Class 8 Social Science Agriculture Exam Notes

Covers the following topics:

1.Meaning & Definition

This CBSE Class 8 Social Science exam notes page on agriculture covers the meaning and definition of agriculture, economic activities, the physical and non-physical factors affecting farming, the types of farming, the major food and commercial crops of the world with their growing conditions, the cropping seasons of India, agricultural development in India, and a comparison of a farm in India with a farm in the USA.

Topics Covered

1. Meaning and Definition
2. Economic Activities
3. Factors Affecting Agriculture
4. Agriculture
5. Types of Farming
6. Major Crops of the World
7. Cropping Pattern in India
8. Agricultural Development in India
9. A Farm in India
10. A Farm in the U.S.A

INTRODUCTION

Agriculture, which is also known as the primary activity, is an important economic activity of man. It provides food and clothing to man and serves as the base for all human activities. It started about 12,000 years back and includes not only cultivation but also animal rearing, forestry and a number of other activities.

Ancient man first learnt to settle and grow some crops, and then he started rearing animals, which provided him with milk, meat, hides, skin and wool. At the beginning, it was all for subsistence purposes. With the passage of time, commercialisation of agriculture started. Today it has assumed a diversified form, and with the introduction of better farming techniques it has become more advanced.

MEANING AND DEFINITION

The term "Agriculture" is derived from the Latin terms "agri", meaning field, and "cultra", meaning cultivation. Hence, the literal meaning of agriculture is the cultivation of crops on the fields. In recent times, agriculture is not only confined to the growing of crops in the fields, but it also includes the growing of crops and the domestication of animals, not only for subsistence but also for commercial purposes.

Hence, agriculture may be defined as a human activity involving the planned utilisation of land or soil and water for the growth of plants and animals to meet the basic requirements of food and clothing.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Some of the agricultural products cannot be consumed directly. Thus, they have to be processed. Processing involves various types of economic activities. Economic activities can be classified into the following three categories:

Primary Activities: These involve the extraction and production of resources provided by nature. Agriculture, fishing, gathering, lumbering and mining are some of the primary activities.

Secondary Activities: These involve the processing of the products of the primary activities. Baking of bread, making of cloth and processing of steel are some of the secondary activities.

Tertiary Activities: These basically help the primary and secondary activities through services such as transport, trade, insurance and banking. These are some of the tertiary activities.

FACTORS AFFECTING AGRICULTURE

Physical Factors

Temperature: Temperature is one of the important factors affecting agriculture. Seed germination requires suitable temperature conditions. The earth is divided into various zones according to temperature. The Torrid Zone is hotter than the other two and has high temperature conditions throughout the year. Crops usually require a temperature of 30 to 35 °C. If the temperature dips down to 10 °C or less, germination does not take place and the plant will die away. Crops growing in the Temperate or Frigid Zone require a much lower temperature than crops in the tropical zone. Crops cannot withstand high temperatures, so crops have different growing characteristics according to different temperature conditions.

Rainfall: Water is another important requirement for the growth and development of crops. Soil retains moisture for a longer time, so the roots of the crops take water from the soil for growth. Without rainfall, there will be a substantial fall in the crop productivity of a region. Different crops have different water requirements. Some need more water, like rice (paddy), and some need less, like wheat. In places where rainfall is insufficient, crops are irrigated with the help of artificial sources of water such as tanks and canals.

Soil: Soil refers to the topmost loose and unconsolidated layer, which contains both organic and inorganic matter. Soil provides the base for the growth of plants and crops, and good crop production is expected from fertile soils. Important nutrients present in the soil that are necessary for the growth of crops are nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Tropical regions usually have fewer nutrients because of leaching due to heavy rainfall. In temperate regions, soils have a sufficient amount of nutrients and provide a good base for crops. Loamy soils are considered the best for the growth of plants and crops because they are well drained and possess a good amount of nutrients.

Relief: Relief is the general slope of the land. Steeper slopes do not support agricultural activities, because on steep slopes soil erosion is a big problem. Soil is easily carried away by running water and wind. Heavy machines like tractors and levellers cannot be used. Gentler slopes are considered the best for agricultural activities.

