Agriculture

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating crops and raising animals for food,
fiber, and other products. It is vital to human survival and has evolved greatly
over time

TYPES OF FARMING IN INDIA

Farming practices in India vary depending on environmental factors,
technology. and socio-cultural practices. The main types of farming are
primitive subsistence farming, intensive subsistence farming, and commercial
farming.

Primitive Subsistence Farming: This type of farming involves clearing a

patch of land to grow crops, and when the soil fertility decreases, farmers
shift to another patch. It is known as "slash and burn" agriculture and is
mainly dependent on monsoons. It is practiced in a few parts of India, and
land productivity is low.
Intensive Subsistence Farming: This type of farming is labor-intensive and
involves using high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation to achieve
higher production. It is practiced in areas with high population pressure on
land.
Commercial Farming: This type of farming uses modern inputs like high-
yielding seeds, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides to obtain higher
productivity. Plantation farming, a type of commercial farming, involves
growing a single crop in a large area, using capital-intensive inputs. with
migrant laborers. Industries use all the produce, and examples of crops
include tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and bananas.

Mnemonic
P-Primitive subsistence farming.
PIC I- Intensive subsistence farming.
C-Commercial farming.
India country with diverse soil, climate and cultivation practices, which makes it
possible to cultivate a variety of food and non-food crops. The major crops grown
in India are:

Rice
India is the world's second largest producer of rice after China.
Rice is a staple food crop for the majority of Indians.
It requires high rainfall (above 100cm) and high temperature (above 25°C)
to grow.
Proper irrigation can allow rice to be grown in low rainfall areas. Major rice
producing states include West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha,
Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Kerala.
Wheat
Wheat is the main food crop in the north and northwestern parts of India.
This Rabi crop requires a cool season and. bright sunshine during ripening.
Rainfall should be between 50 to 75cm.
There are two important wheat growing zones in the country the Ganga-
Satluj Plains and the Black soil Region in Deccan.
Major wheat producing states include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Haryana, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan.
Millets
Millets are also known as coarse grains.
Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi are important millets grown in India. Millets have high
nutritional value.

Maize
Maize is a crop that is used both as food and fodder.
It is a kharif crop but can also be grown as a Rabi crop in Bihar. Maize
requires a temperature between 25°C to 27°C.
It grows well on old alluvial soil.
Major maize producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra
Pradesh, and Karnataka..

Pulses
India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses.
Pulses are the main source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
Major pulses grown in India include Urad. Arhar, Moong. Masur, Peas, and
Gram.
Pulses need less moisture and can survive in dry climates.
Being leguminous crops, they are grown as rotational crops to restore soil
fertility by fixing nitrogen (except Arhar).
Major pulses producing states are Uttar Pradesh. Rajasthan, Madhya
Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.

FOOD CROPS OTHER THAN GRAINS

Oilseeds
Oilseeds cover about 12% of the total cropped area of India. Major oilseeds
grown in India include groundnut, mustard, soybean, linseed, cotton seeds,
castor seeds, and sesame.
Some of them are used as raw materials for soaps, cosmetics, and ointments.
India is the second-largest producer of groundnut after China. Groundnut is
a kharif crop.
Gujarat is the largest producer of groundnut, followed by Andhra Pradesh and
Tamil Nadu.
Tea
India is the second-largest producer of tea in the world after China.
Tea is a beverage crop that was initially introduced by the British and is an
example of a plantation crop.
Tea bushes require well-drained fertile soil, rich in humus and organic
matter.
Tea requires a warm and moist frost-free climate throughout the year.
Major tea producing states are Assam, the hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal,
Kerala, Uttarakhand, Tripura, and Meghalaya.

Sugarcane
Sugarcane is a tropical as well as subtropical crop that requires almost a
year to grow.
It can be grown on a variety of soils, as long as they are fertile and well-
drained
Sugarcane requires a hot and humid climate to grow with a temperature
between 20°C to 27°C and annual rainfall between 75-100cm.
India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane in the world after Brazil.
Sugarcane is the main source of sugar, jaggery, and khandsari. Major
sugarcane producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab,
Haryana, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh

Coffee
Indian coffee is globally recognized for its high quality and is in high
demand.
The Arabian variety of coffee was initially brought to India from Yemen.
Coffee cultivation was first done in India on Baba Budan Hills. Major coffee
producing states in India. are Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

Horticulture Crops
Horticulture crops refer to the cultivation of fruits and vegetables.
India is the second largest producer of horticulture crops in the world after
China.
India produces both tropical and temperate fruits.
Mangoes are produced in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
 Oranges are produced in Nagpur and Cherrapunji in Meghalaya. Apples are
produced in Himachal Pradesh and Kashmir. Pineapples are produced in
Meghalaya.
Grapes are produced in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
Important vegetable crops in India include peas, cauliflower, onions, cabbage,
tomatoes, brinjal, and potatoes.

NON-FOOD CROPS

Rubber
Rubber is primarily grown in equatorial regions, but can also be cultivated in
certain tropical areas.
It is a crucial raw material for various industries including auto parts, tires,
belts, footwear, and hoses.
Major rubber producing states in India include Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Fibre Crops
India grows four major fibre crops including cotton, jute, hemp, and natural
silk.
Cotton, jute, and hemp are plant products, while silk is obtained from silkworm
cocoons.
The process of rearing silkworms for the production of silk fibre is called
sericulture.

Cotton
Cotton is a significant raw material for the textile industry.
It grows well in drier regions of black soil in Deccan and takes 6-8 months to
mature.
India is the second-largest producer of cotton worldwide, after China.
Cotton requires high temperatures, light rainfall or irrigation.
210 frost-free days, and bright sunshine for growth.
Major cotton-producing states in India include Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya
Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh.
Jute
Jute is also known as the "Golden fibre".
This strong fibre is used to make gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets, and
other items.
It grows well in well-drained fertile soils in floodplains.
Major jute-producing states in India include West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar,
Assam, and Meghalaya.