 Agricultural Importance: India is an agriculturally important country.

 Population Engagement: Two-thirds of its population is engaged in

agricultural activities.
 Primary Activity: Agriculture is a primary activity that produces most of the
food consumed in the country.
 Raw Materials for Industries: In addition to food grains, agriculture also
supplies raw materials for various industries.

Types of Farming

 Agriculture's Evolution: Agriculture is an age-old economic activity in India.

Over time, cultivation methods have evolved based on physical environment,
technological advancements, and socio-cultural practices.
 Farming Variations: Farming varies from subsistence to commercial types
across India.

Primitive Subsistence Farming

 Location: This type of farming is practiced in a few pockets of India.

 Tools and Labour: It is practiced on small patches of land using primitive tools
like hoes, dao, digging sticks, and family/community labour.
 Dependence on Natural Factors: This farming depends on monsoon, natural
soil fertility, and the suitability of environmental conditions.
 Slash and Burn Agriculture: Farmers clear a patch of land to produce cereals
and other food crops for their family. Once soil fertility decreases, they shift and
clear a new patch.
 Soil Replenishment: The shift allows nature to replenish soil fertility through
natural processes.
 Land Productivity: The productivity is low due to the lack of modern inputs
like fertilizers.
 Regional Names: This type of farming is known by different names in various
parts of India.

Intensive Subsistence Farming

 Practiced in: Areas with high population pressure on land.

 Characteristics:
o Labour-intensive farming.
o High doses of biochemical inputs (e.g., fertilizers, pesticides) and irrigation
are used to increase production.
 Challenges:
o The practice of land inheritance has resulted in smaller land holdings,
making them uneconomical.
o Despite this, farmers continue to extract maximum output due to the
absence of alternative livelihood sources.
o There is enormous pressure on agricultural land.
Commercial Farming

 Characteristics:
o High doses of modern inputs like high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds,
chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides are used to increase
productivity.
 Degree of Commercialization:
o Varies by region.
o For example:
 Haryana and Punjab: Rice is a commercial crop.
 Odisha: Rice is primarily a subsistence crop.
 Plantation Farming:
o A type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large
scale.
o Involves an interface between agriculture and industry.
o Requires capital-intensive inputs and relies on migrant labour.
o The produce is used as raw material for processing industries.
 Examples of Plantation Crops in India:
o Tea in Assam and North Bengal.
o Coffee in Karnataka.
o Other crops include rubber, sugarcane, and banana.
 Transport and Communication:
o A well-developed network is crucial to connect plantation areas,
processing industries, and markets.

Cropping Pattern

 Physical Diversities and Agricultural Practices:

o India’s physical diversities and cultural pluralities are reflected in its
agricultural practices and cropping patterns.
o Various crops are grown in India, including food, fibre crops, vegetables,
fruits, spices, and condiments.
 Three Cropping Seasons in India:
o Rabi Crops:
 Sown in: Winter (October to December).
 Harvested in: Summer (April to June).
 Important Crops: Wheat, barley, peas, gram, mustard.
 Regions: Predominantly grown in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal
Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Uttar
Pradesh.
 Key Factors:
 Precipitation from western temperate cyclones aids the
success of these crops.
 The success of the Green Revolution in Punjab, Haryana,
Western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan has
contributed to the growth of these crops.
 o Kharif Crops:
 Sown in: With the onset of monsoon.
 Harvested in: September-October.
 Important Crops: Paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong,
urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, and soyabean.
 Rice-growing Regions:
 Assam, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra (Konkan
coast), Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
 Rice Varieties: In Assam, West Bengal, and Odisha, three crops
of paddy (Aus, Aman, and Boro) are grown annually.
o Zaid Crops:
 Season: Between the rabi and kharif seasons, during the summer
months.
 Important Crops: Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables,
and fodder crops.
 Sugarcane: Grown over almost a year.

Major Crops in India

1. Rice

 Importance: Staple food crop for a majority of people in India

 Production: Second-largest producer of rice in the world, after China
 Season: Kharif crop (requires high temperature above 25°C and high humidity)
 Rainfall: Requires annual rainfall above 100 cm (irrigation used in areas with
less rainfall)
 Regions: Grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas,
and deltaic regions. Also grown in areas with less rainfall like Punjab, Haryana,
and western Uttar Pradesh using irrigation

2. Wheat

 Importance: The second most important cereal crop

 Region: Mainly grown in the north and north-western parts of India
 Season: Rabi crop (requires cool growing season and bright sunshine at
ripening)
 Rainfall: Requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed over the
growing season
 Regions: Major wheat-producing states are Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh,
Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan
3. Millets

 Types: Jowar, Bajra, and Ragi

 Nutritional Value: High in nutrition; for example, ragi is rich in iron, calcium,
and roughage
o Jowar: Third most important food crop in terms of area and production.
Grown in moisture-rich areas, mostly rain-fed.
 Major Producing States: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh
o Bajra: Grows well on sandy and shallow black soils.
 Major Producing States: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Gujarat, Haryana
o Ragi: Grows well in dry regions on various soil types like red, black,
sandy, and loamy soils.
 Major Producing States: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh

4. Maize

 Uses: Both as food and fodder

 Season: Kharif crop (requires temperatures between 21°C and 27°C)
 Regions: Grows well in alluvial soil. Also grown in the rabi season in some
states like Bihar
 Major Producing States: Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar,
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana

5. Pulses

 Importance: India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses

 Uses: Major source of protein in a vegetarian diet
 Types: Tur (arhar), urad, moong, masur, peas, and gram
 Growing Season:
o Kharif season: Tur (arhar)
o Rabi season: Urad, moong, and gram
 Soil Fertility: Leguminous crops that help restore soil fertility by fixing nitrogen
from the air
 Major Producing States: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar
Pradesh, Karnataka

