Agriculture

0858CH04

Gurpreet, Madho and Tina were _w~l'?ng through

the village where they saw a Janner tzllzng land. The
Janner told them that he was growing wheat and h~d
just added manure to the soil to make it more Jertzle.
He told the children that the wheat would fetch a
good price in the ,m andi from where it would be taken
to factories to make bread and biscuits from flour.
This transformation from a plant to a finished
product involves three types of economic activities.
These are primary, secondary and tertiary activities.
(f!ri':!,!a.ry -.actiy~~ inclu~e all those _.connected
witfi extraction and product10n of natural resources.
Agnculture, fishing and gaffienng are good examples-~
Secondary activities are concerned with the processing
of these resources. Manufacturing of steel, baking of
bread and weaving of cloth are examples of this activity .
The word •Tert~ary activjties provide s~.tport to the _primary and
agriculture is secondary _s ectors through services., Transport; trade,
derived from Latin banking, insurance and advertising are examples of
words ager or agri tertiary a?tivities.
meaoiog soil and
culture meaning, _·c 1t re is a primary activity. It includes owin ~ · \
cro , 1
s ve - . · .- n fhvest~k~ \· 1-
cultivation.
In !he woalrld, ~o. per cent ?f persons areengaged- in
agncultur activity. .. o-thirds of India's popul t· • , r. . -
·11 d epeo rt en\,.t on jlfill£'9-...!_ure.
· 1 a Ion 1s 1 ~
sh 1 1'""' ~ · .., } ""I(,
---- ~ • ~-r )i· . n· "-'\.)
~3._!ourable toJ:_ograP.hLof. soi) and~ni t · .
for ~gri_c ul~uraf activity~ The land on whk1i1i}a;ec ~
are grown IS known ~s arable land (Fig. 4 . l). In th raps
you can see that agncultural activity is conce e m~p
those regions of the world where suitable f: t ntrated tn
growing of crops exist. ac ors for the
 140"
It\

FAC F C
OCEA~

SOUTH A11ANI7c'
OCEAN

1
_A~LEt.AND
\ \
:!l:f"'.r :.!if loo" &f 2rf cf

Fig. 4.1: World Distribution of Arable Land

Do you know? ~

The science and art of cultivation on the soil, raising

crops and rearing livestocj 'it is also called farming.
Agri
Commercial rearing of silk worms. It may supplement the
Seri \ income of the farmer.
"-.,
Pisci -j1j Cultur Pi CIC\
Breeding of fish in specially constructed tanks and ponds.
Viti / /
I JC

Horti Cultivation of grapes .

Horticulture
Growin~ vegetn.blc!i, flow~rs and fruits for commercial use.

FARM SvsTEM . g can be looked at as a system. The

Agn·culture or farrni: seed~, fertilisers, machinery a.nd
t inputs ar .
unportan
 IA ✓.
¥,.,V.J;JIYV'C9-)l w~ I ..., -- 7~
dA..rt.,\·,1
/{JC.'.r
Inputs Processes Outputs Physical Inputs
I Sunshine '. _ ~~~al+
I i,J
., -.
. ./'!t
'Temperature-~.soH t , r

Mac·.· h inery ·. ·. . .: ;l.~ ~-

-~{~~~j )

- - '~~ /Storage
,a"" -• _, .,I' - /' C C
t:1:7~
- ~:&·· .
~
<"'-
... .
Seeds t },·:,·l!t-•,•,,
. ., '
•,.:_ Crops
---Labour
1
L Machinery
§;/ Ploughing
Sowing
Chemicals
Spraying

Fig 4.2: The farm system of an arable farm Fig 4.3: Physical and human farm inputs
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.

