Agriculture - Class 8 Geography - Extra Questions

How did ban on shifting agriculture affect the concerned communities?

They were forcibly displaced from their homes in the forests. Some had to change occupations.


What activities does the primary sector include?

The primary sector includes agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishing, poultry farming, mining and quarrying.


What activities does the tertiary sector include?

This sector includes activities such as trade, transport, communication, banking, education, health, tourism, services, insurance, etc.


Fill in the blanks with suitable words:
The most important commercial crop of India is ___________.

Sugarcane is an important commercial crop. India stands at 2nd position among all countries in the world in its production.


Mention any two features of plantation farming stating two examples.

Two features of plantation farming are.
(i) Commercial crops are grown for sale.
(ii) One crop is cultivated using modern scientific methods.
Crops grown are coffee, tea, rubber, etc.


Give two reasons for the importance of the jute industry in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta region.

Two reasons for the importance of the jute industry in the Ganga-Brahmaputra delta region are:

1. Jute is grown in abundance in this region.

2. Availability of cheap labour in the region.



With reference to rice cultivation, answer the following. Name two leading states in the production of rice.

West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.


Explain in brief the following. Retting.

Retting:- It is the soaking of the stalk and the removal of the fibre from the bark after plants are submerged in a pool of gently flowing clear water to separate the long stands of fibre from the stem.


What are the climatic conditions required for cultivating bajra in India?

  • Production is done usually in hot and dry conditions
  • Temperature between 25-30 degrees centigrade
  • Rainfall of about 40 to 50 cm is best suitable for Bajra production.
  • Temperature rise or Bright sunshine after light rainfall is good for the Bajra crop in early stages.
  • Bajra can be grown well on Black and Red soils.


Give reasons.
Different crops are grown in different regions

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, climates also play an important role in selection of crops to be grown in that area.



How did the partition of the country in 1947 affect the jute industry?

Partition of the country in 1947 affected the jute industry as the jute growing areas were in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and jute mills were in India. India has to import raw jute from Bangladesh to run the jute mills. There has been gradual decline in the jute industry due to the following reasons :
(i) Decline in demand for jute products.
(ii) Old and outdated machinery.
(iii) High cost of production and stiff international competition from Bangladesh and Brazil.
(iv) Emergence of synthetic substitutes.
(v) Non-availability of labour.


Write difference between a cash crop and a food crop?

Cultivation of food crops for survival are known as food crops. For eg, wheat, rice.
Crops grown primarily for sale and not for the use by the grower and his family are known as cash crops. For eg, sugarcane, oilseeds.


Very short answer type question.
What is terrarium?

It is an artificial enclosure for keeping small house plants.


Slash and burn agriculture is practiced only for personal consumption it cannot be practiced for commercial consumption or for the market. Discuss

Primitive subsistence agriculture is practised on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks, and family/community labour. This type of farming depends upon monsoon, natural fertility of the soil and suitability of other environmental conditions to the crops grown. It is a slash and burn agriculture. Farmers clear a patch of land and produce cereals and other food crops to sustain their family.
land productivity in this type of agriculture is low as the farmer does not use fertilisers or other modern inputs.


Why step farming is common in hills?

Step farming or terrace farming is common in hills to check soil erosion through water current on the slopes. It provides a physical barrier to soil erosion by water. The mountain is made into steps that slows down the speed of rainwater preventing damage to crops.


Describe Mixed farming and Commercial agriculture.

  • Mixed farming: In mixed farming, the land is used for growing food and fodder crops and rearing livestock. It is practiced in Europe, eastern USA, Argentina, southeast Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. 
  • Commercial farming: In commercial farming crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market. The area cultivated and the amount of capital used is large. Most of the work is done by machines. Commercial farming includes commercial grain farming, mixed farming, and plantation agriculture.



Describe the area of ragi production in India.

Ragi occupies 1.3% of the total cropped area and 5% of the total cereals. Major ragi producing states in India are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. 


Distinguish between the followings.
Subsistence farming and intenstive farming.

