NCERT Solutions Class 8, Social Science, Geography, Chapter- 3, Agriculture.
1. Answer the following questions.
(i) What is agriculture?
Solution:
Agriculture is a primary activity. It includes growing crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing of livestock.
(ii) Name the factors influencing agriculture?
Solution:
Various factors influencing agriculture are - Favourable topography, Soil and Climate.
(iii) What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?
Solution:
Shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn cultivation is a type of farming activity which involves clearing a plot of land by felling trees, burning the felled trees, mixing the ashes with soil, and then growing crops like maize, yam, potatoes and cassava on the cleared land. After the soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivator moves on to a new plot. This type of farming has the following disadvantages.
(a) Leads to deforestation
(b) Soil becomes susceptible to erosion due to deforestation
(c) Soil loses its fertility due to the erosion of the top soil
(iv) What is plantation agriculture?
Solution:
Plantation agriculture is a type of commercial farming where a single crop of tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana or cotton is grown. Large amount of labour and capital is required in this type of farming. The produce is either processed on the farm itself or in nearby factories. Major plantations are found in the tropical regions of the world, like rubber in Malaysia, coffee in Brazil, tea in India and Sri Lanka, etc.
(v) Name the fibre crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth.
Solution:
Cotton and jute are the fibre crops.
Climatic conditions required for the growth of cotton:
(a) High temperature
(b) Light rainfall
(c) 210 frost-free days
(d) Bright sunshine
Climatic conditions required for the growth of jute:
(a) High temperature
(b) Heavy rainfall
(c) Humid climate
2. Tick the correct answer.
(i) Horticulture means
(a) growing of fruits and vegetables
(b) primitive farming
(c) growing of wheat
The correct option is : (a) growing of fruits and vegetables
(ii) Golden fibre refers to
(a) tea (b) cotton (c) jute
The correct option is : (c) jute
(iii) Leading producers of coffee
(a) Brazil (b) India (c) Russia
The correct option is : (a) Brazil
3. Give reasons.
(i) In India agriculture is a primary activity.
Solution:
Two-third of India's population is dependent upon agriculture. Hence, in India, agriculture is a primary activity.
(ii) Different crops are grown in different regions.
Solution:
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.
4. Distinguish between the followings.
(i) Primary activites and tertiary activities
Solution:
| Primary activites |
Tertiary activities |
| Connected with the extraction and production of natural resources |
Provide support to the primary and secondary sectors |
| Example: Agriculture, fishing |
Example: Services such as banking and transport |
(ii) Subsistence farming and intenstive farming.
Solution:
| Subsistence farming |
intenstive farming |
| Practised to meet the needs of the farmer’s family; involves the use of low levels of technology and household labour for producing a small output |
A type of subsistence farming; involves the annual cultivation of a small plot of land using simple tools and more labour
|
Choose the correct option
(i) Which of these is a tertiary activity?
(a) manufacturing wool
(b) selling grocery
(c) agriculture
(d) none of these
The correct option is : (b) selling grocery
(ii) What is the breeding of fish known as?
(a) agriculture
(b) pisciculture
(c) sericulture
(d) viticulture
The correct option is : (b) pisciculture
(iii) What is the main crop in intensive subsistence agriculture?
(a) rice
(b) maize
(c) wheat
(d) oilseeds
The correct option is : (a) rice
(iv) Which form of farming is also called “slash and bum” agriculture?
(a) subsistence farming
(b) shifting cultivation
(c) plantation
(d) mixed farming
The correct option is : (b) shifting cultivation
(v) Which of these is not a plantation product?
(a) rubber
(b) coffee
(c) rice
(d) tea
The correct option is : (c) rice
(vi) In what season is wheat grown in India?
(a) summer
(b) winter
(c) monsoon
(d) autumn
The correct option is : (b) winter
(vii) Name the staple diet of tropical and sub-tropical regions.
(a) wheat
(b) rice
(c) jute
(d) coffee
The correct option is : (b) rice