TYPES OF FARMING
~\ Farming is practised in various ways across the world.
Depending upon the geographical conditions, demand
Fact~(; of produce, labour and level of technology, farming can
be classified into two main types. These are st....:s_ -
~~ -~i ::::~ g and . ~ mmercial C:arming.
~ C
.ure and
pesticides ~ubsistf~.~~e Farming
used instead This type of farming is practised to meet the needs of the
chemicals. farmer's family. Traditionally, low levels of technology
·.c
is
and household labour are used to produce on small
se output. Subsistence farming can be further classified
the as intensive subsistence and primitive subsistence
farming.
In i.ntensive subsistence agriculture the farmer
cultivates a small plot of land using simple tools and
more labour. Climate with large number of days "llvith
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. Intensive subsistence agriculture is prevalent
in the thickly populated areas of the monsoon regions
of south, southeast and east Asia.
 ~ri~:tj~,~ _ii,,dLS4-c,9-1"'n ~'l'~,~ntturc includes shifting
cult1vat10n and nomadic herding. Do yon ·2
1,.,,..,,/
Shjfti,..n ,.. __ ,.._.n!>Mn"' is practised in the thickly Shifting cultivatio
forested areas of Amazon basin, tropical Africa, parts of is known by
different names in
southeast Asia and Northeast India. These are the areas
different parts of
of heavy rainfall and quick regeneration of vegetation. the world
{A plot of land is cleared by f~lling t~e trees ~nd burning Jhumming-
tnem. The ashes are then mixed with the soil and crops .;'/orth-East India
iike maize, yam, potatoes and cassava are grown. After Milpa -Mexico
tne soif loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the Roca - Brazil.
La.dang - Malaysia
~ultivator moves to a new plot. Shifting cultivation is
also known as 'slash and burn' agriculture. ~, d
Ne~ ... ~~" i..,,,..,... - is practised in the semi-arid
and arid regions of Sahara, Central Asia and some
parts of India, like Rajasthan and Jammu and
Kashmir. 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. Sheep, camel, yak and
goats are most commonly reared. They provide ~/ ~

milk, meat, wool, hides and other products to --~,~

the herders and their families. Fig 4.4: Nomadic Herders with
their camels
Comroerci::,J F~nomi11g
In commercial farming crops are grown and
=--- -- ~---ats are 1:eared for sale in market The area
-----mnnrc
cultivated and the amount of capital used is 1
large. Most of the work is done by machines.
Commercial farming includes commercial
grain farming, mixed farming and plantation "\t:-··~·f··J -,. · ~ ( - ,. ·:'·~ ~\
agriculture (Fig 4.5). ... ¥.-·,
s ·► .., .:f,..'> .. . _.,..·.: . '
r~- :_:. -;: ~,· ·. ·;," ,". -~
!,;·Jf' ·1~·1.)( ·,-~- ..... .' . . . . •
ln commercial grain farming crops are grown ;', 1;,,11.,,., . ., .
'. ·.
for commercial purpose. Wheat and maize are •\,' ,"',r.,~ . ....... ..
y{ _.,f~_.,J'
common commercially grown grains. Major
areas where commercial grain farming is Fig 4.5: A Sugarcane
pracised are temperate grasslands of North America, plantation
Europe and Asia. These areas are sparsely populated
with large farms spreading over hundreds of hectares
Severe winters restrict the growing season and only ~
single·crop can be grown.
• In mixed farmin l the landd is us~d for growing
and fodder crops an reanng livestock.
 # ( 'i C

- l "' ~..J l -b
"-,..---c·-·_ ~r::- \
~" .. > .:j ,:J '
~ \}J~ ..
lt is
~
l.
) )
\i\'
I

'1-s M:-r,'.
'Ir. ti
practised in Europe, eastern USA, Argentin a,
Hr
(
\)
southeas t Australia , New Zealand and South Africa. •
Plant H".,"(are a type of commerc ial farming/ .
0

where single crop of tea, ~off'ee, sugarcane, cashew{ 1'/

-r.ubbor, banan~ r cotton are grow'_!Y hai:ge amount ,· [.i-/ '
oflubour and capital are required. The produce may
be processe d on tne faf1trljy,elfor in nearby factoriefit'.
The -develop ment of a transpor t network is thus
essential for such farming.
Major plantatio ns are found in the tropical
regions of the world. Rubber in Malaysia , coffee
in Brazil, tea in India and Sri Lanka are some
examples .

