Class 8 Social Science Notes Chapter 4 (Agriculture) – Resource and Development (Geography) Book

Alright class, let's get straight into Chapter 4, 'Agriculture'. This is a fundamental chapter, not just for your Class 8 understanding but also forms a crucial base for many government exams. Pay close attention to the details.

Chapter 4: Agriculture - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation

1. Introduction: What is Agriculture?

• Definition: Agriculture is the science and art of cultivating the soil, growing crops, and raising livestock. It includes activities like farming, fishing, forestry, sericulture, etc.
• Etymology: The word 'agriculture' comes from the Latin words 'ager' or 'agri' meaning soil and 'cultura' meaning cultivation.
• Economic Activity: Agriculture is a Primary Activity. Primary activities are those connected with the extraction and production of natural resources (e.g., agriculture, fishing, mining, gathering).
  • Secondary Activities: Processing of these resources (e.g., manufacturing steel, baking bread).
  • Tertiary Activities: Provide support to primary and secondary sectors through services (e.g., transport, trade, banking, insurance).
• Global Dependence: About 50% of the world's population is engaged in agricultural activity. In India, two-thirds of the population is still dependent on agriculture.

2. Factors Influencing Agriculture

For agriculture to thrive, certain conditions are essential:

• Favourable Topography: Plain areas are generally more suitable than mountainous regions.
• Soil: Fertile soils are crucial for good crop yield. Different crops require different soil types (e.g., alluvial, black soil).
• Climate: This is a major determinant. Key climatic factors include:
  • Temperature: Different crops have specific temperature requirements.
  • Rainfall: Amount and distribution of rainfall are vital. Irrigation can supplement rainfall.
• Socio-Economic Factors: (Though less detailed in Class 8, important for context)
  • Labour: Availability and cost.
  • Capital: Investment in seeds, fertilizers, machinery.
  • Technology: Use of machinery, HYV seeds, irrigation techniques.
  • Market Access: Proximity and connectivity to markets.
  • Storage Facilities: To prevent wastage.

3. The Farm System

Agriculture can be viewed as a system involving inputs, processes, and outputs:

• Inputs:
  • Physical Inputs: Sunlight, rainfall, temperature, soil, slope.
  • Human Inputs: Storage, labour, machinery, chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides), seeds.
• Processes (Operations): Ploughing, sowing, irrigation, weeding, harvesting.
• Outputs: Crops (grains, vegetables, fruits), wool, dairy products, poultry products.

4. Types of Farming

Farming practices vary based on geographical conditions, demand, labour, and technology. Broadly classified into:

• A. Subsistence Farming: Practiced mainly to meet the needs of the farmer's family.

  • Characterized by: Low levels of technology, household labour, small output.
  • i. Intensive Subsistence Agriculture:
    • Cultivation on a small plot using simple tools and more labour.
    • Common in thickly populated areas of monsoon regions (South, Southeast, East Asia).
    • Climate with abundant sunshine and fertile soils permits growing more than one crop annually on the same plot.
    • Rice is the main crop. Other crops: Wheat, maize, pulses, oilseeds.
  • ii. Primitive Subsistence Agriculture: Includes:
    • a) Shifting Cultivation (Slash-and-Burn):
      • Practiced in thickly forested areas (Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of Southeast Asia, Northeast India).
      • Areas of heavy rainfall and quick vegetation regeneration.
      • Process: A plot of land is cleared by felling trees and burning them. Ashes are mixed with soil. Crops (like maize, yam, potatoes, cassava) are grown. After the soil loses fertility, the farmer shifts to a new plot.
      • Local Names: Jhumming (NE India), Milpa (Mexico), Roca (Brazil), Ladang (Malaysia).
      • Disadvantages: Deforestation, soil erosion.
    • b) Nomadic Herding:
      • Practiced in semi-arid and arid regions (Sahara, Central Asia, parts of India like Rajasthan and Jammu & Kashmir).
      • Herders move from place to place with their animals for fodder and water along defined routes.
      • Animals Reared: Sheep, camel, yak, goats (most common).
      • Products: Milk, meat, wool, hides used by herders and their families.

• B. Commercial Farming: Crops are grown and animals are reared for sale in the market.

  • Characterized by: Large cultivated area, capital intensive, use of machines.
  • i. Commercial Grain Farming:
    • Crops grown for commercial purposes. Wheat and maize are common.
    • Major areas: Temperate grasslands (North America - Prairies, Europe/Asia - Steppes, Argentina - Pampas, South Africa - Veld, Australia - Downs, New Zealand - Canterbury Plains).
    • Regions are sparsely populated with large farms (hundreds of hectares).
    • Severe winters restrict the growing season to a single crop annually. Highly mechanised.
  • ii. Mixed Farming:
    • Land is used for growing food and fodder crops and rearing livestock.
    • Common in Europe, eastern USA, Argentina, southeast Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.
  • iii. Plantation Agriculture:
    • A type of commercial farming focusing on a single crop (e.g., tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana, cotton).
    • Requires large amounts of labour and capital.
    • Produce is often processed on the farm itself or in nearby factories.
    • Requires a well-developed transport network.
    • Major plantations found in tropical regions of the world (e.g., Rubber in Malaysia, Coffee in Brazil, Tea in India and Sri Lanka).