Non-physical Factors

Irrigation: Irrigation as a factor for agriculture is very old and workable. In modern times, agriculture has become more advanced, and the need for irrigation has become more important because rainfall has become more uncertain and uneven. So, the artificial provision of water is important. In India, irrigation plays an eminent role in minimising the adverse effects of scanty and unreliable rainfall. This role acquires added significance in dry lands, where it becomes impossible to grow crops without irrigation.

Better Seeds: The 1950s was a turning point for a large part of the world. It was the time when a Canadian known as Norman Borlaug introduced a new variety of seeds for the first time, primarily for wheat and barley, and later for rice and other crops. High yielding variety seed breeding technology is a revolutionary transition from age-old tradition to innovation. This has led to self-sufficiency in food, as against the usual shortages.

Agricultural Implements: Agricultural implements play a significant role in crop production. They include the plough, threshers, winnowers, axes, chaff-cutter machines, seed drills, etc. All these implements are used for performing various agricultural tasks, which help in improving efficiency and reducing labour. In most developed countries, farmers use advanced implements like tractors. But even today, in most developing and underdeveloped countries, farmers are using outdated and crude farming implements.

Fertilisers: Fertilisers help in adding nutrients to the soil, which in turn helps the crops to grow. The use of fertilisers is necessary for every country. Fertilisers are essential because every patch of land has its own capability, but the pressure and demand from the soil lead to the depletion of important nutrients. Fertilisers boost crop production and also help to increase agricultural production.

DIAGRAM: AGRICULTURE AND ITS BRANCHES

[Figure: Diagram with the branches Agri, Seri, Pisci, Verti and Horti, each shown with an arrow pointing to "+ Culture". Agri + Culture gives Agriculture.]

Agriculture: The science and art of cultivation on the soil, raising crops and rearing livestock. It is also called farming.
Sericulture: Commercial rearing of silkworms. It may supplement the income of the farmer.
Pisciculture: Breeding of fish in specially constructed tanks and ponds.
Viticulture: Cultivation of grapes.
Horticulture: Growing vegetables, flowers and fruits for commercial use.

TYPES OF FARMING

Agriculture or farming can be looked at as a system. The important inputs are seeds, fertilisers, machinery and labour. Some of the operations involved are ploughing, sowing, irrigation, weeding and harvesting. The outputs from the system include crops, wool, dairy and poultry products.

Depending upon the geographical conditions, demand for produce, labour and level of technology, farming can be classified into two main types:
(I) Subsistence farming
(II) Commercial farming

(I) Subsistence Farming

Subsistence farming is characterised by small and scattered landholdings and the use of primitive tools. Farmers are poor, they do not use fertilisers or high yielding variety seeds, and facilities like electricity and irrigation are generally not available to them. Most of the food produced is consumed by the farmers and their families. Subsistence farming has two types:
(i) Intensive subsistence
(ii) Primitive subsistence farming

(i) Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

The farmer cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour. A climate with a large number of sunny days and fertile soils permits the growing of more than one crop annually on the same plot. Rice is the main crop. Other crops include wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds. Intensive subsistence agriculture is prevalent in the thickly populated areas of the monsoon regions of South, Southeast and East Asia.

(ii) Primitive Subsistence Agriculture

It has two types:
(a) Shifting cultivation: It is practised in the thickly forested areas of the Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of Southeast Asia and Northeast India. In this type of agriculture, a piece of forest land is first cleared by felling trees and burning trunks and branches. After the land is cleared, crops are grown for two to three years, and then the land is abandoned as the fertility of the soil decreases. The farmers then move to new areas and the process is repeated. Dry paddy, maize, millets and vegetables are the crops commonly grown. Shifting cultivation is also known as 'slash and burn' agriculture.
(b) Nomadic herding: It is practised in the semi-arid and arid regions of the Sahara, Central Asia and some parts of India like Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir. Herdsmen move from place to place with their animals in search of fodder and water along defined routes. This movement arises in response to climatic constraints and terrain. Sheep, camel, yak and goat are the most commonly reared animals. They provide milk, meat, wool, hides and other products to the herders and their families.

