Chapter 4 – Agriculture (Class 10

Geography)
Types of Farming in India

1. Primitive Subsistence Farming

●​ Primitive subsistence farming is practiced on small patches of land using traditional

tools such as hoe, dao, and digging sticks.
●​ This farming type relies completely on the monsoon, natural fertility of the soil, and
suitability of other environmental conditions.
●​ It is often called “slash and burn” agriculture. Farmers clear a piece of land by cutting
or burning trees, cultivate it, and after the soil loses fertility, they shift to another patch
of land.
●​ It is known by different names in different regions of India, such as Jhumming in
Assam and Meghalaya, Pamlou in Manipur, Dipa in Mizoram, and Bewar or Dahiya in
Madhya Pradesh.

2. Intensive Subsistence Farming

●​ Intensive subsistence farming is the most widely practiced farming in densely

populated regions of India, particularly the Indo-Gangetic Plains.
●​ It is labor-intensive farming, where farmers put in a large amount of human effort for
cultivation.
●​ Farmers use high doses of biochemical inputs, irrigation, and fertilizers to obtain
maximum production from small patches of land.
●​ A major disadvantage of this system is that the inheritance of land has led to farm
plots becoming smaller and smaller over generations.
●​ Even though the landholdings are small, they are continuously cultivated without
allowing the soil to rest, leading to soil exhaustion and declining productivity.

3. Commercial Farming

●​ Commercial farming is practiced on a large scale with the main aim of selling the
produce in the market.​

●​ It uses modern inputs such as HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds, chemical fertilizers,
pesticides, and machinery.​

●​ Commercial farming is highly mechanized and produces crops in surplus quantities.​

●​ One important type of commercial farming is Plantation Farming.​

​
Plantation Farming​
 ○​ Plantation farming involves growing a single crop on a large area.
○​ It requires a large amount of capital, well-organized management, and
laborers in large numbers.
○​ The produce from plantations is mainly used as raw material for industries
and also exported to foreign markets.
○​ Examples of plantation crops are tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and banana.
○​ Tea plantations are mainly found in Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling and
Jalpaiguri districts), and Tamil Nadu.
○​ Coffee plantations are concentrated in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
○​ Rubber plantations are found in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and coastal Karnataka.

Cropping Seasons in India

1. Rabi Crops

●​ Sown in winter (October–December) and harvested in summer (April–June).

●​ Require cool, dry climate during growth and warm weather during ripening.
●​ Important rabi crops: wheat, barley, peas, gram, mustard.
●​ Major producing states: Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir,
Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh.
●​ The Green Revolution greatly increased rabi crop production in northwestern India.

2. Kharif Crops

●​ Sown with the onset of monsoon (June–July) and harvested in September–October.

●​ It requires a hot and wet climate.
●​ Important kharif crops: rice, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute,
groundnut, soyabean.
●​ Major producing states: Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar.

3. Zaid Crops

●​ Short-season crops grown between rabi and kharif (March–June).

●​ Examples: watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, fodder crops.
●​ Mainly grown with irrigation in states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana.

Food Crops of India

1. Rice

●​ Rice is the staple food crop of a majority of people in India.

●​ It grows well in regions with high temperature (above 25°C), high humidity, and an
annual rainfall of more than 100 cm.
●​ Rice requires plenty of water, and therefore it is grown in areas with assured rainfall,
such as the eastern and southern parts of the country.
 ●​ In areas with less rainfall, rice is grown with the help of irrigation (Punjab, Haryana,
western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan).
●​ Major rice-producing states are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Odisha,
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Assam.

2. Wheat

●​ Wheat is the second most important cereal crop in India.

●​ It grows well in the cool and dry climate of the rabi season.
●​ The ideal temperature for its growth is between 10°C and 15°C during sowing and
about 20°C to 25°C during ripening.
●​ Wheat requires 50–75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed throughout the growing
season. Irrigation is also necessary in some regions.
●​ Major wheat-producing states are Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Bihar, and Rajasthan.

3. Maize

●​ Maize is both a food and fodder crop in India.

●​ It requires a temperature of about 21°C to 27°C and grows well in areas receiving
50–100 cm of rainfall.
●​ In states like Bihar, maize is grown in the rabi season using irrigation.
●​ Major maize-producing states are Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.

4. Millets

●​ Millets are coarse grains, also called “dry crops,” because they need less water and
can grow in dry regions.
●​ Jowar, bajra, and ragi are important millets grown in India.
○​ Jowar grows well in areas with moderate rainfall and is mainly produced in
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
○​ Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soils. Major producing
states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Gujarat.
○​ Ragi grows in dry regions and red, black, sandy, loamy, and shallow black
soils. Major producing states are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh,
and Uttarakhand.

5. Pulses

●​ Pulses are an important source of protein in a vegetarian diet.

