NCERT Class 8 Science Textbook for Blind Students made Screen Readable by Dr T K Bansal.

• In order to provide food to our growing population, we need to adopt certain agricultural practices.
• Same kind of plants cultivated at a place constitute a crop.
• In India, crops can be broadly categorised into two types based on seasons - rabi and kharif crops.
• It is necessary to prepare soil by tilling and levelling. Ploughs and levellers are used for this purpose.
• Sowing of seeds at appropriate depths and distances gives good yield. Good variety of seeds are sown after selection of healthy seeds. Sowing is done by seed drills.
• Soil needs replenishment and enrichment through the use of organic manure and fertilisers. Use of chemical fertilisers has increased tremendously with the introduction of new crop varieties.
• Supply of water to crops at appropriate intervals is called irrigation.
• Weeding involves removal of unwanted and uncultivated plants called weeds.
• Harvesting is the cutting of the mature crop manually or by machines.
• Separation of the grains from the chaff is called threshing.
• Proper storage of grains is necessary to protect them from pests and microorganisms.
• Food is also obtained from animals for which animals are reared. This is called animal husbandry.