AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is a primary activity,

which produces most of the food
that we consume.

Agriculture is the broad term for everything

that goes into growing crops and raising
animals, to provide food and materials that
people can use and enjoy. Farming, which
involves cultivating the land and raising
livestock, is one part of agriculture.
● India is an agriculturally important country.

● Two-thirds of its population is engaged in it.

● Besides food grains, it also produces raw

material for various industries.
 Agriculture: An age-old economic activity

Cultivation methods have changed significantly

depending upon the characteristics of physical
environment, technological know-how and
socio-cultural practices.

TYPES OF FARMING

SUBSISTENCE COMMERCIAL
FARMING FARMING

PRIMITIVE SUBSISTENCE
PLANTATION
FARMING

INTENSIVE SUBSISTENCE
FARMING
PRIMITIVE SUBSISTENCE FARMING

➔ Practised on small patch of land with the help of

primitive tools like hoe, dao, and digging sticks, and
family/ community labour.

➔ Farming is done for self-consumption.

➔ Example - Slash and Burn method

PRIMITIVE SUBSISTENCE FARMING

● Slash and burn agriculture is practised in some parts

of India.

● This type of farming depends upon monsoon, natural

fertility of the soil and suitability of other
environmental conditions to the crops grown.

● Farmers clear a patch of land and then shift to a new

patch when the soil fertility decreases, to produce
cereals and other food crops.

● When the soil fertility decreases, the farmers shift and

clear a fresh patch of land for cultivation.

● Shifting allows nature to replenish the fertility of the

soil through natural processes.
● It is known as jhumming in north-eastern states.
● It is known as jhumming in north-eastern states.
● Low land productivity as the farmer does not use
● Low land productivity
fertilizers as the
or other modern farmer does not use
inputs.
fertilizers or other modern inputs.
Different Names of Slash & Burn Agriculture

REST OF THE
INDIA
WORLD

‘Bewar’ or ‘Dahiya’ -
Madhya Pradesh
‘Milpa’- Mexico and
Central America.
‘Podu’ or ‘Penda’- Andhra
Pradesh
‘Conuco’- Venezuela
“Pama Dabi’ or ‘Koman’
‘Roca’- Brazil.
or ‘Bringa’- Odisha.
‘Masole’- Central Africa
‘Kumari’- Western Ghats,
‘Ladang– Indonesia
‘Valre’ or ‘Waltre’-
South-eastern
‘Ray’- Vietnam
Rajasthan.

Khil- Himalayan belt

“Kuruwa’- Jharkhand
INTENSIVE SUBSISTENCE FARMING

● Practised in areas of high population pressure on land.

● It is labour-intensive agriculture.

● Use of high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation

used to get higher output.

● Issue with this type of farming: The land is divided

into many holdings by the ‘right of inheritance’
leading to the division of land among successive
generations which has rendered land-holding size
uneconomical, the farmers continue to take maximum
output from the limited land in the absence of
alternative source of livelihood.

● Thus, there is intensive pressure on the land for the

maximum output.
Primitive Subsistence Intensive Subsistence

● Practised on small patches of land ● The land holdings are comparatively

bigger.

● Primitive tools are used - like hoe, ● Modern machines are used -
dao and digging sticks, etc harvester, thresher, etc.

● Depend upon rainfall ● Irrigation facilities - tubewells, canals

are required

● Manure is used to maintain soil ● Modern inputs - chemical fertilizers,

fertility pesticides are used.

● Family members provide labour ● Labourers are hired.

● Low production ● High production

● Only cereals and other food crops ● Variety of crops are grown for
are grown commercial purpose.
 Commercial Farming

Farming done using high doses of modern

inputs, e.g. high yielding variety (HYV) seeds,
chemical fertilisers, insecticides, & pesticides,
to obtain higher productivity.

The degree of commercialisation of agriculture

varies from one region to another.
For example, rice is a
commercial crop in
Haryana and Punjab,
but in Odisha, it is a
subsistence crop
 PLANTATION

1. A type of commercial
farming. Single crop grown in
large area. Eg., E.g.- Tea,
Coffee, Rubber, etc.

2. The plantation has an

3. Cover large tracts of interface of agriculture
land, using high level of & industry. Produced is
inputs, with the help of used raw material in
migrant workers. agriculture based
industries.
REASON FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PLANTATIONS

Since the production is mainly for market, a well

developed network of transport and communication
connecting the plantation areas, processing
industries and markets plays an important role in
the development of plantations.

