DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 5 Question Answer – Agriculture

These DAV Class 8 SST Book Solutions and DAV Class 8 SST Chapter 5 Question Answer – Agriculture are thoughtfully prepared by experienced teachers.

DAV Class 8 SST Ch 5 Question Answer – Agriculture

DAV Class 8 SST Ch 5 Solutions – Agriculture

Something to Know

A. Tick (✓) the correct option.

Question 1.
Millets are also known as-
(a) fine grains
(b) multigrains
(c) artificial grains
(d) coarse grains
Answer:
(d) coarse grains

Question 2.
Tea is a-
(a) cereal crop
(b) fibre crop
(c) fruit crop
(d) beverage crop
Answer:
(d) beverage crop

Question 3.
Who amongst the following are the nomadic herders of the Himalayan area?
(a) Bhotiyas
(b) Munda
(c) Siddi
(d) Jarawas
Answer:
(a) Bhotiyas

Question 4.
Slash and burn practice of agriculture is also known as –
(a) plantation agriculture
(b) intensive subsistence agriculture
(c) shifting agriculture
(d) extensive agriculture
Answer:
(c) shifting agriculture

Question 5.
The type of commercial agriculture, which is practised on a large estate for growing of a single crop continuously for several years, is known as –
(a) livestock ranching
(b) extensive agriculture
(c) plantation agriculture
(d) organic farming
Answer:
(c) plantation agriculture

B. Fill in the blanks.

Question 1.
________ is grown in the mid-latitudinal and dry sub-tropical regions.
Answer:
Wheat

Question 2.
Cotton, ________ and natural silk are natural fibres.
Answer:
Jute

Question 3.
Coffee piant needs ________ and climate.
Answer:
hot; humid

Question 4.
Deltas, river valleys, coastal plains with rainfall above 100 cm are ideal for the cultivation of ________ .
Answer:
rice

Question 5.
When animals are reared along with the cultivation of land, it is known as ________ farming.
Answer:
mixed

C. Write a technical term or an appropriate word for each of the following statements.

1. The science and art of raising crops, rearing of livestock, forestry and fishing.
Answer:
Agriculture

2. A type of agricultural system in which a farmer and his family grow crop for self-sustenance.
Answer:
Subsistence agriculture

3. Agriculture practised on a very large scale for crop specialisation.
Answer:
Commercial agriculture

4. The commercial grazing of farm animals in temperate grasslands to obtain meat, wool, hides, skins and some dairy products.
Answer:
Livestock ranching

5. People who migrate along with their animals from one place to another in search of fodder for their animals.
Answer:
Nomads

D. Answer the following questions in brief.

Question 1.
When and how did agriculture start along the river valleys? What is the wider definition of agriculture now?
Answer:
The requirement of food has led to the development for agriculture. Earlier, human beings were dependent upon food gathering, hunting and fishing for their survival. Gradually, they started growing crops along the river valleys which led to the beginning of agriculture.
In wider terms, agriculture is the science and art of raising crops, rearing of livestock, forestry and fishing.

Question 2.
Highlight the importance of agriculture for people around the world.
Answer:
Agriculture helps in providing employment, eradicating poverty, enhancing trade and earning foreign exchange. Agriculture also plays in important role in strengthening global relations by encouraging international trade of agricultural products.

Question 3.
Describe any three new techniques used in agriculture to increase the production of crops.
Answer:
New techniques of agriculture include using HYV of seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, insecticides and modem equipments.

Question 4.
What type of soil, temperature and rainfall is required for the cultivation of wheat and rice?
Answer:
Wheat
Soil type: Loamy soil is required. Temperature: The ideal temperature for wheat at the time for sowing is 10°-15°C and at the time of harvesting is 20°-25°C.
Rainfall: It grows well in 75-100 cm of rainfall. Harvest period should be frost free.

Rice
Soil type: Alluvial loamy and clayey soils are ideal for rice cultivation.
Temperature: 24°C or above with minor variations during sowing, growing and harvesting seasons.
Rainfall: Rice flourishes well in the areas where rainfall is above 100 cm.

Question 5.
What is meant by nomadic herding? Which are the most important regions for nomadic herding?
Answer:
In nomadic herding, people migrate along with their animals from one place to another in search of fodder for their animals. Generally, they rear cattle, sheep, goats, camels and yaks for milk, skin, meat and wool. It is common in parts of Central and Western Asia, East and South-West Africa and Northern Eurasia. In India, Bhotiyas and Gujjars are the nomadic tribes of Himalays.

E. Answer the following questions.

Question 1.
What are the major differences between the farm agriculture of USA and India?
Answer:
The agricultural practices of the USA and India sharply differ from one another. These differences are given below:

	A Farm in the USA	A Farm in India
(i) Size of farm	Large farm but yield per hectare is comparatively low.	Small land holding but yield per hectare is high.
(ii) Capital	High capital investment	Comparatively low capital investment which is mainly narrowed from banks, moneylenders.
(iii) Market	Produce is meant for national and international market as storage facilities are adequate.	Produce is meant for local market due to lack of storage facilities.
(iv) Labour	Skilled	Unskilled
(v) Mechanisation	Extensive use of tractors combined harvesters and threshers.	Traditonal methods, limited use of machines, still using bullocks to plough the field.
(vi) Technology	Extensive use of advanced technology.	Marginal use of modern technology.

Question 2.
Describe any five advantages of using biotechnology for agricultural development.
Answer:

• Biotechnology involves the use of living organisms and bio-processes in engineering, technology, medicine, etc.
• It also covers genetic engineering, cell and tissue, culture technologies, manufacture of drugs, environmental management, etc.
• Some countries have developed genetically modified crops through biotechnology. In this, the higher yields is produced by introducing foreign genes from different species.
• It has more nutritional value, better flavour and colour in the food.
• Using this genetically modified crops is still limited. Scientists believe that genetically modified crops, can help the environment by reducing the problem of pesticides.

Question 3.
Explain any three physical factors influencing the agricultural development in an area.
Answer:
Three physical factors which affect agricultural development in an area are:
(a) Physical or geographical factors include relief, climate and soul.
(i) Relief: Plains are more suitable for agriculture than the highlands. Density of population is generally high in plains. This helps in providing cheap labour and market for farm products. Also, it is easier to use modem equipment on plain regions. On rugged topography such machines cannot be easily used. The river basins and deltas are more suitable for agriculture than mountainous regions.

(ii) Climate: Agriculture is highly sensitive to climate variability. Each crop has its own requirement of temperature and rainfall. That is why, the variation in climatic conditions supports different crop patterns.

(iii) Soil: Soil rich in minerals and organic matter supports agriculture. Chemical composition and fertility of soil differs from place to place which leads to variation in soil type. Each crop has its own requirement of soil. According to the soil type, a large variety of crops are grown in different parts of the world. Alluvial soil and black soil are very suitable for agriculture.

Question 4.
How is subsistence agriculture difference from the commercial agriculture? In your opinion, which one is more useful for India?
Answer:

Subsistance farming	Commercial farming
(i) In subsistence farming, farmers use low levels of technology and household labour and grow crops for self-sustenance.	(i) In commercial farming farmer use all modern technology of agriculture to obtain maximum production from limited area.
(ii) It is practised solely to meet the needs of the farmer’s family.	(ii) In this type of agriculture, crops are raised on a large scale for the purpose of selling the products in the market.
(iii) A small area is cultivated and therefore no huge capital is needed in this farming.	(iii) A large area is cultivated and huge capital is involved in this farming.

Commercial agriculture is more useful for India because it is always done with defined crops, technology and marketing prospects.

Question 5.
How do the size of land holdings, labour and capital influence the agricultural development in an area? Explain.
Answer:
Size of land holdings: The size of farms affects the agricultural pattern and the yield per unit hectare. In the densely populated areas of the developing countries, the farm size is generally very small due to growing rural population and the law of succession which leads to fragmentation of land. The small fields are mostly not economical. Labour: The availability of labour has great influence on cropping pattern of a region. The labour requirement varies with different crops. In many parts of India, seasonal unemployment exists in rural areas, whereas during the periods of sowing and harvesting, there could be shortage of labour. The farmers of Punjab greatly depend on migrant labourers for growing wheat and rice crops.