  • Subsistence farming is practiced to meet the needs of the farmer’s family. Traditionally, low levels of technology and household labour are used to produce on small output. Subsistence farming can be further classified as intensive subsistence and primitive subsistence farming. 
  • In intensive subsistence agriculture, the farmer cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour. The climate with a large number of days with sunshine and fertile soils permit growing of more than one crop annually on the same plot. Rice is the main crop. Other crops include wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds. 



Describe the features of intensive agriculture in India.

(i) Smaller Farm Size.
(ii) High Intensity of Labour Participation.
(iii) High Productivity.
(iv) Low Per Capita Output.
(v) Emphasis on Cereal.
(vi) Dependence on Climate.
(vii) Dependence on Soil.
(viii) Low Marketability.

(ix) Emphasis on Multiple Cropping.

(x) Emphasis on Manual/animal Force.

(xi) Lack of Modern Technology.



Give reasons.
In India agriculture is a primary activity.

Agriculture is an activity of growing crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing of livestock. It is a primary activity since it directly involves in natural resources. In India, a huge number of people derive the activity from their ancestors.

A large portion of India is full of highly fertile land. Moreover, India is a densely populated country and hence needs food grain production on a large scale. The monsoon climate of India is highly favourable for farming. Hence, agriculture is the main economic activity in India.



What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?

Shifting cultivation is generally practiced in the thickly forested areas. These are the areas of heavy rainfall and quick regeneration of vegetation. A plot of land is cleared by cutting the trees and burning them. The ashes are then mixed with the soil. After the soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivator moves to a new plot.

The major disadvantage of Shifting Cultivation is that many trees in the forest are cut and this increases soil infertility and leads to soil erosion.



 Rice production per hectare area is low in our country. Justify.

Rice production per hectare area is low in our country. This is attributed to various factors like deteriorating soil health; low efficiency of Nitrogen fertilizers; ever-changing balance of rice and pests; aging of rice farmers; increasing cost of production; post-harvest losses; weeds; and biotic and abiotic stresses.



Name the parts of India which practice extensive agriculture and why?

Extensive farming is done on large patches of land. The production is high due to a large area but production per unit of land is low. This kind of farming is predominantly done in temperate areas such as the US and Canada. In India, it is almost absent except in some states such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.


Explain the important features of plantation agriculture in India.

  • In this type of farming, a single crop is grown on a large area.
  • The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry. Plantations cover large tracts of land, using capital intensive inputs, with the help of migrant labourers.
  • It needs vast estates, managerial ability, technical know-how, sophisticated machinery, fertilizers, good transport facilities and a factory for processing.


Describe the features of extensive agriculture in India.

Larger farm size:

Farm size in extensive farming is very large, often exceeding 250 hectares. In north-western Europe, this farm size remains lower than 50 hectares but in North American continent it exceeds over 200 hectares.

High intensity of the capital:

This is a highly capital-intensive system. The entire operation is controlled by machines.

The low intensity of labour:

Due to a low density of population and non-lucrative nature of the agricultural system very few people are seriously interested in agriculture. Due to the scarcity of human labour, wages became high, that prevents owners from employing larger labour force.

High per capita Production:

Efforts are always made to maximize per capita production in lieu of per unit land production. Each farmer controls and cultivates extensive farm-land. So per capita production increases significantly.

Emphasis on mono-cropping:

In contrast to intensive farming—where land is culti­vated throughout the year—extensive farming is only limited within a definite span of the year, emphasis is given on producing a single crop, particularly wheat farming.

Commercial approach:

In contrast to intensive farming — where the entire product is consumed by the cultivator himself—extensive farming is highly commercialized. Little is con­sumed by the cultivators themselves. The bulk of the production is sent to the international market for export.

Low production per unit of land:

Due to extensive nature of cropping pattern, produc­tivity per unit area of land remains very low. Only in some parts of north-western Europe is productivity at par with intensive farming. In the rest of the extensive farming region, productiv­ity often goes lower than intensive farming.

The dominance of single cereals:

One particular crop —mainly wheat—dominates the culti­vation. 90% of the extensive farming region concentrates only on one crop production.

Huge surplus:

Almost entire products are sent for export. Only a little is consumed by cultivators themselves.

The dominance of machine:

Due to a dearth of human labour, the entire operation of cultiva­tion is controlled by machines. Unlike intensive farming, the importance of animals is less sig­nificant in extensive farming where machines like tractors, harvesters, winnowers, thrashers are employed in the cultivation process.

