Agriculture

• Agriculture is the primary activity in India, meaning it is the main occupation for a
large section of the population.
• It includes growing crops, fruits, vegetables, flowers and rearing animals.
• India is an agricultural country because:
o About two-thirds of its population is engaged in agriculture (directly or
indirectly).
o Agriculture provides raw materials to industries (cotton → textile, sugarcane
→ sugar, jute → jute industry).
o It contributes significantly to GDP and exports.
o It ensures food security for the nation.

2. Types of Farming in India

(a) Primitive Subsistence Farming

• Practised on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao,
digging stick.
• Uses family/community labour.
• Dependent on monsoon, no use of fertilizers or modern technology.
• Low productivity.
• Two types:
o Shifting cultivation (Jhumming in North-East, Pamlou in Manipur, Bewar in
MP):
▪ Farmers clear a patch of land, grow crops for a few years, then leave it
to regain fertility.
▪ Leads to deforestation, soil erosion.
o Nomadic herding: Practised in semi-arid and arid regions; herders move
with animals in search of pastures.

(b) Intensive Subsistence Farming

• Practised in densely populated areas (e.g., Indo-Gangetic Plains, coastal regions).

• Small landholdings, high labour input.
• Use of irrigation, fertilizers, HYV seeds to increase production.
• Focused on producing food grains for family consumption and local markets.
• Crops: Rice, wheat, pulses, oilseeds.
(c) Commercial Farming

• Farming for profit and market-oriented.

• Uses HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, pesticides, irrigation,
machinery.
• Large-scale production.
• Crops: Sugarcane, cotton, jute, tea, coffee, oilseeds.
• Plantation farming (a subtype):
o Single crop is grown on large estates (tea in Assam/Darjeeling, coffee in
Karnataka, rubber in Kerala).
o Involves capital investment, modern inputs, migrant labour.

3. Cropping Patterns in India

India has three major cropping seasons:

(a) Kharif Crops (sown in June-July, harvested in Sept-Oct)

• Grow with onset of monsoon.

• Examples: Rice, maize, jowar, bajra, cotton, groundnut, soyabean.
• Major regions: Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, coastal Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Punjab,
Haryana, UP, Bihar.

(b) Rabi Crops (sown in Oct-Dec, harvested in April-June)

• Require cool, dry winter climate for growth and warm climate for ripening.
• Examples: Wheat, barley, gram, mustard, peas.
• Regions: Punjab, Haryana, Himachal, Jammu & Kashmir, UP, MP.
• Dependent on Western Disturbances (rainfall in winter).

(c) Zaid Crops (short season between Rabi & Kharif: March–June)

• Examples: Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, fodder, bitter gourd, pumpkin.

4. Major Crops of India
(a) Food Crops

1. Rice
o Staple food for majority.
o Grown in high temp (25°C+), high rainfall (100+ cm), alluvial soil.
o States: West Bengal (largest), UP, Punjab, Odisha, Andhra, Tamil Nadu,
Kerala.
o Second largest producer after China.
2. Wheat
o Second major food crop.
o Requires cool growing season (10-15°C) and bright sunshine at harvest.
o Soil: alluvial, loamy.
o States: UP (largest), Punjab, Haryana, MP, Rajasthan, Bihar.
o India is 2nd largest producer after China.
3. Millets (Coarse grains: Jowar, Bajra, Ragi)
o Require less rainfall, drought resistant.
o Jowar – Maharashtra (largest).
o Bajra – Rajasthan (largest).
o Ragi – Karnataka (largest).
4. Maize
o Both Rabi & Kharif crop.
o Requires moderate temperature, rainfall, and well-drained soil.
o States: Karnataka, MP, UP, Bihar, Andhra, Telangana.
5. Pulses
o India is largest producer, consumer, and importer.
o Require less moisture, grow in dry climate.
o Improve soil fertility by nitrogen fixation.
o Main: Tur (Arhar), urad, moong, masoor, peas, gram.
o States: MP (largest), UP, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka.

(b) Food Crops other than Grains

1. Sugarcane
o Tropical & subtropical crop.
o Requires hot, humid climate (21–27°C), rainfall (75–100 cm).
o Largest producer – Uttar Pradesh.
o Uses: sugar, jaggery, khandsari, molasses.
2. Oilseeds
o Groundnut (largest in Gujarat), mustard, soyabean, sunflower, sesame,
castor.
 o India is one of the largest producers of oilseeds.

(c) Beverage Crops

1. Tea
o Requires hot, humid climate, well-drained soil, skilled labour.
o Grown on plantations.
o States: Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling), Tamil Nadu, Kerala.
o India – leading producer and exporter.
2. Coffee
o Grown in Karnataka (largest), Kerala, Tamil Nadu.
o Indian coffee known as "Arabica" is of global demand.

(d) Fibre Crops

1. Cotton
o Requires high temp, light rainfall, black soil.
o Grown in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana.
o India – 2nd largest producer after China.
2. Jute (“Golden Fibre”)
o Hot, humid climate, alluvial soil in deltaic regions.
o States: West Bengal (largest), Bihar, Assam, Odisha.
o Uses: gunny bags, ropes, mats.
o India – largest producer of jute.

5. Technological & Institutional Reforms

Since independence, Indian agriculture has faced challenges of fragmented landholdings, low
productivity, dependence on monsoon. To solve this, reforms were introduced:

• Institutional reforms:
o Land reforms (abolition of zamindari, consolidation of land).
o Minimum Support Price (MSP), subsidies, procurement.
o Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS).
• Technological reforms (esp. during Green Revolution):
o HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides.
o Expansion of irrigation.
o Use of modern machinery.
 o White Revolution (milk), Blue Revolution (fisheries).

6. Contribution of Agriculture to Indian Economy

• Provides livelihood to ~50% population.

• Provides food security.
• Provides raw materials to industries.
• Contributes to foreign exchange (exports of tea, coffee, spices, jute, cotton).
• However, share of agriculture in GDP is declining (services sector growing faster).

7. Problems of Indian Agriculture

• Dependence on monsoon (60% agriculture rain-fed).

• Fragmented small landholdings.
• Low productivity due to poor technology.
• Overuse of chemical fertilizers leading to soil degradation.
• Lack of adequate storage and transport facilities.
• Regional inequalities in agricultural development.

8. Sustainable Agriculture

• Use of organic farming, vermicomposting.

• Mixed cropping, crop rotation, contour ploughing.
• Water management – drip irrigation, rainwater harvesting.
• Reduced use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides.