Human activities which generate income are
Human activities which generate income are — Study Notes
NCERT-aligned · 11 notes · 3 shown free
Primary Activities
ExplanationPrimary Activities
Economic activities are human activities that generate income and are broadly classified into four categories: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary activities. Primary activities are directly dependent on the natural environment and involve the utilisation of earth's resources such as land, water, vegetation, building materials, and minerals. These activities include hunting and gathering, pastoral activities, fishing, forestry, agriculture, and mining and quarrying. Primary activities form the base of the economy as they provide raw materials for other sectors. The choice of primary activities in any region depends on physical factors like climate, soil, and topography, as well as social factors such as tradition and technology. For example, inhabitants of coastal regions engage in fishing due to proximity to water bodies, while those in plains practice agriculture because of fertile land. People engaged in primary activities are often called red-collar workers because their work is mostly outdoors.
- Economic activities generate income and are classified into primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
- Primary activities depend directly on natural resources like land, water, and minerals.
- Include hunting and gathering, pastoralism, fishing, forestry, agriculture, mining, and quarrying.
- Physical and social factors influence the type of primary activities in different regions.
- People involved in primary activities are called red-collar workers due to outdoor work.
- Primary activities provide raw materials for other economic sectors.
- 📌 Economic activities: Human activities that generate income.
- 📌 Primary activities: Economic activities directly dependent on natural resources.
- 📌 Red-collar workers: Workers engaged in outdoor primary activities.
Hunting and Gathering
ExplanationHunting and Gathering
Hunting and gathering are the oldest forms of economic activities practiced by early human beings who depended on their immediate environment for sustenance. Hunting involved capturing wild animals, while gathering involved collecting edible plants from forests. Primitive societies relied heavily on wild animals and plants for food, shelter, and clothing. In extreme climates such as very cold or hot regions, hunting was the main source of livelihood. Coastal communities engaged in fishing, which has evolved with technological progress. Early hunters used primitive tools made of stones, twigs, or arrows, limiting the number of animals killed. Due to overhunting and poaching, many species have become endangered or extinct, leading to hunting bans in countries like India. Gathering is practiced in regions with harsh climates, including high latitude zones like northern Canada and low latitude zones such as the Amazon Basin and tropical Africa. Gathering involves collecting various plant parts like barks, leaves, nuts, and tree trunks used for medicines, beverages, fibers, and gums. However, gathering has limited commercial importance globally as synthetic products often replace natural ones. Gathering requires minimal capital and technology, yields low output per person, and produces little or no surplus.
- Hunting and gathering are the earliest economic activities based on natural resources.
- Hunting involved capturing wild animals; gathering involved collecting edible plants.
- Primitive tools limited hunting efficiency, reducing overexploitation.
- Gathering occurs in harsh climates and involves collecting various plant parts.
- Many species have become endangered due to illegal hunting (poaching).
- Gathering has low commercial value and is often replaced by synthetic products.
- 📌 Hunting: Capturing wild animals for food and other needs.
- 📌 Gathering: Collecting edible plants and other natural products.
- 📌 Poaching: Illegal hunting leading to species endangerment.
Pastoralism
ExplanationPastoralism
Pastoralism refers to the domestication and rearing of animals for food, clothing, shelter, tools, and transport. It evolved as a sustainable alternative to hunting. Pastoralism is practiced either as nomadic herding or commercial livestock rearing,
Practice Questions — Human activities which generate income are
Includes NCERT exercise questions with answers
Q1.1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below. (i) Which one of the following is not a plantation crop? (a) Coffee (b) Sugarcane (c) Wheat (d) Rubber (ii) In which one of the following countries co-operative farming was the most successful experiment? (a) Russia (b) Denmark (c) India (d) The Netherlands (iii) Growing of flowers is called: (a) Truck farming (b) Factory farming (c) Mixed farming (d) Floriculture (iv) Which one of the following types of cultivation was developed by European colonists? (a) Kolkoz (b) Viticulture (c) Mixed farming (d) Plantation (v) In which one of the following regions is extensive commercial grain cultivation not practised? (a) American Canadian prairies (b) European Steppes (c) Pampas of Argentina (d) Amazon Basin (vi) In which of the following types of agriculture is the farming of citrus fruit very important? (a) Market gardening (b) Plantation agriculture (c) Mediterranean agriculture (d) Co-operative farming (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 (viii) Which one of the following does not follow monoculture? (a) Dairy farming (b) Mixed farming (c) Plantation agriculture (d) Commercial grain farming
Answer:
Answers with explanations: (i) (c) Wheat Explanation: Wheat is a cereal crop and is not grown as a plantation crop. Plantation crops include coffee, sugarcane, and rubber which are grown on large estates. (ii) (b) Denmark Explanation: Denmark is known for successful co-operative farming experiments, especially in dairy farming. (iii) (d) Floriculture Explanation: Floriculture is the cultivation of flowers. (iv) (d) Plantation Explanation: Plantation agriculture was developed by European colonists in tropical regions. (v) (d) Amazon Basin Explanation: Extensive commercial grain cultivation is not practised in the Amazon Basin due to dense forests and unsuitable conditions. (vi) (c) Mediterranean agriculture Explanation: Citrus fruits are important in Mediterranean agriculture due to the climate. (vii) (b) Primitive subsistence agriculture Explanation: Slash and burn agriculture is a type of primitive subsistence agriculture. (viii) (b) Mixed farming Explanation: Mixed farming involves growing multiple crops and livestock, hence does not follow monoculture.
