NCERT Class 10th Geography Chapter 4 Agriculture notes by Vibha Maam CBSE in English | Precise Notes

Farming

Art of growing crops into the soil.

Type of farming

1. Subsistence farming

2. Commercial farming

Subsistence farming:- In this type of farming, farmers grow crops for self- consumption. These are two types of subsistence farming.

        i) Primitive subsistence farming:- it  is also known as ‘slash and burn’ agriculture. Farmers use primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks. land productivity is low.

        ii) Intensive subsistence farming :– This type of farming is practised in areas of high density of population ,where pressure of population is high on agricultural land. Farmers take maximum output from the limited land. They use high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation for obtaining higher production.

Commercial farming:-this is the capital intensive farming. Farmers use high doses of modern inputs e.g. HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides.

         i) Mixed farming:- In this type of farming, farmers involved in growing crops as well as raising livestock. This type of farming is practised in India, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Canada, Russia etc.

         ii) Plantation farming:– In this type of farming a single crop is grown on a large area. The production is mainly for market and all the produce is used as raw material in respective industries. Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, banana etc. are important plantation crops.

Cropping Pattern

These are three seasons for growing crops like Rabi, Kharif and Zaid

Rabi   

            Sowing-      Oct- Dec (winter crops)

            Harvesting-  Feb- April/ May

            Crops        – wheat, barley, peas, gram

Kharif

          Sowing-   May-Jul (summer crops)

          Harvesting-  Sep-Oct/ Nov

          Crops      –    rice, maize, jowar, bajra, sugarcane, jute

Zaid 

          Sowing –   Apr-Jun

          Harvesting –   short duration crops

          Crops –  vegetables, watermelon, cucumber etc.

Major Crops 

These are three types of crops -like food crops, non- food crops , horticulture crops

Food crops :- Grains like rice ,wheat, millet, maize and pulses 

Plantation crops :- Sugarcane, tea, coffee, oilseeds

Non- food crops :- Cotton, jute, natural silk, hemp

Horticulture crops:-  Fruits and vegetables.

Agricultural Reforms

Various initiatives taken by the government to ensure the increase in agricultural production.

     The Green Revolution based on the use of technology and the White Revolution were some of the strategies initiated to improve a lot of Indian agriculture. 

          MSP, crop insurance, subsidy on agricultural inputs, Garmin Banks, Kisan credit card (KCC), personal accident insurance scheme (PAIS) are some of the reforms brought by the government.