Important Crops across the World

Top
Temp Producing Major
eratur Rainfall States in Producers
Crop e (°C) (cm) Soil Type India in the World Additional Information

Staple food for over half the

world's population. Requires
high humidity.
Unterscheidung zwischen
Indica (long grain) and
Japonica (short grain)
varieties. In West Bengal &
parts of Odisha and Assam, 3
rice crops: Aus, Aman, and
Boro.

Methane Emissions is a
concern. Research indicates
that integrated rice-aquatic
animal systems can reduce
West methane emissions by 18.1-
Deep Bengal, 19.6% and nitrous oxide
clayey and Uttar China, India, emissions by 19.7-28.2%,
loamy Pradesh, Bangladesh depending on the type of
Rice 15-27 100-300 alluvium Punjab Indonesia aquatic animal involved

Well-
drained
fertile
loamy and Uttar
clayey. Pradesh, Second-most important food
10-25 Alluvium, Madhya China, EU, crop globally. Needs bright
(sowin Chernoze Pradesh, India, sunlight during ripening.
Wheat g) 75-100 m Punjab Russia, USA Winter season crop in India.

Used for production of

biofuels across the world. In
Northern India, grown only as
Jowar Maharashtra Kharif crop; in Southern India
(Sorghum; Alluvial, or (>50%), USA, as both Rabi and Kharif.
Coarse Black or Karnataka, Nigeria, Grown in North as fodder crop
Cereal) 25-32 40 Red Rajasthan Brazil, India too.
 Sandy India, Niger, Drought resistant crop.
Bajra(Pearl Loamy Rajasthan, China, Usually grown as a part of
Millet) 20-30 40-60 Black Soils UP, Haryana Nigeria, Mali Mixed Cropping.

Wide The grains are nutritious with

variety. antioxidant and medicinal
From properties, but their
fertile, consumption is limited by
well- 'kodo poisoning,' caused by
drained & fungal contamination
loamy Madhya producing the toxic
soils, to Pradesh, cyclopiazonic acid. In
gravelly, Maharashtra India, November 2024, 13 elephants
Kodo Millet stony and , Karnataka, Indonesia, died in Madhya Pradesh due
(Varagu) 25-30 50-80 poor soils. Tamil Nadu Phillipines to this poisoning.

Less Group of small-grained

water- Well- cereals; known for drought
intensiv drained, tolerance and nutritional
e adaptable Karnataka, India, Niger, value. Examples: jowar
Millets (variable to various Rajasthan, China, Mali, (sorghum), bajra (pearl millet),
(General) 20-30 ) soil types Maharashtra Nigeria ragi (finger millet).

Versatile. United Versatile crop used for food,

Deep- States, animal feed, and industrial
heavy clay China, purposes. C4 photosynthetic
to light Karnataka, Brazil, EU, pathway makes it efficient in
Maize sandy loam MP, Argentina, hot climates. Yield higher in
(Corn) 15-27 50-80 (preferred) Maharashtra India Southern states.

Kharif crop; Cash crop; fiber

used for textiles. Requires
Gujarat,
clear sky during flowering, and
Maharashtra
moist condition during
, Telangana
threading. Vulnerable to pests
Also in parts China, India, and diseases (Bt Cotton
of Punjab, Brazil, 2002). India grows both short
Haryana, RJ, United (Indian) and long
Clayey AP, TN and States, (American/narma) staple
Cotton 21-27 50-100 Black soil Karnataka Australia cotton.

Well- West Cash crop; fiber used for

drained Bengal, sacking and packaging.
fertile Assam, India, Second-largest producer
Jute 25-35 150-200 alluvial soil Bihar Bangladesh globally after Bangladesh.
 UP,
Well- Maharashtra Brazil, India, Cash crop; processed into
drained , Karnataka, China, sugar. Requires a long warm
fertile Tamil Nadu, Thailand, season and high irrigation.
Sugarcane 21-27 150-200 loamy soil Andhra P. Pakistan Water guzzling crop.

A diverse group of legumes

Madhya
Not very (nitrogen fixation); important
Pradesh,
high. in intercropping (do not
Maharashtra
Can compete for resources); rich
,
grow in in protein and dietary fiber.
Rajasthan,
dry Well- Important for food,
Uttar
conditio drained, nutrition security and soil
Pradesh
ns. can India, health. India’s productivity at
Variable tolerate a (Drylands of Canada, 766 kg/ha is far below the
dependi wider range Peninsular Myanmar, world average productivity of
ng on of soil plateau; NW Brazil, 1015 kg/ha. (Gram and Tuar
Pulses 15-27 type types India) Ethiopia details after the table.)

Loamy to Used to extract edible oils.

clayey- Major types: soybean,
30-75 loamy and groundnut, rapeseed,
(variable well Rajasthan, mustard, sesame etc.
for drained Madhya (Groundnuts, and other
different sandy Pradesh, USA, China, oilseed details after the
Oilseeds 15-30 crops) loams Gujarat Brazil, India table)

Assam,
West
Bengal,
Tamil Nadu,
Well- Kerala. Beverage crop; leaves
drained, Minor China, India, processed into black tea,
acidic, and states: Kenya, Sri green tea, etc. Requires
fertile Andhra, HP, Lanka, specific climatic conditions
Tea 15-25 150-300 (Laterite) Tripura Turkey and manual harvesting.