In India, tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane,

banana, etc., are important plantation crops.
CROPPING PATTERN
 SEASON SOWN HARVEST CROPS

Wheat,
RABI Oct - Dec April - June
Barley

Paddy,
KHARIF May - July Sep - Oct
Maize

Watermelon,
ZAID March June
cucumber
 Rabi
RabiCrops
Crops

Sown- Onset of Winter (Oct-Dec)

Harvested- Summer (April- June)

Major Crops- Wheat, Barley, Peas, Gram, and Mustard.

Availability of precipitation during winter months help

in the success of these crops.

Grown in- Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu

Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh.
 Success of the green revolution-

In Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh

and parts of Rajasthan has also been an
important factor in the growth rabi crops in
these regions.
 Rabi
Kharif
Crops
Crops

Sown- Onset of Monsoon (May-July)

Harvested- Summer (Sept - Oct)

Major Crops- Rice, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Moong, Tur,

Urad, Cotton, Jute, Soyabean, & Groundnut.

Important rice growing region- Assam, W.Bengal,

Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
Maharashtra, particularly (Konkan Coast) along with
UP & Bihar.

In states like Assam, West Bengal and Odisha three crops

of paddy are grown in a year : Aus, Aman & Boro
 Rabi
ZaidCrops
Crops

In between the rabi and the kharif seasons, there is a

short season during the summer months known as
the Zaid season

Sown- Between Rabi and Kharif Season (March - June)

Major Crops- Watermelon, Muskmelon, Cucumber,

Vegetables, and Fodder Crops.

Did you know?

Sugarcane takes almost a year to grow.
MAJOR CROPS
 RICE- Kharif Crop

1.

Staple food crop of a

majority of people in
India.

4.
2.
Rice is grown in the plains
of north & north-eastern India- 2nd largest
India, coastal areas & the producer of rice in the
deltaic regions. world after China.

3.

In areas of less rainfall,

grown with the help of
canal irrigation & tubewells.
 Development of dense network of canal
irrigation and Tubewells -
Made possible to grow rice in areas of less
rainfall such as Punjab, Haryana, Western U.P
& parts of Rajasthan

Requirement:

● High temperature
(above 25°C);

● High humidity;

● Annual rainfall
above 100 cm.
 WHEAT- Rabi Crop

Second most important cereal crop.

Main food crop, in north and

north-western part of country.

Wheat growing zones:

The Ganga-Sutlej plains (North-west)

Black soil region (Deccan)

Major wheat producing state: Punjab,

Haryana, U.P., M.P., Bihar, and Rajasthan.
Requirement:

● Cool growing season & bright sunshine

at the time of ripening.

● Annual rainfall of 50-75 cm

evenly-distributed over the growing
season.
MILLETS

Important millets:

● Jowar
● Ragi
● Bajra

Also known as
Coarse Grains.

Have high
nutritional value.
 Jowar Bajra Ragi

Third most important Grows well on sandy soils Rich in iron, calcium,
food crop with respect to and shallow black soil. other micronutrients &
area & production. roughage.

It is a rain-fed crop, Dry region crop & grows

grown mostly in moist well on red, black, sandy,
areas that hardly needs loamy, and shallow black
irrigation. soils.

States: Karnataka, States: Rajasthan, Uttar States: Karnataka, Tamil

Andhra Pradesh, M.P., and Pradesh, Maharashtra, Nadu, H.P., Uttarakhand,
Maharashtra. Gujarat, and Haryana. Sikkim, Jharkhand, and
Arunachal Pradesh.
 MAIZE- Kharif Crop

Crop used both as food and fodder.

In some states like Bihar maize is

grown in rabi season also.

Modern inputs contributed to the

more production of maize.

Producing states- Karnataka,

Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh,
Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and
Telangana.
 REQUIREMENTS:

Temperature required- 21˚ - 27˚ C.

Annual Rainfall- 50-100 cm.

Grows well in alluvial soil.

 PULSES

● India is the largest producer & consumer of

pulses in the world.

● A major source of protein in

a vegetarian diet.

● Needs less moisture and

survive even in dry
condition.

