Q. What are non-farm primary activities? How are these activities related to physiographic features in India? Discuss with suitable examples.

Model Answer:

Non-Farm Primary Activities and Physiographic Features in India

Non-farm primary activities include mining, quarrying, fishing, and forestry—economic activities that directly extract natural resources excluding agriculture. These activities are intrinsically linked to India’s diverse physiographic features, which determine their spatial distribution and economic viability.

India’s geological formations and relief features fundamentally shape these activities. The relationship manifests through:

• Mining in Mineral-Rich Plateaus: The Chotanagpur plateau’s Gondwana formations host extensive coal mining (Jharia, Raniganj coalfields), while the Dharwar system rocks in Odisha-Chhattisgarh belt contain rich iron ore deposits (Bailadila, Dalli-Rajhara mines). The ancient Aravallis yield non-ferrous minerals like zinc and lead (Zawar mines, Rajasthan).

• Fishing across Water Bodies: India’s 7,516 km coastline supports marine fishing, particularly in Kerala (prawns, sardines) and Gujarat (pomfret, Bombay duck). The Himalayan rivers enable trout farming in Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, while deltaic regions of Andhra Pradesh excel in aquaculture (shrimp farming).

• Forestry in Varied Forest Zones: The Western Ghats’ high rainfall supports teak and sandalwood extraction, Himalayan slopes provide pine resin and medicinal herbs (Uttarakhand’s chir pine), and Sundarbans’ mangroves yield honey and forest products.

• Quarrying from Rock Formations: The Deccan trap’s basaltic rocks provide building stones (Maharashtra black stone), while Shivalik hills supply limestone for cement industry.

Conclusion: Physiographic features deterministically control non-farm primary activities’ distribution, making geography destiny for India’s resource economy.