Capital: All agricultural inputs, like the HYV seeds, means of irrigation, fertilisers, pesticides, hiring labour, machines, land lease, fodder, fuel, power and veterinary services, require capital. The cultivation of commercial crops using new technologies requires more capital than required in the traditional way of cultivation.

Value Based Question

Agriculture has been the mainstay of the Indian economy. Today, the farmers’ welfare has become a focus to improve the conditions of the Indian farming system. There is definitely a need to increase the net income of farmers, reduce the cost of cultivation, enable higher yield per unit and provision of remunerative prices. Some of the important initiative taken up for the benefits of farmers include-
(i) Introduction of Soil Health Card Scheme to assess the nutrient levels available in the soil.
(ii) Promotion of Neem-coated Urea to regulate the use of urea and cutting down its cost.
(iii) Implementation of Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana to promote organic farming.
(iv) Implementation of National Crop Insurance Scheme to protect the farmers from crop losses.
(v) Introduction of Minimum Support Price to eliminate distress sale of agricultural produce by farmers.

Question 1.
Suggest some more measures which can improve the conditions of farmers in India.
Answer:
(i) Net income of farmers should be increased.
(ii) Cost of production should be reduced.
(iii) enable higher per unit.
(iv) Provision of remunerative prices.
(v) Implementation of Soil Health Card Scheme and National Crop Insurance Scheme.

Question 2.
Are genetically modified crops the correct option to create food sufficiency for the growing population of the country.
Answer:
Today, population explosion has increased the pressure on land to produce more food. This situation compelled the people to develop new techniques of agriculture so that productivity could be increased. Keeping in mind, in some countries, genetically modified crops have developed which involves the use of living organism and technology, medicine and covers genetic engineering, cultrual technologies, etc.

Map Skill

On an outline political map of India, show the leading producer states of the following crops-
(a) Rice
(b) Wheat
(c) Cotton
(d) Jute
(e) Tea
(f) Coffee
Answer:

Something to Do

Question 1.
Collect pictures of various agricultural implements and machines. Paste them in a scrap book with their names and the uses.
Answer:
Do yourself.

Question 2.
Collect information about the problems faced by the Indian farmers that cause poor yield of crops. Suggest ways and means to tackle them.
Answer:
Do yourself.

DAV Class 8 Social Science Chapter 5 Question Answer – Agriculture

A. Tick (✓) the correct option.

Question 1.
Which of the following crops is grown in loamy soil? (DAVBoard)
(a) Rice
(b) Maize
(c) Wheat
(d) Millets
Answer:
(c) Wheat

Question 2.
What is the full form of HYV?
(a) High yield variety
(b) High yield vegetation
(c) Higher yield variety
(d) Huge yield variety
Answer:
(a) High yield variety

Question 3.
In subsistence farming, farmers grow
(a) fibre crops
(b) beverage crops
(c) cereals
(d) all of the above
Answer:
(c) cereals

Question 4.
Jhumming agriculture is practised in
(a) north-east India
(b) north India
(c) south-east India
(d) south-west India
Answer:
(a) north-east India

Question 5.
The main crop of intensive agriculture is
(a) corn
(b) wheat
(c) oats
(d) rice
Answer:
(d) rice

Question 6.
Which of the following countries does not practise intensive agriculture?
(a) Bangladesh
(b) India
(c) Japan
(d) Canada
Answer:
(d) Canada

Question 7.
Plantation agriculture does not include
(a) tea
(b) wheat
(c) coffee
(d) rubber
Answer:
(b) wheat

Question 8.
The leading exporters of wheat are.
(a) Canada and USA
(b) Thailand and Vietnam
(c) China and France
(d) USA and Australia
Answer:
(a) Canada and USA

Question 9.
The main crops of temperate regions is
(a) rice
(b) wheat
(c) maize
(d) tea
Answer:
(b) wheat

Question 10.
Maize is known as makka in
(a) USA
(b) India
(c) China
(d) South Africa
Answer:
(b) India

Question 11.
Which of the following countries produces one of the finest cotton in the world?
(a) Bangladesh
(b) India
(c) Egypt
(d) Brazil
Answer:
(c) Egypt