● Major pulse- Urad, Moong,

Masur, Peas & Gram.
● Produced in Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh
and Karnataka.
Being leguminous crops, all
these crops except arhar
help in restoring soil fertility
by fixing nitrogen from the
air.

Therefore, these are mostly

grown in rotation with other
crops.
FOOD CROPS AND OTHER GRAINS
 SUGARCANE
❏ It is tropical as well as subtropical crop.

❏ India is the second largest producer of sugarcane only

after Brazil.

❏ It is the main source of sugar, gur (jaggery), khandsari

and molasses.

❏ Major sugarcane-producing states: Uttar Pradesh,

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

REQUIREMENT:

● Climate- Grow well in hot

and humid climate.
● Temperature - 21°C to 27°C
● Rainfall - 75-100cm
● (Irrigation is required in
the regions of low rainfall)
 OIL SEEDS

In rapeseed production India

Covers approximately 12%
was third largest producer in
of the total cropped area
the world after Canada &
of the country.
China in 2016.

Main Oilseeds:

➔ Groundnut
➔ Mustard
➔ Coconut
➔ Sesamum (til)
➔ Soyabean
➔ Castor Seeds
➔ Cotton seeds
➔ Linseed
➔ Sunflower

Most of these are edibles & used as cooking mediums.

However, some of these are also used as raw material in
soap production, cosmetics & ointments.
 GROUNDNUT
It is a kharif crop and accounts for about half of the
major oilseed produced in the country.

In 2016 India was the second largest producer of

groundnut after china.

Gujarat was the largest producer of groundnut followed

by Rajasthan & Andhra Pradesh in 2016-17.

LINSEED & MUSTARD

Are Rabi crops.

SESAMUM
It is a kharif crop in north and rabi crop in south India.

CASTOR SEED
Grown both as rabi and kharif crop.
 TEA

1
An example of
Plantation
agriculture.

4 2
In 2016 India was the An important
second largest beverage crop
producer of tea after introduced in India
China. initially by the British.

3
Today, most of the
tea plantations are
owned by Indians.
 TEA

● Grows well in tropical and subtropical climates.

● Requires deep, fertile, well drained soil, rich in humus

and organic matter.

● Need warm and moist frost-free climate throughout the

year.

● Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year

ensure continuous growth of tender leaves.

● Tea is a labour-intensive industry.

● Major tea producing states Assam, Darjeeling, Kerala ,

Tamil Nadu & Jalpaiguri District West Bengal, etc.
 COFFEE

1
Indian coffee is
known in the world
for its good quality.

3 2
Initially its cultivation The Arabica variety
was introduced on the from Yemen
Baba Budan Hills and produced in India
even today its and is in great
cultivation is confined demand.
to the Nilgiri in
Karnataka, Kerala and
Tamil Nadu.
 HORTICULTURE:
In 2016- India was second largest producer of
fruits and vegetables in the world after China.

India- producer of tropical as well as temperate

fruits.

India is an important producer of pea,

cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal, and
potato.
Mangoes of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal;

Oranges of Nagpur and Cherrapunjee

(Meghalaya);

Bananas of Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra and

Tamil Nadu;

Lichi and guava of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar;

Pineapples of Meghalaya, grapes of Andhra

Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra;

Apples, pears, apricots and walnuts of Jammu and

Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are in great
demand the world over.
NON-FOOD CROPS
 RUBBER
● It is an equatorial crop.

● Also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas.

● Requires moist and humid climate with rainfall of

more than 200 cm.

● Temperature above 25°C.

● Rubber is an important industrial raw material.

● It is mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

and Andaman and Nicobar islands and Garo hills
of Meghalaya.
 FIBER CROPS
Major fibre crops grown in India:

Cotton Hemp Jute Silk

Derived from the crops grown in soil.

Obtained from cocoons of the

silkworms fed on green leaves
specially mulberry.
 SERICULTURE

Rearing of silk worms for the

production of silk fibre.
 COTTON

India is believed to be the original home of the cotton

plant.

Cotton is one of the main raw materials for cotton

textile industry.

In 2016, India was second largest producer of cotton

after China.
 It is a kharif crop.

Requirements

1. Drier parts of Deccan plateau &

black soil

2. High temperature & light Rainfall

3. 6 to 8 months to mature.

4. 210- frost free days and

bright sunshine for growth.

