Question

Read the following passage and answer the questions given below:
Agriculture: 'A Primary Activity'.
When we look at the distribution of agriculture as an occupation in the world, we see that the proportion of people engaged in agriculture is maximum in Africa and then in Asia. Though the area under agriculture is more extensive in Europe, the Americas and Australia; the percentage of population engaged in the activity is very less. Generally, the developed countries of the world have less population engaged in agriculture while the share of population engaged in agriculture is higher in developing countries.
Various crops are produced in the different parts of the world. Various physical and socio-economic factors influence the development of agriculture. Various agricultural methods are found everywhere. Major physical factors that influence agriculture are climate, topography, soil and biotic factors. The economic and social factors include labour, market, capital, transportation facilities, storage facilities, government policies, population, ownership of land etc. According to these factors, the cropping pattern changes.} 
(1) In which continent is there less development of agriculture? 
(2) Which are the factors affecting agricultural practice? 
(3) In which continent is the percentage of population engaged in agriculture highest? 
(4) Which are the social factors affecting agricultural practices?

Hint:

Agriculture’s occupational prominence is higher in developing continents like Africa due to reliance on primary activities.

Answer 1

(1) In which continent is there less development of agriculture?
The passage states that Europe, the Americas, and Australia have extensive agricultural areas but a low percentage of the population engaged in agriculture, indicating less occupational reliance on agriculture (typical of developed continents).
Among these, Australia has the least agricultural development due to its predominantly arid climate, limited fertile land, and high mechanization reducing labor needs.
(2) Which are the factors affecting agricultural practice?
The passage lists:
- Physical factors: Climate, topography, soil, biotic factors.
- Socio-economic factors: Labour, market, capital, transportation facilities, storage facilities, government policies, population, ownership of land.
These influence crop selection and agricultural methods globally.
(3) In which continent is the percentage of population engaged in agriculture highest?
The passage explicitly states that the proportion of people engaged in agriculture is maximum in Africa, followed by Asia.
(4) Which are the social factors affecting agricultural practices?
From the socio-economic factors, the social factors are: labour (availability of workers), population (size/density affecting labor and demand), and ownership of land (land tenure systems).