Non-farm primary activities are those primary sector activities that involve the direct extraction or harvesting of natural resources other than crop cultivation.
Major non-farm primary activities in India
Mining
Fishing and aquaculture
Forestry and logging
Animal husbandry and pastoralism
Collection of minor forest produce
Relation with physiographic features
Mining – Concentration in plateau and mountain regions due to ancient crystalline rocks and sedimentary basins. Eg- Iron ore in Odisha-Jharkhand belt, coal in Damodar valley, bauxite in Eastern Ghats.
Forestry – Dense forests grow in high relief and high rainfall areas. Eg- Coniferous forests in Himachal & Uttarakhand, tropical evergreen forests in Western Ghats.
Animal Husbandry – Arid, Semi-Arid and Grassland Regions. Eg- Sheep rearing in Rajasthan, cattle in Gujarat, transhumance in Himalayas.
Fishing – Coastal Plains and Riverine Regions. Eg- Marine fishing in Kerala & Gujarat, inland fisheries in Ganga-Brahmaputra plains, brackish water aquaculture in Andhra Pradesh and Chilika lake
Minor Forest Produce in Central Indian Highlands and North-East hills. Eg- Tendu leaves in Madhya Pradesh, lac in Jharkhand.
Horticulture and Plantation – Grows in hill slopes and high rainfall areas. Eg- Tea in Assam & Darjeeling, spices in Kerala.
This reflects the intimate relationship between natural resource endowment and livelihood patterns, and highlights the need for region-specific, sustainable development strategies.