Produced in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya

Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh,
Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra
Pradesh.
 JUTE
The Golden Fibre, grows well on well-drained fertile
soils in the flood plains.

Produced in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha and

Meghalaya.

Losing its market to synthetic fibers and packing

materials due to its high cost.

REQUIREMENT:

During time of growth high

temperature is required.
 TECHNOLOGICAL
& INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS
● Sustained uses of land without compatible Agriculture which provides livelihood for
techno-institutional changes have hindered
more than 60% of its population, needs
the pace of agricultural development.
some serious technical and institutional
● In Spite of development of sources of reform
irrigation most of the farmers in large parts of
the country still depend upon monsoon and
natural fertility in order to carry on their
agriculture.
Thus, agricultural reforms are important
● For a growing population, this poses a serious
challenge.

Most farmers still

Regular use of
depend upon
land- obstructs
natural soil
agricultural
fertility &
development.
monsoon.
● After independence major institutional
reforms such as collectivisation,
consolidation of holdings, cooperation
and abolition of zamindari etc. were given
priority.

● ‘Land reform’ was the main focus of our

First Five Year Plan.

● The right of inheritance had already lead

to fragmentation of land holdings
necessitating consolidation of holdings.

● The laws of land reforms were enacted but

the implementation was lacking.
 AGRICULTURAL REFORMS

The Government of India embarked upon

introducing agricultural reforms to improve Indian
agriculture in the 1960s and 1970s.

Green Revolution - packet

tech was used to increase
agricultural production

White Revolution
(Operation Flood) - for
increasing milk production
Outcome - Green and white revolution led OTHER IMPORTANT STEPS
to the concentration of development in
few selected areas.
● Provision for crop insurance against
drought, flood, cyclone, fire and
disease;
In the 1980s and 1990s a
comprehensive land
development program ● Establishment of Grameen banks,;
was initiated, that
included both ● Cooperative societies and
institutional and
technical reforms.
● Banks for providing loan facilities to
the farmers at lower rates of interest
INITIATIVE TAKEN BY
GOVERNMENT

Special weather
bulletins and
agricultural
programmes for
farmers were
introduced on radio
and TV.

Minimum support
Schemes such as price set by the
Kisan Credit Card Government to
(KCC), Personal check
Accident Insurance exploitation of
Scheme (PAIS) the farmers.
 BHOODAN- GRAMDAN

Initiated by Vinoba Bhave.

Shri Ram Chandra Reddy offered 80 acres of land to be

distributed among 80 land-less villagers. This act was
known as ‘Bhoodan’.

Some zamindars, owners of many villages offered to

distribute some villages among the landless. It was known
as Gramdan.

This Bhoodan-Gramdan movement is known as Blood-less

Revolution, as total change came without any bloodshed.
 Contribution Of Agriculture To The National
Economy Employment, And Output

➔ In 2010-11 about 52% of the total workforce was employed by

farm sector.

➔ Declining share of agriculture in GDP is serious concern.

Steps taken by Government to modernise Agriculture

● Establishment of Indian Council of Agricultural Research

(ICAR).

● Agricultural universities, veterinary services and animal

breeding centres.

● Horticulture development, research and development in the

field of meteorology and weather forecast.
The table below shows:

Though the GDP growth rate is increasing over the

years, it is not generating sufficient employment
opportunities in the country.

The growth rate in agriculture has been

decelerating which is an alarming situation
 Major problems faced by Indian Farmers

Indian farmers are facing a big challenge from

international market.

Reduction in the public investment - in agriculture sector

particularly in irrigation, power, rural roads, market and
mechanisation.

Decreasing subsidy on fertilisers is leading to increase in

the cost of production.

Reduction in import duties on agricultural products

results in low sales.

Farmers are withdrawing their investment from

agriculture causing a downfall in the employment in
agriculture.
IMPACT OF GLOBALISATION
ON AGRICULTURE
Globalisation in India prevailed since colonial times

In 19th century - Indian spices were exported to

different countries of the world by the Europeans
& south India were encouraged to grow these
crops.

Till today it is one of the Important items of export

from india.

During British period- cotton was exported as a

raw material to Britain for their textile industries.

In Manchesters & Liverpool cotton textile

industries flourished due to the availability of
good quality of cotton from india.
➔ After 1990, Indian farmers faced new
challenges.

