of high temperature, humidity, and ample rainfall. It flourishes best in alluvial clayey soil with high water retention capacity. China ranks as the top producer of rice, followed by India, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Egypt. In favorable climates like West Bengal and Bangladesh, farmers can cultivate 2 to 3 rice crops annually.

Wheat requires moderate temperatures and rainfall during its growing season and abundant sunshine during harvesting. It grows best in well-drained loamy soil and is extensively cultivated in countries such as the USA, Canada, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, and India, where it is typically sown during winter.

Millets, recognized as coarse grains, thrive in less fertile, sandy soils. These hardy crops require low rainfall and moderate to high temperatures. Jowar, bajra, and ragi are prevalent millet varieties grown in India, Nigeria, China, and Niger.

Maize requires moderate temperatures, adequate rainfall, and abundant sunshine, flourishing in well-drained fertile soils. Major maize-producing countries include North America, Brazil, China, Russia, Canada, India, and Mexico.

Cotton necessitates high temperatures, light rainfall, approximately 210 frost-free days, and ample sunshine. It thrives on black and alluvial soils and serves as the primary raw material for the cotton textile industry. Leading cotton producers include China, the USA, India, Pakistan, Brazil, and Egypt.

Jute, often referred to as the ‘Golden Fiber,’ thrives in alluvial soil, requiring high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and a humid climate. It is predominantly cultivated in tropical regions, with India and Bangladesh being the leading producers.

Coffee requires a warm, wet climate and well-drained loamy soil, making hill slopes ideal for cultivation. Brazil leads in coffee production, followed by Colombia and India.

Tea, a beverage crop cultivated on plantations, thrives in a cool climate with consistent high rainfall throughout the year. It prefers well-drained loamy soils and gentle slopes. Kenya, India, China, and Sri Lanka are renowned for producing high-quality tea.

Initiatives were undertaken to enhance agricultural output to cater to the rising needs of the expanding populace—a feat accomplished through various means, including expanding cultivated land, diversifying crop varieties, enhancing irrigation infrastructure, and adopting fertilizers and high-yield seeds. The primary objective of agricultural advancement is to bolster food security.

In densely populated developing nations, intensive farming methods prevail, with crops predominantly cultivated on small plots primarily for subsistence purposes. Conversely, commercial agriculture tends to favor larger land holdings.

What does the term “agriculture” encompass, and how many people globally are engaged in agricultural activities?

Agriculture refers to the primary activity of cultivating crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers, and raising livestock. Approximately 50% of the global population is involved in agricultural activities.

What are the primary economic activities, and how is agriculture classified within them?

Economic activities are categorized into three types: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary activities involve the extraction and production of natural resources, including agriculture, fishing, and gathering.

Could you explain the different types of farming?

Farming is broadly categorized into subsistence farming and commercial farming. Subsistence farming aims to fulfill the basic needs of the farmer’s family, while commercial farming focuses on generating produce for sale in the market.

What are the objectives of agricultural development, and how do they differ between densely populated and sparsely populated regions?

The main objectives of agricultural development include increasing farm output to meet growing population needs. In densely populated areas, the focus is on intensive farming for subsistence, while in sparsely populated regions, commercial agriculture on larger holdings is more common to meet market demands.

What are some of the major crops grown globally, and what are their optimal growing conditions?

Major crops include food crops like wheat, rice, maize, and millet, fiber crops like jute and cotton, and beverage crops like tea and coffee. Each crop has specific requirements for temperature, rainfall, soil type, and other factors to thrive effectively.