Agriculture (Easy and simplified notes for class 8th)

Firstly, there might be a question in your mind that what does Economic Sector mean? Let’s clearify it.

• Economic sector: It refers to any sector that contributes to earning income by producing goods or providing services.
• Number of Economic sectors: There are five sectors in the country.
  1. Primary Sector
  2. Secondary Sector
  3. Tertiary Sector
  4. Quaternary Sector
  5. Quinary Sector
• However, the first three are the main sectors for you to focus on.
• And mostly importantly, in this chapter we will only learn about the first sector i.e. primary sector.

What is Primary Sector?

• It is the sector where people do or engage in such activities that directly connect them with nature. In other words, this sector involves the activities which help us obtain or extract whatever resources our nature provides.
  • For Example:- cultivating land for crops, growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, raising livestock, and extracting minerals.

Here, we have to mainly focus on ‘Agriculture’ which is of course a primary activity.

• The primary sector is also called the agricultural sector.
  • It is because about 50% of people in the world still work in agriculture.
  • Even in India, two-thirds of the population is still dependent on agriculture.
• However, it is important to note that primary sector includes other activities as well, such as farming, fishing, forestry, and mining.

• Agriculture: cultivation on soil
• Aquaculture: farming of fish and aquatic plants
• Horticulture: Planting fruits, vegetables, and flowers
• Silviculture: Cultivation of forests for timber and other forest products
• Sericulture: The cultivation or rearing of silkworms
• Pisciculture: Breeding of fish
• Viticulture: Cultivation of grapes

Natural Factors affecting agricultural activity:

1. Favorable Topography: Refers to the land’s shape and features, which can support effective farming practices. Flat or gently sloping land is often more suitable for agriculture.
2. Soil Quality: Fertile soil with good nutrient content is essential for healthy crop growth.
3. Climate: A suitable climate, including adequate rainfall and temperature, is crucial for successful farming.

Inputs and Outputs in Agriculture:-

• Inputs required are:- Seeds, fertilizers, machinery and labour.
  • Agriculture includes various operations such as, ploughing, sowing, irrigation, weeding and harversting.
• Output:- crops, wool, dairy, and poultry products.

Types of Farming:

Farming can be classified in various ways.

– On the basis of Scale:

Subsistence and Commercial farming:

• Subsistence farming:- It is for self consumption needs.
  1. Intensive subsistence farming: Farming on small land using modern methods to grow a lot of food for the family.
  2. Primitive subsistence farming: Basic farming where families grow food mainly for themselves using traditional methods.
     • Shifting cultivation: Farmers clear land, grow crops for a few years, and then move to a new area.
     • Nomadic herding: Herders move with their animals to find fresh grazing land and water.

• Commercial farming: It is for the purpose of sale.
  1. Crop farming:
     • Cash Crops: Growing crops primarily for sale, not for personal use, such as cotton, sugarcane, coffee, and tobacco.
     • Food Crops/Commercial grain farming: Cultivating crops mainly for human consumption, like wheat, rice, and corn, which can also be sold in the market.
  2. Mixed farming: Farmers grow crops and raise livestock together on the same farm to diversify income and reduce risk.
  3. Plantation farming: Farmers grow a single cash crop, like tea, coffee, sugercane, cashew, banana or rubber, on a large scale, usually for export.
     • It requires large amount of labour and capital.
     • This type of farming is mainly found in the tropical regions of the world.
       • For Example: Rubber in Malaysia, coffee in Brazil, tea in India and Sri Lanka. ^{_{(source N.C.E.R.T.)}}

– Based on Land Use:

1. Arable Farming: Involves growing crops on plowed land.
2. Pastoral Farming: Focuses on raising livestock on natural pastures

– Based on Purpose:

1. Organic Farming: Focuses on sustainable practices without synthetic chemicals.
2. Conventional Farming: Uses modern agricultural practices, including chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

Note: There are other bases as well for the classification of farming.

Major Crops:

• Food Crops: Wheat, rice, maize, and millets.
• Cash Crops: Cotton, sugarcane, coffee, and tobacco.
• Plantation Crops: Tea, coffee, rubber, and cocoa.
• Horticultural Crops: Fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Food crops:-

• Rice:
  • Staple diet in tropical and sub-tropical regions.
  • Needs high temperature, high humidity, and rainfall.
  • Grows best in alluvial clayey soil (retains water well).
  • Top producers: China, followed by India, Japan, Sri Lanka, and Egypt.
  • In places like West Bengal and Bangladesh, 2-3 crops are grown per year.
• Wheat:
  • Needs moderate temperature and rainfall during growth.
  • Requires bright sunshine during harvest.
  • Best suited for well-drained loamy soil.
  • Extensively grown in USA, Canada, Argentina, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, and India.
  • In India, mainly grown during winter.
• Millets:
  • These are also known as coarse grains.
  • They can grow in less fertile, sandy soils.
  • Tough crop; needs little rainfall and warm to moderate temperatures.
  • Main types in India: Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi.
  • Grown in countries such as Nigeria, China, and Niger.
• Maize:
  • Needs moderate temperature, rainfall, and lots of sunshine.
  • Grows best in well-drained fertile soils.
  • Major producers: North America, Brazil, China, Russia, Canada, India, and Mexico.

It means increasing farm production to meet the needs of a growing population.

This can be done by:

• Growing more crops.
• Using better seeds and fertilizers.
• Improving water supply for fields.
• Using machines for farming.

The main goal is to ensure there is enough food for everyone.

Lastly, there are two examples of Farms in India and USA and how they differ.

For Example: Indian farms are small, traditional; US farms are large, tech-driven.