- The economic activities are of three types: primary, secondary and tertiary.
- Primary activities include all those connected with extraction and production of natural resources. Eg: Agriculture, Mining.
- Secondary activities are concerned with the processing of natural resources. Eg: Weaving, Steel manufacturing.
- Tertiary activities provide support to the primary and secondary sectors through services. Eg: Banking, Trade.
- The word agriculture is derived from Latin words ager or agri meaning soil and culture meaning, cultivation or tilling of soil.
- Agriculture is the science and art of cultivation on the soil, raising crops and rearing livestock and it is also called Farming.
- Agriculture includes growing crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing of livestock.
- Favourable topography of soil and climate are vital for agricultural activity.
- The land on which the crops are grown is known as Arable land.
- Commercial rearing of silkworms is known as Sericulture.
- Breeding of fishes in tanks or ponds is known as Pisciculture.
- Cultivation of grapes is known as Viticulture.
- Growing of fruits, vegetables and flowers for commercial use is known as Horticulture.
- The physical inputs in the farm system include sunshine, temperature, soil, rainfall and slope.
- The human inputs in the farm system include storage, labour, machinery and chemicals.
- The type of farming which is done using organic manure and natural pesticides is known as Organic Farming.
- Types of Farming
- Type of farming depends on the geographical conditions, demand of produce, labour and level of technology.
- Mainly two types of farming are there: subsistence and commercial farming.
- Subsistence Farming
- Practised to meet the needs of the farmer’s family.
- Low levels of technology is used
- Household labour is used
- Small output
- Subsistence farming is of two types: Intensive Subsistence farming and Primitive Subsistence farming.
- Intensive Subsistence Farming
- Farmer grows a crop over a small plot of land using simple agricultural tools and more labour.
- If the weather conditions and soil fertility remains good throughout the year, more than one crop can be grown in the same plot.
- Crops grown – rice, wheat, maize, pulses and oilseeds.
- Prevalent in – areas with thick population and monsoon regions like south, south east and east Asia.
- Primitive Subsistence Farming
- It includes two types: Shifting Cultivation and Nomadic Herding
- Shifting Cultivation
- In this type of farming, a plot of land is cleared by felling 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.
- Prevalent in – Amazon basin, Tropical Africa, parts of southeast Asia and Northeast India.
- Crops grown – Maize, Corn, Potatoes, Cassava.
- It is also known as ‘slash and burn’ agriculture.
- The other names of shifting cultivation in different lands are :
- Jhumming – Northeast India
- Milpa – Mexico
- Roca – Brazil
- Landang – Malaysia
- Nomadic Herding
- In this type of farming, herdsmen move from place to place with their animals for fodder and water, along defined routes.
- This type of movement arises in response to climatic constraints and terrain.
- Animals reared – sheep, camel, yak, goats.
- Prevalent in – Semi-arid and arid regions of Sahara desert, parts of Rajasthan, and Jammu-Kashmir.
- Commercial Farming
- In this type, crops are grown and animals are reared for commercial purposes.
- Huge amount of capital is involved.
- Machines are used to do most of the work.
- Cultivated area is large.
- Prevalent in – Areas with sparse population and large farms like temperate grasslands of North America, Europe and Asia.
- The two types of commercial farming are Mixed Farming and Plantation.
- Mixed Farming
- In this, land is used for growing food and fodder and rearing livestock.
- Prevalent in – Europe, eastern USA, Argentina, southeast Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
- Plantations
- In this, single type of crop is grown using large amount of labour and capital.
- Output is processes in farm itself or nearby factories.
- A good network of transportation is required.
- Crops grown – Tea, Coffee, Sugarcane, Cashew, Banana, Cotton.
- Prevalent in – Malaysia, Brazil, India, Sri Lanka.
- Major Crops:
- Rice:
- Major food crop of the world.
- Staple diet of tropical and sub-tropical regions.
- Requires high temperature, high humidity and rainfall.
- Grows best in alluvial and clayey soil.
- Most produced by China, followed by India, Japan, Sri Lanka and Egypt.
- Wheat:
- Requires moderate temperature and rainfall during growing season and bright sunshine at the time of harvest.
- Grows best in loamy soil.
- Produced in USA, Canada, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Australia and India.
- Millets:
- Also known as ‘coarse grains’.
- Requires low rainfall and high to moderate temperature and adequate rainfall.
- Grows best in less fertile and sandy soil.
- Produced by India, Niger, China and Nigeria.
- In India jowar, bajra and ragi are grown.
- Maize:
- Requires moderate temperature, rainfall and lots of sunshine.
- Grows best in well drained fertile soils.
- Produced by North America, Brazil, China, Russia, Canada, India and Mexico.
- Cotton:
- Requires high temperature, light rainfall, two hundred and ten frost free days and bright sunshine.
- Grows best in black and alluvial soils.
- Produced by China, USA, India, Pakistan, Brazil and Egypt.
- Jute:
- Also known as ‘Golden Fibre’.
- Requires high temperature, heavy rainfall and humid climate.
- Grows best in alluvial soil.
- Produced mostly by India and Bangladesh.
- Coffee:
- Requires warm and wet climate.
- Grows best in well drained loamy soil,
- Produced by Brazil, Columbia and India.
- Tea:
- Requires cool climate and well distribute rainfall throughout the year.
- Grows best in well-drained loamy soil and gentle slopes.
- Produced by Kenya, India, China, Sri Lanka.
- Indian Farmer:
- Mostly uses traditional equipment.
- Irrigation is done through tube wells or nearby water sources.
- All members of the family work together in the farm.
- Takes credit from banks or local moneylenders to buy seeds and other equipment.
- Uses organic manure and pesticides.
- Sells produce in local market.
- Lack of proper storage facility; force them to sell their produce at lower price.
- USA Farmer:
- Their farm size is much larger than ours.
- Some of the major crops grown are corn, wheat, soya bean, etc.
- Uses high-level technology in fields.
- Uses chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
- Uses machines instead of manual labourers.
- Grains are stored in automated grain storage or despatched to market agencies.
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Published by Priya Prakash
In the midst of winter, i found there was within me an invincible summer ~ Albert Camus
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