1. SEMINAR TOPIC ON
AGRICULTURE
FACTORS AFFECTING
AGRICULTURE
TYPES OF FARMING
By Kiran Prasad

2. Introduction
The term “Agriculture” has been
derived from a latin word
“Agerculturura” (ager = a field;
culture= to cultivate), which literally
means “Cultivation of land”
Agriculture refers to the art of
raising plant life from the soil. It is
not merely tilling of land, but implies
a conscious and determined effort on
the part of man to utilise the soil for
his benefit. It includes all such
human efforts as are conducive to the
quick and better growth of vegetable
and animal products for the benefit
of man.

3. Factors affecting Agriculture
• Physical factors
• Socio-Economic factors
1. Physical factors :
(a) Climate
(b) Soil
(c) Relief
There are 3 elements in Relief which affects agriculture
1. Altitude, 2. Aspect & 3. Gradient influence

4. 2. Socio-Economic factors
(a) Land tenure
(b) Scale of Operations
(c) Marketing
(d) Transport
(e) Labour
(f) Capital
(g) Government Influences

5. Agricultural Crops-Types of Crops
Cereals (wheat, Rice, Maize, Rye, Oats, Millets and Barley) and pulses are the
major food grains cultivated in different parts of the world. They differ from
each other in respect of soil and climate requirements, methods of cultivation
and type of farming.
1.Wheat
2.Rice
3.Maize
4.Rye
5.Oats
6.Millets
7.Barley

6. 1. WHEAT
Wheat is the most important of all grains since it makes the best flour and bread that is the
best for the growth of man’s body. It is the staple food of all the white people and is
consumed widely in the Soviet Union, the United States of America, Canada, India, China,
the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Turkey.
• Types of Farming:
1. Commercial Grain farming
2. Commercial Crop & Livestock farming
3. Commercial Crop farming and
Horticulture with subsidiary Livestock
4. Intensive dry (field) farming
5. Intensive Irrigation or Wet farming

7. Producing Patten of Wheat in the world
•Asia = 45%
•Europe = 30%
•North America = 16%
•South America = 3%
•Oceania = 4%
•Africa =2%

8. 2. Rice
Rice is by far the most important
grain of the tropics. It is the staple
food of the people living in tropical
countries. In fact rice is a necessity
in the densely populated parts of
the monsoon lands, as it give more
calories of energy per hectare than
wheat.
Varieties of Rice
• Japonica
• Indica

9. 3. MAIZE
Maize is an important food crop in the countries
where people have a low standard of living. It
ranks as the 3rd most important food grain, after
wheat and rice, it is known as the Corn of America
& Europe.In U.S.A, it is used for feeding cattle.
Production pattern:
North America = 45%
Asia = 28%
Europe = 12%
South America = 8%
Africa = 7%
International Trade
Bulk of the maize produced is consumed in the
home market and only about 16 per cent of the
maize produced is put in the world market for
sale. The chief exporting countries are the U.S.A,
Thailand, Argentina, S. Africa, Brazil, Belgium,
Korea DPR, France, Singapore and Netherlands.

10. 4. RYE
It is an important grain of temperature lands and is used in making bread and
liquors. It has been cultivated in Asia and Europe from times immemorial and
has been used by people of the low income group. Among the Cereal crops of
the world, Rye is not extensively cultivated and is considered only as a second
class bread grain, next to wheat, because of its high Gluten content
Producing Areas:
Rye is essentially a European agro-product. Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Germany,
Poland & Turkey etc. are the principal producers of Rye in the world. Outside
Europe, Rye is cultivated in the USA & Argentina, But Rye cultivation is
declined in the USA.

11. International Trade of RYE:
The International Trade in Rye is
of very little significance as it is
essentially grown for domestic
consumption. Canada, Sweden,
Poland, France, Netherlands &
U.S.A are the principal exporters..
While major Importers include
Russia, Germany, Romania,
Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Italy
& Switzerland.

12. 5.BARLEY
Barley was among the earliest cultivated cereals.
Barley ranks high in food value, but it has failed
to gain high favour as a bread making material.
It is however, widely used as for making soups,
porridge, baby foods etc. High quality barley
used to make malt. Generally principal use of
barley is as a feed for domestic animals.
Condition for Growth
It grows in a wider range of climates in Hot,
Temperate, and Cold regions, on Flat plains, as
well as on elavations upto 4,000Mtrs above the
sea level. It requires moderate amount of
rainfall, between 75 & 100cm per year. It
requires rich fertile soils and cannot be grown in
sandy, poor or infertile soils

13. Producing Areas of Barley:
Europe produces about a quarter of the
world’s barley. Heavy production occurs in a
belt streching from the United Kingdom &
France eastward into Russia. Canada, Germany
and Russia are the raking world producers, in
descending order. Other areas of production
outside Europe are: USA, Turkey, China, India
& Australia, etc.
International Trade
Barley is not an important commodity for
International trade, since a little over 4% of the
global output enters into the International
market. The USA & Canada contribute about
60% of the world’s Exports. Other notable
Exporters are Argentina, Denmark & France.
The major Importers include Germany,
UK, Japan & Netherlands which claim about
50% of global import trade of barley.