 

 



Name the important food crops of India.

  • Rice
  • Wheat
  • Ragi
  • Bajra
  • Sorghum
  • Jowar
  • Barley


Name the largest rice producing region in India.

West Bengal
West Bengal is the largest rice producing state in India. Almost half of its arable land is under rice cultivation. In the fiscal year 2016, the state produced about 15.75 million tonnes of rice over 5.46 million hectare cultivable area.


Explain the main features of mixed farming in India.

The main features of mixed farming are:
i) Crops and animals are raised simultaneously.
ii) Two or more crops are grown together.
iii) Rotation of crops is practiced.
iv) It ensures steady income to the farmers.


Explain the type of soil most suitable for growing rice in our country.

 Rice grows on a variety of soils like silts, loams and gravels. It can also tolerate alkaline as well as acid soils. However, clayey loam is well suited to the raising of this crop. River valley and delta areas are suitable for the cultivation of rice. New Alluvial soil have clayey loam texture, and therefore is best suited for rice cultivation.


Compare the growing of tea to the growing of rice.

                                    Tea                       Rice
 It is grown on hill slopes It is grown on flat surfaces of plains and plateaus
 Temperature required is 20°-30° centigrade Temperature required is 25° centigrade
 It requires rainfall of 150-300 cms Requires rainfall of 100 cms
 Soil required is loamy

 Grows well in alluvial soil



Name any four plantation crops of India.

  1. Coffee
  2. Tea
  3. Rubber
  4. Teak


Which is the most useful and oldest method of agriculture.

Some of the most useful and oldest methods of agriculture practiced in India are as follows :

1. Subsistence farming:
The majority of farmers in large parts of the country practice subsistence farming. Farmers cultivate small and scattered holdings with the help of draught animals and family members. Techniques are primitive and tools are simple. Modern farm implements are practically absent.
Farmers are too poor to purchase fertilizers and high yielding varieties of seeds as a result of which the productivity is low, Facilities like electricity, irrigation, and credit are badly lacking. As such, the farmer and his family members consume the entire farm produce and do not have any surplus farm products to sell in the market. The main emphasis is on food crops although some other crops such as sugarcane, oilseeds, cotton, jute, tobacco also occupy an important place in some areas.
Large scale improvement has been brought in Indian agriculture after Independence. Farming techniques were improved and the holdings became large and properly arranged as a result of consolidation. Mechanisation of agriculture increased.
As of now, the financial position of the farmers has improved and they can now afford to buy chemical fertilizers and high-yielding varieties of seeds. They are able to avail facilities like irrigation, electricity, loans, etc.
In this way, our agriculture could come out of primitive subsistence stage. But even now, many farmers do not have any surplus to sell in the market at commercial scale. 

2. Shifting agriculture:
This is a type of agriculture in which a piece of forest land is cleared mainly by tribal people by the felling and burning of trees and crops are grown. After 2-3 years when the fertility of the soil in the cleared land decreases, it is abandoned and the tribe shifts to some other piece of land.
The process continues and the farmers again shift to the first piece of land after a gap of 10-15 years. This type of agriculture is practiced over an area of 54 lakh hectares, 20 lakh hectares being cleared every year. Dry paddy, buckwheat, maize, small millets, tobacco, and sugarcane are the main crops grown under this type of agriculture.
This is a very crude and primitive method of cultivation which results in large scale deforestation and soil erosion especially on the hillsides causing devastating floods in the plains below. About one million hectares of land is degraded every year due to shifting agriculture.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to put a check on this practice. For this purpose, the tribal people need to be educated about the damage caused by this practice to the natural resources like vegetation and soil.


What are the constituents of modern farming methods?

The constituents of modern farming methods are use of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, using chemical fertilisers and pesticides and plenty of water for irrigation.


Why is Kerala known as the spice garden of India?

  1. Kerala produces variety of spices
  2. Spices exporting state
  3. Kerala is well known for aromatic spices and it has a very huge market in western countries
  4. Leading producer in Cardamom and Pepper
  5. Pepper is produced in all the districts of Kerala.


