Important Questions for Class 8 Social Science Agriculture

Q1: What is agriculture and how is it classified into different types?

Ans:  Agriculture involves cultivating soil, growing crops, and raising livestock. It's categorized into

• Subsistence farming which includes intensive and primitive methods.
• Commercial farming comprising grain, mixed, and plantation techniques.Crops

Q2: Describe the farm system with its inputs, processes, and outputs.

Ans:  A farm system has

• Inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, machinery, and labor.
• Processes like ploughing, sowing, and irrigation.
• Outputs including crops, wool, dairy, and poultry products.Agriculture Machinery

Q3: Explain the difference between intensive subsistence farming and commercial farming.

Ans: 

• Intensive subsistence farming: Farmers use simple tools and labor on small plots to fulfill their family's needs.
• Commercial farming: Involves growing crops or raising animals for sale, using advanced technology and covering large areas.

Q4: What is shifting cultivation and what are its disadvantages?

Ans: 

• Shifting cultivation: Involves clearing land, using it until the soil loses fertility, then moving to a new area.
• Disadvantages include
  1. Deforestation
  2. Loss of biodiversity
  3. Unsustainable soil use

Q5: Discuss the concept and significance of organic farming.

Ans: 

• Organic farming Uses natural pesticides and manures, avoids chemicals, and doesn't involve genetic modifications.
• Significant for
  1. Sustainable agriculture
  2. Healthier produce
  3. Environmental conservation

Q6: Describe the factors influencing the type of farming in a region.

Ans: Factors influencing farming type include geographical conditions, demand for produce, availability of labor, and level of technology.

Q7: What are the major food crops and where are they primarily grown?

Ans:

Major food crops:

• Rice: Grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions
• Wheat: Thrives in temperate zones
• Maize: Cultivated in regions with moderate temperature and rainfallRice Wheat and Maize

Cultivation depends on

• Climatic conditions
• Types of soil

Q8: How does climate affect the cultivation of rice and wheat?

Ans:

Rice cultivation Needs:

• High temperature
• High humidity
• Significant rainfall

Wheat cultivation Grows best with:

• Moderate temperature and rainfall
• Bright sunshine at harvest time

Q9: Explain the importance of horticulture and its types.

Ans:   Horticulture  Involves growing vegetables, fruits, and flowers for sale.

• Includes
  1. Sericulture: Producing silk
  2. Pisciculture: Breeding fish
  3. Viticulture: Growing grapes
  4. General horticulture for fruits and vegetables

Sericulture

Q10: What is nomadic herding and where is it practiced?

Ans:  Nomadic herding  Moving with animals to find pasture and water.

Practiced in

• Semi-arid and arid regions like Sahara
• Parts of Central Asia
• Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir in India

Q11: Discuss the role of technology in modern agriculture.

Ans: 

Modern agriculture Depends a lot on technology for better farming.

Uses

• High-yielding variety seeds
• Mechanization like tractors and harvesters
• Scientific soil and water management
• Precision farming techniques

Q12: How does agricultural development contribute to food security?

Ans: 

• Agricultural development Boosts farm production using better cultivation methods, crop variety, irrigation, and technology.
• Results in
  1. Enhanced food security
  2. Stable and enough food supply

Q13: Compare the agricultural practices of a farm in India with that in the USA.

Ans: In India, agriculture often involves small-scale farming with traditional practices for subsistence, while in the USA, it's large-scale, mechanized, and oriented towards commercial production.

Q14: What are plantation crops and where are they mainly grown?

Ans: 

• Plantation crops: Include tea, coffee, sugarcane, and rubber.
• Grown in

Tropical regions

• Characteristics
  1. Cultivated on large estates
  2. Need a lot of labor
  3. Often processed on or near the plantations

Q15: Explain the role of cooperative societies in agricultural development in India.

Ans: 

Cooperative societies: Help farmers in India.

• They provide
  1. Access to better resources
  2. Financial help
  3. Improved seeds and fertilizers
  4. Guidance on modern farming techniques
• Helps in
  1. Agricultural development
  2. Sustainability