NCERT Class 10 Social Science Contemporary India: Chapter 4 — Agriculture
This chapter, 'Agriculture,' from NCERT Class 10 Social Science's Contemporary India textbook, highlights India's status as an agriculturally significant country, with two-thirds of its population engaged in this primary activity. It details how agriculture produces essential food grains and raw materials for industries, and also contributes to exports. The chapter explores various farming types practiced in India, including Primitive Subsistence Farming (like Jhumming, Bewar, Dahiya), Intensive Subsistence Farming, and Commercial Farming. It explains the characteristics of each, such as the tools used, dependence on environmental factors, population pressure, and the use of modern inputs. Plantation farming is also discussed as a type of commercial farming. The text emphasizes how cultivation methods have evolved based on environmental, technological, and socio-cultural factors, and how land-holding size and livelihood options influence farming practices.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 10 |
| Subject | Social Science |
| Book | Contemporary India |
| Chapter | Chapter 4 — Agriculture |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 260 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the importance of agriculture in the Indian economy.
- Differentiate between various types of farming: Primitive Subsistence, Intensive Subsistence, and Commercial Farming.
- Identify regional variations in farming practices and crop cultivation.
- Recognize the role of agriculture in providing food and raw materials.
- Analyze the impact of environmental and socio-cultural factors on agriculture.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Agriculture | The science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products. |
| Primary Activity | Economic activities that involve the direct extraction of natural resources from the Earth. |
| Subsistence Farming | Farming in which only enough crops or livestock are produced to feed a family or community. |
| Commercial Farming | Farming on a large scale, with the aim of selling produce for profit. |
| Jhumming | A type of 'slash and burn' agriculture practiced in North-eastern India. |
| Plantation | A large farm, especially in tropical countries, where crops such as coffee, sugar, and rubber are grown. |
| Fertilisers | Substances added to soil to increase its fertility. |
| High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds | Seeds that produce a larger crop yield compared to traditional varieties. |
| Labour-intensive | An industry or activity that requires a large amount of human labor. |
| Capital-intensive | An industry or activity that requires a large amount of capital investment. |
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Practice questions
- What is agriculture and why is it important for India? Answer: Agriculture is a primary activity that produces most of the food we consume and raw materials for industries. It is important for India as two-thirds of its population is engaged in it, and it contributes to exports.
- Describe Primitive Subsistence Farming. Answer: It is practiced on small patches of land using primitive tools and family labor, depending on monsoon and soil fertility. Farmers shift to new land when fertility decreases.
- What are the main characteristics of Commercial Farming? Answer: It involves using modern inputs like HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides to obtain higher productivity for market sale.
- What is Plantation farming? Answer: It is a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area, with produce used as raw material for industries.
- Why is Intensive Subsistence Farming practiced? Answer: It is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land, using high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation for higher production from limited land.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of India's population is engaged in agriculture?
Two-thirds of India's population is engaged in agricultural activities.
What are the main products of agriculture?
Agriculture produces food grains and raw materials for various industries, and also some products for export.
What is 'slash and burn' agriculture called in India?
In India, it is called 'Bewar' or 'Dahiya' in Madhya Pradesh, 'Podu' or 'Penda' in Andhra Pradesh, and 'Jhumming' in the North-eastern region, among other names.
Name some important plantation crops grown in India.
Important plantation crops include tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and banana.
What is the main difference between subsistence and commercial farming?
Subsistence farming is done to meet the needs of the farmer's family, while commercial farming is done with the aim of selling produce for profit in the market.
Why is land-holding size often uneconomical in Intensive Subsistence Farming?
The 'right of inheritance' leads to the division of land among successive generations, making land-holding sizes smaller and often uneconomical.
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NCERT Class 10 Social Science — Contemporary India — Chapter 4 — Agriculture. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.