AGRICULTURE.
Agriculture is the process of producing food, feed, fiber and many other desired products by the cultivation of certain plants and the raising of domesticated animals (livestock).Modern agriculture extends well beyond the traditional production of food for humans and animal feeds.
Other agricultural production goods include timber, fertilizers, animal hides, leather, industrial chemicals (starch, sugar, alcohols and resins), fibers (cotton, wool, hemp, silk and flax), fuels (methane from biomass, ethanol, biodiesel), cut flowers, ornamental and nursery plants, tropical fish and birds for the pet trade, and both legal and illegal drugs (biopharmaceuticals, tobacco, marijuana, opium, cocaine).
Agricultural chemistry includes the application of chemical fertilizer, chemical insecticides, and chemical fungicides, soil makeup, analysis of agricultural products, and nutritional needs of farm animals.
Beginning in the Western world, the green revolution spread many of these changes to farms throughout the world, with varying success.
Other recent changes in agriculture include hydroponics, plant breeding, hybridization, gene manipulation, better management of soil nutrients, and improved weed control.
Genetic engineering has yielded crops which have capabilities beyond those of naturally occuring plants, such as higher yields and disease resistance.
Modified seeds germinate faster, and thus can be grown in an extended growing area.
However, the relative significance of farming has dropped steadily since the beginning of industrialization, and in 2006 – for the first time in history – the services sector overtook agriculture as the economic sector employing the most people worldwide.
Also, agricultural production accounts for less than five percent of the gross world product (an aggregate of all gross domestic products).
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1.CLASSIFICATION OF CROPS IN INDIA:
India is the top producer of many crops in the world. There can be many ways to divide the types of crops (based on area, season, economic value etc.). Based on seasons, the crops in India are divided into three types: Rabi, Kharif and Zaid.
- kharif crops ( June to September)
The word “Kharif” is Arabic for autumn since the season coincides with the beginning of autumn or winter.Kharif season largely coincides with the Southwest monsoon under which the cultivation of tropical crops such as rice cotton jute job Bajra and Jowar is undertaken these crops are shown in June and harvested in September.
Requires lot of water and hot weather to grow.The Kharif season differs in every state of the country but is generally from June to September. We sow the crop at the beginning of the monsoon season around June and harvest by September or October. Rice, maize, bajra, ragi, soybean, groundnut, cotton are all Kharif crops.
Example: Rice, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Jute, Sugarcane, Turmeric, Pulses (like Urad Dal) etc.
2.Rabi crops (October to March) :
Rabi crops or rabi harvest are agricultural crops that are sown in winter and harvested in the spring in India and Pakistan. The term is derived from the Arabic word for “spring”, which is used in the Indian subcontinent, where it is the spring harvest (also known as the “winter crop”). The Rabi season begins with the onset of winter and October November and ends in March April .the low temperature during this season facilitates the cultivation of temperature and subtropical crops such as wheat, gram, and mustard.
Requires warm climate for germination of seeds and maturation and cold climate for the growth.
Example: Wheat, Oat, Gram, Pea, Barley, Potato, Tomato, Onion, Oil seeds (like Rapeseed, Sunflower, Sesame, Mustard) etc.
- Zaid crops (April to june).
There is a short season between Kharif and Rabi season in the months of March to July. In general, Zaid crops are crops that grow in this season. Also, these grow on irrigated lands. So we do not have to wait for monsoons to grow them. Many fruits and vegetables are cultivated in these periods. the cultivation is done on irrigated lands because monsoon rain are absent.they are Early maturing crops.
Example: Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Pumpkin, Watermelon, Muskmelon, Moong Dal etc.
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🔸️ How agriculture in south India is different from that in north India?
In North India tropical crops are cultivated during summer .as winter temperature drops in North India temperate crops are cultivated during winter. this type of distinction in the cropping season does not exist in the southern parts of the country. the temperature is high enough to grow tropical plants crops during may during any period in the year, provide soil moisture is adequate. in South India, same crops can be grown even thrice in an agriculture year.
Another difference we saw between the north and the south was the role of the middlemen. Agents or commissioners in the south would show up to the field to offer a price and take the crop. Alternatively, the commissioners . Each farmer sells to one commissioner for each crop.
2.MAJOR CROPS GROWN IN INDIA:
India is top producer country of many crops. The major crops in India can be divided into four categories viz. Food grains (Rice, Wheat, Maize, Millets and Pulses), Cash Crops (Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane, Tobacco, and Oilseeds), Plantation Crops (Tea, Coffee, Coconut and, Rubber) and Horticulture crops such as Fruits and Vegetables.
On the basis of seasons, the crops in India have been divided into Rabi, Kharif and Zaid crops.
• Food crops:
Rice
Rice is predominantly a Kharif or crop. It covers one third of total cultivated area of India. It provides food to more than half of the Indian population.
Rice is produced in almost all states. Top three producer states are West Bengal, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Other rice growing states include Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Assam and Maharashtra. It is also grown in Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat and Kashmir Valley.
Rice temperate in summer temperature . which rainfall 75 to 200 CM .soil is Alluvial soil major producers are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh ,Andhra Pradesh. in South India,it is cultivated during summer as well as winter. and coastal Tamilnadu and Andhra Pradesh rice crops are cultivated thrice in a year .in North India, it is cultivated on the in summer.
