Last updated on October 31st, 2023 at 10:11 pm
CG Board Class 8 Geography Agriculture
Answer the following questions.
(i) What is agriculture?
Agriculture is a activity which includes growing crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing of livestock.
(ii) Name the factors influencing agriculture?
Factors influencing agriculture include:
Climate: Temperature, rainfall, and sunlight for crop growth.
Soil: Soil fertility, texture, and composition are essential for successful farming.
Topography: The physical characteristics of the land, such as slope and altitude, affect agricultural practices.
Water availability: Adequate water sources and irrigation are vital for farming.
Labor: The availability of labor, including skilled and unskilled workers, is a significant factor.
(iii) What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?
Shifting cultivation is a practice that involves clearing a plot of land by slashing and burning existing vegetation. After burning, the ashes of the vegetation are mixed with the soil to provide nutrients for crops like maize, yam, potato, and cassava. Once the fertility of the land declines, the farmer abandons it and moves to another plot. Although shifting cultivation helps in agriculture, it has some disadvantages such as deforestation.
(iv) What is plantation agriculture?
The plantation farming method involves growing a single crop on a large scale, such as tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, bananas, or cotton, on a large scale in a commercial setting. For this method to be successful, large amounts of labor and capital must be invested, and the produce can be processed on the farm or in nearby factories.
(v) Name the fibre crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth.
Cotton and jute are fiber crops. These climatic conditions are necessary for their growth:
For cotton to grow, it needs high temperatures, light rainfall, 210 frost-free days, and bright sunshine. Black and alluvial soils are best. China, the USA, India, Pakistan, Brazil, and Egypt are major cotton producers.
Jute grows well in humid climates, with high temperatures, and heavy rainfall. It is typically cultivated in tropical areas. Jute is mainly produced in India and Bangladesh.
Tick the correct answer.
(i) Horticulture means (a) growing of fruits and vegetables.
(ii) Golden fiber refers to (c) jute.
(iii) Leading producers of coffee (a) Brazil.
Give reasons.
(i) In India agriculture is a primary activity.
India’s primary activity is agriculture due to historical and geographical factors. Planting crops and raising livestock is a significant part of the population’s occupation. There are a variety of soil types and climatic zones in India’s agricultural landscape.
Many Indians still rely on agriculture for their livelihood, which has been a tradition for centuries. Farmers in India grow crops mostly for their own consumption and for their families.
(ii) Different crops are grown in different regions.
Many crops are grown in different regions due to variations in climate, soil type, and geography.
Climate: Different crops require different temperatures and rainfall. Rice, for instance, requires high temperatures and abundant rainfall, so it grows in tropical climates, while wheat grows in moderate climates.
Crops like tea and coffee prefer well-drained, loamy soils, while crops like jute and rice thrive in alluvial clay soils.
The topography, altitude and access to waterbodies also influence crop selection, such as hilly areas with coffee or tea plantations and low-lying areas with access to water.