Two features A and B are marked on the political map of India. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines marked on the map.
(A) Major wheat producing state
(B) Major rice producing state
506204.PNG

  • According to the given map, point A shows the state of Haryana which is a major wheat producing state with the production of 11117 thousand tonnes of wheat according to 2015 statistics.
  • And point B shows Tamil Nadu which is a major rice producing state with total production of 4049.9 thousand tonnes of rice according to 2015 statistics. 



What are different cropping seasons in India? Explain with at least two examples from each.

Three cropping seasons in India - Rabi, Kharif and Zaid. 

Explanation :

Rabi season : Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June. Some of the important rabi crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard. These crops are grown in large parts of India, states from the north and north - western parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh are important for the production of wheat and other rabi crops. Availability of precipitation during winter months due to the western temperate cyclones helps in the success of these crops. 

Kharif season :Kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country and these are harvested in September - October. Important crops grown during this season are paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur(arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soyabean.

Zaid season : In between the rabi and the kharif seasons, there is a short season during the summer months known as the Zaid season. Some of the crops produced during 'zaid' are watermelon, muskmelon, cumumber, vegetables and fodder crops.


Why were the European foresters not in favour of the continuation of shifting agriculture? Give one reason

The European foresters wanted trees that could provide timer for expansion of railways. Shifting cultivation, land was left for few years for the forest to grow. Few years of forest could not give trees which europeans wanted. Therefore, they were against the practice of shifting cultivation.


Name the states which were the first to try out the modern farming methods in India.

Punjab, Haryana and Western Uttar Pradesh were the first to try out modern farming method in India. Modern farming is used to increase the production and less chemical fertilizer is used.



Explain any three characteristics of commercial farming in India.

I) Crops are grown mainly for sale.
ii) Large farms are required.
iii) Mechanised farming is practised.


What are the advantages of using modern farming methods?

Advantages of using modern farming methods are:
(i) Modern machinery like tractors and threshers when used in farming make ploughing and harvesting faster.
(ii) With the use of HYV seeds the production of wheat has increased manifold.
(iii) Farmers now have greater amounts of surplus wheat to sell in the markets which eventually has improved their economic condition.


What is shifting agriculture?

In shifting agriculture, a clearing is made in the forest, usually on the slopes of hills. After the trees have been cut, they are burnt to provide ashes. The seeds are then scattered in the area, and left to be irrigated by the rain. Once the soil loses its fertility, the farmers shift to another forest.


Which are the different types of agricultural practices followed in India? Give any two reasons for following them.

Shifting Agriculture, Subsistence Agriculture, Intensive Farming, Extensive Farming, Plantation Agriculture, Commercial Agriculture, Dry Land Farming, Wet Land Farming, etc.  are the important types of agricultural practices followed in India. The reasons for practising these types of agriculture include:
i) In Dry Land farming moisture is maintained by raising special types of crops. Gramjowar, Bajra and peas are such crops which need less water. Hence this is practised in dry areas of the country such as western, north-western India and central India. 
ii) Wetland farming depends mainly upon rains, so it is practised in high rainfall or well-irrigated areas.In this type of farming rice, jute and sugarcane are grown.


What is Mixed farming? Mention any one benefit of Mixed farming.

Mixed farming is the one in which crop production is combined with the rearing of livestock. The livestock enterprises are complementary to crop production so as to provide a balance and productive system of farming.
Its advantage is that it reduces dependence on external sources like fertilizers because the crop and animal components in the farm support each other.



Write short notes on: a) mixed farming b) Plantation farming and c) market gardening.

Mixed farming is a type of farming which involves both the growing of crops as well as the raising of livestock. This type of farming is mostly practiced in continents like Asia and countries like India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Afghanistan, China and Russia. It was first mainly used for self-consumption, but now in countries like US, Japan, etc., this is done for a commercial purpose.
Plantation agriculture is a form of commercial farming where crops are grown for profit. Large land areas are needed for this type of agriculture. Countries that have plantation agriculture usually experience tropical climate with high annual temperatures and receive high annual rainfall.
A market garden is the relatively small-scale production of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold directly to consumers and restaurants.


