🌾 Introduction
Primary activities are those that involve direct use of natural resources. These include agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining, and hunting. They form the base of all economic activities.
🚜 Types of Primary Activities
- Gathering: Collection of forest products, fruits, roots, and medicinal plants.
- Pastoralism: Rearing of animals for milk, meat, wool, etc. (Nomadic and Commercial types).
- Agriculture: Cultivation of crops and domestication of animals (Subsistence and Commercial farming).
- Mining: Extraction of minerals from the earth.
- Fishing: Catching and farming of fish.
- Forestry: Use of forests for timber and other products.
🌱 Types of Farming
- Subsistence Farming: Small scale, for family needs.
- Intensive Subsistence: High labor, low mechanization (mainly in Asia).
- Commercial Farming: Large scale, market-oriented.
- Plantation Agriculture: Single crop, large estate farming (tea, coffee, rubber).
🧑🌾 Difference Between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing
| Aspect | Nomadic Herding | Commercial Livestock Rearing |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility | Practiced by moving from one place to another. | Stationary and organized in large permanent farms. |
| Purpose | For family consumption and local needs. | Market-oriented for commercial profit. |
🌾 Difference Between Intensive and Primitive Subsistence Farming
| Aspect | Intensive Subsistence Farming | Primitive Subsistence Farming |
|---|---|---|
| Techniques | Uses high labor and sometimes modern inputs for maximum yield. | Traditional methods and simple tools are used. |
| Crops & Yield | Grows rice, wheat, etc. with relatively high output for profit. | Produces food for local consumption with low output. |
🤝 Cooperative and Collective Farming
- Cooperative Farming: Farmers pool resources like land and machinery but retain private ownership of plots. Profits are shared based on contribution.
- Collective Farming: Practiced in socialist countries, where land is collectively owned and the entire farm is managed as one unit. Income is distributed equally.
🧺 Short Notes on Farming Types
- Truck Farming: Involves growing vegetables and fruits for the market, usually near urban areas. Transportation is key for fast delivery.
- Market Gardening: Small-scale farming of perishable crops near cities. Products are sold directly in local markets.
- Viticulture: Cultivation of grapes, especially for wine production. Popular in Mediterranean climates.
- Jhuming Cultivation: Also known as shifting cultivation, involves clearing forest land by burning and growing crops temporarily. Common in north-eastern India.
- Nomadic Herding: A type of subsistence herding where people move seasonally in search of pasture and water for animals.
- Mixed Farming: Involves growing crops and raising livestock on the same farm. Crop roation and intercropping plays and important role.
- Dairy Farming: Specialized agriculture focusing on the production of milk and dairy products. It is highly capital- and labor-intensive.
⛏️ Mining and Its Types
Mining involves extraction of valuable minerals. It can be classified into:
- Surface Mining: Open-cast, strip mining.
- Underground Mining: Shafts and tunnels are used to extract minerals.
🐟 Fishing Types
Fishing can be:
- Inland Fishing: Rivers, lakes, ponds.
- Marine Fishing: Oceans and seas.
📖 Conclusion
Primary activities are the foundation of economic development. They are closely linked with nature and form the livelihood for a large population in developing countries.