- India is an agricultural country and agriculture plays an important role in the Indian economy. According to the 2011 census data, about 55 percent of the country’s population is engaged in agriculture and related activities and the share of agriculture and related sectors in the country’s gross value added (at current prices) 2019-20 is about 17.8 percent. It is a primary activity which includes farming, animal husbandry and fisheries and forestry etc.
- India is an agricultural economy where approx. 49% of the people depend directly or indirectly on agriculture. About 80 percent of farmers own less than two hectares of agricultural land.
- Net sown area still accounts for about 47% of the total land area of India.
- The main feature of Indian agriculture is that it feeds about half the population of the country and provides raw material to agriculture-based industries, which contribute significantly to the national income. Indian agriculture is mainly based on monsoon, so it is also called ‘Monsoon Gambling’.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FARMING
- Primitive Subsistence Agriculture (Shifting cultivation)
- Practised on small patches of land with primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks, and family/community labour.
- It purely relies on monsoon, natural fertility of soil and other environmental suitability conditions.
- Also known as shifting or slash and burn agriculture.
- Practised in tropics (by tribes) :-
| Jhum | North-eastern India |
| Vevar and Dahiyaar | Bundelkhand Region (MP) |
| Deepa | Bastar District (Madhya Pradesh) |
| Zara and Erika | Southern States |
| Batra | South-eastern Rajasthan |
| Podu | Andhra Pradesh |
| Kumari | Hilly Region of the Western Ghats of Kerala |
| Kaman, Vinga and Dhavi | Odisha |
- Intensive Subsistence Agriculture (subsistence farming)
- Largely found in densely populated regions of monsoon Asia.
- Basically, there are two types of intensive subsistence agriculture:
- One is dominated by wet paddy and
- Another is dominated by crops such as sorghum, soybeans, sugarcane, maize, and vegetables.
- Areas of Intensive Subsistence Farming are: Tonkin Delta (Vietnam), lower Menem (Thailand); lower Irrawaddy (Myanmar); and the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta, Eastern Coastal Plains (India).
- Extensive Cultivation
- In this method of agriculture, farming is done on large land holdings with the help of big modern machines. It requires less human labour but the amount of production per person is more.
- Sufficient amount of capital is also required to adopt this method. In developed countries like America, agriculture is done by this method.
- After the Green Revolution in India, emphasis is being laid on extensive agriculture in Punjab and Haryana.
- Commercial Farming
- In this, ‘agricultural investment’ is done keeping profit in mind. Under this, emphasis is laid on high production by using high yielding seeds, chemical fertilizers andpesticides. The produced crops and products obtained from animals such as meat, milk etc. are sold in the market or the entire produce is not consumed for subsistence.
- This method is based on the demand of the agricultural market. The level of commercialization of this agriculture is different in different states. For example, rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab while it is a livelihood crop in Odisha.
- Plantation Agriculture
- Plantation agriculture is done on a large area with the help of more capital and labour. All the products obtained from this are used as raw material in industries.
- Organic Farming
- Organic farming is a method of farming in which farmers use microbial nutrients such as algae, fungi, bacteria, mycorrhiza etc. instead of chemical fertilizers.
- Compost, vermicompost, green manure, mixed crops, other animal wastes, crop and vegetable wastes etc. are other elements of organic farming.
- Aquaculture
- The rearing, cultivation and consumption of aquatic organisms is called ‘aquaculture’. It is different from fisheries because under this farming aquatic organisms are reared and cultivated under controlled conditions.
- This farming can be done in sea, river, waterfall, pond etc. Algae farming, shrimp farming, pearl farming, shell farming etc. are its various forms.
- Cooperative Farming
- Under this method, farmers form business organizations together and carry out agricultural work on their land. Agricultural production can be done to meet market demand or for self-fulfillment.
- Contract Farming
- Under contract farming, the farmer produces for a company under an agreement and provides products of predetermined quality to the concerned company within a fixed time period.
- In this method, the company provides new technology and improved varieties of seeds, fertilizers and transport facilities to the farmer. For example, McDonald Company supplies potatoes from Himachal Pradesh and cabbage from Chhattisgarh to many states of India through contract farming system.
AGRICULTURAL FACTS
- India is the largest producer, consumer and exporter of spices and spice products.
- India’s fruit production has grown faster than vegetables, making it the second largest fruit producer in the world.
- Agricultural export constitutes 10% of the country’s exports and is the fourth-largest exported principal commodity.
- Accounts for about 17–18% of our national income.
- Share in GDP – around 16% (2023-24).
- Main source of raw materials to the agro-based industries viz. sugar, textile, edible oil, etc.
- Predominance of food crop – 2/3rd of total cropped area.
- 1st rank in Milk (17% of world production), Mango, banana, coconut, cashew, papaya, peas, cassavaand pomegranate.
