Geography
(a) Refer to the picture given below, identify the farming method used. What are the crops cultivated by this method?
(b) List two of its main features.
(c) How does this method of farming differ from subsistence farming?
(d) With the help of an example of an area where this farming is practised explain how is it beneficial to the farmer.
Answer
(a) The farming method shown in the picture is Commercial farming. The crops cultivated by this method are cash crops such as sugarcane, tobacco, fibre crops and oilseeds.
(b) Two main features of commercial farming are-
- Crops are grown mainly for sale.
- Large farms are required and mechanised farming is practised.
(c) Difference between Commercial farming and Subsistence farming
| Commercial farming | Subsistence farming |
|---|---|
| Crops are grown mainly for sale in the market. | Most of the food production is consumed by the farmers and their families and there is never a surplus for the market. |
| Large farms are required and mechanised farming is practised using High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides. | Landholdings are small and scattered and farmers use traditional methods of agriculture and primitive tools, like hoe and digging sticks. |
| Productivity is high. | Productivity is low. |
(d) Commercial farming has shown good results in Punjab, Haryana, Western UP, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh. For example, rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana. It is beneficial to the farmer because crops are grown mainly for sale; the use of mechanised farming along with HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides gives higher productivity; and the large surplus produced is sold in the market, earning a good income for the farmer.
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