Solutions-Class-7-Geography-Chapter-9-Agriculture-Maharashtra Board

(a) Intensive.

(b) Use of animals, implements, machines and manpower.

(d) In India factors like climate, soils, water, etc. are conducive.

(c) Population is growing and there are agro-based industries.

• The monsoon in India is seasonal. It is highly variable and its distribution is quite uneven. Regular supply of water is essential for the growth of crops.
• Irrigation is the artificial application of water to land for agriculture
• The ground water is obtained for irrigational purpose by digging wells, bore wells, ponds, etc. This water is supplied to the farms with the help of cannels or by using electric pumps.
• It helps to grow crops, maintain soil fertility, and prevent droughts and famines. Irrigation also increases the productivity and allows multiple cropping.
• With various techniques of irrigation facilities, crops are grown on a large scale.

Well irrigation, cannel irrigation, tank irrigation, etc. are some of the methods of

irrigation.

(i) Well irrigation:

• In this type of irrigation, the ground water is obtained by digging wells, bore wells, etc.
• Cornparatively less area is required for digging wells.
• Wells are owned by person. Therefore, water in the wells can be used easily and flexibly.
• Well irrigation is comparatively less costly.

(ii) Cannel irrigation :

• The dams are constructed on the rivers. The stored water in the dams is supplied to the surrounding regions with the help of the cannels. This is known as cannel irrigation.
• Comparatively vast area is required for constructing dams.
• Dams are owned by government. Therefore, water in the dams may not be used easily and flexibly.
• Cannels irrigation is comparatively costlier.

Intensive farming and extensive farming are the major types of faming. The information of intensive farming and extensive farming is as follows :

(i) Intensive farming : A type of farming in which maximum production if obtained from a minimum area is called intensive farming.

Main features of intensive farming :

• Intensive farming is a subtype of subsistence farming.
• Due to large population of limited availability of land, per head holding is small.
• This types of farming is mostly seen in developing regions.
• Farm production is only enough to meet the needs of the family.
• The farmer and his family are completely reliant on farming in this sort of farming. Because agricultural productivity is poor, the cultivator's economic situation is also weak.
• In this sort of farming, animate energy is mostly utilised.
• In addition to grains, vegetables are cultivated to considerable extent.

(ii) Extensive farming : A type of faming in which maximum production if obtained from a large farm area is called extensive farming.

Main features of extensive farming :

• Extensive farming is a subtype of commercial farming.
• Farm size in this farming is greater than 200 hectare.
• Due to large farm size and sparse population, this type of farming is carried out with the help of machines like tractors and crushers. Pesticides are sprayed with the help of helicopters or planes.
• Mono crop (single crop) cultivation is the striking characteristics of this type of farming.
• The main crops like wheat and corn and other crops like barley, oats, soyabeans, etc. are grown in this type of farming.
• In this type of farming, huge expenditures are needed for the purchase of machinery, fertilizers, pesticides, store facility, transportation, etc. Thus this type of farming requires heavy capital investment.
• This type of farming is carried out in the temperate grassland regions.
• Droughts, attack by pests, locusts, market fluctuations are some of the problems in this type of farming.

The characteristics of plantation farming are as follows :

• Environment: Plantation farming is a subset of commercial farming. Plantation farming farms range in size from 40 to 200 hectares. It is done in mountainous areas. As a result, the usage of machinery is not possible. As its effect, the local manpower becomes
• Crops grown: This is a single crop agricultural operation. This agricultural method does not generate food grains. Only commercial crops such as tea, rubber, coffee, coconut, cacao, spices, and so on are grown.
• Beginning and Spread : This type of farming began and spread mostly during the colonial period. It is practised in the tropics. This type of farming is practised in India and other South Asian countries, Africa, South and Central America, etc.
• Subtypes : Horticulture and floriculture are the subtypes of plantation farming. In horticulture a variety of native and exotic fruits are grown. In floriculture a variety of flowers are grown on a large scale.
• Capital investment : This type of farming requires large scale capital investment due to long duration of crops, use of scientific methds, exportable production, processing, etc.
• Problems : Variations in climate, shortage of manpower, deterioration of environment, economic and managerial problems are some of the major problems faced by this type of farming.

The major crops that are cultivated in our area (Vidarbha region) are mainly cotton, soybean, oranges, sorghum, pearl millet and paddy. 

The geographical reasons for these crops are :

• Dry and semi-arid regions with black soil, sandy loam soil and low irrigation are the climatic factors.
• Low and erratic rainfall, drought-prone climate, lack of irrigation facilities, poor soil quality, and low market access.  These factors have also led to low productivity, crop failures, and farmer distress in the region.

The reasons for seasonal nature of agriculture in India:

• Most of the faming in India is dependent on monsoon.
• Monsoon is seasonal in India.
• It rains only in the months of June, July, August and September in India.
• The rainfall is highly variable and its distribution is quite uneven in India.

Difficulties for perennial agriculture :

• Non availability of regular water supply throughout the year
• Variations in climatic conditions
• Lack of capital
• Lack of transportation and storage facilities
• Lack of marketing facilities.