Question 12.
The leading jute producing state of India is
(a) Odisha
(b) West Bengal
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Punjab
Answer:
(b) West Bengal

Question 13.
Hot and humid climate is needed for
(a) coffee
(b) cotton
(c) wheat
(d) millets
Answer:
(a) coffee

Question 14.
Which of the following countries is the leading producer of coffee?
(a) Jamaica
(b) Indonesia
(c) Kenya
(d) Brazil
Answer:
(d) Brazil

Question 15.
Which of the following is not a natural fibre?
(a) Jute
(b) Cotton
(c) Nylon
(d) Natural silk
Answer:
(c) Nylon

B. Fill in the blanks.

Question 1.
India is the ________ largest producer of rice in the world.
Answer:
second

Question 2.
________ is grown in the mid-latitudonal and diy sub-tropical regions.
Answer:
Wheat

Question 3.
Maize is known as ________ in the USA.
Answer:
com

Question 4.
Tea grows well in ________ and conditions of the tropical and subtropical regions.
Answer:
jute

Question 5.
Coffee crop need well ________, fertite soil.
Answer:
hot, humid

C. Write a technical term or an appropriate word for each of the following statements.

1. The science and art of raising crops, rearing of livestock, forestry and fishing.
Answer:
Agriculture

2. A type of farming in which farmer and his family grow crops for self¬substance.
Answer:
Substance farming

3. It is a type of agriculture done on a large scale on big land holdings by using modem machines.
Answer:
Extensive farming

4. A type of farming in which farmer’s apply all modem techniques of agriculture to obtain maximum production from limited area.
Answer:
Intensive farming

5. Animals are reared alongwith cultivation.
Answer:
Mixed farming

D. Very Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Give the meaning of crop specialization.
Answer:
Farmers select single crop according to the natural and market conditions of the region. It is called crop specialisation.

Question 2.
Name some coarse grains.
Answer:
Jowar, bajra and ragi.

Question 3.
Why is the demand of jute decreasing in the domestic and international market?
Answer:
The demand for jute is continuously decreasing because of its high cost and easy availability of cheap synthetic substitutes.

Question 4.
Name two important beverage crops.
Answer:
Tea and coffee.

Question 5.
Write the names of maize producing nations.
Answer:
Maize producing nations are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and USA.

Question 6.
Which are the most important regions for nomadic herding?
Answer:
The most important regions for nomadic herding are the parts of central and western Asia, East and South-West Africa and Northern Eurasia.

Question 7.
What are the various activities associated with agriculture?
Answer:
The activities associated with agriculture are raising crops, rearing livestock, forestry and fishing.

Question 8.
What is meant by subsistence farming?
Answer:
Subsistence farming is a type of farming in which a farmer and his family grow crops for self¬sustenance. They grow cereals to meet the requirement of their family and local community.

Question 9.
Name the animals raised by the nomadic herders. Why do they rear these animals?
Answer:
Cattle, sheep, goats, camels and yaks. They rear these animals for milk, skin, meat and wool.

Question 10.
Which two nomadic tribes live in the Himalayas in India.
Answer:
In India, Bhotiyas and Gujjars are the two nomadic tribes who live in the Himalayas.

Question 11.
What is shifting agriculture also called?
Answer:
Shifting agriculture is also called slash and bum agriculture.

Question 12.
Which crops are mainly grown in extensive agriculture?
Answer:
Com, oats, wheat and oilseeds are mainly grown is extensive agriculture.

Question 13.
Name the countries where extensive farming is done.
Answer:
Australia, Canada, Russia and USA.

Question 14.
What do you mean by mixed farming?
Answer:
When animals are reared along with the cultivation of land, it is known as mixed farming.

Question 15.
What is meant by organic farming?
Answer:
Organic farming is a type of farming in which organic manure and natural pesticides are used.

Question 16.
Mention any two factors required in plantation agriculture.
Answer:
(i) Huge capital investment
(ii) Scientific method of farming.

Question 17.
In which regions of the world is plantation agriculture commonly practised?
Answer:
Plantation agriculture is commonly practised in hot and humid regions of the world.

