The word 'agriculture' is derived from the Latin words 'ager', meaning field, and 'cultura', meaning

cultivation. Agriculture refers to the art and science of cultivating soil, and growing crops and
livestock. Farming is one of the oldest economic activities in the world.

Economic activities or activities involved with the exchange of money are broadly classified as
primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Primary

Primary activities directly depend on growing, collecting, and processing of natural resources. For
example

Table 5.1 Economic Activities

Secondary Secondary activities involve the manufacturing of goods derived from primary activities.
For example, sugar processing from sugarcane crops is a secondary activity.

Tertiary Tertiary activities provide support, and services to primary and secondary activities. For
example

• Soil: Soil is a medium to supply moisture and nutrients to the plant. Different crops require
different types of soils that are suitable for their growth. Crops also require different levels of
nutrients in the soil, in addition to moisture. For example, rice requires clayey moisture-retentive soil
and cotton requires black soil.

Economic factors: In addition to these physical factors, several other factors, such as adequate and
cheap labour, transport facilities, markets, infrastructure, and government policies, also decide the
type of agricultural practice in an area.

Farm System

Agricultural practice is considered as a system. Let us look at the flowchart below to learn why
farming is referred to as a system.

Agriculture as a System

Inputs

Processes

Output

Sugarcane Raw material

Processing

Sugar Finished producti

Agriculture

Transport

Ploughing Sowing Spraying Harvesting

Crops
Fishing

Manufacturing of goods

Insurance

PHYSICAL INPUTS

Sunshine

Rainfall Temperature

Soil

Slope

Earthworms

Mining

Banking

Factors affecting Agriculture

Several factors affect agricultural practices around the world. A few of them are discussed below. ⚫
Climate: The amount of rainfall, temperature, and humidity determine the types of crops in a region.
For example, the hot and humid climate of tropical areas allow for year-round crop growth, whereas
the temperature in temperate regions can be too low for certain types of crops.

• Relief: The land on which crops are grown is called arable land. The lowlands, such as river basins,
flood plains, valleys, and deltas, are more suitable for crop cultivation than the highlands, such as
mountains.

HUMAN INPUTS

800

Storage

Labour

Machinery Chemicals

Irrigation

HYV seeds

Types of Farming

Since the earth has diverse physical features, terrains, and climatic conditions, different types of
farming are practised worldwide. Thus, based on different farming methods and the scale of
operations, farming practices are broadly classified into subsistence and commercial farming.

Types of farming

Subsistence farming
Commercial farming

Primitive subsistence

Intensive subsistence

Extensive grain farming

Mixed farming

Plantation farming

Dairy farming

Shifting cultivation

Nomadic herding

Subsistence Farming

Subsistence farming is a type of farming in which nearly all the crops or livestock raised are used to
sustain the farmer and their family, leaving a little, if any, surplus for sale. Subsistence farmers
cultivate their land for survival rather than for profit. It is a labour-intensive method with a little or no
technological input.

Subsistence farming is divided into primitive subsistence farming and intensive subsistence farming.
Primitive Subsistence Farming

Primitive subsistence farming is the oldest method of farming. It is practised on small patches of land
using primitive tools like digging sticks, hoes, and daos. The practice is further divided into shifting
cultivation and nomadic herding.

Word Galaxy

livestock: animals raised on a farm to earn income, produce labour and other products primitive:
earliest of the kind or in existence

daos: a tool having a wooden handle and a flat tip

⚫ Shifting Cultivation

Shifting cultivation is also known as slash and burn agriculture. It is a primitive form of subsistence
agriculture which involves clearing a patch of forest by cutting and burning trees. The ash from the
burnt trees, leaves, and grasses adds nutrients to the soil, making it fertile. Once the ashes get mixed
with the soil, crops like maize, potatoes, yam, and cassava are grown. Primitive tools, such as sticks
and hoes are used in this type of agriculture. After two to three

years, when the soil runs out of nutrients, farmers abandon that land and move to a new piece of
land. The abandoned land is now allowed to revert

to original natural vegetation. This agriculture is generally practised in the thick forest areas of the
Amazon Basin, tropical Africa, parts of southeast Asia, and northeast India. This practice is known by
different names in different countries, such as Jhum in northeast India, Milpa in Mexico, Roca in
Brazil, and Ladang in Malaysia.

