Here are 30 short-answer questions with answers (each carrying 3-4 marks) for Class 8 Geography, Chapter 4: Agriculture.
1. What is agriculture?
Answer: Agriculture is the practice of growing crops and rearing animals to produce food, fibre, medicinal plants, and other products used for human consumption. It is the primary occupation of many people worldwide.
2. What are the different types of farming?
Answer: The main types of farming are:
Subsistence farming
(small-scale, for personal use)
Intensive farming
(high-yield farming on small land using fertilizers and irrigation)
Shifting cultivation
(temporary farming on cleared forest land)
Commercial farming
(large-scale farming for profit)
3. What is shifting cultivation? Why is it harmful?
Answer: Shifting cultivation is a farming method where a piece of land is cleared, used for farming, and then abandoned when fertility decreases. It is harmful because it leads to deforestation, soil erosion, and loss of biodiversity.
4. What is subsistence farming?
Answer: Subsistence farming is a type of farming where crops are grown mainly for personal consumption rather than for sale. It uses traditional tools, small landholdings, and depends on monsoon rains.
5. What is the difference between Rabi and Kharif crops?
Answer:
Rabi crops
are sown in winter (October-November) and harvested in summer (April-May). Examples: Wheat, barley, mustard.
Kharif
crops
are sown in monsoon (June-July) and harvested in autumn (September-October). Examples: Rice, maize, pulses.
6. What is plantation farming?
Answer: Plantation farming is a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large estate for export. It requires a large labour force and advanced technology. Examples: Tea, coffee, rubber.
7. What are cash crops? Give examples.
Answer: Cash crops are crops grown for commercial purposes rather than for personal use. Examples: Cotton, sugarcane, coffee, jute.
8. What is mixed farming?
Answer: Mixed farming is a type of farming in which crops and livestock are raised together on the same farm. This helps in maximizing farm output and reducing risk.
9. What is the Green Revolution?
Answer: The Green Revolution refers to the introduction of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, fertilizers, irrigation, and modern farming techniques to increase agricultural production, mainly in wheat and rice.
10. Name the factors affecting agriculture.
Answer:
Natural factors:
Climate, soil, topography, rainfall.
Economic factors:
Market demand, transport, technology, irrigation.
Social and political factors:
Government policies, land reforms.
11. What is intensive subsistence farming?
Answer: Intensive subsistence farming is a type of agriculture where a small land area is used for maximum crop production using high labour and inputs like fertilizers and irrigation.
12. Why is terrace farming practiced in hilly areas?
Answer: Terrace farming is practiced in hilly areas to prevent soil erosion and allow water conservation. Steps are cut into the slopes, making farming possible on steep terrains.
13. Name the leading producers of the following crops:
Answer:
Rice:
China
Wheat:
India & China
Coffee:
Brazil
Tea:
China & India
14. Why is organic farming gaining popularity?
Answer: Organic farming avoids chemical fertilizers and pesticides, making it eco-friendly and healthier. It helps in soil conservation and maintains biodiversity.
15. What are millets? Give examples.
Answer: Millets are small-seeded, hardy cereal crops that grow in dry regions. Examples: Jowar, bajra, ragi.
16. What are fiber crops?
Answer: Fiber crops are grown for their fibers used in making textiles. Examples: Cotton, jute, flax.
17. What are the benefits of commercial farming?
Answer:
Higher production and profits
Use of modern technology
Better employment opportunities
Supply of raw materials for industries
18. What is dryland farming?
Answer: Dryland farming is practiced in regions with low rainfall, using drought-resistant crops and soil moisture conservation techniques. Examples: Growing millets, pulses in Rajasthan.
19. Name two crops grown in black soil.
Answer: Cotton and sugarcane are grown in black soil as it retains moisture and is rich in nutrients.
20. What is horticulture?
Answer: Horticulture is the science of growing fruits, vegetables, and flowers for commercial purposes. Examples: Apple farming in Himachal Pradesh, mango farming in Maharashtra.
21. What are food crops?
Answer: Food crops are crops grown primarily for consumption. Examples: Rice, wheat, maize, millets, pulses.
22. What is transhumance?
Answer: Transhumance is a seasonal movement of people with their livestock between highlands (in summer) and lowlands (in winter) for grazing.
23. What are the main agricultural problems in India?
Answer:
Small land holdings
Dependence on monsoon
Low mechanization
Soil degradation
24. What are HYV seeds? Why are they used?
Answer: HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds are genetically improved seeds that produce higher yields. They are used to increase food production and ensure food security.
25. What is sericulture?
Answer: Sericulture is the rearing of silkworms for silk production. It is mainly practiced in Karnataka, West Bengal, and Assam.
26. What is pisciculture?
Answer: Pisciculture is the breeding and farming of fish in ponds, lakes, and tanks. It is an important part of the blue economy.
27. What are Zaid crops?
Answer: Zaid crops are grown between the Rabi and Kharif seasons (March-June). Examples: Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber.
28. What is the difference between extensive and intensive farming?
Answer:
Extensive farming:
Large farms, low input per acre, mechanized. Example: Wheat farming in the USA.
Intensive farming:
Small farms, high input per acre, labour-intensive
. Example: Rice farming in India.
29. What is the role of irrigation in agriculture?
Answer: Irrigation provides water to crops during dry periods, ensuring continuous farming and higher yields. It prevents crop failure due to droughts.
30. How does climate affect agriculture?
Answer: Climate influences temperature, rainfall, and growing seasons, determining which crops can grow in a particular region. For example, rice needs high rainfall, while wheat grows in cooler climates.
