Agriculture Overview and Importance

Agriculture is vital for human survival as it provides food. It also fosters economic development, employment, trade, and international relations.

Agriculture involves cultivating land, raising crops, raising livestock, forestry and fishing. It is both a science and an art.

Agriculture is a primary source of income and employment for a large portion of the global population, especially in developing countries.

Geographical features like landforms (plains), climate (temperature and rainfall), and water availability determine where and how agriculture can be successful.

Plains are suitable for agriculture due to flat land, good for equipment use and high population density providing labor and market.

Different crops need different amounts of temperature and rainfall. Variations in climate affect the types of crops that can be grown in a region.

Humans need food for survival, leading to the development of agriculture.

Agriculture creates a large market for farming equipment, fertilizers, and other related products. It also fosters trade and foreign exchange.

Farming where farmers grow food for their families or community, usually on a small scale.

Moving with animals to find food for them. Animals are often used for milk, meat, wool, etc.

Farming where land is used until it's no longer fertile, then farmers move to a new plot of land.

Farming in densely populated areas, using every piece of land.

Farming to sell crops and livestock to others.

A farming method that uses large areas of land with fewer people or inputs per unit of land, often associated with Commercial Agriculture.

Commercial agriculture where one or a few crops are grown in a large area for sale.

Raising livestock for meat, milk, wool, and other products on open ranges, usually for commercial sale.

A type of agriculture focused on raising livestock, often in arid or semi-arid regions with poor soil and sparse populations.

Large-scale milk production.

Combining animal rearing with land cultivation to produce both food crops and fodder.

Grains used for food, including rice, wheat, maize, and millets.

Ideal in alluvial loamy and clayey soils with high rainfall and warm temperatures.

China and India are major global producers, followed by Indonesia, Bangladesh, and more.

Farming that uses organic manure and natural pesticides, avoiding chemical fertilizers, genetic modifications, etc.

Alluvial and black soil are best for cotton cultivation.

Cotton needs 30-40°C for optimal growth, growing in tropical and subtropical regions

Jute thrives in alluvial soil, especially in river deltas and floodplains.

Tea needs 20-30°C in hot, humid tropical or subtropical areas.

Tea needs 150-300 cm of rainfall annually for optimal growth.

Coffee thrives in hot and humid climates, 15-28°C ideal.

Coffee needs well-drained, fertile, hilly soil for best results.

Jute needs more than 150 cm of rainfall.

Improving farming methods to increase food production, including using high-yield seeds, fertilizers, and machinery.

Seeds that produce a greater amount of crops per area compared to traditional seeds.

Crops improved through biotechnology, often with increased yields, nutrition, or pest resistance.

Using living organisms and biological processes to improve agricultural practices, like genetic modification.

US farms are generally large, while Indian farms are smaller, but this difference also affects yield per area.

US farms invest more capital, while Indian farms often rely more on borrowed funds.

US farms often sell for national/international markets (storage better), whereas Indian farms frequently sell to local markets.

US farms are more mechanized and skilled labour, Indian farms are typically unskilled.

Fertile soil deposited by rivers, ideal for agriculture due to rich nutrients and moisture.

Soil with high percentage of fine particles, sticky when wet and hard when dry.

A balanced mix of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter, making it ideal for plant growth.

Unemployment that occurs during specific times of the year due to factors like climate or harvest cycles.

Funds used to support agricultural activities, like buying machinery or fertilizers.

Traditional farming method where land is cleared by burning vegetation, then used for a few years before moving to a new area.