- Largest producer and exporter of spices, Millets, Pulses, Dry Bean, Ginger.
- Overall, second largest producer of vegetable, fruits and fishes.
CROPS CLASSIFICATION
1. Based on Growing Season
| Kharif | Under this, crops are sown from June to July and harvested in September-October. These are rainy season crops.South-west monsoon rain benefits in the production of Kharif crops.High temperature and high humidity are required at the time of sowing of Kharif crops.Major crops are paddy, soybean, pigeon pea, sesame, green gram, black gram, cowpea, sorghum, ragi, millet, groundnut, tobacco, cotton etc. |
| Rabi | Rabi crops are sown by October-November and harvested by April-May. These are winter crops.Rainfall due to winter western disturbances is helpful in the production of Rabi crops.Rabi crops require relatively low temperature while growing them and high temperature and long light period is required for ripening.Major crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram, mustard, potato, lentil, linseed, rye etc. |
| Zayed | Zaid crops are usually grown in the intervening period between Rabi and Kharif. Thus, Zaid crops are sown in March and harvested by June. These are mainly summer crops.Cucumber, pumpkin, watermelon, muskmelon, bitter gourd etc. are the main Zaid Crops |
2. Based on the Cropping Pattern
| Mixed Cropping | Also known as Multiple croppingWhen two or more than two crops are grown simultaneously on the same fiel Increases crop yield & Fertility of Soil |
| Mixed Farming | Cultivation of crops + Rearing of animalsFodder crops – An important component of mixed farming along with other crops |
| Dry Land Farming | Also known as Rain fed FarmingAdopted in scanty rainfall areas viz. < 75 cm /year (arid & semiarid regions)Drought resistant crops are grown as they require less irrigationMinimal use of chemicals, Pesticides, fertilisers etc.Contributes 40% of the food production and provide support to nearly 45% of the population |
FISHERIES SECTOR
- Present status – 6.58 % of GDP (agriculture + forest + fishing)
- India is the 3rd largest producer of Fisheries and 2ndlargest producer of Aquaculture in the World.
- Total fish production =13.42 million metric tons (3.71 (marine) + 9.71 (inland))
- Largest producer of marine fisheries: Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil nadu
- Largest producer of Inland fisheries: Andhra Pradesh, west Bengal, UP
- Largest producer of Fisheries (both): Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Gujarat
INDIAN CROPS
| Rice | 20 – 27°C of average Temperature and 150 cm of average Rainfall.Require Warm & Humid climate.Clayey or alluvial moisture retentive soil Labour intensive crop It mainly comes under Kharif or tropical crop. However, in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, due to favorable climate, it is grown in all three crop seasons (Kharif, Rabi and Zaid). ‘Os’ (autumn), ‘Aman’ (winter) and ‘Boro’ (summer) are the three rice crops produced in West BengalIn India, rice is cultivated on the largest area among the total cultivable areas. West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Assam etc. are the major rice producing states. |
| Wheat | 15 – 20°C of average Temperature.75 cm of average Rainfall.Requires a moderate cool climate.Clayey or well drained fertile soil.Machine intensive crop.It is a Rabi crop. It is the second major crop after rice in India’s total cultivable land. The Green Revolution has had the greatest impact on wheat production. Due to its impact, not only wheat production has increased but the productivity level per hectare has also increased.Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat and Maharashtra are the major wheat producing states. |
| Maize | 18 – 27°C of average Temperature and 75 cm of average Rainfall.At least 140 frost free days.Require Warm climate.Alternate Rainy & Sunny Season is best for this crop.Maize is mainly a Kharif crop;Maize is a plant of American origin, it was brought to India by the PortugueseIn India, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Rajasthan are the major states of maize production. Apart from this, it is also grown in states like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana, West Bengal etc. |
| Pulses | These are Rabi and Kharif crops. Pulses include tur, gram, moong, masoor, peas, urad, khesari etc.Pulses are produced in different temperature, humidity and soil conditions. Less moisture is required for their production, that is, they can be grown even in dry conditions.Pulses help in nitrogen fixation in the soil and maintaining soil fertility and are an important source of protein.Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are the major producers of pulses. |
| Millets | 20 – 30°C of average Temperature and 40 – 60 cm of average Rainfall.Requires warm & dry climate.Can be grown on medium to low fertility soil.Best is sandy loamy soil with good drainage.Bigger millets are called Sorghums.For example Jowar – Great Millet. |
| Tea | 20 – 30°C of average Temperature and 150 – 250 cm of average Rainfall.Tea is an example of a plantation crop. It is produced in tropical and subtropical climate, humus and organic matter rich laterite soil, easy drainage and sloping areas or slopes of mountains. Mainly two types of tea are grown in India – 1. Bohia or Chinese 2. Assamika or Assamese. |