●​ They grow well in the dry climate and require less moisture.
●​ Being leguminous crops, pulses help restore soil fertility by fixing nitrogen in the soil.
●​ Major pulses include tur (arhar), moong, urad, masur, peas, and gram.
●​ Major pulse-producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
Other Important Crops

1. Sugarcane

●​ Sugarcane is a tropical as well as subtropical crop.

●​ It grows well in hot and humid climates, requiring temperatures between 21°C and
27°C and rainfall between 75 and 100 cm. Irrigation is necessary in areas of low
rainfall.
●​ India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane in the world.
●​ Major producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu,
Andhra Pradesh, and Bihar.

2. Oilseeds

●​ India is the largest producer of oilseeds in the world.

●​ Oilseeds provide edible oil for cooking and are also used in industries to make soap,
cosmetics, and ointments.
●​ Main oilseeds include groundnut, mustard, soybean, castor seed, sesame, and
sunflower.
●​ Groundnut is a kharif crop, grown mainly in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil
Nadu. Mustard is a rabi crop grown in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

3. Tea

●​ Tea is an important beverage crop in India.

●​ It requires a warm and moist climate, rainfall ranging from 150 to 250 cm, and gentle
slopes for proper drainage.
●​ Tea is a labor-intensive crop, requiring cheap and skilled labor.
●​ Major producing states are Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri), Tamil Nadu,
and Kerala.

4. Coffee

●​ Coffee is a plantation crop that grows well in tropical climate conditions.

●​ It was introduced in India by the British.
●​ Indian coffee is known for its quality in the international market.
●​ Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are the main producers of coffee.

5. Horticulture Crops

●​ India is a world leader in the production of fruits and vegetables.

●​ Mangoes are grown in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and West
Bengal.
●​ Bananas are grown in Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat.
●​ Grapes are grown in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
●​ Apples, pears, apricots, and walnuts are grown in Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal
Pradesh.
●​ Vegetables like potatoes, onions, tomatoes, cauliflower, and brinjals are also widely
cultivated.
 Non-Food Crops

1. Cotton

●​ Cotton is the most important fibre crop in India.

●​ It requires high temperature, light rainfall (about 210 frost-free days), and bright
sunshine.
●​ Cotton grows best in black soil of the Deccan Plateau, though it also grows in alluvial
soil.
●​ Cotton plants need about 6 to 8 months to mature.
●​ India is one of the largest producers and exporters of cotton in the world.
●​ Major cotton-producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, and Haryana.

2. Jute

●​ Jute is known as the “Golden Fibre.”

●​ It grows well in a hot and humid climate, with temperatures above 25°C and heavy
rainfall.
●​ Jute requires fertile alluvial soil, found in the deltaic regions of rivers.
●​ Major jute-producing states are West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, and Meghalaya.
●​ Jute is used to make gunny bags, ropes, mats, carpets, and handicrafts.
●​ With the growing demand for eco-friendly packaging, jute is gaining importance
again.

3. Rubber

●​ Rubber is an equatorial crop, but it is also grown under tropical and sub-tropical
conditions in India.
●​ It requires moist and humid climate with rainfall of more than 200 cm and
temperatures above 25°C.
●​ India is the fourth largest producer of rubber in the world.
●​ Rubber is mainly produced in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.

Technological and Institutional Reforms

Since Independence, the government of India has introduced many measures to improve the
condition of farmers and modernize agriculture.

1. Institutional Reforms

●​ After independence, the government abolished the zamindari system to end

exploitation of farmers.
●​ Consolidation of land holdings was encouraged to reduce fragmentation of land.
●​ The government provided subsidies on inputs such as fertilizers, irrigation, and
electricity to support farmers.
 ●​ Establishment of cooperatives and institutions like NABARD (National Bank for
Agriculture and Rural Development) provided credit support.
●​ Minimum Support Price (MSP), procurement price, and buffer stock systems were
introduced to ensure food security and fair income for farmers.
●​ Agricultural Produce Market Committees (APMCs) were set up to regulate markets
and protect farmers from exploitation by traders.

2. Technological Reforms

●​ The Green Revolution in the 1960s introduced High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds,
chemical fertilizers, and pesticides, which led to increased productivity of wheat and
rice.
●​ White Revolution (Operation Flood) was introduced to increase milk production in the
country.
●​ Use of modern irrigation techniques, such as tube wells and canals, has increased
agricultural output.
●​ Use of tractors, harvesters, threshers, and other modern agricultural machinery has
reduced dependence on manual labor.
●​ Satellite imagery and agricultural research stations provide scientific support to
farmers for weather prediction, soil testing, and crop planning.

3. Current Challenges and Need for Reforms

●​ Despite progress, agriculture in India still faces challenges like fragmentation of

landholdings, lack of storage facilities, low productivity, and farmer indebtedness.
●​ Sustainable agricultural practices are needed to prevent soil degradation, overuse of
chemicals, and groundwater depletion.
●​ Promotion of organic farming, use of bio-fertilizers, diversification into horticulture and
floriculture, and crop insurance schemes are being encouraged to support farmers.