Agriculture: major crops and case studies CBSE Class 8 Geography Notes

➥ Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy, providing food, raw materials, and employment to a large section of the population.

Major Crops and Their Types:-

A. Food Crops

➥ Grown primarily for human consumption.

• Examples: Rice, wheat, maize, millets, pulses.

crops:

1. Rice: Needs high temperature and abundant rainfall.
2. Wheat: Thrives in moderate temperature and rainfall.
3. Millets: Grows in poor soils with minimal water.

B. Commercial Crops

➥ Grown for sale and profit.

• Examples: Sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, tea.

➯ High investment in fertilizers and irrigation.

➯ Significant contribution to the economy.

C. Fiber Crops

➥ Used for producing textile.

Examples: Cotton, jute, hemp.

Crops:

1. Cotton: Requires black soil and warm temperatures.
2. Jute: Thrives in hot, humid climates with heavy rainfall.

D. Beverage Crops

➥ Used for preparing beverages.

Examples: Tea, coffee.

crops:

1. Tea: Needs well-drained soil and high rainfall.
2. Coffee: Prefers a warm climate with shade.

Sugarcane

Importance: Produces sugar, jaggery, and ethanol.

Growing Conditions:

1. Tropical and subtropical climates.
2. Abundant water and fertile soil.

Other Important Plantation Crops

Importance: Grown for export and industrial purposes.

Examples: Rubber, pepper, cardamom, oil seeds.

The Green Revolution

➥ Period during the 1960s–70s marked by significant advancements in agriculture.

Features:

1. High-yield variety (HYV) seeds.
2. Chemical fertilizers and pesticides.
3. Modern irrigation methods.

Impact:

1. Boosted food production.
2. Reduced food imports.
3. Created regional disparities in India.

Agriculture in India

➯Main Features

1. Subsistence Farming: Crops are grown mainly for personal consumption. Land holdings are small and fragmented.
2. Monsoon Dependence: Agriculture heavily relies on monsoons for irrigation.
3. Diverse Crops: Various crops are grown due to India's diverse climate and soils.

➯Challenges

1. Low productivity due to traditional farming.
2. Inadequate irrigation facilities in some regions.
3. Limited access to modern technology.

Farms in the USA

➯Characteristics:

1. Large-scale, mechanized farms.
2. Advanced technologies like GPS and automated machinery.
3. High productivity with minimal labor.

➯ Comparison with India:

➻ USA farms are capital-intensive; Indian farms are labor-intensive.

➻ USA farms use advanced irrigation; Indian farms rely on monsoons.

Case Studies

A. India

1. Rice: Cultivated in the Gangetic plains.
2. Wheat: Prominent in Punjab and Haryana.
3. Sugarcane: Grown in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.

B. USA

1. Corn (Maize): Cultivated in the Corn Belt.
2. Cotton: Grown in the Southern United States.
3. Wheat: Thrives in the Great Plains.

© CBSE Board | Agriculture Notes for Class 8 | By Pratap Sanjay Sir