Chapter: 05. Types Of Agriculture
THEME 4: AGRICULTURE
5. Types of Agriculture
Welcome, young learners! In this chapter, we’re going on an exciting journey to explore the world of agriculture. You’ll learn all about how we grow our food, where it comes from, and the amazing variety of ways farmers work across the globe. Get ready to discover the different kinds of farming that help feed us all!
Learning Outcomes
After studying this chapter, you will be able to:
Identify and describe various types of agricultural practices used worldwide. Compare modern farming methods with traditional ones. Understand agriculture’s importance, especially in countries like India, which is a land of farmers. What is Agriculture?
The word ‘agriculture’ comes from two old Latin words: ‘ager’, which means ‘field’, and ‘cultura’, which means ‘to cultivate’. So, agriculture simply means cultivating a field. But it’s much more than just growing crops!
Agriculture involves many different activities, such as:
Growing various types of crops like grains, fruits, and vegetables. Rearing animals for dairy products (like milk) and meat. Poultry farming (raising birds like chickens for eggs and meat). Even rearing fish in ponds (also known as pisciculture). Agriculture has been practiced by humans for thousands of years and is still a very important job for many people globally. In many countries in Asia and Africa, more than half the population works in the agricultural sector. The most important products we get from agriculture are food grains.
Types of Agriculture
There are many different ways agriculture is practiced around the world. Let’s explore some of them!
Subsistence Farming
Subsistence farming is a type of farming where farmers grow just enough crops to feed themselves and their families. They typically own small pieces of land.
Key Features:
Land Size: Practiced by farmers who own small pieces of land. Purpose: To grow just enough crops to meet the needs of the farmer and their family, leaving little or no surplus to sell. Crops: Generally grow rice or vegetables. Fertilizers: Use organic or natural fertilizers, such as: Water Source: Depend on monsoon rains for water for the crops.
Knowledge of India: Agriculture in India
India has a long history of agriculture, tracing back to the Indus Valley civilization where rice and cotton were first cultivated. Today, subsistence farming is a major source of livelihood for many people in rural India.
Global Ranking: India ranks second in the world in overall agriculture production. Top Producer: Largest producer of cotton and jute. Second Largest Producer: Ranks second globally in rice, wheat, and sugarcane production. Growth Factors: Both technological advancements and government efforts have played a crucial role in strengthening India’s agricultural sector, ensuring continued growth and prosperity.
Intensive Farming
Intensive farming is another method of farming practiced on small plots of land, but with the goal of getting a high yield from that small area.
Important Features:
Land Size: Farmers use small plots of land. Seeds: Use hybrid or mixed breed seeds, which are expensive but produce a lot more crops (high yielding). Fertilizers & Pesticides: Requires a lot of fertilizers and pesticides. Disadvantage: Heavy use of these chemicals can kill useful insects and worms that help make the soil rich in nutrients. Impact on Wildlife: Pesticides can also harm birds and other insects like ladybirds and butterflies, as birds might eat affected insects. This makes intensive farming harmful to the local ecology. Yield: The amount of crop produced per acre is high. Farmers also use ‘night soil’ (human waste) as a good natural fertilizer. Animal manure (mostly cow dung) and household wastes (like vegetables, eggshells, stale food) are also used as fertilizers. Water Source: Besides monsoon rains, farmers depend on irrigation canals for water supply. Cropping Practices: Farmers use several types of cropping on their land to earn income from more than one source: Double cropping: Growing two crops one after another on the same piece of land in a single year (e.g., rice followed by wheat, or a main crop followed by pulses/oilseeds). Multiple cropping: Growing two or more crops on the same piece of land in a single year. This needs irrigation, high-yielding and quick-ripening seeds, and fertilizers. Crop rotation: Growing different crops on the same land in successive years (e.g., wheat in Year 1, potatoes/beetroot/carrots in Year 2, barley/rye in Year 3, pulses in Year 4). This helps protect and improve soil fertility. Labor: Requires skilled labor, which adds to the cost of production. Distribution:
India: Practiced in areas where agricultural land is scarce, such as: Brahmaputra Valley in Assam Mountainous regions of the Himalayas Other Countries: China, Korea, and Japan also follow similar intensive farming practices.