➔ Despite being an important producer

of Rice, Wheat, Rubber, Cotton India
could not compete against developed
nation with highly subsidised
agriculture.
Agriculture in India is now at a crossroad

To make agriculture successful and

profitable, proper thrust should be
given to the improvement of the
condition of marginal and small
farmers.
 Green Revolution under
Controversies

Green revolution which benefited to

increase agricultural production in
1960’s is under controversies nowadays.

It is being alleged that the excessive use

of chemicals and drying aquifers
resulted in land degradation and
vanished biodiversity
 Some practices to improve Indian
Agriculture

Genetic Organic Experts

Engineering Farming is suggests that
which involved becoming farmers should
inventing new trending in adopt diverse
hybrid varieties India because it cropping
of seeds is is practised pattern
revolutionising without catering to the
agriculture. pesticides and increasing
factory. demands and
E.g. GOLDEN preventing land
RICE, degradation.
Non-crying
onions
Does indian farmers have a bleak
future?
Some economists predict that if Indian farmers continue
to grow crops on small plots while their population is
growing rapidly, their future will be bleak.

India’s rural population is about 833 million (2011) which

depends upon 250 million (approximate) hectares of
agricultural land, an average of less than half a hectare
per person.
 Diversify their cropping pattern

1) Mushrooms. 3. · 2) Microgreens.
4. · 3) Ginseng. 5. · 4) Lavender. 6. · 3. Because fruits,
5) Saffron. 7. · 6) Goji Berries. 8. · 7) vegetables, bio-diesel
1. Farmers should
Wasabi. crops like jatropha
diversify their
& jojoba need much
cropping pattern
less irrigation than
from cereals to
rice or sugarcane
high-value crop.

4. India’s diverse
2. Benefit - climate can be
This will increase harnessed to grow a
incomes and reduce wide range of
environmental high-value crops.
degradation.
 CHANGE IN CROPPING PATTERN

If India changes its cropping pattern, i.e., from

cereals to high value crops, then it has to
import food crops.

During 1960s, it was seen as a disaster.

On the other hand, if India imports cereals

while exporting high value commodities, it will
be following successful economies like Italy,
Chile & Israel.

These countries export farm products e.g.,

fruitsm olives, especially seed and wine and
import cereals.
Agriculture (Identification only) a.
Major areas of Rice and Wheat

b. Largest / Major producer states

of Sugarcane, Tea, Coffee, Rubber,
Cotton and Jute
Name of Type of Cultivation Soil Type Temperature Annual Major
Crop(s) Crop(s) Season Preferred Rainfall Regions

RICE Staple Food Kharif Clay/ clay loam Above 25˚ C Above 100 cm Punj, Haryana,
(good water Plains of North
retention capacity) & NE India, WB

WHEAT Cereal Crop Rabi Well-drained 10˚-15˚ C 50-75 cm Ganga-Sutlej

fertile soil, black during growth plains (Punj,
soil, clayey, loamy. & 25˚-28˚ C at Hary, UP, MP,
ripening Bihar, etc.

JOWAR Coarse grains/ Any Black (regur) or Average Below 100 cm MP,
millets Alluvial 26˚-33˚C Maharashtra,
Karnataka, etc

BAJRA Coarse grains/ Any Sandy or Shallow 20˚-28˚ C 40-75 cm UP, Gujarat,
millets Black Soil Haryana,
Maharashtra,
Rajasthan

RAGI Coarse grains/ Any Sandy, loamy, red 18˚-28˚ C 60-80 cm Kar,
millets or Shallow Black Uttarakhand,
Soil TN, HP, etc.
 Name of Type of Cultivation Soil Type Temperature Annual Major Regions
Crop(s) Crop(s) Season Preferred Rainfall

MAIZE Food & Kharif Old Alluvial 21˚ - 27˚ C 50-100 cm UP, MP, Andhra
Fodder Rabi (only in Pradesh,
Bihar) Karnataka

PULSES Leguminous Any Dry, light soils 20˚-30˚ C 50-75 cm UP, MP, Rajasthan,
Karnataka, etc

SUGARCANE Plantation Annual Fertile, 21˚-27˚C (hot & 75-100 cm UP, Maharashtra,
well-drained soil humid) Haryana, TN,
Punjab, Andhra
Pradesh

OIL SEEDS Edibles & raw Rabi (Linseed Sandy loam & Depends on Depends Groundnut-
material & Mustard) black (Groundnut) type on type Gujarat (largest
Kharif producer), Other
(Groundnut) seed: MP, Punjab,
Both- Castor WB, Bihar etc
 Name of Type of Cultivatio Soil Type Temperatur Annual Major Regions
Crop(s) Crop(s) n Season Preferred e Rainfall

TEA Plantation Annual Deep, fertile, 10˚ - 30˚ C Above Assam, hills of
well-drained 200 cm Darjeeling &
soil, rich in Jalpaiguri distt of
humus & WB, Tripura, Kerala
organic matter. HP, etc.