• Nomadic Herding
Nomads or nomadic herders travel from one place to another with their cattle in search of pasture
and water. They usually follow a defined path. This practice is commonly known as nomadic herding.
Nomads do not have any permanent settlement. Their seasonal movement occurs due to climatic
constraints and rugged topography. During severe winters, nomadic herders move towards valleys or
foothills, shifting to high mountains in summers.

Fig. 5.1 Slash and burn agriculture

Fig. 5.2 Nomadic herding

They rear animals, such as sheep, goats, horses, camels, and yaks. Animals provide milk, meat, wool,
and other valuable products to nomads and their families. Nomadic herding is commonly practised in
arid and semi-arid regions of the Sahara Desert of Africa, Central Asia, and some parts of India, such
as Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Rajasthan.

Intensive Subsistence Farming

Intensive subsistence farming is practised in densely populated monsoon regions of south,

In this farming method, farmers aim to obtain maximum output from a small plot of land. This is
typically achieved through labour-intensive methods, using simple tools and fewer fertilisers and
pesticides.

Due to extended growing seasons and fertile soil, farmers in these regions typically use a multiple
cropping method, where two or more crops grow annually on the same land. Rice is the main crop,
followed by wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds. While yield per hectare is high, total production is
low due to the limited size of

Fig. 5.3 Paddy rice is the main crop raised

along with wheat, lentils, maize and oilseeds in

intensive subsistence farming

the land available for farming.

Intensive subsistence farming plays a vital role in providing food security for communities in these
regions. However, it also presents challenges, such as land degradation, soil erosion, and water
depletion. By using sustainable practices, such as crop rotation and organic farming, farmers can
maintain the productivity of their land for future generations.

Commercial Farming

Commercial farming is a type of farming where crops and livestock are raised for sale and export with
the aim of maximising yields and profits. It requires a significant investment in capital and uses
modern technology, such as machines and chemical fertilisers. While commercial farming helps meet
global food demands, it also presents, challenges, such as environmental degradation and animal
welfare concerns.

Commercial farming is further divided into extensive grain farming, mixed farming, plantation
farming, and dairy farming.
Extensive Grain Farming

Extensive grain farming is a type of farming that is practised in regions with abundant land but a
sparse population. To meet this challenge, these large farms are mechanised in their operations, so
that the work could be done with minimal labour to produce crops for sale in large markets.
Although the yield per hectare is low, the total production is high. This method is widely practised in
temperate grasslands of the world, such as Prairies of North America, Pampas of South America,
Steppes of Eurasia, and the Downs of Australia. In these areas, large tracts of land are used to
cultivate crops, such as wheat and maize. Mixed Farming

Fig. 5.4 Extensive grain farming

Mixed farming is a type of farming that combines animal husbandry and crop farming on the same
land. Along with major crops like wheat, maize, barley, and oats, fodder crops are also grown.
Animals are reared for milk, meat, and wool. Farmers are skilled at using modern machinery and
improved seeds to ensure high yields. Large capital investment is a basic requirement for machinery,
for constructions of storage buildings, and infrastructure. Mixed farming is extensively practised in
densely populated regions of Europe, eastern US, Word Galaxy Argentina, southeast Australia, New
Zealand, and South Africa.

fodder crops: crops that are primarily grown to feed livestock or other animals

Plantation Farming

In plantation farming, a single crop is cultivated over a vast hectare of land. Produce of plantation
farming is mostly exported. Cheap and skilled labour and large capital investments are required for
plantation farming. Efficient and scientific methods of cultivation are used for growing crops on a
commercial basis. Crops like tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew, rubber, banana, and cotton are grown on
a large scale for international trade. The Fig. 5.5 Plantation farming growth of plantation farming is
significantly influenced by a well-developed network of transportation and communication. These
link the plantation areas, processing industries, and markets. Plantation farming is mainly carried out
in tropical countries. For example, rubber plantations in west Malaysia, coffee in Brazil, and tea in
India and Sri Lanka are practised.