Fig 4.6 : A Banana Plantation M ;or C-r~-;i-z

0

A large variety of crops are grown to meet the

requirem ent of the growing populatio n. Crops also
supply raw materials for agro based industrie s .
Major food crops are wheat, rice, maize and
millets. Jute and cotton are fibre crops. Importan t
beverage crops are tea and coffee.

Rice: Rice is the major food crop of the world. It

is the staple diet of the tropical and sub-trop ical
Fig 4. 7: Rice Cultivation regions. · Rice needs high temperat ure, high
hum1clity and rainfall. It grows best in alluvial
clayey soil, which can retain water. China leads in
the producti on of rice followed by India, Japan, Sri
Lanka and Egypt. In favourab le climatic condition s
as in West Bengal and Banglade sh two to three
crops are grown in a year.

wr-- 1 t: Wheat requires moderate temperat ure and

rainfall during growing season and bright sunshine
at the time of harvest. It thrives best in well drained
loamy soil. Wheat is grown extensive ly in USA,
Canada, Argentin a, Russia, Ukraine, Australia
and India. In India it is grown in winter.
~
.1 Mfl1°t : They are also known as coarse grains and
can be grown on less fertile and sandy soils. It is
a hardy crop that needs low rainfall and high to
•-c-:T.
modt';!ate temper ature and adequa te rai ~ 111 J
d . n1att. owar
oaJra an rag1 are grown in India. Other cou t · '
. · Cluna
·
N1gena, an d Niger.
. n nes are no yrm kno~v?
I
Maize is also know
]\ ,, . as corn. Various
Maize require s colourfu l varieties
modera te temper ature, of maize are found
rainfall flnd lots of across the world.
sunshi ne. It needs
well-dr ained fertile soils.
Maize is grown in North
Americ a, Brazil, China,
Ffg 4.1 O: Afaize Cultivat ion Russia , Canada , India,
and Mexico.
r,-i t 'C \A 1)
1

Cotidn : Cdtton require s

high temper ature, light
rainfall , two hundre d
and ten frost-fr ee days
and bright sunshin e for
its growth. It grows best Interes ting Fact© (
Fig 4.11: Cotton Cultivation on black and alluvial Who discove red
soils. China, USA, India, the Coffee Plant?
Pakista n, Brazil and. Egypt are the leading produc ers of There are differen t
cotton. It is one of the main raw materia ls for the cotton versions about
textile industr y. the discover y of
coffee. In about
Jufl : Jute was also known as the 'Golden Fibre'. It grows AD 850, Kaldi, an
well on alluvia l soil and require s high temper ature, Arab goat-he rder,
who was puzzled
heavy rainfall and humid climate . This crop is grown in
by the queer antics
the tropica l areas. India and of his flock, tasted
Bangla desh are the leading the berries of the
produc ers of jute. A
evergree n bush on
which the goats
r',...fT'( : Coffee require s warm ~
were feeding.
On experien cing
and wet climate and well- a sense of
drained loamy soil. Hill slopes exhilara tion, he
are more suitable for growth proclaim ed his
of · this crop. Brazil is the discover y to the
leading produc er followed by world.
Columb ia and India.

~ is a beverag e crop grown on plantat ions. This

cool climate and well distribu ted high rainfall
ut the year for the growth of its tender leaves.

AGRICULTURE
43
~:!:!~~~~---~~~~----, lt needs well -drained Joamy soils and gentle
• Lnbottr slop<'H.
lurgc number in is required to
pick the lcnvcs. Kcnyu, India, China, Sri Lanka
produce the best quulity tea in t.he world.

