- Importance of Mining – Mining developed rapidly after the Industrial Revolution and is essential for modern industries. Minerals were earlier used mainly for tools and weapons.
- Factors Affecting Mining – Mining depends on (i) physical factors like size, quality and location of mineral deposits, and (ii) economic factors like demand, technology, capital, labour and transport costs.
- Surface (Open-cast) Mining – Used when minerals are near the surface. It is cheaper, safer and produces large output quickly.
- Underground (Shaft) Mining – Used when minerals are deep underground. It involves shafts and tunnels and is costly and risky due to dangers like fire, flooding and poisonous gases.
- Global Pattern of Mining – Developed countries are reducing mining due to high labour costs, while developing countries (especially in Africa, Asia and South America) depend heavily on mineral exports for income.
Definitions [3]
Define viticulture.
Viticulture is grape cultivation which is speciality of the Mediterranean region.
Define truck farming.
It is the type of farming where farmers specialize in and grow vegetables only. The distance of truck farms from the market is governed by the distance a truck can cover overnight.
Define factory farming.
Factory farming is a modern development in the industrial regions of West Europe where livestock especially poultry and cattle rearing is done installs and pens and fed on manufactured feedstuff and carefully supervised against diseases.
Key Points
Key Points: Agriculture
- Govt aimed at growth with equity via land reforms + Green Revolution.
- Land reforms: removed zamindars, gave land to tillers; land ceiling planned but weakly implemented, real success mainly in Kerala, West Bengal.
- Green Revolution: HYV seeds + fertilisers + irrigation → big rise in wheat/rice, richer states first, later spread → self-sufficiency in food grains and more marketed surplus.
- Subsidies (water, power, fertilisers): helped small farmers use new tech but caused waste, environmental damage, and burden on govt, so there is debate on reforming them.
- 1950–1990 problem: agri share in GDP fell, but most people still in agriculture because industry and services did not absorb extra workers → seen as policy failure.
Key Points: Pastorlism
- Domestication of animals – Pastoralism developed when humans began domesticating animals instead of depending only on hunting.
- Nomadic herding – Herders move with their animals in search of pasture and water; common in Africa, Central Asia and tundra regions. Seasonal movement is called transhumance.
- Different animals in different regions – Cattle in tropical Africa, camels in deserts, yaks in Tibet, reindeer in Arctic areas.
- Decline of nomadism – Decreasing due to political boundaries and new settlement policies by governments.
- Commercial livestock rearing – Practised on large ranches in countries like USA, Australia and Argentina; scientific methods are used and products like meat and wool are exported.
Key Points: Hunting and Gathering
- Oldest economic activity – Early humans depended on hunting animals and gathering edible plants for survival.
- Practised in extreme climates – Common in very cold and very hot regions, such as northern Canada, Amazon Basin and tropical Africa.
- Low technology and low output – Uses simple tools, requires little capital and produces very little surplus.
- Modern commercial gathering – Some gatherers now sell forest products like medicinal plants, bark, rubber, gums and oils in markets.
- Decline of hunting and gathering – Illegal hunting has led to extinction of many species, and synthetic products have replaced many forest products.
Key Points: Mining
Key Points: Agriculture
- Subsistence Agriculture – Farmers grow crops mainly for their own consumption. It includes Primitive (shifting/slash and burn) and Intensive subsistence farming (wet paddy and other crops in monsoon Asia).
- Plantation Agriculture – Large-scale commercial farming introduced by Europeans in tropical regions; single crop specialisation (tea, coffee, rubber) with heavy capital and export-oriented production.
- Extensive Commercial Grain Farming – Practised in mid-latitude grasslands (Prairies, Pampas); large mechanised farms with low yield per acre but high yield per person.
- Mixed Farming and Dairy Farming – Crops and livestock are reared together; common in developed regions. Dairy farming is highly capital and labour intensive near urban markets.
- Mediterranean Agriculture – Specialised commercial farming of citrus fruits, olives and grapes; important for wine production.
- Market Gardening and Horticulture – Small farms near cities growing high-value crops like vegetables, fruits and flowers; labour and capital intensive.
- Co-operative and Collective Farming – In co-operative farming, farmers pool resources voluntarily; in collective farming (e.g., Kolkhoz), land and labour are owned collectively for production.
