NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Geography Chapter 4

Chapter 4 — Primary Activities — is one of the most important chapters in Human Geography as it explains the basic economic activities directly related to natural resources.

Questions from this chapter are often descriptive and reasoning-based. Students who prepare using NCERT Solutions For Class 12 Geography Chapter 4 gain clarity in definitions, differences between types of activities, and global examples.

Since board questions are frequently NCERT-based, practicing structured Primary Activities Class 12 Questions And Answers is essential for scoring well.

Class 12 Geography Chapter 4 Primary Activities

Class 12 Geography Chapter 4 Primary Activities explains economic activities that directly extract natural resources from the Earth. These activities form the base of all other economic sectors and are essential for human survival.

In Primary Activities Class 12 NCERT Solutions, students learn about meaning and types of primary activities, hunting and gathering, pastoralism, fishing and aquaculture, forestry, mining, subsistence and commercial agriculture

Primary Activities Class 12 Questions And Answers​

While preparing Primary Activities Class 12 Questions And Answers, students should focus on clear definitions, differences between subsistence and commercial farming, factors influencing agricultural practices, and examples from different regions.

Board exams often include 3–5 mark questions from this chapter, making it an important scoring unit. Here are the Primary Activities Class 12 NCERT Solutions for board exam revision: 

1. Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

i. Which one of the following is not a plantation crop?

(a) Coffee
(b) Sugarcane
(c) Wheat
(d) Rubber

Answer: (c) Wheat

ii. In which one of the following countries co-operative farming was the most successful experiment?

(a) Russia
(b) Denmark
(c) India
(d) The Netherlands

Answer: (b) Denmark

iii. Growing of flowers is called:

(a) Truck farming
(b) Factory farming
(c) Mixed farming
(d) Floriculture

Answer: (d) Floriculture

iv. Which one of the following types of cultivation was developed by European colonists?

(a) Kolkoz
(b) Viticulture
(c) Mixed farming
(d) Plantation

Answer: (d) Plantation

v. In which one of the following regions is extensive commercial grain cultivation not practised?

(a) American Canadian prairies
(b) European Steppes
(c) Pampas of Argentina
(d) Amazon Basin

Answer: (d) Amazon Basin

vi. In which of the following types of agriculture is the farming of citrus fruit very important?

(a) Market gardening
(b) Plantation agriculture
(c) Mediterranean agriculture
(d) Co-operative farming

Answer: (c) Mediterranean agriculture

vii. Which one type of agriculture amongst the following is also called ‘slash and burn agriculture’?

(a) Extensive subsistence agriculture
(b) Primitive subsistence agriculture
(c) Extensive commercial grain cultivation
(d) Mixed farming

Answer: (b) Primitive subsistence agriculture

viii. Which one of the following does not follow monoculture?

(a) Dairy farming
(b) Mixed farming
(c) Plantation agriculture
(d) Commercial grain farming

Answer: (b) Mixed farming

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.

i. Future of shifting cultivation is bleak. Discuss.

Answer:
Shifting cultivation faces decline because of rising population, shrinking forest cover, ecological issues, and legal restrictions. Shortened jhum cycles reduce soil fertility, making the practice less sustainable and gradually less productive.

ii. Market gardening is practised near urban areas. Why?

Answer:
Market gardening is carried out close to cities since it involves perishable and high-value crops like fruits and vegetables. Being near urban markets ensures quick supply, lower transport costs, and steady demand.

iii. Large scale dairy farming is the result of the development of transportation and refrigeration.

Answer:
Advancements in transport and refrigeration allow milk and dairy items to be preserved and transported over long distances. This has supported large-scale dairy farming by minimizing spoilage and expanding access to faraway markets.

3. Answer the following questions in not more than 150 words.

i. Differentiate between Nomadic Herding and Commercial Livestock Rearing.

Answer:
Nomadic herding is a traditional subsistence practice in which herders migrate seasonally with their animals in search of pasture and water. They depend on livestock for basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. The type of animals reared varies by region, and movement follows established territorial patterns based on tradition.

Commercial livestock rearing is a modern, organized, and capital-intensive system. Animals are raised on fixed ranches managed scientifically. Generally, one breed is reared for products like meat, wool, or hides. The system relies on scientific breeding, veterinary care, and market demand. It is common in developed nations such as the United States, Argentina, and New Zealand, focusing mainly on productivity and exports.

ii. Discuss the important characteristic features of plantation agriculture. Name a few important plantation crops from different countries.

Answer:
Plantation agriculture involves large estates with heavy capital investment, skilled management, and use of scientific techniques. It usually specializes in a single crop and depends on inexpensive labor and well-developed transport to connect farms with processing units and export markets.

Major plantation crops include tea in India and Sri Lanka, coffee and cocoa in West African countries, rubber in Malaysia, sugarcane and bananas in the West Indies, and coconut in the Philippines. This farming system was initially introduced by European settlers in tropical regions and is now managed by governments or private owners.