NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter 4 Primary Activities

Chapter-4 Primary Activities Summary

The solutions for Chapter 4, Primary Activities, are provided below, and students can refer to NCERT Solutions for Class 12 for other subjects as well.

Exercise Pages No. 34- 35

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

(i) Which one of the following is not a plantation crop?

(a) Coffee (c) Wheat

(b) Sugarcane (d) Rubber

Answer:

(c) Wheat

(ii) In which one of the following countries co-operative farming was the most successful experiment?

(a) Russia (c) India

(b) Denmark (d) The Netherlands

Answer:

(b) Denmark

(iii) Growing of flowers is called:

(a) Truck farming (c) Mixed farming

(b) Factory farming (d) Floriculture

Answer:

(d) Floriculture

(iv) Which one of the following types of cultivation was developed by European colonists?

(a) Kolkoz (c) Mixed farming

(b) Viticulture (d) Plantation

Answer:

(d) Plantation

(v) In which one of the following regions is extensive commercial grain cultivation not practised?

(a) American Canadian prairies (c) Pampas of Argentina

(b) European Steppes (d) Amazon Basin

Answer:

(d) Amazon Basin

(vi) In which of the following types of agriculture is the farming of citrus fruit very important?

(a) Market gardening (c) Mediterranean agriculture

(b) Plantation agriculture (d) Co-operative farming

Answer:

(c) Mediterranean agriculture

(vii) Which one type of agriculture amongst the following is also called ‘slash and burn agriculture’?

(a) Extensive subsistence agriculture

(b) Primitive subsistence agriculture

(c) Extensive commercial grain cultivation

(d) Mixed farming

Answer:

(b) Primitive subsistence agriculture

(viii) Which one of the following does not follow monoculture?

(a) Dairy farming (c) Plantation agriculture

(b) Mixed farming (d) Commercial grain farming

Answer:

(b) Mixed farming

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

(i) Future of shifting cultivation is bleak. Discuss.

Answer:

The future of shifting cultivation is bleak due to:

Deforestation: Leads to loss of forest cover and biodiversity.

Soil Degradation: Reduces soil fertility and agricultural productivity.

Reduced Fallow Periods: Insufficient time for land to recover, leading to further degradation.

Modern Agriculture: Adoption of more efficient and sustainable farming practices.

Land Use Policies: Government regulations favour permanent agriculture over shifting cultivation.

(ii) Market gardening is practised near urban areas. Why?

Answer:

Market gardening is practiced near urban areas because:

Proximity to Markets: Quick transportation to urban markets ensures fresh produce.

High Demand: Urban areas have a large population with high demand for fresh vegetables and fruits.

Reduced Transportation Costs: Lower costs compared to long-distance shipping.

Perishable Goods: Minimizes spoilage and maintains quality by shortening transit time.

Higher Prices: Urban markets offer better prices for fresh produce.

(iii) Large scale dairy farming is the result of the development of transportation and refrigeration.

Answer:

Large-scale dairy farming has developed due to advancements in transportation and refrigeration. Improved transportation allows for efficient delivery of dairy products to distant markets, while refrigeration technology preserves milk and dairy products during storage and transit, ensuring freshness and expanding market reach. These advancements support increased production and enable dairy farms to operate on a larger scale, meeting the demands of broader markets.

3. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words.

(i) Differentiate between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing.

Answer:

The differentiation between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing is given below:

Features	Nomadic Herding	Commercial Livestock Rearing
Lifestyle	Practiced by nomadic tribes	Conducted on established farms or ranches
Scale	Small-scale	Large-scale
Mobility	Highly mobile, herders move frequently	Low mobility, livestock kept in fixed locations
Purpose	Primarily subsistence-oriented	Market-oriented, profit-driven
Animal Types	Variety including sheep, goats, camels, yaks, etc.	Specialized breeding of cattle, pigs, sheep, poultry, etc.
Economic Impact	Limited commercial exchange	Significant contribution to the economy
Adaptation	Herders adapt to harsh climates and landscapes	Farms often equipped with advanced technology
Resource Management	Relies on natural pastures and water sources	Involves management of pastures, feedlots, and resources
Lifestyle Stability	Lifestyle characterized by mobility and uncertainty	Farming lifestyle is more stable and predictable
Social Structure	Often organized in familial or tribal groups	May involve hired labor and organizational structures

(ii) Discuss the important characteristic features of plantation agriculture. Name a few important plantation crops from different countries.

Answer:

Plantation agriculture is characterized by large-scale commercial farming of specialized crops, typically organized on large estates or plantations. Key features include:

Monoculture: Focus on cultivating a single crop species, often suited to the local climate and soil conditions.

Intensive Management: Requires significant investment in labor, machinery, and infrastructure for cultivation, irrigation, and harvesting.

Export-oriented: Production primarily for export markets, often serving global demand for commodities like coffee, tea, rubber, and palm oil.

Large Land Holdings: Operated on large land holdings, often with hierarchical labor structures and historical associations with colonialism.

Some examples of plantation crops include: Tea, Coffee, Sugarcane, Cashews, Rubber, Bananas, Cotton, Cocoa, Oil palm, and Pineapples

Important plantation crops from different countries include:

Coffee: Brazil, Colombia, Vietnam.

Tea: India, China, Kenya.

Rubber: Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia.

Palm Oil: Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria.

Bananas: Ecuador, Philippines, Costa Rica.