SHRI MAHAVEERJI PUBLIC SCHOOL

Class – X
Subject – Social Science ( geography)
Chapter- 4 AGRICULTURE

◇ Agriculture –

• Two-thirds of India’s population is engaged in agricultural activities.

• Agriculture is a primary activity that produces most of the food raw material for
various industries.

A. Types of farming –

Cultivation methods have changed significantly depending upon the characteristics of

physical environment, technological know-how and socio-cultural practices.

(i) Primitive Subsistence Farming:

• Carried by small farmers on small patches of land.

• Use of primitive tools like hoe, dao, digging sticks with the help of family or
community labour.
• This farming depends upon rainfall & natural fertility of the soil.
• Also known as slash and burn agriculture and Shifting cultivation.

(Slash and Burn Agriculture : Slash and burn is a method of farming that involves clearing
land by destroying and burning all the trees and plants on it, farming there for a short time,
and then moving on to clear a new piece of land. )
• It is known by different names in India and the world.
( It is jhumming in north-eastern states like Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland;
Pamlou in Manipur, Dipa in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh, and in Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
‘Milpa’ in Mexico and Central America, ‘Roca’ in Brazil, ‘Ray’ in Vietnam).
(ii) Intensive Subsistence Farming :
• This type of farming is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land.
• It is labour-intensive farming, where high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation
are used for higher production.
 • Problems of Intensive Farming: Division of land through successive generations
leads to plot size getting smaller and smaller. This makes it impossible to properly
manage the farm inputs. Moreover, large-scale farming is not possible in that case.
• The farmer is forced to take maximum output from the limited land.
(iii) Commercial farming :
• Various modern inputs are used in this type of farming, e.g. HYV(High Yielding
Variety) seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides.
• Commercialization vary from one region to another. Ex - Wheat and Rice. (Rice is a
commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab, but in Odisha, it is a subsistence crop.)
• Plantation is also a type of commercial farming.

Plantation:

• A single crop is grown on a large area.

• It requires intensive capital inputs and a large number of workers.
• Requires a well-developed network of transport and communication.
• processing industries and a good market.
• Examples - Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, banana, etc.

B. Cropping pattern –

India has three cropping seasons: Rabi, Kharif and Zaid.

(i) Rabi Crops

• Sowing period : Start of winter i.e. October to December.

• Harvesting period : Start of summer i.e. April to June
• Crops of this season : Wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard.
• These crops are grown in many states of India i.e. Punjab, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, etc.
• Reason for the successful rabi crops is due to the Western temperate cyclones
that cause rainfall in December-January. And also the success of green
revolution.

(ii) kharif crops

• Sowing period : Onset of monsoon i.e. May to July.

• Harvesting period : September to October.
• Crops of this season : Paddy( rice), maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad,
cotton, jute, groundnut and soybean.
 • Some of the important rice growing regions are- Assam, West Bengal, Uttar
Pradesh, Bihar, coastal regions of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, kerala,
etc.
• In states of Assam, West Bengal and Odisha, three crops of paddy are grown in a
year. These are Aus, Aman and Boro.

(Iii) Zaid crops

• Sowing period : March-April

• Harvesting period : May-June
• Crops of this season : Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables and fodder
crops.
• Irrigation : private source of irrigation like canals, tube – wells, lakes, etc.

C. Major Crops –

A variety of food and non food crops are grown in different parts of the country
depending upon the variations in soil, climate and cultivation practices. Major crops
grown in India are :-

1. Rice

• Cropping Season : Kharif Crop

• Temperature : 25 degree C or above
• Rainfall : Above 100cm (high humidity)
• Area : Northern plains, North-eastern states , coastal areas and deltaic region
• State : Orissa, West Bengal,Bihar and Tamil Nadu.
• In areas of less rainfall ( Punjab, Haryana, parts of UP and Rajasthan),
development of canals and tubewelss made possible to grow rice.
• Most important cereal crop.
• (India is 2nd largest producer of rice in the world after China)

2. Wheat

• Cropping Season : Rabi Crop

• Temperature : Cool growing season and Bright sunshine during harvest.
• Rainfall : 50cm to 75cm.
• Area : Ganga-Sutluj plain and Black soil region of Deccan
• State :Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
• Second most important cereal crop.
 • India is 2nd largest producer of wheat in the world after China)

