AGRICULTURE
Agriculture: The science and art of cultivation on the soil, raising
crops and rearing livestock. It is also called farming.
Sericulture: Commercial rearing of silk worms. It may supplement
the income of the farmer.
Pisciculture: Breeding of fish in specially constructed tanks and
ponds.
Viticulture: Cultivation of grapes
Horticulture Growing vegetables, flowers and fruits for commercial
use.
Types of Farming
Farming is practised in various ways across the world. Depending
upon
Geographical conditions,
Demand of produce,
Labour and level of technology.,
Farming can be classified into two main types. These are
subsistence farming and commercial farming.
Subsistence Farming
This type of farming is practised to meet the needs of the farmer’s
family. Traditionally, low levels of technology and household labour
are used to produce on small output.
Commercial Farming
In commercial farming crops are grown and animals are reared for
sale in market. Wheat and maize are common commercially grown
grains.
Organic Farming
In this type of farming, organic manure and natural pesticides are
used instead of chemicals. No genetic modification is done to
increase the yield of the crop.
Plantations are a type of commercial farming where single crop of
tea, coffee, sugarcane, cashew,
rubber, banana or cotton are grown. Large amount of labour and
capital are required. The produce may be processed on the farm
itself or in nearby factories.The development of a transport network
is thus essential for such farming
Example: Tea, coffee, Rubber etc.
Crop: a cultivated plant that is grown on a large scale commercially,
especially a cereal, fruit,
or vegetable.
Different types of cropping pattern based on Season
Rabi Crop: Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December
Harvested – In summer from April to JJune.
Important Rabi crops : Whea, barley , peas, gram and mustard.
Kharif crops: These crops are grown with the onset of monsoon and
harvested in September – October.
Important Kharif crops – rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur moong, urad,
cotton, jute, groundnut an soyabean.
Zaid Crops: In between the rabi and kharif seasons, there is a short
season during the summer months known as the Zaid Season.
Important zaid crops: watermelon, nuskmelon, cucumber,
vegetables and fodder crops and sugarcane.
Difference between Kharif crop and Rabi Crop
Rice: Rice is the major food crop of the world. It is the staple diet of
the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Rice needs high temperature,
high humidity and rainfall. It grows best in alluvial clayey soil, which
can retain water.
Wheat: Wheat requires moderate temperature and rainfall during
growing season and bright sunshine at the time of harvest. It thrives
best in well drained loamy soil.
Millets: They are also known as coarse grains and can be grown on
less fertile and sandy soils. It isa hardy crop that needs low rainfall
and high to moderate temperature and adequate rainfall.
Maize: Maize requires moderate temperature,rainfall and lots of
sunshine. It needs well-drained fertile soils.
Beverage crops
Tea: Tea is a beverage crop grown on plantations. This requires cool
climate and well distributed high rainfall throughout the year for the
growth of its tender leaves.
Coffee: Coffee requires warm and wet climate and well-drained
loamy soil. Hill slopes are more suitable for growth of this crop.
Non Food Crops
Cotton: Cotton requires high temperature, light rainfall, two hundred
and ten frost-free days and bright sunshine for its growth. It grows
best on black and alluvial soils.
Jute: Jute is also known as the ‘Golden Fibre’. It growswell on alluvial
soil and requires high temperature, heavy rainfall and humid climate.
This crop is grown inthe tropical areas.
Livestock
Animals and birds that are kept on a farm, such as cows, sheep, or
chickens.
Humans depend upon animals for food and related by-products,
work and a variety of other uses. To meet these demands, they have
domesticated or held in captivity species of mammals, birds, reptiles,
fish and These animals have become known as livestock
Keywords
Commercial farming: The production of crops for sale and profit.
Subsistence farming: Farming that provides enough food for the
farmer and his family but not enough for sale.
Food crops: Crops grown to be eaten.
Cash crops: Crops that are used as raw materials to produce
different objects.
Horticulture: Cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and
ornamental plants.
Summary
A major source of our food materials come from agriculture
About 70% of the Indian population lives in villages and
agriculture is their main source of livelihood.
Modern agricultural practices are more reliable and
production oriented.
The two main types of crops are food crops and cash crops.
Farmers need modern facilities to ensure high yield of crops.
