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Primary activities NCERT Chapter Notes CBSE Class 12 Humanitas

CBSE Class 12 NCERT Chapter Notes for Primary activities Humanitas
16 April 2025 by
Akash Kumar

Primary activities NCERT Chapter Notes CBSE Class 12 Humanitas

CBSE Class 12  NCERT Chapter Notes for Primary activities


Primary activities are economic activities directly dependent on nature, involving the extraction and utilization of Earth's resources like land, water, vegetation, and minerals. These include hunting, gathering, pastoralism, fishing, forestry, agriculture, and mining. These activities form the foundation of human survival and economic development.

Hunting

Key Points Regarding Hunting:

  • Oldest Economic Activity: Done by early man for sustenance.
  • Environment-Dependent: Found in extreme climates (hot/cold climates).
  • Stone Age Tools: Early men used stone, twigs, and arrows.
  • Low Impact: Limited in scale owing to primitive tools and methods
  • Modern Decline: Several species are now endangered as a result of illegal hunting (poaching).
  • Legal Prohibitions: It is prohibited to hunt in most nations, including India, in order to preserve wildlife.
  • Technological Developments: Advanced weapons are employed by contemporary hunting and is controlled in some regions.

Gathering:

  • Oldest Subsistence Activity: Practiced by primitive societies for food, shelter, and clothing.
  • Carried Out in Harsh Climates: Found in high-latitude (Canada, Eurasia) and low-latitude (Amazon Basin, Africa) regions.
  • Low Technology & Capital: Requires minimal investment and basic tools.
  • Market-Oriented Gathering: Some valuable plants (medicinal, nuts, resins) are collected for trade.
  • Limited Global Importance: Synthetic alternatives have reduced reliance on gathered products.

Nomadic Herding:

  1. Primitive Subsistence Activity: Herders move with livestock for food, clothing, and transport.
  2. Seasonal Movement: Migration based on pasture availability (Transhumance in mountains).
  3. Region-Specific Livestock: Cattle in Africa, camels in deserts, yaks in Tibet, reindeer in Arctic regions.
  4. Traditional Livelihood: Practiced in Sahara, Central Asia, Mongolia, and tundra regions.
  5. Declining Trend: Political boundaries, settlement policies, and modernization are reducing its practice. 

Commercial Livestock Rearing

  1. Unlike nomadic herding, commercial livestock rearing is more organised and capital intensive.
  2. Commercial livestock ranching is essentially associated with western cultures and is practiced on permanent ranches.
  3. These ranches cover large areas and are divided into a number of parcels, which are fenced to regulate the grazing. When the grass of one parcel is grazed, animals are moved to another parcel 
  4. The number of animals in a pasture is kept according to the carrying capacity of the pasture. 
  5. This is a specialised activity in which only one type of animal is reared. Important animals include sheep, cattle, goats and horses. 
  6. Products such as meat, wool, hides and skin are processed and packed scientifically and exported to different world markets.  
  7. Rearing of animals in ranching is organised on a scientific basis. The main emphasis is on breeding, genetic improvement, disease control and health care of the animals. 
  8. New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Uruguay and United States of America are important countries where commercial livestock rearing is practised.

SUBSISTENCE FARMING

  1. It is done on a small plot of land The produce is just enough for the subsistence of the farmer’s family. 
  2. The farmer and his family constitute the labour.
  3. Primitive tools are utilized. 
  4. One or more crops can be grown on single piece of land. 
  5. Areas of Primitive subsistence: Malaysia, Indonesia, Northeast India. 
  6. Areas of Intensive subsistence: Wet paddy dominated Myanmar, India, Indonesia  
  7. Areas of Other than paddy: North Korea, Manchuria, North Japan 

Plantation agriculture

Plantation Agriculture was introduced by Europeans in Colonies.

  1. It is done on large plantations. 
  2. The produce is for gaining profit and is in bulk. 
  3. There is large capital investment and scientific methods are used. 
  4. Cheap labour is also employed at a large scale. 
  5. Proximity to markets and good system of transport is very important. 
  6. Single crop specialisation is observed. 
  7. Areas: 
  • French established cocoa and coffee plantations in West Africa 
  • British set up tea gardens in India and Sri Lanka 
  • Spanish and Americans grew coconut and sugarcane in the Philippines

Extensive Commercial Grain Cultivation 

Practiced in Semi-Arid Mid-Latitude Regions: Found in interior parts of semi-arid lands.