Extensive Farming
Extensive farming is practiced in areas where there is a large amount of land available for cultivation and the population is low, meaning less human labor is available.
Important Features:
Land Availability: Practiced in areas with low population and plenty of land. Labor: Less human labor available due to small population. Machinery: Most work is done using large machines, such as the combine harvester, to make up for less labor. Crops: Crops like wheat, maize, barley, and sugarcane are grown. Farm Size: To be profitable, very large quantities of land are needed. The average required farm size is around 1000-2000 acres. Distribution:
World: Commonly practiced in countries like: Known for this in temperate grasslands. India: Practiced in some states like: Parts of Uttar Pradesh
Shifting Cultivation
Shifting cultivation is an ancient and traditional farming method, also known as ‘slash and burn’. It’s still practiced in various parts of the world today.
Features:
A small patch of forest (about an acre or several acres) is cut down. The cut debris is burned. The land is then used to grow crops. Tools: Farmers use a long, sharp knife called a machete to cut down trees and bushes. Soil Fertility: The ashes from the burnt plants make the soil very fertile. Water Source: Farmers depend on monsoon and tropical rains for water. Land Use Duration: The land is used for only a few years. Movement: When the soil’s fertility decreases, farmers move to a new patch of forest land and repeat the process. Distribution and Impact:
Brazil (mainly in the Amazon Basin, known as ‘Roca’) Central America (known as ‘Milpa’) Democratic Republic of Congo North-east India (particularly Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur) Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand in central India Known as ‘Jhumming’ in India. Environmental Impact: This type of cultivation is harmful because it: Disturbs the ecology of the area. Displaces wildlife and birds from their natural habitats. Contributes to soil erosion, especially during the monsoon season. Did You Know? Agriculture’s Contribution
Almost half of India’s population (around 45%) is involved in agriculture. However, agriculture’s contribution to India’s total income is only about one-fifth (18%).
Commercial Farming
Commercial farming aims to grow crops on a large scale, primarily to sell the produce both within the country and abroad. It is also known as agribusiness.
Important Features:
Main Goal: To earn profit. Methods: Uses modern farming techniques and inputs: HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds Pesticides and insecticides Modern irrigation techniques Disadvantage: Requires a huge investment for marketing the produce and maintaining cold storage. Farm Size: Farms can be big or small depending on the region. Products: Many diverse products come under commercial farming, such as: Cheeses, dairy produce, wines, mushrooms, honey Fruits and vegetables like beets, broccoli, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, etc. Distribution:
Eastern and western coasts of USA and Canada India: Many crops are produced commercially, including: Onions and grapes from Maharashtra Oranges from Maharashtra and Sikkim Fine quality rice from Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh Apples from Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh Coconuts and spices (like ginger and cinnamon) from Kerala and Goa Mangoes from Bihar and Jharkhand
Plantation Farming
Plantation farming is a specialized type of commercial farming where a single crop is cultivated over a very large area of land. The land used for this is called a plantation. Crops grown this way are often called ‘cash crops’ because they are grown specifically to be sold for money.
Important Features:
Crop Type: A single crop is grown over a large area. Capital Investment: Requires a huge amount of money (capital) to start and run. Labor & Management: Farmers invest in: Quality Control: Very important because products are sold to both national and international buyers. Organization: Work on a plantation is highly organized: Crops are first prepared in nurseries (small, protected areas). Seedlings are then transferred to larger fields where they are planted again. After a few years, plants are harvested, processed in factories, and packed. Products are then shipped to various places within the country and overseas. Skilled Labor: All these processes require a team of highly skilled laborers. Alternative Name: Plantations are also known as ‘estates’. Distribution:
Common Regions: Common in tropical and subtropical countries. Origin in India: Introduced by the British in India, mainly to grow tea in the north and coffee in the south (though tea is now also grown in the south). Connectivity: These plantations are well connected by road and rail, which helps in transporting products. Job Opportunities: Plantations offer good job opportunities. Crops in India: Tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, coconut, and sugarcane are grown in plantations in India. Other Countries: Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia, and Australia also have similar plantations.
Mixed Farming
Mixed farming is a unique type of farming where farmers grow crops and also rear animals on the same piece of farmland.
