On the given political outline map of the world (on page 25), seven geographical features have been marked as

Question

Q. On the given political outline map of the world (on page 25), seven geographical features have been marked as A, B, C, D, E, F and G. Identify any five with the help of the following information and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. A. A major sea port B. A major airport C. A terminal station of a trans-continental railway D. A major area of nomadic herding E. A major area of extensive commercial grain farming F. A major area of commercial livestock rearing G. A major area of subsistence gathering [Visually Impaired alternative in lieu of Q.29 (answer any five): (29.1) Name any one sea port of North America. (29.2) Name any one airport of South America. (29.3) Name the terminal station at the western end of Australian Trans-Continental Railway. (29.4) Name the area of nomadic herding in the eastern part of Africa. (29.5) Name the area of extensive commercial grain farming of South Africa. (29.6) Name any one area of commercial livestock rearing of Oceania. (29.7) Name the area of subsistence gathering of Africa.]

CBSECBSE Class XII Board 2025Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★

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Concept understanding — Agricultural Systems Comparison

Agricultural Systems Comparison – A First Look

Think of how you buy vegetables. You might pick them from a local vendor who grew them in a small plot nearby, or you might buy the same vegetables from a supermarket where they were grown hundreds of kilometres away on a vast farm. Both give you food, but the way they are produced, the people involved, the tools used, and the impact on the land are completely different. That difference is what agricultural systems comparison is about.

What It Means

In simple terms, an agricultural system is the entire way a farming operation is organised — from the size of the land and the crops grown, to the tools used, the labour employed, and whether the output is for the farmer's own family or for sale in markets. Comparing these systems means looking at two or more such ways of farming side by side, and understanding why they differ and what each one implies for the farmer, the economy, and the environment.

The NCERT textbook for Class 10 Geography (Contemporary India – II) introduces this idea when discussing types of farming. It distinguishes between subsistence farming and commercial farming as two broad systems. The comparison is not about which is "better" in an absolute sense — it is about recognising that each system arises from a specific combination of factors: climate, soil, technology, population pressure, and market access.

Why It Matters

For a commerce or humanities student, this concept is important because farming is not just about growing food. It is an economic activity. The system a farmer uses determines:

How much surplus is produced for trade
How many people are employed
What kind of infrastructure (roads, storage, markets) is needed
How vulnerable the farmer is to price changes or crop failure
The long-term health of the soil and water resources

When you compare systems, you begin to see why some regions are food-surplus and others are food-deficit, why some farmers are prosperous and others struggle, and why governments design different policies for different kinds of agriculture.

The Two Main Systems (as per NCERT)

Important

The NCERT textbook presents subsistence farming and commercial farming as the two fundamental categories. Every other classification — intensive vs. extensive, primitive vs. modern — is a variation within these two.

Subsistence Farming

This is farming done primarily to feed the farmer's own family. The holding is small (typically 1–2 hectares in India), the tools are traditional (plough, hoe, manual labour), and the crops are chosen for family needs — rice, wheat, millets, pulses. There is little or no surplus to sell. Within this, NCERT mentions two sub-types:

Primitive subsistence farming – Shifting cultivation (slash-and-burn) practised in forested areas like the north-eastern states. Land is cleared, cultivated for a few years, then abandoned when fertility declines.
Intensive subsistence farming – Practised in high-population areas like the Indo-Gangetic plains. The same land is cultivated year after year with high labour input and multiple cropping to maximise output from a small plot.

Commercial Farming

Here, the primary goal is to produce crops for sale in the market. Farms are larger, inputs are modern (chemical fertilisers, high-yielding seeds, machinery), and the output is often a single cash crop — sugarcane, cotton, tea, coffee, rubber, or wheat for export. NCERT highlights three forms:

Commercial grain farming – Large wheat or maize farms, common in the USA, Canada, Argentina.
Mixed farming – Crops and livestock are raised together on the same farm, providing both food and income.
Plantation agriculture – A single crop (tea, coffee, rubber, banana) grown on a large estate, often for export, with substantial capital and labour.

How to Compare Them – The Key Dimensions

When you are asked to compare agricultural systems, do not just list definitions. Look at these dimensions:

Dimension	Subsistence Farming	Commercial Farming
Purpose	Self-consumption	Sale in market
Land size	Small (1–2 ha)	Large (tens to thousands of ha)
Labour	Family labour, high per hectare	Hired labour, low per hectare
Technology	Traditional tools, animal power	Machinery, irrigation, HYV seeds
Crops	Mixed food crops	Single cash crop (monoculture)
Surplus	Little or none	Large surplus for trade
Risk	Crop failure = hunger	Price fluctuation = profit/loss

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This question tests your ability to locate and name major geographical features (ports, airports, railway terminals, and economic activity zones) on a world map. The correct identifications for five of the seven marked features are given below.

This is a map-based identification question from a geography exam. You are shown a political outline map of the world with seven features marked A through G. For each, you must match it to the description provided and write the correct name. The visually impaired alternative lists the same seven items as direct questions — you need to answer any five.

The key skill here is recalling specific, well-known examples of each type of geographical feature. Let's go through each one.