| Coffee | 15 – 25°C of average Temperature and 150 – 250 cm of average Rainfall.Shade loving crop — Grown in shades of banana or rubber.Requires heavy rainfall but no stagnant water hence grown on hill slopes. |
| Cocoa | 25°C of average Temperature and 125 cm of average Rainfall.Requires protection from direct sun rays hence grown in shades. |
| Cotton | 20 – 30°C of average Temperature and 50 – 100 cm of average Rainfall.Requires approx. 210 frost free days and mineral rich black lava soil (Regur).Soil exhausting crop – Requires heavy dose of fertilisers.North-western and western regions of India are the major cotton producing areas, under which it is mainly cultivated in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh. |
| Sugarcane | Belongs to the Bamboo family. Indigenous to India.Long duration crop – 10 – 15 months.20 – 27°C of average Temperature 75 – 150 cm of average Rainfall.Not from a moderately warm climate.Soil exhausting crop – Requires heavy dose of fertilisersSpecial Feature – RatooningSugarcane is a cash crop. Loamy and black soil is useful for it. It is the most irrigated crop. It requires more labour and fertilizers.The major sugarcane producing states in India are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana etc. |
| Jute | Obtained from the bark of the plant.25 – 35°C of average Temperature and 120 – 150 cm of average Rainfall.Requires Hot & Humid climate.Soil exhausting crop — Requires heavy dose of fertilisersRequires rich delta or alluvial soil.Famous Jute substitutes — Mesta, KenafJute is a non-edible Kharif crop.Jute is called the ‘Golden Fibre of India’It is a commercial crop of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam and the adjoining eastern parts. |
| Rubber | Obtained from the latex of plants (Hevea Brasiliensis)20 – 30°C of average Temperature and 250 cm of average RainfallGrown on hill slopes to prevent water logging. |
| Tobacco | More than 18°C of average Temperature and 50 cm of average Rainfall.Requires 120 – 180 frost free days.Sandy soil with good drainage. |
| Cardamon | India ranks third in cardamom production after Indonesia and Guatemala. It is used in food, medicines as well as perfumes etc.14°C-32°C temperature and more than 150 cm rainfall is considered suitable for cardamom production.Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are the major cardamom producing states. |
| Clove | It is a spice originally produced in Indonesia. But at present it is also grown in Zojibar, Madagascar, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and India.For its production, more than 150 cm of rainfall along with a temperature of 25°C-35°C is best.Kerala and Tamil Nadu are its major producing states. |
| Black Pepper | Black pepper is considered to have originated from the hills of Western Ghats. At present, it is also produced in countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, China, Brazil, Cambodia etc.For its production, 10°C-40°C temperature and 125-200 cm rainfall are best.In India, Kerala is the major producer of black pepper. Apart from this, it is also produced on a small scale in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Andaman-Nicobar Islands. |
Agricultural (land) holdings and their size
- A specific size or place of land is called ‘land holding or agricultural holding’, in which the land is used fully or partially for agricultural production. It is mainly of five types –
- Marginal Hildings – Land holdings of less than 1.00 hectare are called ‘marginal holdings’. India has the highest number of marginal farmers.
- Small Holdings – The land holding of 1.00 to 2.00 hectares is called ‘small or micro holding’.
- Semi-Medium Holdings – Land holdings ranging from 2.00 to 4.00 hectares are included under ‘semi-medium land holdings’.
- Medium Holdings – The land holdings of 4.00 to 10.00 hectares are called ‘medium land holdings’. According to the 2011 census, 21.20 percent of the land was under this.
- Large Holdings – Land holdings of 10.00 hectares and above are included in this. Its share is 10.59 percent.
Cropping Intensity
- The frequency of crops grown in the same field in an agricultural year is called ‘crop intensity’. In other words –”The number of crops grown on a land in a year is called the crop intensity of that land.
- The higher the value of cropping intensity, the greater is the land use efficiency.
- Among the Indian states, Punjab has the highest cropping intensity, followed by Haryana and West Bengal r.
- Crop intensity =
×100
Agriculture Productivity:-
- Agricultural productivity means production per hectare or production per worker. Labour productivity is high in areas with extensive agriculture, while labour productivity is low in areas with intensive agriculture.
- Both natural and human factors contribute to agricultural productivity. Due to lack of adequate development of agriculture in India, the ratio of agricultural productivity is different in different regions. The productivity of the regions with green revolution is the highest.