In the crossword table given below, some words are hidden. They are all about vegetation and wildlife and are to be found horizontally and vertically. Two have been worked out for you. Work in pairs with a friend.
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VegetationWildlife
1. Neem 
2. Bamboo
3. Flora
4.Lichen
5. Pine
6. Chir
7. Grass
8. Taiga
9. Tulsi
11. Tundra
12. Ebony
13. Pampas
14. Llanos
1. Bear
2. Whale
3. Ox
4. Zebra
5. Goat
6. Tiger
7. Yak
8. Owl
9. Deer
10. Lion
11. Fowl
12. Horse
13. Pig
14. Camel


Compare 'intensive subsistence farming' with that of 'commercial farming' practiced in India.

  •   Intensive subsistence farming  Commercial farming
     It is done in a high-density area, there is a high pressure on land. Crops are grown for the market
     Size of field is small thus requires high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation. High doses of modern inputs, eg., HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides are required. 
     Labour intensive agriculture activities Capital intensive and requires sophisticated technology
     Yield per hectare is high and production for self-consumption Processing units should be located near the plantation


Answer the following questions briefly:
What are the crops grown by the people of the Amazon Basin?

The people of Amazon Basin grow tapioca, pine apple and sweet potato. Cash crops such as coffee, maize and cocoa are also grown.


What are the type of agriculture?

Four type of farming are practiced in our country:
i) Primitive agriculture 
ii) Subsistence agriculture
iii) Commercial agriculture
iv) Plantation agriculture.


What are plantation crops?

Plantation crops fall into the category of plantation agriculture. In this type of agriculture, single crop is raised on a large area. The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry. The plantations are mostly owned by the companies.
Plantation crops are Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Cocoa, Sugarcane, Bananas, Coconut, etc.


Distinguish between :
Commercial Agriculture and Plantation Agriculture:-

Commercial Agriculture
(1) Crops in great demand are grown in commercial agriculture. Crops are raised on a large scale with the view of exporting them to other countries and for earning foreign exchange.
(2) It is practised in Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Tamilnadu.
(3) Example - Cereals, Cotton, Sugarcane, Jute, etc.
Plantation Agriculture
(1) Single crops are raised on a large area.
(2) It is practised on the hilly areas of North Eastern States of  India, West Bengal, The Nilgiris, Anaimalai, and Cardamon hills of South India.
(3) Example- Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Cocoa, Sugarcane, Bananas, Coconut, etc.


Name the fibre crops and discuss the climatic conditions required for their growth.

  • Cotton, jute, hemp and natural silk are the four major fibre crops grown in India. 
  • Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan plateau. It requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost-free days and bright sunshine for its growth. 
  • Jute grows well on well-drained fertile soils in the floodplains where soils are renewed every year. A high temperature is required during the time of growth.


Give main characteristics of subsistence agriculture in India.

Feature of Subsistence farming:

  1. It is characherised  by small and scattered land holdings use of primitive tools.
  2. Farmers donot use fertilizers and high yielding  varieties of seeds as they are poor.
  3. Electricity and irrigation facilities are not generally available to them which results in lo w productivity
  4. Most of the food production ids consumed by farmers and their families.
  5. Where facilities like electricity and irrigation are available farming has improved.
  6. Important cash crops like sugar cane, oilseeds, cotton and jute are not grown.
  7. Dryland farming is practidsed  in areas where rainfall is low and irrigation facilities are inadequate
  8. High population pressure
  9. Many crops from same field
  10. More limits of human labour
  11. Ordinary tools of agriculture are used
  12. Extensive use of fertilizers are used


What are primary activities?

Agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining and oil and gas extraction are examples of the primary activities. Such activities are directly related to nature, such as cotton cultivation, food production etc. 


Write an essay on the 'types of primary activities.'

An economic activity where there is direct dependence on the environment through usage of earth’s resources such as minerals, water, land, vegetation, building materials is known as primary activity.
 Various examples of primary activity are given are as follows : Mining and quarrying, Agriculture, Fishing, Forestry, Hunting and Gathering, Pastoral activities.


Write a short note on tertiary activities.

The tertiary activities are technical name for the service sector of the economy, which encompasses a wide range of businesses, including banking and  financial schools, hotels, and restaurants. Most of the developed countries are predominantly tertiary sector economies.



Class 8 Geography Extra Questions