(II) Commercial Farming

Crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market. The area cultivated and the amount of capital used are large, and most of the work is done by machines. It has three types:

Commercial Grain Farming: This is usually carried out on large, scientifically managed farms in areas of low population density. Wheat and maize are the common commercially grown grains. The major areas are the temperate grasslands of North America, Europe and Asia. These areas are sparsely populated, with large farms spreading over hundreds of hectares. Severe winters restrict the growing season, so only a single crop can be grown.

Mixed Farming: Crop cultivation and animal husbandry are practised on the same farm. It is practised in Europe, the eastern USA, Argentina, southeast Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Plantations: Plantation farming is bush or tree farming. It is single crop farming of rubber, tea, coffee, cocoa, spices, coconut and fruit crops like apples, grapes and oranges. It is capital-intensive and demands good managerial ability, technical know-how, sophisticated machinery, fertilisers, irrigation and transport facilities. Some plantations, like tea, coffee and rubber, have a processing factory within the farm itself or close to it. Major plantations are found in the tropical regions of the world. Rubber in Malaysia, coffee in Brazil, and tea in India and Sri Lanka are some examples.

MAJOR CROPS OF THE WORLD

Food Crops

Food crops are grown for subsistence and are consumed by people for survival. These include chiefly wheat, rice, corn and millets. In India, some pulses and oilseeds are also included in the major food crops.

Rice: Rice is a tropical and subtropical crop, mostly cultivated in the monsoon lands of Asia. It is one of the important and dominant crops of intensive subsistence agriculture. In some parts of the world, it is grown two or three times a year.
Conditions for growth:
- Rainfall: 100 to 200 cm of rainfall is required for its growth. Areas receiving less rainfall grow paddy with the help of irrigation.
- Temperature: The rice plant requires a minimum of 20 °C at the time of germination and about 27 to 30 °C at the time of growth.
- Soil: Fertile riverine alluvial soils are best for rice cultivation. Loamy clay soil is also considered good for rice production.
- Labour: Rice cultivation is labour intensive. All the tasks from sowing of seeds to harvest are done manually.
- Producing areas: China, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar and Japan are the main rice producing countries. In India, rice is grown mostly in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam.
- Trade: Some good quality rice is also exported in the international market, such as Indian Basmati.

Wheat: Wheat is another important food crop consumed in a large part of the world. It is more nutritive and dietary than rice. It contains protein, carbohydrates and nutrients.
Conditions for growth:
- Rainfall: It grows well in areas which receive annual rainfall of 40 to 75 cm. It is also grown with the help of irrigation facilities.
- Temperature: It requires a temperature of about 10 °C at the time of sowing and 15 to 20 °C at the time of growth.
- Soil: Wheat can be grown in a variety of soils, but loamy soil is best suited for its cultivation.
- Relief: Wheat is grown on hill slopes and in the plains. It is mostly and widely grown in the plain areas with the help of machines.
- Labour: On hill slopes, wheat is grown manually because of the harsh relief conditions, as heavy machines cannot be used. In the plains of most developed nations, it is done with the help of machines.
- Producing areas: China, India, Russia, the United States of America, Ukraine, Australia and Argentina are important producers. In India, the main wheat producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
- Trade: The USA, Australia and France are the major wheat exporting countries.

Maize: Maize is the third major food crop of the world. It originated in Central America, from where it spread across the world. It can be grown in a variety of climatic conditions and is used for both food and fodder.
Conditions for growth:
- Rainfall: Rainfall of 50 to 100 cm is best suited for its cultivation. It cannot withstand areas receiving more than 100 cm of rainfall.
- Temperature: It grows best at a temperature of 20 to 27 °C.
- Soil: Maize is best grown in well drained plain soils.
- Producing areas: Central America, South America, Africa, the USA, China, Brazil, France and Argentina are the major maize producing countries.

Millets: Millets have a drought resistant quality, but they have a low nutritional value as compared to other food grains. Like maize, they are used for both food and fodder in some parts of the world, such as India and Africa. Millets comprise a group of four crops, namely jowar, bajra, ragi and sorghum.
Conditions for growth:
- Rainfall: 20 to 100 cm of rainfall is sufficient for its growth.
- Temperature: 27 to 32 °C of temperature is needed for growth. It requires a short growing season.
- Soil: There is no particular type of soil in which it is grown. It can be grown in a variety of soils, including sandy soils, fertile soils and even harsh terrain.
- Producing areas: Millets are produced in India, Nigeria, Niger and China. India is the largest producer in the world. In India, they are grown in Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, the western part of Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The USA is the most significant producer of sorghum in the world.

Commercial Crops

Cotton: Cotton is a fibre from which clothes are prepared. It is also called the universal fibre. It is a non-food crop and is produced for commercial purposes. It is a soft and fluffy staple fibre that grows in a capsule-shaped boll.
Conditions for growth:
- Rainfall: Cotton is mainly grown in dry climates and requires 50 to 100 cm of rainfall.
- Temperature: It requires a temperature of 20 to 27 °C. Frost is harmful for its growth, so it needs almost 210 frost-free days.
- Soil: Fertile, saline soil with high water retention capacity is ideal for cotton cultivation. Loamy soil with a higher calcium carbonate content is best suited. Volcanic, black and alluvial soils are also suitable.
- Producing areas: The USA, China, India (the black soil region of western India, specifically Gujarat and Maharashtra) and Uzbekistan are some of the major cotton producing countries in the world.

Jute: Jute is also a fibrous crop, like cotton, and is grown for sale. It is used for making many things, such as ropes, mattresses, carpets and baskets.
Conditions for growth:
- Rainfall: Not more than 150 cm.
- Temperature: 22 to 27 °C.
- Soil: It grows in loamy as well as alluvial soils.
- Producing areas: India, Bangladesh and China are the major producing areas in the world. In India, jute is grown in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam and Odisha.

Beverage Crops

Any drink other than water is called a beverage. There are mainly three crops in this category: tea, coffee and cocoa.

Tea: Tea is one of the important beverage crops in the world, and no society is unaware of it. It is a labour intensive activity. It is derived from a bush which is evergreen in nature and is mainly grown on hill slopes. The tea plant requires a lot of maintenance and needs to be pruned from time to time. The leaves are picked later, processed in factories and supplied to the markets. It is one of the broad leaved evergreen shrubs.
Conditions for growth:
- Rainfall: A humid climate is needed for its growth, and it requires 125 to 250 cm of rainfall.
- Temperature: It requires a temperature of about 25 to 30 °C.
- Soil: It grows well in soils which are well supplied with humus.
- Producing areas: India is the major producer of tea in the world, followed by China, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Japan, Indonesia and Bangladesh.

Coffee: Coffee is also a plantation crop, like tea. It is obtained from the berry of a sub-tropical bush. Its seeds are roasted, dried and then sold in the market.
Conditions for growth:
- Rainfall: 150 to 250 cm of rain is needed for the growth of the coffee plant.
- Temperature: It requires a temperature ranging from 15 to 30 °C.
- Soil: It requires deep, porous soil with a good amount of humus.
- Producing areas: Brazil is the leading producer in the world, followed by Colombia. In India, coffee is grown on the slopes of the Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

CROPPING PATTERN IN INDIA

In India, agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. More than 60 per cent of the people are still dependent on agriculture. People grow crops not only for subsistence but also for commercial purposes. In some parts of the country, agriculture is very intensive. There are three cropping seasons in India:

Kharif: It starts from the onset of the monsoon in June and goes up to the beginning of winter in November and December. The major crops grown in this season are rice, maize, jowar, bajra, cotton, sesame, groundnut and some pulses like moong and urad.

Rabi: This season starts at the beginning of winter and continues up to the start of the summer season. The major crops grown in this season are wheat, barley, jowar, gram and oilseeds such as rape, mustard and linseed.