A major sea port (A) — Think of the world's busiest or most famous ports. A classic example is Rotterdam in the Netherlands (Europe's largest port), or Shanghai in China (the world's busiest container port). For North America, New York or Los Angeles are standard answers.
A major airport (B) — The world's busiest airports by passenger traffic include Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (USA), Beijing Capital International Airport (China), or Dubai International Airport (UAE). For South America, São Paulo–Guarulhos International Airport (Brazil) is a strong choice.
A terminal station of a trans-continental railway (C) — Trans-continental railways have two ends. For the Trans-Siberian Railway, the western terminal is Moscow and the eastern is Vladivostok. For the Canadian Pacific Railway, the western terminal is Vancouver and the eastern is Montreal. For the Australian Trans-Continental Railway, the western terminal is Perth and the eastern is Sydney. The question specifically asks for the western end of the Australian line, so the answer is Perth.
A major area of nomadic herding (D) — Nomadic herding is practiced in dry, sparsely populated regions. In Africa, the Sahel region (south of the Sahara) or the East African savanna (e.g., Maasai lands in Kenya/Tanzania) are classic examples. In Asia, the Mongolian steppe or the Arabian Peninsula are major areas.
A major area of extensive commercial grain farming (E) — This is large-scale, mechanized wheat or corn farming. The Great Plains of North America (USA/Canada), the Pampas of Argentina, the Murray-Darling Basin of Australia, and the Ukrainian steppe are all famous. For South Africa, the Highveld region (around the Free State) is the primary area.
A major area of commercial livestock rearing (F) — This is ranching — cattle or sheep on large properties. In Oceania, the Outback of Australia (especially Queensland and New South Wales) and the South Island of New Zealand are major areas. In South America, the Pampas of Argentina and Uruguay are famous for cattle. …

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Same / Similar Concept — real previous-year questions on the same or a closely similar concept, not this exact question.

CBSE 2026Set 64/3/13 marks
$Q. Study the given map carefully and answer the questions that follow : Areas of Nomadic Herding (18.1) Identify the area of nomadic herding marked as 'A' on the map. (18.2) Name an important animal reared in the areas marked as 'B' on the map. (18.3) Describe the main characteristic of nomadic herding practised in the world. [Visually Impaired alternative in lieu of Q.18: Explain the main characteristics of 'hunting and gathering' practised in the world.]$
›Reveal solutionSolution
Nomadic herding involves herders moving with their animals for pasture and water, while hunting and gathering is the oldest human activity, relying directly on nature for sustenance.

I cannot identify the specific areas marked 'A' and 'B' on the map as I do not have access to the visual information. Therefore, I cannot answer questions 18.1 and 18.2. However, I can explain the main characteristics of nomadic herding and hunting and gathering.

Main Characteristics of Nomadic Herding (Q. 18.3)

Nomadic herding, also known as pastoral nomadism, is a primitive subsistence activity where herders move with their animals from one place to another in search of pasture and water. This movement is the defining feature of the practice, driven by the seasonal availability of resources.

The key characteristics of nomadic herding include:

Movement and Transhumance: Herders follow a defined migratory route, often moving between higher pastures in summer and lower valleys in winter. This seasonal movement is known as transhumance. The routes are established over generations and are crucial for the survival of both the herders and their livestock.

Animal Rearing: A variety of animals are reared, depending on the geographical region and climate. Common animals include sheep, goats, camels, yaks, and reindeer. These animals provide milk, meat, wool, hides, and transport for the herders and their families.

Subsistence Economy: Nomadic herding is primarily a subsistence activity, meaning the products are mainly for the herders' own consumption. They may exchange some surplus products like wool, hides, or dairy for other necessities like grain, clothing, or tools from settled communities.

Geographical Distribution: This practice is typically found in semi-arid and arid regions, mountainous areas, and parts of the tundra. Historically, it has been prevalent across the Sahara, Central Asia, parts of the Himalayas, and the Arctic regions.

Small Group Size: Nomadic herders usually live in small, self-sufficient groups or families, as large groups would quickly deplete local resources.

Declining Practice: In modern times, nomadic herding is declining due to several factors, including the imposition of political boundaries, new settlement plans, and the reduction of pasture lands for agriculture or urban development.

Important

The core characteristic of nomadic herding is the continuous movement of herders and their livestock in search of fodder and water, making it a highly adaptive subsistence strategy in challenging environments.

Main Characteristics of Hunting and Gathering (Visual Impaired Alternative)

Hunting and gathering represents the earliest form of human economic activity, where people directly depend on their natural environment for survival. It is a subsistence strategy that involves foraging for wild plants and hunting wild animals.

The main characteristics of hunting and gathering include:

Direct Dependence on Nature: People obtain their food, shelter, and clothing directly from the forests, oceans, and other natural environments. They do not cultivate crops or domesticate animals for food.

Nomadic Lifestyle: Hunters and gatherers typically lead a nomadic or semi-nomadic life. They move frequently to follow animal migrations, find new foraging grounds, or avoid resource depletion in one area. This prevents over-exploitation of local resources.

Small Group Size: They live in small, cohesive groups, often extended families or clans. This is necessary because large groups would quickly exhaust the available resources in any given area. …
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