Agriculture

AGRICULTURE
Over the years, farming practices in India have

undergone significant changes influenced by
factors such as the physical environment,
technological advancements, and socio-cultural
practices. These changes have led to a spectrum
of farming practices ranging from subsistence
farming to commercial farming.
TYPES OF FARMING
PRIMITIVE SUBSISTENCE FARMING
INTENSIVE SUBSISTENCE FARMING
COMMERCIAL FARMING
Let’s learn about each of them in detail
PRIMITIVE SUBSISTENCE
FARMING
This type of farming is practiced on small patches of land.
Primitive tools like: Hoe, Dao, Digging Sticks and family

community labour are used.
Farming mainly depends on monsoon and natural fertility of
soil.
PRIMITIVE SUBSISTENCE
FARMING
Crops are grown as per the suitability of the environmental

condition.
The final output of this fanning technique is just enough for
the family.
Slash and burn agriculture is also known as Shifting
cultivation.
INTENSIVE SUBSISTENCE
FARMING
This type of farming is practiced in thickly populated areas.
In Intensive subsistence agriculture the farmer cultivates a

small plot of land using simple tools and more labour.
There is huge population pressure on this type of farming.
It is labour Intensive.
This involves high degree of use of biochemical inputs and

irrigation.
Intensive farming poses several challenges, one of
which is the issue of land inheritance. As land is
divided among successive generations, plot sizes
become smaller and economically unviable.
Despite limited land availability, farmers strive to

maximize output due to the lack of alternative
livelihood options. This puts immense pressure on
agricultural land.
COMMERCIAL FARMING
In commercial farming crops are grown and animals

are reared for sale in market.
The area cultivated is very large.
It is capital intensive.
Most of the work is done by machines.
Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides are used.

COMMERCIAL FARMING
High yielding variety (HYV) seeds are used in order to

get maximum output.
In the states like Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar

Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra commercial farming
is done on a large scale.
Rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana but in

Odisha, it is a subsistence crop.
CROPPING PATTERN
A cropping pattern is the specific plan for what crops to

grow, where, and when on a piece of land.
It involves factors like types of crops, timing, and spatial
arrangement. Understanding cropping patterns helps in
optimizing agricultural productivity and sustainability.
India has three cropping seasons, i.e. Rabi, Kharif and Zaid.
CROPPING PATTERN
Rabi:
Rabi crops are planted during the winter season,
typically from October to December.
Harvesting of rabi crops usually takes place between

April and June.
Major crops cultivated during the rabi season include

wheat, barley, peas, gram, and oilseeds.
CROPPING PATTERN
Kharif:
Kharif crops are planted at the beginning of the monsoon season and
harvested after the rains, typically between September and October.
Kharif crops are synonymous with summer crops.
Major Kharif crops include rice, maize, jowar, bajra, and jute.
Key rice-growing states are Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu,
Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
CROPPING PATTERN
Zaid:
Between Rabi and Kharif seasons lies Zaid crops.
Major crops of this season include watermelon,

muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, and fodder crops.
Sugarcane is planted during this season but requires

almost a year to grow.
Now, Let’s learn about some of the crops in detail
RICE
Staple food crop in India.
India is the second-largest global producer after

China.
Rice being a kharif crop needs high temperature and
humidity, with annual rainfall over 100 cm.
Grown in North and North-Eastern plains, coastal
areas, and deltaic regions.
Canal irrigation and tube wells facilitate cultivation in

regions with lower rainfall.
WHEAT
Second most important cereal crop.
Main food crop in North and North-Western India.
Needs cool growing season and bright sunshine for

ripening.
Requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly

distributed.
Major wheat growing zones: Ganga-Sutlej Plains, Black soil

regions, Deccan.
MILLETS
Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi are vital millets in
India, despite being coarse grains, they're
highly nutritious.
Ragi is rich in iron, calcium, and micronutrients,

suitable for dry regions. Karnataka is the largest
producer, followed by Tamil Nadu, Himachal
Pradesh, etc.
Jowar, the third most important food crop, is

grown in rain-fed moist areas. Maharashtra leads
in production, followed by Karnataka, etc.
MAIZE
Maize serves as both food and fodder crop.
It's a Kharif crop thriving in temperatures
between 21-27 degrees Celsius and prefers
alluvial soil.
In states like Bihar, it's also grown as a Rabi
crop.
Adoption of modern inputs like HYV seeds,
fertilizers, and irrigation has boosted maize
production.
PULSES
India leads globally in both production and consumption
of pulses.
Pulses are a primary protein source in vegetarian diets.
Major pulses cultivated in India include Tur (Arhar), Urad,
Moong, Masur, Peas, and Gram.
Pulses require less moisture and thrive in dry conditions.
Except for Arhar, all pulses aid in soil fertility restoration
by nitrogen fixation, making them suitable for crop
rotation.
SUGARCANE
Thrives in hot, humid conditions with temperatures
of 21-27°C and rainfall of 75-100 cm.
Suited to tropical and subtropical climates.
Grows on various soil types but requires manual