3. Maize

• Cropping Season : Kharif Crop

• Temperature : 21 degree C to 27 degree C
• Rainfall : 75cm to 100cm
• Area : Old alluvial soil
• State : Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh
• Used as both food and fodder.
• Use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds, fertilisers and irrigation have
contributed to its increasing production.
• (USA is the largest producer of Maize in the world. Our India is at 7 th position)

4. Pulses

• Cropping Season : Depend on crops

• Temperature : 25 degree C to 30 degree C
• Rainfall : Average 45cm
• Area : Evenly distributed all over the country
• State : UP, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh
• Major pulses – tur, urad, moong, masur, peas and gram.
• The major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
• ( India is the Largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world)
• Pulses are leguminous crops (except tur). They help in restoring soil fertility by
fixing nitrogen from the air.

∴ These are mostly grown in rotation with other crops.

5. Millets (also known as coarse grains) - Have high nutritional value

Jowar : Third most important crop, Rainfed crop.

Maharashtra is the largest producer. Others are MP, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka

Bajra : Grows well on Sandy soil and Black soil.

Rajasthan is largest producer. Others are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana.

Ragi : Crop of dry region, grows well on Red, Black, Sandy and Loamy soil.
Ragi is rish in iron, calcium, other nutrients and roughage.
Karnataka is the largest producer. Others are Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand,
Sikkim, Jharkhand.

D. Food crops other than grains –

1. Sugarcane

• Temperature : 21 degree C to 27 degree C

• Rainfall : 75cm to 100cm
• Tropical as well as sub-tropical crop.
• Need Manual labour.
• India is the second largest producer. (After Brazil)
• Raw Material/Source of Jaggery, Khandsari, Sugar and Molasses.
• Major sugarcane producing states - Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra, Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana

2. Oil seeds

• Main oil seeds produced in India - Groundnut, Mustard, Coconut, Sesamum, Soyabean,
Caster seed, Linseed( flax) and Sunflower.
• Most of them are edible and used as cooking mediums.
• Used in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.
• After extraction of oil from oilseeds, a by product is remained. This is known as oil cake.
This oil cake is used as fertilizers and also for cattle fuel.
• Groundnut( Major oil seed) is a Kharif Crop and Linseed and mustard are Rabi crops.
• sesamum is a kharif crop in North India and rabi crop in South India.
• (India is the largest producer of oil seeds in the world.)

3. Horticulture Crops

• India is the 2nd largest producer of fruits and vegetables. (After China)
• Mangoes of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, Oranges of Nagpur
and Cherrapunjee, Banana of Kerela, Lichi and Guava of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar,
pineapples of Meghalaya, apples, pears apricots and walnuts of Jammu & kashmir
and Himachal pradesh, etc.
• India produces 13% of world’s vegetable.
• Important producer of Cauliflower, Brinjal, Potato, Tomato, onion, cabbage, etc.

4. Tea

• Tropical as well as subtropical crops.

 • Plantation Crops and Beverage Crops
• Grow well on deep and fertile well drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter
• Tea bushes require warm and moist, frost-free climate throughout the year.
• Frequent and evenly distributed Rainfall.
• Labour intensive industry
• Processed within the tea garden to restore freshness.
• Major tea producing states are - Assam, Darjeeling Hills, Jalpaiguri District of West
Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
• India is the 2nd largest producer of tea in the world ( after China)

5. Coffee

• Indian coffee is known for it’s quality - Arabic variety brought from Yemen.
• Initially produced in Baba Budan Hills ( karnataka) But Now it’s production is
confined to Nilgiri in Karnataka, Kerela and Tamil Nadu.
• Brazil is the largest producer of coffee in the world and India holds 6th position .(
India produces 4% of world Coffee Production.)

E. Non food crops –

1. Rubber

• Equatorial crop, but can be grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

• It requires a moist and humid climate.
• Rainfall more than 200cm.
• Temperature more than 25 degree C.
• Important industrial raw material.
• Major areas - Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, Andaman and Nicobar.
• Thailand is the largest producer of rubber in the world . India holds 4th position in it.

