NCERT Solutions Class 12 Geography Chapter 4 Primary Activities

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

(i) Which one of the following is not a plantation crop?
(a) Coffee
(b) Sugarcane
(c) Wheat
(d) Rubber

Answer : C

(ii) In which one of the following countries co-operative farming was the most successful experiment?
(a) Russia
(b) Denmark
(c) India
(d) The Netherlands

Answer : B

(iii) Growing of flowers is called:
(a) Truck farming
(b) Factory farming
(c) Mixed farming
(d) Floriculture

Answer : D

(iv) Which one of the following types of cultivation was developed by European colonists?
(a) Kolkoz
(b) Viticulture
(c) Mixed farming
(d) Plantation

Answer : D

(v) In which one of the following regions is extensive commercial grain cultivationnot practised?
(a) American Canadian prairies
(b) European Steppes
(c) Pampas of Argentina
(d) Amazon Basin

Answer : D

(vi) In which of the following types of agriculture is the farming of citrus fruit very important?
(a) Market gardening
(b) Plantation agriculture
(c) Mediterranean agriculture
(d) Co-operative farming

Answer : C

(vii) Which one type of agriculture amongst the following is also called ‘slash and burn agriculture’?
(a) Extensive subsistence agriculture
(b) Primitive subsistence agriculture
(c) Extensive commercial grain cultivation
(d) Mixed farming

Answer : B

(viii) Which one of the following does not follow monoculture?
(a) Dairy farming
(b) Mixed farming
(c) Plantation agriculture
(d) Commercial grain farming

Answer : B

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words:

(i) Future of shifting cultivation is bleak. Discuss.
Answer : Future of shifting cultivation is bleak. The reasons are:
1. One of the major problems of shifting cultivation is that the cycle of jhum becomes less and less due to loss of fertility in different parcels.
2. There are several restrictions imposed by governments through forest acts etc., which hinder the free movement of tribes and practice of shifting cultivation.
3. Shifting cultivation is sustainable in nature, hence it is unable to meet with the market demand and therefore there is no scope for it in the increasing globalised markets.
4. With the infiltration of non tribals in the tribal areas, tribals are adopting to modem agricultural practices which are more productive and environmentally sustainable.
5. To support a small population, a huge land resource base is required, ultimately it leads to soil erosion and land degradation.

(ii) Market gardening is practiced near urban areas. Why?
Answer : Market gardening is specialised in the cultivation of high value crops such as vegetables, fruits and flowers, solely for the urban markets. It is practised near urban areas because:
1. Farms are small and are located where there are good transportation links with the urban centre where high income group of consumers is located.
2. The crops are costly, hence they need to be situated close to a market where people have high purchasing power and also demand for high valued crops. In such situation urban areas are the perfect markets.
3. These crops are perishable in nature; hence farms cannot be situated far away from the main market.

(iii) Large scale dairy farming is the result of the development of transportation and refrigeration.
Answer : Market gardening is specialised in the cultivation of high value crops such as vegetables, fruits and flowers, solely for the urban markets. It is practised near urban areas because:
1. Dairy products require quick and suitable transportation as these items are perishable.
2. The development of transportation and refrigeration have increased the duration of storage of various dairy products.
3. Modem transportation such as refrigerated trucks, ships with special cargoes and faster means of transportation like airways provide with adequate facilities, which allow transportation of dairy products to far off markets without spoilage.
4. Refrigeration prevents dairy products from getting spoiled and increases their durability.

3. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words.

(i) Differentiate between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing.
Answer : 

(ii) Discuss the important characteristic features of plantation agriculture. Name a few important plantation crops from different countries.
Answer : Plantation agriculture as mentioned above was introduced by the Europeans in colonies situated in the tropics.
The important characteristics features of plantation agriculture are:
• Large estates or plantations
• Large capital investment
• Managerial and technical support
• Scientific methods of cultivation
• Single crop specialisation
• Cheap labour
• A good system of transportation which links the estates to the factories and markets for the export of the products.
Few important plantation crops from different countries are:
• Tea - India and Sri Lanka,
• Rubber - Malaysia
• Sugarcane and banana plantations - West Indies.