Important Features:
Dual Purpose: Both crops are grown, and animals are reared on the same farm. Animals: Farmers rear cows, goats, and poultry for milk and meat. In colder areas, sheep are also reared for the same purpose (and wool). Multiple Income Sources: Farmers practice mixed farming to have more than one source of income. If one source fails, they can still rely on the other. Fodder: Fodder (animal feed) is obtained from the residue of crops grown on the farm. Modern Inputs: Uses modern tools, electricity, and high-quality seeds. Fertilizers: Natural fertilizers and manure are obtained from the farm animals, which helps increase soil fertility. Sustainability: This is a sustainable form of development because: Less need for external inputs like chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, and water. Helps prevent soil erosion. Ecological Balance: Provides an opportunity for good ecological and environmental balance, securing habitats for birds, wildlife, and insects. Distribution:
India: Still not very popular. It is mainly seen in the Himalayan mountains where people practice beekeeping, cattle and sheep rearing, and mushroom farming.
Special Focus Areas
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 2 - Zero Hunger
Agriculture is incredibly powerful in helping reduce poverty, boost prosperity, and feed the growing global population. When agriculture grows, it especially benefits the poorest people.
However, there are challenges:
Climate change threatens to lower crop yields, especially in regions that already struggle with food scarcity. Modern farming practices can increase greenhouse gas emissions, which have created significant environmental problems in recent years.
Biography: Dr. Verghese Kurien and the White Revolution
In the 1960s, India faced a severe shortage of milk and dairy products. To tackle this, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), led by Dr. Verghese Kurien, launched ‘Operation Flood’ in 1970.
Aim: To significantly increase milk production and make India one of the largest milk producers in the world. Leadership: Dr. Kurien, a visionary dairy engineer, was the main force behind this movement. Name: The program was also famously known as the ‘White Revolution’, inspired by the white color of milk.
India’s Food Challenges
India is a major agricultural producer:
It is the world’s second-largest producer of both rice and wheat, which are staple food crops globally. However, despite this production, India faces significant challenges:
Indians make up about one-fourth of the world’s hungry population. 6 out of 10 Indian children under the age of five suffer from anaemia (a condition caused by lack of iron).
Chapter Summary
Here’s a quick recap of the important points and types of agriculture we’ve learned about:
Agriculture: Derived from Latin words ‘ager’ (field) and ‘cultura’ (to cultivate). It includes growing crops, rearing animals (dairy, meat, poultry), and fish farming. Practiced by farmers with small land. Grow just enough crops (rice or vegetables) for family needs. Use organic/natural fertilizers. Farmers use small plots of land with hybrid/mixed breed seeds for high yield. Requires many fertilizers and pesticides (which can be harmful to ecology). Uses night soil and animal manure. Common in India’s Ganga Plain, Brahmaputra Valley, and countries like China, Korea, and Japan. Practiced in areas with low population and plenty of land. Most work done by large machines (e.g., combine harvester). Crops like wheat, maize, barley, sugarcane. Requires large farms (1000-2000 acres) to be profitable. Common in the USA, Canada, Australia, and parts of Punjab, Haryana, and UP in India. Shifting Cultivation (Slash and Burn): Small forest patch is cut, burned, and used for crops. Fertility reduces, so farmers move to new land. Harmful to forests and wildlife. Found in Indonesia, Brazil, Central America, Malaysia, Democratic Republic of Congo. In India: Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland. Purpose is to grow crops on a large scale for profit (agribusiness). Uses HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, modern irrigation, cold storage. Products include dairy, fruits, vegetables, etc. Found in European countries, New Zealand, Scandinavian countries, USA, Canada, and various states in India. A type of commercial farming where a single cash crop is cultivated over a large area (plantation/estate). Requires huge capital, cheap labor, and high managerial support. Work is highly organized (nurseries, processing, shipping). Common in tropical/subtropical countries like Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Brazil, Indonesia. In India: Tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa, coconut, sugarcane. Crops are grown and animals are reared on the same farm. Provides multiple income sources (cows, goats for milk/meat; sheep for wool). Uses modern tools, electricity, high-quality seeds. Uses natural fertilizers from farm animals. Sustainable, prevents soil erosion, conserves water. Popular in the USA, Europe, Australia, but less common in India (seen in Himalayas).
Self Study