2. Fibre crops

• Cotton, Jute, Hemp and Natural Silk are major fiber crops.
• Silk Cocoons of Silkworms fed on mulberry leaves. Rearing of silk worms for the
production of silk fibre known as Sericulture.
(a) Cotton –
• It is a kharif crop
• Raw material for the cotton textile industry.
• Grows well on Black Soil.
 • High temperature, low rainfall and 210 frost-free days with bright sunshine.
• Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
Tamil Nadu, Uttar pradesh, etc.
• India became the largest producer of cotton followed by China and USA.
(b) Jute –
• It is kharif crop and also known as Golden Fiber.
• High temperature and well drained fertile soil of flood plains.
• Used for making variety of products.
• Ex- Mats, Rope, gunny bags, Carpets, etc.
• Losing market due to high cost and synthetic fiber (Nylon).
• West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha
• India is the largest producer of jute in the world followed by Bangladesh.

F. Technological and Institutional Reforms

Technological reforms –

• Green revolution and white revolution (operation flood).

• Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers were introduced
on the radio and television.
• Subsidy on Agricultural products.

Institutional reforms –

• After independence, major institutional reforms such as collectivisation,

consolidation of holdings, cooperation and abolition of zamindari, etc. were given
priority.
• Land Reforms were focus of first five year plan.
• Crop insurance was provided for disease, fire, cyclone, flood, and drought.
• To provide loans to farmers at low-interest rates, banks, cooperative societies,
grameen banks were established.
• For the benefit of farmers, some of the schemes introduced were the Personal
Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS), Kissan Credit Card (KCC).

G. Bhoodan Gramdan Movement

• Bhoodam Gramdan Movement was started by Vinoba Bhave.

• He was a follower of Gandhi’s idea of Gramswarajya andafter Gandhi’s death,
undertook a Padyatra to spread Gandhi’s message.
 • The incident happened in Pochampalli, Andhra Pradesh.
• Shri Ram Chandra Reddy stood up and offered 80 acres of land to 80 landless
villagers, which was known as ‘Bhoodan’.
• Later Vinoba Bhave travelled and his idea spread, some zamindars offered the
villages owned by them to be distributed among landless, known as Gramdan.
• This movement initiated by Vinoba Bhave is also known as Blood-less
Revolution.
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❖ Questions/ Answers –

Q-1) “ The land under cultivation has got reduced day by day”. Can you imagine its
consequences?

Ans. A declining area of land under cultivation coupled with increasing population have
many consequesnces. These are:
→ Food shortage for the rising population.
→ Rise in price of food grains.
→ Unemployment and loss of livelihood for farmers.
→ Shortage of supply of raw material for agro-industries.
→ Adverse affect on export trade as agricultural products comprise a major section of
international trade.

Q-2 “Irrigation has changed the cropping pattern of many regions in India”. Analyse this
statement.
Ans. It is true that irrigation has changed the cropping pattern of many regions.
• Due to availability of irrigation facilities even those crops are now cultivated which
were earlier not possible to cultivate in certain areas. For example, rice as it
requires annual rainfall of over 100 cm and standing water.
• The launching of Green Revolution has enabled proper irrigation facilities in Punjab
and Haryana.
• This has resulted in production of paddy (rice) to grow even in less rainfall areas.

Q-3) Why is agriculture called the backbone of Indian economy?

Ans. Agriculture is called the backbone of Indian economy due to the following reasons:
(i) Agriculture is a primary activity in India and employs almost two-third of its population.
(ii) Agriculture provides raw materials for various industries like sugarcane, cotton, etc. in
India.
(iii) Some agricultural products like tea, coffee, spices are major exports of India.
(iv) Many industries that produce agricultural inputs like fertilisers, farm machinery, etc.
survive because of agriculture.
(v) Agriculture provides food for consumption due to which people directly or indirectly
depend on agriculture.

Q-4) What are the challenges faced by the farmers today?

Ans. (a) Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from international competition.
(b) reduction in public investment in agricultural sector especially in irrigation, power
infrastructure and other inputs.
(c) Subsidy on fertilizers has been decreased leading to higher cost of production.
(d) Reduction in import duties on agriculture products.
(e) Farmers are withdrawing their investment from agriculture, resulting in lack of
alternative employment opportunities.
(f) Erratic nature of monsoons affects agriculture production on a large scale.

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