\
AGRICUL
'
TlJDAt. DE~LOP MENT
( ? '- ,,._,_...
Agricultu rnl Developm ent refer~ to_ efforts
made to increase farm producti on m order
to mccl the growing demand of increasin g
Fig 4.13: Tea Plantation
populatio n. This can be achieved in many ways such as
increasin g the cropped area, the number of crops grown,
improvin g irrigation facilities, use of fertiliser s and high
yielding variety of seeds. Mechani sation of agricultu re
is also another aspect of agricultu ral developm ent. The
ultimate aim of agricultu ral developm ent is to increase
food security.
Do you know':"
Agriculture has developed at different places in different
Food security
exists when all parts of the world. Developing countries with large
people, at all populatio ns usually practise intensive agricultu re where
times, have access crops are grown on small holdings mostly for subsisten ce.
to sufficient, safe Larger holdings are more suitable for commerc ial agricultu re
and nutritious as in USA, Canada and Australia . With the help of two case
food to meet their studies of farms - one from India and the other from the
dietary needs and
USA, let us understa nd about agricultu re in the developing
food preference s
for an active and and a developed country.
healthy life.
4 ~arm in ind q

There is a small village Adilabad in Ghazipu r district of

Uttar Pradesh. Munna Lal is a small farmer in this village
who has farmland of about l .5 hectares . His house is in
the main village. He purchase s high yielding varieties of
~ - - - - - - - - - - - , seeds from the market every alternate year. The
land is fertile and he grows atleast two crops
in a year which are normally wheat or rice and
pulses. The farmer takes advice of his friends
and elders as well as govern1n ent agricultu ral
officers regardin g farn1ing practices . He takes
a tractor on rent for ploughin g his field, though
some of his friends still use tradition al method
of using bullocks for ploughin g. There is a
tubewell in the nearby field which he takes on
rent to irrigate his field.
 ~).\ ~ J·
."") 1 ,-vvv-
• , A

Munna Lal also has two buffaloes and few hens. He

sells milk_in the cooperative store located in the nearby
town. He ts a member of the co-operative society which I I •
) I ~
also advises him on the type of fodder for his animals
safety measures to protect the health of the livestock'
and artificial insemination. ·4
All the members of the family help him
in various farm activities. Sometimes he
'
takes credit from a bank or the agricultural
co-operative society to buy HYV seeds and
implements.
He sells his produce in the mandi located
in the nearby town. Since majority of the
farmers do not have lack storage facilities,
they are forced to sell the produce even
when the market is not favourable to them. Fig 4.15: An Agricultural Field in India
In recent years, the government has taken
some steps to develop storage facilites.
(,,
A Farm in the US..:d
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.
The farmer~generally resides - in the farm.
Some of the major crops grown are .cgrn,
!_?Yabean, wheat,_ cott_o n a~d sugarbe~t.
Joe Horan, a farmer inTue Midwest USA, in
Iowa State owns about 300 hectares of land.
He grows corn on his field after making sure
Fig 4.16: A Farm in the USA
that soil and water resources meet the needs
of this crop. Adequate measures are take~ to con~rol
ts that can damage the crop. From_ time to time
k sends the soil samples to a soil testing laboratory
to check whether the
nutrients are sufficient or , t-'tt('\ ..;
not. The results help Joe t-- ~
Horan to plan a scientific ~
fertiliser programme. His
computer is linked to the
satellite which gives him
a precise picture of his
field. This helps him to
use chemical fertilisers

AGRICULTURE 45
and pesticides wherever they are required.
He uses tractors, seed drills, leveller,
combined harvester and thresher to perform
various agricultural operations. A grains are
stored . in the automated grain storage or A
d~,patched to market agencies. The farmer
in;lJSJ\~works like a businessman and not
. . fl:-iaant farmer.
t;..•~-l.:-- ...... -.•~-.,_ __•. ~ ~:,~·-_,.-.,
,, .