Food Crops Other Than Grains

1. Sugarcane

 Characteristics:
o Tropical and subtropical crop
o Grows in hot and humid climate (21°C to 27°C)
o Requires 75–100 cm of annual rainfall (irrigation needed in low rainfall
areas)
o Grown on various soils with manual labor required
 Major Producing States:
Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana,
Bihar, Punjab, Haryana

2. Oil Seeds

 Characteristics:
o Major oilseeds: Groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesame, soybean, castor,
cotton, linseed, sunflower
o Groundnut is a kharif crop, while linseed and mustard are rabi crops
o Grown on approximately 12% of total cropped area
o Used in cooking and industries (soap, cosmetics)
 Major Producing States:
o Groundnut: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu
o Linseed and mustard: Rabi season
o Sesame: Kharif (north), Rabi (south)
o Castor seed: Both rabi and kharif

3. Tea

 Characteristics:
o A plantation crop
o Requires tropical/sub-tropical climates with fertile, well-drained soil
o Needs warm, moist, frost-free climate
o Labour-intensive industry
 Major Producing States:
Assam, Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal
Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura

4. Coffee

 Characteristics:
o Known for good quality, especially Arabica variety
o Initially introduced in the Baba Budan Hills
 Major Producing States:
Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu

5. Horticulture Crops

 Characteristics:
o India is the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables after China
o Major tropical and temperate fruits: Mango, banana, guava, lichi,
pineapple, grapes, apple, pear, apricot, walnut
o Major vegetables: Pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal, potato
 Major Producing States:
o Mango: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West
Bengal
o Oranges: Nagpur, Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya)
o Bananas: Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
o Lichi and Guava: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
o Pineapples: Meghalaya
o Grapes: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra
o Apples, Pears, Apricots, Walnuts: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh

Non-Food Crops

1. Rubber

 Type: Equatorial crop (also grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas under
special conditions)
 Climate: Requires moist and humid climate with rainfall over 200 cm and
temperatures above 25°C
 Importance: Major industrial raw material
 Regions: Mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar
Islands, and Garo Hills of Meghalaya

2. Fibre Crops

 Types: Cotton, Jute, Hemp, and Natural Silk

 Note: The first three are derived from plants, and silk is obtained from cocoons
of silkworms fed on mulberry leaves
 Sericulture: Rearing of silkworms for silk production

Cotton

 Origin: India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plant

 Importance: Main raw material for the cotton textile industry
  Climate: Grows well in the drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan
Plateau. Requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost-free
days, and bright sunshine for its growth
 Season: Kharif crop, takes 6 to 8 months to mature
 Major Producing States: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka,
Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh

Jute

 Nickname: Golden fibre

 Climate: Grows well on well-drained fertile soils in flood plains where soils are
renewed every year. Requires high temperatures during growth
 Uses: Used for making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets, and other
artifacts
 Major Producing States: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Meghalaya

Technological and Institutional Reforms in Agriculture

Challenges in Agriculture

 Historical Practice: Agriculture has been practiced in India for thousands of

years.
 Current Issues: Despite the development of irrigation sources, many farmers
still rely on monsoon and natural fertility.
 Population Growth: The growing population presents a significant challenge
for sustaining agriculture.

Need for Reform

 Importance of Agriculture: Agriculture is the livelihood of over 60% of India's

population.
 Required Reforms: Technical and institutional reforms are necessary to
improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.

Key Institutional Reforms

1. Collectivisation: Encouraging collective farming practices.

2. Consolidation of Holdings: Merging small landholdings into larger, more
viable units.
3. Cooperation: Formation of cooperatives for better management and resource
sharing.
 4. Abolition of Zamindari System: The system of large landowners (zamindars)
was abolished post-Independence.

Land Reform Focus

 First Five-Year Plan: Focused on land reform and tackling issues like
inheritance-based fragmentation of land holdings.
 Implementation Issues: Though land reform laws were enacted, their
implementation was weak or insufficient.

Agricultural Reforms in the 1960s and 1970s

 Green Revolution: Introduced package technology to improve yields (but led

to regional disparities).
 White Revolution (Operation Flood): Focused on improving dairy production
and increasing milk availability.

Comprehensive Land Development (1980s-1990s)

 Institutional and Technical Reforms: A comprehensive programme that

included both land development and institutional support.
 Key Measures:
o Crop Insurance: Against drought, flood, cyclone, fire, and disease.
o Financial Support: Establishment of Grameen Banks and cooperative
societies for providing loans at lower interest rates.
o Kisan Credit Card (KCC): Offered easier access to credit for farmers.
o Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS): Financial protection for
farmers in case of accidents.
o Broadcasting Support: Special weather bulletins and agricultural
programmes on radio and TV.
o Minimum Support Price: Announced for key crops to prevent
exploitation by speculators and middlemen.

Bhoodan – Gramdan Movement

 Vinoba Bhave's Contribution: Mahatma Gandhi's spiritual heir, Vinoba Bhave,

was a proponent of Gandhiji's concept of Gram Swarajya (village self-rule).
 Bhoodan Movement:
o Origin: In 1951, during a padyatra in Pochampalli, Andhra Pradesh,
landless villagers demanded land for their welfare.
o Land Donation: Shri Ram Chandra Reddy offered 80 acres of land to be
distributed among 80 landless villagers, marking the beginning of the
Bhoodan movement.
 o Spread: Vinoba Bhave spread the message across India, and some
zamindars offered land to the landless.
 Gramdan Movement:
o Definition: A step further where landowners donated whole villages to
the landless.
o Fear of Land Ceiling Act: Many landowners donated land due to the
fear of the land ceiling act.
 Legacy: The Bhoodan-Gramdan movement is referred to as the Bloodless
Revolution.