Beverage crop; seeds roasted

Well- Brazil, and ground to make coffee.
drained, Karnataka, Vietnam, Requires specific shade
slightly Kerala, Tamil Colombia, conditions and well-
acidic, and Nadu, Indonesia, distributed rainfall. Native to
Coffee 15-25 150-200 fertile Andhra Ethiopia Africa & Arabia.
 The plant requires shade and
is commonly grown under
taller trees like coconut or
areca. About 70 percent of the
world’s cocoa beans come
from four West African
countries: Ivory Coast, Ghana,
Nigeria and Cameroon.

Sustainability concerns and

initiatives are growing in the
cocoa industry due to issues
Andhra Ivory Coast, like deforestation, child labor,
Pradesh, Ghana, and environmental
Well- Kerala, Indonesia, degradation in major
drained Karnataka, Nigeria, producing countries. Native to
Cocoa 18-32 100-250 laterite soil Tamil Nadu Ecuador Central America.

Cash crop: latex extracted

Well- Thailand, from the tree is processed into
drained, Indonesia, various rubber products.
slightly Vietnam, Requires high humidity and
acidic, and Kerala, Tamil India, China, specific soil conditions.
Rubber 25-35 200-300 fertile Nadu Malaysia Native to South America

Maharashtra
, Andhra
Pradesh,
Odisha,
Karnataka,
Kerala, Tamil Ivory Coast;
Nadu, West India, Native to Brazil. Spread to the
Laterite Bengal, and Vietnam, rest of the world by the
Cashew 20-30 100-200 Soil Goa Tanzania Portuguese

Major:
Assam,
Tripura, In India, bamboo is often
Meghalaya, referred to as the "green gold"
Well- and due to its economic and
drained Mizoram; ecological importance. It
loamy soil. grows fast (up to 1 m/day). It is
Minor:
Slightly China, India, an eco-friendly resource, used
Karnataka,
acidic Myanmar, in construction, paper,
Kerala,
Laterite Thailand, textiles, and handicrafts, and
Madhya
Bamboo 15-38 100-250 soil best Indonesia helps in carbon sequestration.
Pradesh,
 Maharashtra
, parts of WB

Kerala,
The crop is often intercropped
Karnataka,
with coffee, areca nut, and
Tamil Nadu.
pepper, and thrives under
Large
shaded conditions.
cardamom
Slightly also being Guatemala India is a major exporter of
acidic cultivated in (50% global small cardamom and is noted
clayey Arunachal, production), for producing some of the
Cardamo soils Nagaland, India, Sri highest-quality varieties of
m 10-35 150-400 (Laterite) Manipur Lanka cardamom globally.

Archaeological evidence
suggests that grapes have
been cultivated for over
8,000 years, especially for
winemaking, which dates
back to ancient Mesopotamia
Maharashtra and Egypt. grapevines grown
, Karnataka, in poor or dry soil produce
Red Sandy, Andhra fewer but more flavorful
Red Pradesh, China, India, grapes. The stress forces the
Loamy, Tamil Nadu, Turkey, plant to focus on fruit quality
Black; Well Punjab, Uzbekistan, rather than quantity,
Grapes 25-32 63.5-89 drained Mizoram Egypt enhancing the taste of wine.

Cultivated Makhana is the seed of the

in stagnant water lily plant, also known as
water Bihar fox nut, lotus seed, and plant
bodies like (>80%), pop. It is rich in folates, fibers,
ponds, Assam, and essential minerals such
lakes, and West as magnesium, phosphorus,
wetlands Bengal, copper, iron, zinc, and
with a soft, Madhya vitamins B1, B2, B3, and
muddy Pradesh, India selenium. Labour intensive
bottom. Uttar (majority), cultivation. The crop needs a
Loamy or Pradesh, Small water depth of 30–120 cm,
clayey soil and amounts in ensuring proper growth. If the
with high Chhattisgar China, water is too deep or too
Makhana organic h also Japan, shallow, it affects the seed
(Foxnuts) 20-35 100-250 content cultivate Russia yield and quality.

Andhra Indonesia, Native to Africa. Sustainability

Palm Oil 25-28 >200cm Laterite
Pradesh, Malaysia, concerns as large swathes of
 Telangana, Thailand, Tropical Evergreen forests are
Kerala (3 Colombia being cut down for this. India
states=98% and Nigeria focussing on the production
production); under the National Mission on
Other Oilseeds and Oil Palm, to
states: reduce its import
Karnataka, dependence. Used in foods,
Tamil Nadu, cosmetics, etc.
Odisha,
Assam,
Mizoram,
Arunachal
Pradesh,
Bihar, and
Madhya
Pradesh

• Gram:
o Needs less water; Rabi crop; displaced in NW India due to Green Revolution
o Main Producers: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana and Rajasthan
• Tuar (Red gram/Pigeon Pea):
o Rain-fed mainly
o Main Producers: Maharashtra (1/3rd), UP, Karnataka, Gujarat and MP.
• Groundnut:
o Rainfed, Kharif crop. But in South India, cultivated as a Rabi crop too.
o Main Producers: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
and Maharashtra
o India is the top producer.
• Rapeseed and Mustard (White and Black rai):
o Rabi; frost sensitive; 2/3rd area under these is cultivated
o Main Producers: Rajasthan (1/3rd), Haryana, M.P.
• Soyabean:
o Kharif
o 90% grown in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra
• Sunflower:
o Major in South, minor in North
o Main Producers: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and parts of Maharashtra.