NCERT Solutions for Class 8 Social Science (Geography) Chapter 3 Agriculture

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 8TH

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Book : Resource And Development Ncert Solutions | Chapter-4 Geography

Class : 8th
Subject : Geography
Chapter : 4
Chapter Name : Agriculture

Q1 Answer the following questions.
(i) What is agriculture?
(ii) Name the factors in uencing agriculture?
(iii) What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?
(iv) What is plantation agriculture?
(v) Name the bre crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth

Answer. (i) The word agriculture is derived from the Latin words agri—meaning soil—and
culture—meaning cultivation or tilling of soil. It is de ned as the science and art of cultivation
of soil, raising crops and rearing livestock.
(ii) The factors in uencing agriculture are favourable topography of soil and climate.
(iii) 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) 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) Cotton and jute are the bre 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

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Q2 Tick the correct answer.
(i) Horticulture means
(a) growing of fruits and vegetables
(b) primitive farming
(c) growing of wheat
(ii) Golden bre refers to
(a) tea
(b) cotton
(c) jute
(iii) Leading producers of coffee
(a) Brazil
(b) India
(c) Russia

Answer. (i)-(a)
(ii)-(c)
(iii)-(a)

Q3 Give reasons.
(i) In India agriculture is a primary activity.
(ii) Different crops are grown in different regions

Answer. (i) Two-third of India’s population is dependent upon agriculture. Hence, in India,
agriculture is a primary activity.
(ii) The type of crops grown is dependent upon the type of soil and the type of climate of a
region. Different regions have different soil types and climatic conditions. This is why a crop
may have favourable factors of growth in one region and adverse factors of growth in another.
The demand for the produce, labour and level of technology are also some factors that decide
the type of crops grown in a particular region.

Q4 Distinguish between the followings.
(i) Primary activites and tertiary activities
(ii) Subsistence farming and intenstive farming

Answer. (i) Primary activites
(a) Connected with the extraction and production of natural resources
(b) Example: Agriculture, shing
Tertiary activities
(a) Provide support to the primary and secondary sectors

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(b) Example: Services such as banking and transport

(ii) Subsistence 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
Intensive farming-A type of subsistence farming; involves the annual cultivation of a small
plot of land using simple tools and more labour

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