Explanation:
Step-by-step reasoning for each MCQ is provided above under correct_answer.
Q2.2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) Future of shifting cultivation is bleak. Discuss. (ii) Market gardening is practised near urban areas. Why? (iii) Large scale dairy farming is the result of the development of transportation and refrigeration.
Answer:
(i) Future of shifting cultivation is bleak because it leads to deforestation, soil degradation, and low productivity. Increasing population pressure and government restrictions also limit its practice. (ii) Market gardening is practised near urban areas because proximity to markets reduces transportation costs and ensures fresh produce supply to urban consumers. (iii) Large scale dairy farming developed due to improved transportation and refrigeration which allow milk and dairy products to be transported over long distances without spoilage.
Explanation:
Each answer explains the key reasons briefly: (i) Environmental and socio-economic challenges threaten shifting cultivation. (ii) Urban proximity benefits market gardening economically. (iii) Technology advancements enable large scale dairy farming.
Q3.3. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words. (i) Differentiate between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing. (ii) Discuss the important characteristic features of plantation agriculture. Name a few important plantation crops from different countries.
Answer:
(i) Difference between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing: - Nomadic Herding involves moving livestock from place to place in search of pasture and water, usually practiced by tribal or pastoral communities for subsistence. - Commercial Livestock Rearing is a settled form of livestock farming aimed at producing animals and animal products for sale in markets. (ii) Characteristics of Plantation Agriculture: - Large scale farming of a single crop (monoculture) on large estates. - Labour intensive and capital intensive. - Crops are usually tropical or subtropical like tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane. - Often owned by companies or individuals. - Located in tropical regions with suitable climate. Important plantation crops and countries: - Tea: India, Sri Lanka, Kenya - Coffee: Brazil, Colombia, India - Rubber: Malaysia, Indonesia, India - Sugarcane: Brazil, India, Cuba
Explanation:
The answer clearly distinguishes the two types of livestock farming by their purpose and method. Plantation agriculture features are listed with examples of crops and countries to illustrate the concept.
Q4.1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below. (i) Which one of the following is not a plantation crop? (a) Coffee (b) Sugarcane (c) Wheat (d) Rubber (ii) In which one of the following countries co-operative farming was the most successful experiment? (a) Russia (b) Denmark (c) India (d) The Netherlands (iii) Growing of flowers is called: (a) Truck farming (b) Factory farming (c) Mixed farming (d) Floriculture (iv) Which one of the following types of cultivation was developed by European colonists? (a) Kolkoz (b) Viticulture (c) Mixed farming (d) Plantation (v) In which one of the following regions is extensive commercial grain cultivation not practised? (a) American Canadian prairies (b) European Steppes (c) Pampas of Argentina (d) Amazon Basin (vi) In which of the following types of agriculture is the farming of citrus fruit very important? (a) Market gardening (b) Plantation agriculture (c) Mediterranean agriculture (d) Co-operative farming (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 (viii) Which one of the following does not follow monoculture? (a) Dairy farming (b) Mixed farming (c) Plantation agriculture (d) Commercial grain farming
Answer:
Answers: (i) (c) Wheat - Wheat is a cereal crop grown in fields, not a plantation crop. Plantation crops are grown on large estates and include coffee, sugarcane, and rubber. (ii) (a) Russia - Co-operative farming was most successful in Russia, especially during the Soviet era with collective farms. (iii) (d) Floriculture - The growing of flowers is called floriculture. (iv) (d) Plantation - Plantation agriculture was developed by European colonists. (v) (d) Amazon Basin - Extensive commercial grain cultivation is not practised in the Amazon Basin due to dense forests and unsuitable conditions. (vi) (c) Mediterranean agriculture - Citrus fruit farming is important in Mediterranean agriculture. (vii) (b) Primitive subsistence agriculture - Also called 'slash and burn agriculture' or shifting cultivation. (viii) (b) Mixed farming - Mixed farming involves growing crops and rearing animals and does not follow monoculture.