COFFEE Plantation - Well drained 23˚-28˚ C 150-200 Karnataka- major

soil, rich in cm producer, Nilgiri
humus & Hills in Kerala &
organic matter Tamil Nadu

HORTICULTU Fruits & Zaid/ Any Variable - - All over India

RE CROPS vegetable
NCERT QUESTIONS
 Which one of the following describes a system of
agriculture where a single crop is grown on a large area?

A. Shifting Agriculture C. Horticulture

B. Plantation Agriculture D. Intensive Agriculture

 Which one of the following describes a system of
agriculture where a single crop is grown on a large area?

A. Shifting Agriculture C. Horticulture

B. Plantation Agriculture D. Intensive Agriculture

 Which one of the following is a rabi crop?

A. Rice C. Gram

B. Millets D. Cotton
 Which one of the following is a rabi crop?

A. Rice C. Gram

B. Millets D. Cotton
 Which one of the following is a leguminous crop?

A. Pulses C. Jowar

B. Millets D. Sesamum
 Which one of the following is a leguminous crop?

A. Pulses C. Jowar

B. Millets D. Sesamum
Name one important beverage crop and specify the
geographical conditions required for its growth.

Tea.

Geographical Conditions:

- Climate Warm and moist frost-free climate

throughout the year.

- Rainfall Frequent showers evenly distributed.

- Soil Deep and fertile well-drained soil rich in

humus.

Name one staple crop of India and the regions where it is

produced.

Rice is the staple crop of India. It is grown in Paschim

Banga, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Assom and
Punjab.
Enlist the various institutional reforms programmes
introduced by the government in the interest of the
farmers.

The following steps have been taken by the government to

modernise Indian agriculture :

(a) The government has established the Indian Council of

Agricultural Research (ICAR), agricultural universities and
animal breeding centers to carry out research and
development activities in agriculture.

(b) The government is also investing in rural infrastructure

to link the rural market with the international market.

(c) The kisan credit card, personal and crop insurance

schemes, etc have been launched.

(d) A comprehensive land development programme has

also been launched.
The land under cultivation has got reduced day by day.
Can you imagine its consequences?

(a) This will put more pressure on industry and other

sectors because people are migrating from the
agricultural sector to the other sectors.

(b) This will affect food security.

(c) Agro-based industry will suffer because of the

shortage of raw materials.
 Suggest the initiative taken by the government to ensure
the increase in agricultural production.

Government has made concerted efforts to ensure the

increase in agricultural production since 1951. These
include:

(a) Abolition of zamindari system.

(b) Announcement of minimum support price every year to

prevent any exploitation of farmers.

(c) Consolidation of small landholdings into a large one

where mechanisation is possible.

(d) Ceiling on landholdings where maximum limit towards

ownership was fixed by the government.

(e) Introduction of insurance to provide security against

failure of crops.

(f) Opening up of rural banks and co-operative societies to

provide credit to the farmers at a low interest.
Describe the impact of globalization on Indian
agriculture.

- The farmers in India have been exposed to new

challenges,particularly after 1990,under globalisation.

- Despite being an important producer of tea, coffee,

rice, cotton, spices, agricultural products of India
have low demand in international market.

- Farmers are not able to compete with the agricultural

products of developed countries.

- Agriculture in developed countries is highly

subsidised which makes their products cheaper and
Indian items costly.

- Improving the conditions of small and marginal

farmers should be the priority to make agriculture
profitable and successful.
Describe the geographical conditions required for the
growth of rice.

- Require high temperature and high humidity.

- It requires a high temperature (above 25 °C).

- Needs annual rainfall above 100 cm. In the areas of

less rainfall, it grows with the help of irrigation.

- It is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern

India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions.