Questions and Answers
What are human activities which generate income called?
Economic activities
What are primary activities dependent on?
The environment
What type of workers are people engaged in primary activities called?
Red-collar workers
What did early human beings depend on for sustenance?
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Why has hunting been banned in India?
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What is the name of the part of chewing gum after the flavor is gone?
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What defines pastoral nomadism?
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Commercial livestock rearing is more organized and capital-intensive than nomadic herding.
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What type of agriculture is characterized by small landholdings and intensive use of labor?
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Which crop is primarily associated with intensive subsistence agriculture dominated by wet paddy?
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What is shifting cultivation also known as?
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In which regions is pastoral nomadism primarily practiced?
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Which one of the following is not a plantation crop?
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In which one of the following countries was co-operative farming the most successful experiment?
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Growing of flowers is called:
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Which one of the following types of cultivation was developed by European colonists?
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In which one of the following regions is extensive commercial grain cultivation not practised?
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In which of the following types of agriculture is the farming of citrus fruit very important?
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Which one type of agriculture amongst the following is also called ‘slash and burn agriculture’?
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Which one of the following does not follow monoculture?
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What is the future of shifting cultivation?
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Why is market gardening practised near urban areas?
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What has led to the large scale of dairy farming?
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Study Notes
Economic Activities
- Economic activities are categorized as primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
- Primary activities utilize earth’s resources, including land, water, vegetation, and minerals.
Primary Activities
- Primary activities include hunting, gathering, pastoralism, fishing, forestry, agriculture, and mining.
- People in coastal regions predominantly fish, while those in plains engage in agriculture, influenced by physical and social factors.
Hunting and Gathering
- Early humans relied on hunting animals and gathering edible plants for sustenance.
- Cold and hot climates foster reliance on hunting; coastal inhabitants continue fishing but face challenges like illegal hunting.
- Primitive tools limited the number of animals hunted and helped maintain ecological balance.
- Gathering involves collecting plants and animals in harsh climates, requiring minimal investment and yielding low surplus.
Pastoralism
- Emergence of pastoral nomadism with animal domestication due to unsustainable hunting practices.
- Nomadic herding is characterized by the movement in search of pastures, either horizontally or vertically along mountains.
- Communities often have well-defined territories; political boundaries and urban development are shrinking nomadic areas.
Commercial Livestock Rearing
- More organized and capital-intensive than nomadic herding.
- Involves ranching practices, where grazing areas are managed based on carrying capacity.
- Important livestock varies by region: cattle in tropical Africa, sheep and goats in deserts, reindeer in arctic areas.
Agriculture
- Agriculture varies with different physical and socio-economic conditions, resulting in diverse agricultural systems.
Subsistence Agriculture
- Focuses on producing food primarily for local consumption.
- Two categories: Primitive Subsistence Agriculture (shifting cultivation) and Intensive Subsistence Agriculture.
Primitive Subsistence Agriculture
- Also known as shifting cultivation, involving slash-and-burn techniques to prepare soil.
- Farmers shift plots every few years, resulting in limited topsoil fertility.
- Commonly practiced in tropics and by tribal communities.
Intensive Subsistence Agriculture
- Predominantly found in densely populated regions of monsoon Asia.
- Characterized by labor-intensive practices, typically involving rice cultivation or crops like wheat, soybeans, and barley in other regions.
- Family labor and minimal machinery are common; high yield per area but lower productivity per labor unit.
Plantation Agriculture
- Profit-oriented large-scale production systems established by European colonists in tropical regions.
- Key crops include tea, coffee, cocoa, and rubber, often requiring significant capital and management investment.
- Plantations rely on cheap labor and strong transportation links to markets.
Commercial Grain Cultivation
- Practiced in semi-arid mid-latitude lands, especially the Canadian Prairies and Argentine Pampas.
- Mechanized farming operations allow for large-scale cultivation of staple crops like wheat and corn.
- Emphasis on technological inputs leads to high yields per person despite low yield per acre.### Dairy Farming
- Dairy farming is considered the most advanced and efficient method of rearing milch animals.
- Highly capital-intensive with significant investments in animal sheds, fodder storage, and milking equipment.
- Regions prominent for dairy farming include North Western Europe, Canada, South Eastern Australia, New Zealand, and Tasmania.
- Emphasizes cattle breeding, healthcare, and veterinary services.
Mixed Farming
- Found in developed regions like North-Western Europe and Eastern North America.
- Involves moderate-sized farms where crops such as wheat, barley, and root vegetables are cultivated alongside livestock.
- Focuses on maintaining soil fertility through crop rotation and intercropping.
- High capital expenditure on farm machinery is characteristic, with a balanced approach to crop cultivation and animal husbandry.
Mediterranean Agriculture
- Specialized commercial agriculture located in Mediterranean Sea countries and regions like southern California and central Chile.
- Emphasizes irrigation, high-yield seeds, and effective usage of fertilizers and greenhouses.
- Important for the production of citrus fruits and high-quality wines, particularly in the Mediterranean region.
Market Gardening and Horticulture
- Specializes in high-value crops like vegetables, fruits, and flowers for urban markets.
- Farms are small, typically located near urban centers, ensuring easy transportation to markets.
- Requires significant capital investment in facilities, machinery, and veterinary services.
Co-operative Farming
- A group of farmers voluntarily pools resources for efficient farming operations while keeping individual farms intact.
- Emphasis on resource procurement, product sales, and processing quality products economically.
- Originated in Western Europe, particularly successful in Denmark, and evolved under socialist regimes in the Soviet Union.
Collective Farming
- Based on collective ownership and labor sharing, aiming to enhance agricultural efficiency.
- Farmers contributed land and livestock to collective efforts while retaining small personal plots.
- Government targets and state-controlled sales characterize this farming model.
Mining
- Development of mining has historical significance, aligning with ages such as the copper, bronze, and iron ages.
- Mining operations vary between surface (open-cast) and underground (shaft) methods depending on ore depth.
- Mining profitability is influenced by physical (deposit size, grade) and economic (technology, demand) factors.
- Developing countries, particularly in Africa and South America, benefit significantly from mining operations, increasingly vital for economic stability.
Methods of Mining
- Surface mining is the simplest and most cost-effective for mineral extraction close to the surface.
- Underground mining involves sinking vertical shafts and is riskier due to hazards such as gases and floods.
Future of Agriculture and Farming Techniques
- Shifting cultivation is becoming less viable due to population pressures and land use changes.
- Urban proximity drives market gardening as demands for fresh produce surge in city areas.
- Technological and infrastructural developments have revolutionized large-scale dairy farming, enhancing storage and transport.
Important Features of Various Types of Agriculture
- Diverse agriculture types each featuring unique characteristics, requiring varying levels of investment, labor, and technologies, adapting to local market demands and environmental conditions.
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Description
This quiz covers the concepts of economic activities as outlined in Chapter 5 of Unit-III. It explores the classification of economic activities into primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary sectors. Get ready to test your understanding of how human activities generate income through the utilization of natural resources.