Explanation:
Step-by-step explanation: (i) Plantation crops are those grown on large estates for commercial purposes. Wheat is a cereal crop grown in open fields, not a plantation crop. (ii) Co-operative farming was a key feature of Soviet agriculture in Russia, where collective farms were established. (iii) Floriculture specifically refers to the cultivation of flowers. (iv) Plantation agriculture was introduced by European colonists in tropical regions. (v) The Amazon Basin is covered by dense tropical forests, making commercial grain cultivation unfeasible. (vi) Mediterranean agriculture is known for citrus fruits like oranges and lemons. (vii) Slash and burn agriculture is a primitive form of subsistence farming involving clearing forest land by burning. (viii) Mixed farming involves multiple crops and livestock, so it does not follow monoculture which is the cultivation of a single crop.
Q5.2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) Future of shifting cultivation is bleak. Discuss. (ii) Market gardening is practised near urban areas. Why? (iii) Large scale dairy farming is the result of the development of transportation and refrigeration.
Answer:
(i) The future of shifting cultivation is bleak because it leads to deforestation, soil degradation, and low productivity. Increasing population pressure and government restrictions on forest land also threaten its continuation. (ii) Market gardening is practised near urban areas because fresh vegetables, fruits, and flowers can be quickly transported to markets, reducing spoilage and meeting urban demand. (iii) Large scale dairy farming became possible due to improved transportation and refrigeration, which allow milk and dairy products to be stored and transported over long distances without spoilage.
Explanation:
Step-by-step explanation: (i) Shifting cultivation involves clearing forest land for farming and then moving on after soil fertility declines. This is unsustainable with growing populations and environmental concerns. (ii) Proximity to urban areas reduces transportation time and costs, ensuring fresh produce reaches consumers quickly. (iii) Refrigeration technology preserves milk quality, and transportation networks enable distribution to distant markets, supporting large scale dairy farming.
Q6.3. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words. (i) Differentiate between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing. (ii) Discuss the important characteristic features of plantation agriculture. Name a few important plantation crops from different countries.
Answer:
(i) Differences between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing: - Nomadic Herding is a traditional form of livestock rearing where herders move from place to place in search of pasture and water. It is subsistence-oriented and practiced in arid and semi-arid regions. - Commercial Livestock Rearing is a modern, market-oriented practice where animals are raised on a large scale for sale of meat, milk, wool, etc. It involves fixed farms with improved breeds and technology. (ii) Characteristics of Plantation Agriculture: - Large scale farming on estates. - Monoculture: cultivation of a single crop. - Labour intensive, often involving hired labour. - Crops grown for commercial purposes. - Located mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. Important plantation crops and countries: - Tea and coffee in India and Sri Lanka. - Rubber in Malaysia and Indonesia. - Sugarcane in Brazil and Cuba. - Cocoa in Ghana and Ivory Coast.
Explanation:
Step-by-step explanation: (i) Nomadic Herding involves seasonal movement and is subsistence based, whereas Commercial Livestock Rearing is stationary, uses improved breeds, and targets markets. (ii) Plantation agriculture focuses on single cash crops grown on large estates for export or domestic markets. It requires significant labour and capital investment. Different crops suit different climates and regions.
Q7.Which of the following is NOT a primary economic activity?
Answer:
Banking
Explanation:
Primary economic activities involve direct utilisation of natural resources such as agriculture, mining, and fishing. Banking is a tertiary activity related to services and not directly dependent on natural resources.
Q8.Why are inhabitants of coastal regions primarily engaged in fishing while those in plains are engaged in agriculture?
Answer:
Inhabitants of coastal regions engage in fishing due to proximity to water bodies which provide abundant fish resources. Plains have fertile soil and favorable physical conditions suitable for agriculture. Physical factors like climate and soil, along with social factors such as tradition, influence the type of primary activities in these regions.
Explanation:
Coastal regions have direct access to marine resources making fishing a viable livelihood. Plains offer fertile land and flat terrain ideal for crop cultivation. Social traditions and technology also determine the choice of activity.
All 8 Chapters in Fundamentals of Human Geography
Geography · Class 12