Question 18.
Which countries are the leading exporters of tea in the world?
Answer:
China, India, Kenya and Sri-Lanka are the leading exporters of tea in the world.

Question 19.
Name the regions which are ideal for the cultivation of rice.
Answer:
Deltas, river valleys, coastal plains and terraced fields in mountainous regions.

Question 20.
Mention the rice producing areas in India.
Answer:
Rice is mainly cultivated in India in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Question 21.
Mention the soil type ideal for rice cultivation.
Answer:
Alluvial loamy and clayey soils are ideal for rice cultivation

Question 22.
Mention the wheat producing areas in the world.
Answer:
Wheat producing areas in the world are temperate grasslands of North America, South America and Central Eurasia. Other producers are Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, India, Russia, South Africa, USA, etc.

Question 23.
Which two countries lead in the production of jute?
Answer:
India and Bangladesh lead in the production of jute.

Question 24.
What are the geographical conditions required for growing millets?
Answer:
Millets can be grown on soils of poor quality. It grows well in 18°C to 32°C. Rainfall requirement is about 30 cm to 75 cm.

Question 25.
What is required for plucking cotton balls?
Answer:
Cheap and efficient labour is required for plucking cotton balls.

Question 26.
Name some jute producing states of India.
Answer:
West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Maghalaya and Odisha.

Question 27.
Mention the soil type ideal for coffee cultivation.
Answer:
Coffee needs well-drained, fertile soil in the hilly slopes.

Question 28.
Mention coffee producing areas in India.
Answer:
Major coffee producing states of India are hilly regions of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Question 29.
Why are farmers compelled to produce more food?
Answer:
Farmers are compelled to produce more food because of the ever- increasing population.

Question 30.
Mention one difference between agricultural practices in developed and developing countries.
Answer:
In developing countries, manual labour is used for most of the agricultural activities whereas in developed countries, agriculture is highly mechanised.

E. Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
State the geographical conditions required for the production of tea and coffee.
Answer:
Geographical conditions required for tea:

• A deep well-drained fertile alluvial soil is good for the growth of tea plant.
• It grows well in hot and humid conditions of the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Temperature requirement is 20°C to 30°C.
• It needs 150 cm to 300 cm of annual rainfall. Hilly slopes are ideal for its cultivation.

Geographical conditions required for coffee:

• Coffee needs well-drained, fertile soil in the hilly slopes.
• Coffee plant needs hot and humid climate. 15°C to 28° C temperature is ideal for it.
• Rainfall requirement is 150 cm to 200 cm. Irrigation is required where the annual rainfall is less than 100 cm.

Question 2.
Mention three features of shifting agriculture.
Answer:

• In shifting cultivation, people cultivate the land in an unscientific manner with simple tools.
• People who follow this type of farming do not lead a settled life. After the soil loses its fertility, they abandon the land and move to a new plot.
• Per hectare yield in low. Crops like cassava, maize, sweet potato and tapioca are grown in this type of fanning.

Question 3.
What is mixed farming? How is it advantageous for the farmers? Where is it practised in the world?
Answer:

• In mixed farming the land is used for growing food and fodder crops and rearing livestock.
• This type of farming gives a boost to the income of the farmers.
• It is practised in Argentina, Eastern USA, New Zealand, South Africa, South-East Asia including India, South-East Australia and Western Europe.

Question 4.
Give three features of extensive agriculture.
Answer:

• Extensive agriculture is practised in developed countries, such as Australia, Canada, Russia and USA. Agriculture is done on a large scale on big land holdings by using modern machines.
• It is generally practised in sparsely populated regions, where land is available in abundance and the input of labour is less.
• Total produce is large but per hectare yield is comparatively less. Farmers mostly raise one or two crops a year for marketing.

Question 5.
What is meant by agricultural development?
Answer:
Agricultural development refers to efforts made to increase production in farms so as to meet the ever¬growing demand of the population. The activities that come under this development are increasing the cropped area, growing more crops, improving irrigation using fertilisers, sowing HYV (high-yielding variety) of seeds and promoting mechanisation. Mechanisation ensures that little labour is done by the farmers, instead mechines are used to provide efficiency.

F. Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1.
Differentiate between extensive and intensive agriculture.
Answer:

Extensive agriculture	Intensive agriculture
(i) It is practised on a large scale on big land holdings by using modern machines.	(i) It is practised on small land holdings by using all modern techniques of agriculture to obtain maximum production.
(ii) It is generally practised in sparsely populated regions, where land is available in abundance and the input of labour is less.	(ii) It is mainly practised in thickly populated parts of the world. It requires huge labour and capital investment.
(iii) Total produce is large but per hectare yield is comparatively less.	(iii) Per hectare yield is high.
(iv) Corn, oats, wheat and oilseeds are the main crops of extensive agriculture.	(iv) Rice is the main crop of intensive agriculture.

Question 2.
What geographical conditions help in the cultivation of jute and cotton worldwide?
Answer:
Geographical conditions required for jute cultivation:
(i) Alluvial soil found in the river delta is good for the crop. It grows well in flood plains.
(ii) Jute crop requires more than 25°C temperature.
(iii) Annual rainfall should be more than 150 cm.

Geographical conditions required for cotton cultivation:
(i) Alluvial and black soil are ideal for its cultivation.
(ii) It is a crop of tropical and sub tropical regions. It requires 30°C to 40°C temperature.
(iii) It can grow well in regions of 60 cm to 100 cm of annual rainfall. During the harvesting period weather should be dry, frost-free and windy.

Question 3.
What is the importance of agriculture?
Answer:
Food is the basic need of human beings. This need of food has led to the development of agriculture.
Agriculture is important for the following reasons:

1. Most of the population of the world still depends on agriculture for its livelihood. It is a major occupation of people in the developing countries of the world.
2. India is an agricultural country. Hence, it is the backbone of our country’s economic development.
3. Agriculture not only supplies food to the people but also creates huge market for tractors, threshers, harvesters, festilisers, pesticides and other industrial products.
4. It helps in providing employment, eradicating poverty, enhancing trade and foreign exchange.
5. Agriculture also plays an important role in strengthening global relations by encouraging international trade of the agricultural products.

Question 4.
Mention five features of plantation agriculture.
Answer:
Plantation is a large farm or estate usually in a tropical or sub-tropical country where crops are grown for sale in distant markets rather than local consumption.
Five features of this type of agriculture:

1. Plantation agriculture is a well- organised system of agriculture wherein a single crop farming is done.
2. In this, benefit of single crop is obtained continuously for several years.
3. It requires huge capital investment, scientific method of farming, transport facilities, efficient management and skilled but low cost labour in large number.
4. Plantation agriculture is commonly practised in hot and humid regions of the world. It includes crops like coffee, rubber and tea.
5. Most of the processing work is done at the plantation site itself.

Question 5.
Describe the different types of subsistence agriculture.
Answer:
Subsistence agriculture is of two types: Nomadic herding and Shifting agriculture
(i) Nomadic herding: It refers to the practice in which herdsmen move from place to place with their animals for fodder and water. Generally, they rear cattle, sheep, goats, camels and yaks for milk, skin, meat and wool. It is common in the parts of central and western Asia, East and South¬West Africa and Northern Eurasia. In India, Bhotiyas and Gujjars are the nomadic tribes of the Himalayas.

(ii) Shifting agriculture: In this type of agriculture, a plot of land is cleared by felling the trees and burning them. The ashes are then mixed with soil and crops are grown. After the soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the farmers move to a different plot. People cultivate the land in an unscientific manner with simple tools. This type of farming is common in the thickly forested areas of tropical Africa, South-East Asia and some parts of North-East India. It is also known as ‘Slash and bum’ agriculture.

Question 6.
What are the geographical conditions required for the production of maize? Also mention the areas in the world and in India where it is cultivated.
Answer:
Geographical conditions required for maize:

• Maize is generally grown well in areas of well drained alluvial soil,
• It grows well in 21°C to 27°C.
• Rainfall requirement is 50 cm to 100 cm. In areas of less rainfall, it is grown under irrigation.

Areas in the world where it is cultivated: Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and USA are the major countries.
Areas in India: In India, it is cultivated in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.