  • Major Crops: Wheat is the principal crop; other crops include corn, barley, oats, and rye.
  • Large-Scale Farming: Farms are extensive, covering vast areas.
  • Fully Mechanized: Cultivation, from ploughing to harvesting, is done using machines.
  • Productivity Characteristics: Low yield per acre but high yield per person due to mechanization.
  • Major Regions: 
    • Eurasian Steppes
    • Canadian and American Prairies
    • Pampas of Argentina
    • Velds of South Africa
    • Australian Downs
    • Canterbury Plains of New Zealand

MIXED FARMING

  1. Equal emphasis is laid on crop cultivation and animal husbandry. 
  2. Wheat, Barley, oats, rye, maize, fodder and root crops are grown in mixed farming. 
  3. Mixed farming is found in the highly developed parts of the world- North Western Europe, North Eastern America, parts of Eurasia and temperate latitudes of southern continents. 
  4. Mixed farming is characterised by high capital expenditure on farm machinery, building, extensive use of chemical fertilizers, green manure and the skill and expertise of the farmers. 
  5. There is crop rotation and intercropping that maintain the soil fertility.

DAIRY FARMING 

  1. Special emphasis is laid on cattle breeding, health care and veterinary services. 
  2. It is most advanced and efficient type of rearing of milch animals. 
  3. Three main regions of commercial dairy farming are North Western Europe, Canada and South Eastern Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania
  4. Dairy farming is highly labour intensive as it involves rigorous care in feeding and mulching. 
  5. There is no off season during the year as in the case of crop raising.

Mediterranean Agriculture 

  • Highly Specialized Commercial Agriculture: Focuses on high-value crops.
  • Geographical Distribution: 
    • Mediterranean region (Europe, North Africa).
    • Southern California, Central Chile, Southwestern South Africa.
    • South and Southwestern Australia.
  • Major Crops: 
    • Citrus Fruits: Important global supplier.
    • Viticulture (Grape Cultivation): Produces high-quality wines.
    • Other Crops: Olives, figs, raisins, and currants.
  • Winter Crop Production: Fruits and vegetables are grown in winter, meeting high demand in European and North American markets.

Market Gardening and Horticulture 

  1. Cultivation of high value crops such as vegetables, fruits and flowers. 
  2. Good transportation links with urban centre. 
  3. Emphasis on the use of irrigation, HYV seeds, fertilizers, insecticides, green house for colder regions 
  4. Developed in densely populated regions such of north west Europe, north eastern USA and the Mediterranean regions.  
  5. Netherland specialises in growing flowers, especially Tulips. 
  6. The regions where farmers specialise in vegetables only, the farming is known as truck farming. The distance of truck farms from the market is governed by the distance that a truck can cover overnight, hence the name truck farming.

Cooperative Farming

  • Voluntary Group Farming: Farmers pool resources while maintaining individual ownership.
  • Improved Efficiency: Helps in better procurement of inputs, marketing, and processing.
  • Economic Benefits: Reduces costs and increases profitability.
  • Successful in Western Europe: Notably in Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, and Italy.

Collective Farming

  • State-Controlled Agriculture: Based on social ownership and collective labor.
  • Introduced in Soviet Union: Implemented through the Kolkhoz model to boost self-sufficiency.
  • Resource Pooling: Farmers contributed land, livestock, and labor but retained small personal plots.
  • Government Support: Aimed at improving efficiency and food security.

Mining

  • Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals from the Earth's surface.
  • It has been essential in human history, contributing to different ages like the Copper, Bronze, and Iron Ages.
  • The Industrial Revolution significantly increased the importance of mining.

Types of Mining

1. Surface Mining (Open-Cast Mining)

  • Used for minerals located close to the surface.
  • It is the easiest and cheapest method.
  • Requires low overhead costs and safety precautions.
  • Provides large and rapid output.

2. Underground Mining (Shaft Mining)

  • Used for minerals found deep below the Earth's surface.
  • Involves sinking vertical shafts and creating underground galleries.
  • Requires advanced equipment like lifts, drills, and ventilation systems.
  • More dangerous due to risks like poisonous gases, fires, floods, and cave-ins.


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