What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?
In shifting cultivation a plot of land is cleared by felling the trees and burning them. The ashes are then mixed with the soil and crops like maize, yam, potatoes and cassava are grown. After the soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the cultivator moves to a new plot. In the ideal case, shifting cultivation is a cycle where farmers come back to the original place after a couple of years.
Shifting cultivation systems are primitive, backward, wasteful, unproductive, exploitative and the cause of widespread environmental degradation. Shifting cultivators are blamed for the destruction of much of the world's tropical forests, land degradation, atmospheric pollution and global climatic change.
Name the inputs and outputs of agriculture in general. Also mention the various operations involved.
Give reasons.
(i) In India agriculture is a primary activity.
(ii) Different crops are grown in different regions.
Answer the following questions.
(i) What is agriculture?
(ii) Name the factors influencing agriculture.
(iii) What is shifting cultivation? What are its disadvantages?
(iv) What is plantation agriculture?
(v) Name the fibre crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth.
Enlist the climate conditions required for the proper cultivation of rice. Mention the main regions of its production.
Tick the correct answer.
(i) Horticulture means
(a) growing of fruits and vegetables (b) primitive farming (c) growing of wheat
(ii) Golden fibre refers to
(a) tea (b) cotton
(c) jute
(iii) Leading producers of coffee
(a) Brazil (b) India (c) Russiac
Fill in the blank spaces given to complete each sentence.
(i) In the world, ………. per cent of the population is engaged in agriculture.
(ii) …………. is the commercial rearing of silkworms.
(iii) ………. and …………… are two fundamental types of farming.
(iv) In the thickly populated areas of monsoon regions of Asia, the major class of farming done is ……………..
(v)………….,…………..,………….. and …………. are animals usually reared by nomadic herders.
(vi) In ………. ,land is used for growing food and fodder crops and rearing livestock.
(vii) ………….. and ……….. are fibre crops.
(viii) Tea is a major…………… crop in India.
(ix) Wheat thrives best in ……………. soil.
(x) The three major millets in India are ………….. and ………..
State whether each of the following statements is true (T) or false (F).
(i) Favourable topography of soil and climate are vital for agriculture.
(ii) Household labour is involved in subsistence farming.
(iii) A transport network is significant for plantation agriculture.
(iv) Major plantations are found in tundra regions.
(v) In the USA, the farmer usually resides in the farm.
Distinguish between the followings.
(i) Primary activities and secondary activities.
(ii) Subsistence farming and intensive farming.
Find out the difference between the lifestyle of farmers in the USA and India on the basis of pictures collected from magazines, books, newspapers and the internet.