Question

What is agriculture?

Answer 1

• Age-old economic activity in our country is known as Agriculture.
• The primary activity which produces almost all the food consumed by us is known as Agriculture.
• The farmers shift and clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation, when the soil fertility decreases.
• The fertility of the soil gets replenished naturally through this type of shifting cultivation.
• As the farmer does not use other modern inputs or fertilisers land productivity in this type of agriculture is low.
• Apart from food grains that are produced by agriculture, it also produces raw materials that are used in various industries.
• With the help of family/community labour, and primitive tools like digging sticks, dao, hoe; Primitive subsistence agriculture is practised on small patches of land.
• It is slash and burn agriculture.
• This type of farming depends upon natural fertility of the soil, monsoon, and other environmental conditions needed for the growth of the crops.
• Cereals and other food crops are grown by the farmers to sustain their family, this is done after clearing a patch of land.
• It is known by different names in different parts of the country.
• Depending upon socio-cultural practices, technological know-how and characteristics of the physical environment, cultivation methods have changed significantly in India.
• Farming varies from subsistence to commercial type.