labor.
India is the second-largest producer globally.
Main source of sugar, jaggery, khandsari, and

molasses.
TEA
The tea plant grows well in tropical and subtropical
climates with deep and well drained soil.
Rich in humus and organic matter.
It requires warm and moist frost-free climate all
through the year.
Frequent showers evenly distributed over the years
ensure the growth of tender leaves.
Tea is a labor intensive industry.
It requires abundant, cheap and skilled labour
COFFEE
India contributes around 4% of global coffee
production.
Indian coffee is renowned for its high quality.
The Arabica variety, originally from Yemen, is
cultivated in India and highly sought after
worldwide.
Initially introduced in the Baba Budan Hills, its
cultivation remains concentrated in the Nilgiri
region spanning Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
HORTICULTURE CROPS
Horticultural crops comprise mainly fruits, vegetables,

ornamental, aromatic, plantation, and medicinal plants.
These crops perform a major role in agriculture

prosperity and the economy of the nation.
Horticulture produce possessing vegetables and fruits

is a crucial source of diet and nutrition.
HORTICULTURE CROPS
India holds the title of the largest producer of fruits and

vegetables globally.
It produces both tropical and temperate fruits.
Some fruits in high demand include:

HORTICULTURE CROPS
Mangoes from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Oranges from Nagpur and Cherapunjee.
Bananas from Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Lichi and Guava from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Pineapples from Meghalaya.
Grapes from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Apples, Pears, Apricots, and Walnuts from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
India produces horticulture crops like rubber,
cotton, jute etc.
COTTON
India is considered the original home of the cotton plant.
Cotton is a primary raw material for the textile industry.
India ranks as the third-largest producer of cotton globally.
It thrives in the drier regions of the black soil found in the

Deccan plateau.
Ideal growth conditions include high temperature, light

rainfall, 210 frost-free days, and abundant sunshine.
RUBBER
Rubber is typically grown in equatorial regions but
can also thrive in tropical and subtropical areas.
Requires a moist and humid climate with over 200

cm of rainfall and temperatures above 25°C.
Serves as a vital industrial raw material.
Main cultivation areas include Kerala, Tamil Nadu,

Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and
Meghalaya's Garo Hills.
JUTE
It is known as the golden fibre.
It requires a well trained fertile soil.
It requires high temperature during the time
of growth.
West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Megahalaya and,
Odisha are the major jute producing states.
Due to its high cost, it is losing market to synthetic
fibres and packing materials particularly the nylon.
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AGRICULTURE

Over the years, farming practices in India have

PRIMITIVE SUBSISTENCE FARMING

INTENSIVE SUBSISTENCE FARMING

This type of farming is practiced on small patches of land.

Primitive tools like: Hoe, Dao, Digging Sticks and family

Crops are grown as per the suitability of the environmental

In Intensive subsistence agriculture the farmer cultivates a

There is huge population pressure on this type of farming.

This involves high degree of use of biochemical inputs and

Despite limited land availability, farmers strive to

In commercial farming crops are grown and animals

Most of the work is done by machines.

Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides are used.

High yielding variety (HYV) seeds are used in order to

In the states like Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar

Rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana but in

A cropping pattern is the specific plan for what crops to

Harvesting of rabi crops usually takes place between

Major crops cultivated during the rabi season include

Major crops of this season include watermelon,

Sugarcane is planted during this season but requires

India is the second-largest global producer after

Canal irrigation and tube wells facilitate cultivation in

Main food crop in North and North-Western India.

Needs cool growing season and bright sunshine for

Requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly

Major wheat growing zones: Ganga-Sutlej Plains, Black soil

Ragi is rich in iron, calcium, and micronutrients,

Jowar, the third most important food crop, is

Grows on various soil types but requires manual

India is the second-largest producer globally.

Main source of sugar, jaggery, khandsari, and

Horticultural crops comprise mainly fruits, vegetables,

These crops perform a major role in agriculture

Horticulture produce possessing vegetables and fruits

India holds the title of the largest producer of fruits and

It produces both tropical and temperate fruits.

Some fruits in high demand include:

Oranges from Nagpur and Cherapunjee.

Bananas from Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.

Lichi and Guava from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

Pineapples from Meghalaya.

Grapes from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.

Cotton is a primary raw material for the textile industry.

India ranks as the third-largest producer of cotton globally.

It thrives in the drier regions of the black soil found in the

Ideal growth conditions include high temperature, light

Requires a moist and humid climate with over 200

Serves as a vital industrial raw material.

Main cultivation areas include Kerala, Tamil Nadu,

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