Agriculture Efficiency:-
- Agricultural efficiency is also similar to agricultural productivity but the main difference is that while agricultural productivity reflects the agricultural potential of an area, agricultural efficiency symbolizes the current level of agriculture.
| Agricultural revolutions in India and their nicknames | |
| Green Revolution | Food grain production |
| White Revolution | Milk production |
| Blue Revolution | Fish production |
| Brown Revolution | Cocoa production |
| Silver Revolution | Egg/Poultry production |
| Yellow Revolution | Oilseed production |
| Red Revolution | Tomato/Meat production |
| Pink Revolution | Lobster production/Onion production/Medicine production |
| Almond Revolution | Spice production |
| Golden Revolution | Fruit production/Honey production |
| Round Revolution | Potato production |
| Evergreen Revolution | Related to promoting organic farming and getting fair price to the farmers for their crops and increasing production |
| Silver Fiber Revolution | Cotton production |
| Golden Fiber Revolution | Jute production |
| Saffron Revolution | Saffron production |
| Grey-Slaty | Fertilizer production |
| Green Gold Revolution | Bamboo production |
| Silent Revolution | Coarse grain production |
| Parmani Revolution | Okra production |
| Rainbow Revolution | To increase production in all sectors |
- Green Revolution
- Green Revolution was a new process of agricultural production based on high quality seeds, chemical fertilizers and canal irrigation. It was called ‘High Yielding Varieties Programme’ (HYVP).
- It was first widely adopted in 1966-67 in Punjab and Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Ganganagar of Rajasthan etc. This led to an amazing increase in agricultural production and agricultural productivity.
- The term ‘Green Revolution’ was first used by Dr. William Gaud of America.
- Under the Green Revolution program, a dwarf crop wheat variety was developed under the aegis of Rockefeller and Ford Foundation, which :-
- Was more productive than traditional varieties;
- Was less affected by climatic changes;
- Matured early;
- Showed favourable response to fertilisers.
- Due to the positive effects of the Green Revolution, the director of this program, ‘Dr. Norman Borlaug’ was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970.
- The credit for starting the Green Revolution in India goes to ‘M.S. Swaminathan’. M.S. Swaminathan is considered the ‘Father of Green Revolution’ in India.
Positive effects of Green Revolution
- Intensive agricultural production system developed.
- There was rapid growth in food grain production and special progress in the food grain sector.
- Subsistence agriculture developed into commercial and market oriented agriculture.
- Employment opportunities in agriculture increased with the use of new technology.
- Mutual relations between agriculture and industry strengthened.
- Rural prosperity increased and per capita income and national income increased.
2. The Second Green Revolution India
- In the mid-1990s, the concept of Second Green Revolution developed. It was also called ‘Evergreen Revolution’.
- Unlike the first Green Revolution, all crops and agricultural products will be included in the second Green Revolution.
- The second Green Revolution also includes topics like crop diversity, appropriate cropping pattern, crop management, plant and soil conservation etc.
- In the second Green Revolution, emphasis will be laid on the use of organic fertilizers and biopesticides along with sustainable agricultural methods.
- Under this scheme, strengthening the infrastructure and institutional framework for sustainable development of agriculture, such as the arrangement of cold storages, road projects, marketing facilities for agricultural products, development of telecommunications, emphasis on agricultural processing for value transformation, etc. are being included.
- Under this, by forming new government committees, loans will be made available to small and marginal farmers at low interest rates for the purchase of improved seeds, fertilizers, ultra-modern machines etc.
| Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium Ratio | In chemical farming, a certain mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium is used as fertilizer. Which is popular by the name of NPK.The ratio of NPK is different for different crops, but during the Green Revolution, NPK was used in large quantities In India, this ratio in pulse crops is 1 : 2 : 1 or 1 : 2 : 2.Nitrogen :- Nitrogen is an essential element for the growth of crops. It contributes significantly in the production of protein and carbohydrates in crops.Phosphorus :- Phosphorus is essential for respiration, photosynthesis and other chemical reactions in plants. Soluble phosphorus is used in short duration crops. Potassium :- Potassium helps in the transfer of nutrients and water in crops and increases resistance of crops to diseases. |
| Major agriculture related institutions in India | |
| Institution | Location |
| Indian Pulses Research Institute | Kanpur |
| National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) | Mumbai |
| National Fisheries Development Board | Hyderabad (Telangana) |
| National Rice Research Institute | Cuttack |
| National Dairy Research Institute | Karnal (Haryana) |
| Indian Sugarcane Research Institute | Lucknow |
| Directorate of Marketing and Inspection | Faridabad |
| Chaudhary Charan Singh National Agricultural Marketing Institute | Jaipur |
| Indian Agricultural Research Institute | New Delhi |
| National Meat and Poultry Board | Delhi |
| Central Tobacco Research Institute | Rajahmundry (Andhra Pradesh) |
| Central Potato Research Institute | Shimla |
| Central Botanical Research Institute | Lucknow |
| Central Coconut Research Institute | Kasargod (Kerala) |
| Central Jute Technology Research Institute | Kolkata |
| Indian Vegetable Research Institute | Varanasi |
| Central Sericulture Research and Training Institute | Mysore |
| Central Arid Horticulture Institute | Bikaner |