Zaid: In this season, along with some food crops, vegetables and fruits are grown. The major crops are rice, maize and groundnut as the main food crops, and watermelon, muskmelon and cucumber as the fruits and vegetables.

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT IN INDIA

Agriculture is the backbone of India's economy. About two-thirds of its population is directly engaged in agriculture and allied activities. It also contributes a sizeable share to the GDP. In recent times, agriculture in India has reached a stage of maturity and development. After independence, it was due to the Five Year Plans that the government started taking initiatives for the betterment of agriculture. The Green Revolution changed the face of agriculture totally. Now, India is self-sufficient in good grain production. The following are some of the developments that took place from time to time:

Land Reforms: Before independence, the zamindari and jagirdari systems were prevalent, according to which the cultivators were not the real owners of the land. After independence, laws and rules were passed to abolish the zamindari system, and lands were transferred to the actual tillers.

Technological Measures: Under this, the use of high yielding variety seeds, fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides was included. The public distribution system played an effective role in transferring all the technological inputs to each and every farmer.

Consolidation of Landholdings: As a part of land reforms, steps were taken by the government to recognise fragmented landholdings. All the small pieces of land were consolidated and handed over to the owners.

Cooperative Farming: Under this, small and marginal farmers pool their land in order to cultivate it, and the benefits are shared on an equal basis.

Crop Insurance Scheme: With the development of agricultural practices, a crop insurance scheme was launched in 1985 throughout the country for the following reasons:
- To provide financial support to farmers during crop failure.
- To provide support to farmers up to the next cropping season.

In recent times, the government introduced two specific programmes:
- Special Rice Production Programme: This programme was initiated in the eastern region, comprising Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, eastern Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- National Watershed Development Programme: This programme lays emphasis on land and water management in the eastern region through the introduction of an optimal cropping system, dry land horticulture, farm forestry, fodder production, etc.

A FARM IN INDIA

(i) The size of an average farm is very small. This is chiefly due to the repeated division of a plot among the heirs of the cultivator, generation after generation.
(ii) The land is intensively cultivated, and double cropping and multiple cropping are common.
(iii) The farm produce is used mainly for self-sustenance, and there is very little surplus.
(iv) The use of machines is very limited. Most farmers are too poor to afford expensive farm machinery. As the density of population is high, manual labour is cheap and is widely used in farm operations.
(v) There is limited use of chemical fertilisers, pesticides, improved seeds and modern methods of farming. This is partly due to lack of awareness and partly due to poverty.
(vi) There has been limited development of pastoral farming and mixed farming. The farm is used mainly for growing food. As the land is usually not used for growing fodder, farm animals are fed on farm wastes. No special provisions are made for housing these animals or caring for them.
(vii) The farm is usually managed by illiterate farmers. Schemes are now being introduced to raise their level of awareness.
(viii) The yield of crops is generally low.

A FARM IN THE USA

(i) The average size of a farm in the USA is much larger than that of an Indian farm. A typical farm size in the USA is about 250 hectares. This is because land is abundant and cheap.
(ii) Extensive type of agriculture is practised. Single cropping is the usual practice, with scope for growing fodder crops.
(iii) Agriculture is commercial. Most of the produce is sold. As the local demand is small, there is a large surplus, which is exported.
(iv) Farms are highly mechanised, with most operations performed by machines. As farms are large, the use of machines is a necessity. Manual labour is also scarce and hence expensive.
(v) High yielding varieties of seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides and modern methods of farming are used. As the farmers are wealthy, they can easily afford these. However, due to the adverse effects of chemicals, farmers are now switching to eco-friendly methods.
(vi) Animals are reared using scientific methods, both on ranches and on dairy farms. Mixed farming is common, which is a boon to farmers in the event of a crop failure. Fodder crops are grown to feed farm animals.
(vii) The farm is managed by well-educated farmers who are aware of the latest techniques and developments in the field of agriculture and the conditions prevailing in the market.
(viii) The yield per acre is lower than in many other countries, but the yield per worker is high.
(ix) The farmer in the USA works like a businessman and not like a peasant farmer.

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