5. Major Crops

• A. Food Crops:

  • Rice:
    • Staple diet of tropical and sub-tropical regions.
    • Needs: High temperature, high humidity, high rainfall.
    • Soil: Alluvial clayey soil (can retain water).
    • Leading Producers: China, followed by India, Japan, Sri Lanka, Egypt. Favourable conditions in West Bengal and Bangladesh allow 2-3 crops a year.
  • Wheat:
    • Needs: Moderate temperature and rainfall during growing season, bright sunshine at harvest.
    • Soil: Well-drained loamy soil.
    • Major Producers: USA, Canada, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, India (grown in winter).
  • Millets (Coarse Grains):
    • Can grow on less fertile and sandy soils.
    • Needs: Low rainfall, high to moderate temperature, adequate sunshine.
    • Examples: Jowar, Bajra, Ragi (grown in India).
    • Other Producers: Nigeria, China, Niger.
  • Maize (Corn):
    • Needs: Moderate temperature, moderate rainfall, lots of sunshine.
    • Soil: Well-drained fertile soils.
    • Major Producers: North America, Brazil, China, Russia, Canada, India, Mexico. Known by different colours globally.

• B. Fibre Crops:

  • Cotton:
    • Needs: High temperature, light rainfall, 210 frost-free days, bright sunshine.
    • Soil: Black and alluvial soils.
    • Leading Producers: China, USA, India, Pakistan, Brazil, Egypt. Main raw material for the cotton textile industry.
  • Jute (The Golden Fibre):
    • Needs: High temperature, heavy rainfall, humid climate.
    • Soil: Well-drained alluvial soils.
    • Major Producers: India and Bangladesh. Grown in tropical areas.

• C. Beverage Crops:

  • Coffee:
    • Needs: Warm and wet climate, well-drained loamy soil.
    • Topography: Hill slopes are more suitable.
    • Leading Producer: Brazil, followed by Colombia and India.
  • Tea:
    • Grown on plantations.
    • Needs: Cool climate, well-distributed high rainfall throughout the year.
    • Soil: Well-drained loamy soils.
    • Topography: Gentle slopes.
    • Requires abundant, cheap labour (for picking leaves).
    • Leading Producers: Kenya, India, China, Sri Lanka (produce the best quality).

6. Agricultural Development

• Definition: Efforts made to increase farm production to meet the growing demand of the increasing population.
• Methods:
  • Increasing the cropped area.
  • Growing more crops per year (multiple cropping).
  • Improving irrigation facilities.
  • Using fertilizers and High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds.
  • Mechanisation of agriculture.
• Ultimate Aim: To achieve Food Security (availability, accessibility, and affordability of food for all people at all times).
• Variations: Developed countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia) practice extensive commercial agriculture. Developing countries often practice intensive subsistence agriculture.
• Case Studies (Comparison):
  • Farm in India: Typically small land holding (1.5 hectares), often inherited, farmer purchases HYV seeds, uses family labour/hired help, may use traditional methods (bullocks for ploughing) or rent machinery, often relies on monsoon or basic irrigation (tubewells), may have livestock, sells produce in local mandi, lacks storage. Primarily subsistence.
  • Farm in USA: Average farm size is much larger (about 250 hectares), farmer resides on the farm, grows commercial crops (corn, soybean, wheat, cotton, sugar beet), uses advanced technology (tractors, seed drills, combines), soil testing, pest control via aircraft, automated irrigation, extensive storage facilities. Highly commercial and mechanised.

7. Related Terms (Often asked in exams):

• Sericulture: Commercial rearing of silkworms (for silk production).
• Pisciculture: Breeding of fish in specially constructed tanks and ponds.
• Viticulture: Cultivation of grapes.
• Horticulture: Growing vegetables, flowers, and fruits for commercial use.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which of the following is NOT a primary economic activity?
   (a) Agriculture
   (b) Fishing
   (c) Banking
   (d) Mining

2. Shifting cultivation is known as 'Milpa' in which region?
   (a) North-East India
   (b) Brazil
   (c) Malaysia
   (d) Mexico

3. Which type of farming involves growing food and fodder crops along with rearing livestock?
   (a) Plantation Agriculture
   (b) Mixed Farming
   (c) Commercial Grain Farming
   (d) Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

4. Which crop requires high temperature, light rainfall, 210 frost-free days, and bright sunshine?
   (a) Rice
   (b) Wheat
   (c) Cotton
   (d) Jute

5. Brazil is the leading producer of which beverage crop?
   (a) Tea
   (b) Coffee
   (c) Cocoa
   (d) Sugarcane

6. Which of the following is NOT considered an 'input' in the farm system?
   (a) Seeds
   (b) Labour
   (c) Crops
   (d) Fertilizers

7. 'Jhumming' is a local name for which type of agricultural practice?
   (a) Nomadic Herding
   (b) Shifting Cultivation
   (c) Commercial Grain Farming
   (d) Horticulture

8. Which factor is MOST crucial for growing rice?
   (a) Low temperature
   (b) High rainfall and humidity
   (c) Sandy soil
   (d) Gentle slopes

9. Agricultural development aims primarily to achieve:
   (a) Increased exports
   (b) Food Security
   (c) Higher farmer income
   (d) Reduced use of chemicals

10. Which fibre crop is known as the 'Golden Fibre'?
    (a) Cotton
    (b) Silk
    (c) Jute
    (d) Hemp

Answer Key:

1. (c) Banking (Tertiary activity)
2. (d) Mexico
3. (b) Mixed Farming
4. (c) Cotton
5. (b) Coffee
6. (c) Crops (Output)
7. (b) Shifting Cultivation
8. (b) High rainfall and humidity
9. (b) Food Security
10. (c) Jute

Make sure you revise these notes thoroughly. Understand the differences between farming types, the specific requirements for major crops, and the concept of agricultural development. These are common areas for questions in competitive exams. Good luck with your preparation!