14. 6. OATS
Oats is also an important food
grain of the world and is used
both for human consumption and
as feed for farm animals. It is also
grown as a rotation crop and is
rotated with maize and wheat.
Oats are now most extensively
grown in Asia. The cultivation of
Oats is almost entirely confined
to the Northern hemisphere.
Producing Areas:
The U.S.A. produces about 17%
of the world’s output. Canada,
Germany, Poland, France,
Sweden & China are the
important producers

15. International Trade of Oats:
The International Trade of oats is not significant because of the relative poor
value of the grain. A very negligible amount of only 2-3% of the total output
enters the International market. In 1975, only about 217 million metric tons out of
a total production of 49 million metric tons of oats were exported.
The principal exporters are USA, Russia, Australia & poland etc.
The importing countries include United Kingdom, Germany, France, Spain,
Switzerland, Hungary, Etc.

16. Beverages
Tea, Coffee, Cacao and tobacco are non-alcoholic beverages;
whereas tea, coffee & cacao are popular drinks but tobacco is an
intoxicant mainly used in smoking & Chewing in various forms.
1.Tea 2.Coffee
3. Cacao 4. Tobacco

17. Tea
Tea is a popular drink all over the world. Tea is the general name given to
the dried leaves of broad-leaved evergreen bushes known as “Thea Sinesis”.
The Tea is a native plant of highlands of China and Assam (India). It was
cultivated in China in 2700years ago. Initially it was used in China as a
medical drink. From the far east, it spread to Europe and other parts of the
world.
Conditions of Growth
It requires a warm climate with a temperature of about 27degree Celsius
throughout the growing period. However it can be grown in lower
temperature of about 16 degree Celsius as well. It requires an average
rainfall of about 200 cm coming in a frequent showers. Heavy fog and
morning dew favour the growth of young leaves. Long dry spell is harmful
for the crop.
Production pattern
Nearly ¾ of the world’s tea is produced in eastern and south eastern Asia.
Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania, Turkey & Iran etc. produce the rest.
Among Asian countries India, China, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Bangladesh,
Vietnam are the major tea producers.

18. Coffee
Coffee is a mild stimulating popular drink in the modern world.
It is a non-alcoholic beverage crops and ranks first in commercial
importance, followed by tea and cacao. It was first seen in district of
Kaffa, Ethiopia from where it derives its name.
Types of Coffee
1.Coffee Arabica, 2. Coffee Robusta & 3. Coffee Liberica
Conditions of growth
It grows best at altitudes of 300 to 1800 mtrs where the days may be
warm, temperatures ranging from between 21d celsius and 27d celsius in
summer and not less than 10d celcius in the coldest month. Frost is
high;y injurios to coffee plant. It requires much moisture-an annual
rainfall to 125 to 100cm, but a relatively dry period during the picking
season.. Fertile well drained soils, rich in iron and potash are most
suitable for the coffee plantation.

19. Cacao (Cocoa)
Theobroma Cacao or simply cacao is a native plant (trees) of the western
hemisphere, more precisely of tropical South America where it was grown
most abundantly in the Central American lowlands and also in thee valleys of
the Amazon and the Orinoco.
Conditions of Growth
The Cacao tree is restricted to tropical lowland areas, for its requires an
average temperature of 24d Celsius, with a minimum of 16d Celsius. It also
requires high humidity (80-90%) and a rainfall of 125cm or more per year. A
long dry season is likely to hit the commercial success of its production. The
cacao tree must be protected against the direct sun rays and from the winds.
International trade
Importers of Cocoa are: Europe, North america, Uk, Germany, Netherlands,,
France, Belgium, Italy & Switzerland etc.
Exporters includes Ghana, Ivory Coast, Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia, Malaysia
& Ecuador, etc.

20. Tobacco
Tobacco is a truly cosmopolitan crop in regard to its consumption as well as
production. In some from or other, it is used by all people of the world.
Tobacco is widely used for smoking, chewing, to a small extent in medicine,
and also a sheep wash for destroying insects which inject the fleece.
Condition of Growth
Tobacco requires fairly high temperature between 21d Celsius and 27d
Celsius & a moderate amount of rainfall. It can also be cultivated in regions
of cool summers and in warm deserts with the help of irrigation. Frosts are
harmful. It grows well in light, deep and well drained soils that are rich in
time, potash & humus. Tobacco being an exhausting crop, requires constant
use of fertilizers for maintaining fertility of soil.
International trade
Leading exporters are USA, Brazil,Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Korea,
Canada & China
Leading Importers includes UK, Germany, Japan, France, Russia & Spain
etc.