Wheat:
Wheat is the second most important crop of India after Rice. It’s a Rabi Crop. It is the staple food in north and north western India. It’s a winter crop and needs low temperature. Ideal temperature for wheat cultivation is between 10-15°C at the time of sowing and 21-26°C at the time of harvesting. Wheat thrives well in less than 100 cm and more than 75 cm rainfall. The most suitable soil for cultivation of wheat is well drained fertile loamy soil and clayey soil. Plain areas are most suitable. The wheat crop is highly mechanization oriented and may need less labour. Top three states producing Wheat are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Wheat temperate in winter temperature. rainfall is 15 to 75 CM. major producers are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab ,Haryana .it is cultivated only in North India.
- MILLETS.
In millets Bajra temperate in 25 to 35 degree celsius. rainfall is 30 to 50 cm.
soils sandy soil red and black soil .dryland farming refers to the farming in regions without sufficient rainfall and inadequate irrigation facilities. major producers are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat.
Barley temperate intemperature 10 to 15 degrees celsius .rainfall is 75 -200cm .soil light clay and Alluvial soil major producers are Uttar Pradesh Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
3.cash crops:
Sugarcane belongs to bamboo family of plants and is indigenous to South Asia. In India, it is one of the most important Kharif crops.
Cotton
Cotton is the most important fibre crop and cotton seed is used as a vegetable oil and a part of fodder for milch cattle for better milk production. Cotton is a Kharif Crop and grows in tropical and subtropical areas. Cotton requires modest rainfall and in India, it is one of the predominant rainfed crops. Cotton requires uniformly high temperature (21°C to 30°C). It grows in areas having at least 210 frost free days in a year.
Optimum soil for cotton is the Black soils of Deccan and Malwa plateau. Also grows well in alluvial soils of the Satluj-Ganga plain and red and laterite soils of the peninsular region. Cotton growing is known as less mechanised farming in India so needs cheap labour. Main cotton producing states are Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Its temperature is 21 to 30 degree Celsius. Rainfall is 50-70cm.soil is deep black soil .grown even in alluvial soil or laterite soil .major producers are Gujarat ,Punjab, Maharashtra.
Jute
Jute is a tropical plant that requires hot and humid climate.
It is one of the most important natural fibres in terms of cultivation and usage.
Almost 85% of the world’s jute is cultivated in the Ganges Delta. Its temperature 24 to 35 degree celsius. rainfall is above 150 cm with 80 to 90% relative humidity .soil is alluvial soil .also grown in light Sandy or Clayey loams . major producers are West Bengal, Bihar ,Assam.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane is an important cash crop. India stands at 2nd position among all countries in the world in its production.
Sugarcane crop requires long rainy season of at least 7-8 months.
Traditional Sugarcane Production was in North India but it has also shifted to South India.
North India Sugarcane are of sub-tropical variety and so have low sugar content.
Also sugar factories have to remain shut in winter seasons in North India.
South India- Tropical Variety and coastal areas hence have high sugar content and high yield.
Its temperature is 22 to 26 degree Celsius. rainfall is 150 cm or irrigational facilities. High relative humidity. soil is Alluvial soil or black soil.major producers are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu.
- Plantation crops:
Tea
Tea is an evergreen plant that mainly grows in tropical and subtropical climates.
Tea is a labour intensive crop and 50% of the labourers are women.
It grows faster under light shade. Commercial cultivation of tea started in India from British era.
India is the 2nd largest producer and the largest consumer of tea in the world.
Tea plants require high rainfall but its roots cannot tolerate water logging. Hence, it requires sloppy areas.
Its temperature is 24 to 30 degree Celsius rainfall is 150 to 300 CM soil is forest soil rich in humus and iron content major producers are Assam West Bengal Tamilnadu Kerala it is grown on the Heels slope because standing water is harmful for the crop.
Coffee
Coffees are grown in shade and commonly with two tiers of shade.
Growing altitudes of coffee range between 1,000 to 1,500 m above sea level for Arabica (premier coffee), and 500 to 1,000 m for Robusta (lower quality).
Both varieties are planted in well-drained soil conditions that favour rich organic matter.
Coffee plantation is done along hilly slope.
Slopes of Arabica tend to be gentle to moderate, while Robusta slopes are gentle to fairly level. Its temperature is 15 to 28 degree Celsius .rainfall is 150 to 200 CM soil Is loamy, rich in humus, Iron and Calcium . oil producers are Karnataka Kerala .it is grown on the hill slopes because standing water is harmful for the crop.
Rubber.
Temperature is 25 to 35 degrees celsius. rainfall 300 CM which is well distributed throughout the year. Soil is well drained loamy, varying from laterite to declare loans the producers are Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka.
Other crops:
maize is comes under other crops its temperatures 21 to 25 degree Celsius. rainfall is below 75 cm .soil is well drained Alluvial or red loamy. major producers are Bihar ,Uttar Pradesh Karnataka.
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3.LARGEST PRODUCING STATES:
There are some largest production States which are:
Rice -states are West Bengal Uttar Pradesh Andhra Pradesh.
Wheat – states are Uttar Pradesh Punjab Haryana.
Coarse cereals – state are Rajasthan Karnataka Maharashtra.
Pulses – states are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh ,Maharashtra.
Food grains- states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab ,Madhya Pradesh.
Cotton- states are Gujarat,Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh.
Sugar cane- Uttar Pradesh ,Maharashtra, Karnataka.
Jute – states are West Bengal ,Bihar ,Assam.
Soya bean – states are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
Rapeseed seed and mustard- states are Rajasthan
Onion- Maharashtra
Pepper- Kerala
rubber- Kerala
coffee- Karnataka
tobacco -Gujarat
tea -Assam.
