8. Resources
Complete solutions to the Exercise. Maharashtra State Board (Balbharati), Grade Six Geography.
ShareAdvertisement
Exercise
(1) Which one of the land resources is most important for agriculture?
- a) Rocks
- b) Hills
- ✓ c) Soil
- d) Sand
Answer: Soil — crops grow in soil, which provides them with water and nutrients.
(2) Progress of a country depends on which of the characteristics of available resources?
- ✓ a) Quality of resources and human skills
- b) Stop use of resources
- c) Export resources
- d) The number of resources only
Answer: Quality of resources and human skills — humans are the most important resource. With knowledge, skills and technology they make the best use of nature to create more resources.
(3) Out of total water on the Earth, approximately how much of fresh water is available for drinking?
- a) 29%
- b) 97%
- c) 71%
- ✓ d) 3%
Answer: 3%
Only about 3% of the Earth’s water is fresh water; the remaining 97% is saline ocean water. Of this 3%, most is locked in snow and ice (70%) or lies underground (29%). Only about 1% of the fresh water is actually available for drinking, so potable water is extremely limited.
(4) Which modern irrigation method is used to prevent wastage of water in farming?
- ✓ a) Drip irrigation
- b) Canal irrigation
- c) Well irrigation
- d) Flow irrigation
Answer: Drip irrigation — water is given drop by drop directly at the roots of plants through pipes, so very little water is wasted.
(5) What is the major cause of depletion of resources?
- a) Natural disasters
- b) Afforestation
- ✓ c) Overuse of resources and increasing population
- d) Research
Answer: Overuse of resources and increasing population
(6) Which of the following type of farming aims to sustain family?
- a) Commercial farming
- ✓ b) Subsistence farming
- c) Mixed farming
- d) Plantation farming
Answer: Subsistence farming — it is practised mainly to meet the livelihood needs of the farmer and his family.
Advertisement
(1) Prepare a comparative table showing the differences between ‘subsistence farming’ and ‘commercial farming’.
| Point | Subsistence farming | Commercial farming |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | To meet the food needs of the farmer’s own family | To earn profit by selling crops in the market |
| Size of land | Small, limited land | Large land; e.g. 200 hectares or more in extensive farming, 40 hectares or more in plantations |
| Capital | Very little capital is needed | Significant capital investment is needed |
| Technology and labour | Traditional methods; more use of human and animal labour | Advanced technology and machinery such as tractors and harvesters |
| Crops | Food crops and vegetables | Cash crops and single crops such as wheat, tea, rubber, coffee, fruits and flowers |
| Production | Low; just enough for the family | Large-scale, quality production for national and international markets |
| Economic condition of farmers | Remains weak due to low production | Generally better due to profit |
| Types | Intensive subsistence farming, shifting cultivation | Extensive, plantation, truck farming, horticulture |
| Regions | Mainly developing countries of South and South-East Asia, Africa and South America | Temperate grasslands, tropical plantations and areas near big cities |
(2) Write the changes that have taken place over time in traditional farming and modern farming.
- Tools: The plough, sickle and oxen have been replaced by tractors, harvesters and drones.
- Seeds: Instead of seeds saved from the previous crop, hybrid and genetically modified seeds are now used.
- Fertilisers: Along with manure and compost, chemical fertilisers came into use. Organic farming is again becoming popular.
- Pest control: Traditional plant-based remedies have been replaced by pesticides, herbicides and modern medicines.
- Water management: Farming once depended largely on rain. Now canals, wells, drip and sprinkler irrigation and solar pumps are used.
- Labour and time: Less manpower is needed, and more production is obtained in less time.
- Production: Production has become larger and more stable, and farming has become market-oriented.
- New technology: Sensors, robotics, artificial intelligence and digital apps are being used, along with new methods such as hydroponics, vertical farming and contract farming.
Both types of farming have their own importance. Today they need to be used in a balanced way to achieve sustainable development.
(3) Explain the importance of irrigation in agriculture.
- Rainfall is uncertain and seasonal. Irrigation gives crops water when there is little or no rain, and protects them from drought.
- With irrigation, more than one crop can be grown in a year, so production increases.
- Crops that need a lot of water, such as sugarcane, rice and bananas, can be grown even in low-rainfall areas.
- It makes production stable and increases the farmers’ income.
- Modern methods such as drip and sprinkler irrigation give the right amount of water to plants and prevent wastage of limited water.
(4) What crops are cultivated in your nearby area? What are the geographical reasons for it?
The answer depends on where you live. The crops of an area depend on its rainfall, soil, temperature, slope of land and the water available for irrigation. Examples from different parts of Maharashtra:
- Konkan: Rice, because of heavy rainfall; mango, cashew and coconut on the coastal slopes.
- Western Maharashtra: Sugarcane and grapes, because of fertile soil and irrigation from dams and canals.
- Marathwada and drier parts of the plateau: Jowar, bajra and pulses, which need less water.
- Vidarbha: Cotton, because of black soil which holds moisture, and oranges in Nagpur and Amravati districts.
Write the crops of your own area and link each one to these factors.
(1) Commercial and extensive farming requires more capital.
Commercial and extensive farming is practised on very large land holdings, often 200 hectares or more, and its aim is large-scale production for the market. Because the population in these areas is sparse, the work is done with costly machinery such as tractors and harvesters. Large amounts must also be spent on improved seeds, fertilisers, irrigation, storage, transport and marketing, so that the produce meets international standards. Hence this type of farming requires more capital.
(2) Plantation farming requires skilled and experienced labourers.
Plantation farming is the large-scale cultivation of a single cash crop such as tea, coffee, rubber, cocoa or spices. Tasks like plucking tea leaves, tapping rubber, pruning bushes and processing the produce on the estate must be done carefully and in the right way, because the crop is sold in the international market and its quality matters. Much of this work cannot be done by machines. Hence plantation farming requires skilled and experienced labourers, and local manpower is of great importance in it.
The picture shows almost every kind of resource together, which is why it can be called ‘The World of Resources’:
- Natural resources: mountains, forests, animals, a river, a waterfall and water held in the hands.
- Energy resources: wind turbines, solar panels, an oil well and a dam for hydroelectricity.
- Agriculture: a farmer ploughing with oxen and fields of crops.
- Man-made resources: buildings, factories, roads, vehicles and an aeroplane.
- Human resources: doctors, engineers, scientists, teachers and students with their knowledge and skills.
It shows how humans use natural resources with their skills and technology to create man-made resources, and it reminds us to use them wisely for future generations.
The Activities — studying the changes brought by water conservation in villages like Ralegan Siddhi and Hiware Bazar and in similar villages in your region, and finding information about the fathers of the global and Indian Green Revolution — are to be done by you and presented in class.