21*-Century Skills [Critical-thinking]

Think About It!

The image given is an aerial view of deforestation in a rainforest region. One of the major causes of
deforestation in this region is the increasing demand for rubber plantations.

• Do you support deforestation for more cropland, such as plantation farming? Why or why not?
Explain your answer.

• What are the disadvantages of plantation farming?

Dairy Farming

Dairy Farming is an advanced method of efficient rearing of milch animals. Cattle are raised to meet
the demand for dairy products. Manual labour is limited. Expensive and modern equipment is used
in dairy farming. Large capital investment is required for animal sheds, storage facilities for fodder,
and feeding and milking machines. Dairy farms are usually located near large cities and towns in
tropical regions that provide a ready market for their products. New Zealand, Denmark, Switzerland,
and the Netherlands are leading producers of dairy products.
Fig. 5.6 Dairy farming

2. Which of the following correctly defines mixed farming?

a. Cultivating of a single crop over a vast hectare of land mainly for export. b. Clearing of a forest land
by cutting and burning trees.

c. Practising of animal husbandry along with crop farming on the same land.

d. Cultivating only grapes for commercial purposes.

Concept Map

Efficient and scientific methods are used to grow crops.

i. Dairy farming

iii. Shifting cultivation

ii. Intensive subsistence farming

iv. Plantation farming

b. Match Column A and Column B and choose the correct option from the codes given below.

Column B

A. the process of cultivating grapes for commercial purposes.

Column A

I.

Apiculture

II

Viticulture

B. the process of breeding and rearing fish for consumption and trade.

Nomadic herding

III.

Sericulture

Activities related to

agriculture, hunting, and mining

Activities related to

manufacturing industries

Activities generating services

Sericulture
Branches

Subsistence farming

Primitive subsistence

Intensive subsistence

Shifting cultivation

Extensive

grain farming

Mixed

farming

Primary

Types of farming

Secondary

Commercial farming

Agriculture/Farming

Tertiary Economic

Plantation

Activities

Inputs

farming

Farm System

Processes Outputs

Dairy farming

Understanding Agriculture 1: An Introduction to farming Practices

Climate

Factors affecting Agriculture

Soil

Relief Economic factors

Pisciculture

of Agriculture

Fungiculture

Floriculture
Apiculture

Horticulture

Viticulture

Let Us Exercise

1. Tick (✔) the correct option.

a. A Malaysian farmer cultivates rubber on his farm by following a farming method. Read the clues
given below and identify the type of farming he is practising.

A huge capital investment.

IV. Pisciculture

1-B, IC, III-A, IV-D

iii. 1-C, II-8, III-D, IV-A

C. the care and management of honey bees for the production of honey and wax

D. the process of producing raw silk by raising silkworms.

ii. -C, II-A, III-D, IV-B

iv. 1-D, II-A, III-B, IV-C

c. Which of the following is an example of a secondary activity?

i. Manufacturing of goods

iii. Agriculture

d. Choose the incorrect pair.

i. Jhum-northeast India iii. Milpa Canada

ii. Banking

iv. Transport

ii. Roca Brazil

iv. Ladang Malaysia

2. Answer the following questions in 10 to 20 words.

a. What are primary activities? Give an example.

b. Agriculture is considered as a system. List the inputs required for the production of a crop.

C. What is subsistence farming?

d. List the countries where mixed farming is practised.

A single crop is cultivated.

a. Explain the factors that influence the agricultural practices.

b. Write a brief account on extensive grain farming.

c. Mention any three features of shifting cultivation.

d. How is mixed farming different from dairy farming?

4. Think Ahead [HOTS]

Shifting cultivation has many disadvantages, such as deforestation and leaching of soils, yet why is
this type of farming still practised in many parts of the world?

5. Picture-based Question.

a. Based on the image provided, what is the agricultural practice depicted?

b. In which regions of India is this type of agriculture typically practised, and why is this practice well-
suited for these regions?

c. How is this type of farming different than the dairy farming?