• THE TERM 'FOOD CROPS' REFERS TO PLANTS, WHICH

PROVIDE FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION, CULTIVATED BY

MAN BY AGRICULTURE.
– CEREALS
– LEGUMES
– VEGETABLES
– TUBERS AND FRUITS.
 FOOD CROPS
• CEREALS:
– CEREALS ARE THE GRASSES, BELONGS TO THE POACEAE
FAMILY (MONOCOT).
– HIGHLY RICH IN CARBOHYDRATE
– RICE, WHEAT, MAIZE, MILLETS.
• PULSES:
– PULSES ARE LEGUMINOUS CROPS WHICH PRODUCE PODS
(OFTEN YIELD ONE TO TWELVE SEEDS)
– LEGUMES THAT ARE RICH IN PROTEINS AND AMINO ACIDS.
– GRAMS, CHICK PEAS. LENTIL, DRY BEANS.
FOOD CROPS
• KHARIF CROP
• MOST IMPORTANT CROP.
• STAPLE FOOD OF INDIA (NORTH EAST AND SOUTH INDIA.
• TROPICAL AND SUB TROPICAL CROP.
• 10000 VARIETIES (WORLD)
• 4000 VARIETIES GROWN IN INDIA:
– ANNAPOORNNA, BASMATI RICE, CHAMPAA RICE,HMT RICE, IDLY
RICE – SHORT GRAIN, KATTA SAMBAR, PONNI RICE, ROSEMATTA
RICE, SONA MASURI ETC.,
• RICE IS CULTIVATED AS LOW LAND RICE AND UPLAND RICE IN
INDIA.
 RICE
• AVERAGE TEMPERATURE 240C,RANGE 16°C TO 32°C.
• GROWING SEASON 180C,320C AT THERIPENING STAGE.
TEMPERATURE • NEEDS PLENTY OF SUNSHINE.

• 150 CM TO 200 CM.

• FLOODED FIELDS.
RAINFALL • SLIGHT RAIN BEFORE RIPENING INCREASES GRAIN SIZE.

• CAN BE GROWN ON A VARIETY OF SOILS.

• DEEP FERTILE CLAYEY OR FRIABLE LOAMS(IDEAL)
SOILS
• BLACK LAVA SOIL
 METHODS OF CULTIVATION
BROADCASTING METHOD OR SCATTERING

• INVOLVES SOWING THE SEEDS BY SPRINKLING THEM ALL OVER THE

FIELD BY HAND.
•

DIBBLING
• SEEDS ARE DROPPED AT REGULAR INTERVALS IN THE FURROWS MADE BY THE
FARMERS WITH THE HELP OF A PLOUGH OR DIBBER.

• DIBBER IS A SIMPLE POINTED STICK THAT IS USED TO MAKE A HOLE IN THE

GROUND TO PLANT A SEED.

DRILLING
• WHILE USING THE PLOUGH, SEEDS ARE DROPPED THROUGH A BAMBOO SHAFT
ATTACHED TO IT, IN THE FURROWS MADE BY THE PLOUGH IN A STRAIGHT LINE.

• SOMETIMES SEEDS ARE SOAKED IN WATER FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE SOWING
WHICH HELPS IN QUICK GERMINATION
 METHODS OF CULTIVATION
SEEDS ARE FIRST
SOWN IN NURSERIES
AFTER SOAKING
THEM IN WATER FOR
24 HOURS.

ADVANTAGES AFTER 4 WEEKS WHEN

• HIGH YIELD THE SEEDLINGS ARE
TRANSPLANTATION
ABOUT
• LESS WASTAGE METHOD
20CM TALL, THEY ARE
OF SEEDS
UPROOTED AND ARE
PLANTED IN THE FLOODED
FIELDS.

LOT OF MANUAL
LABOUR IS REQUIRED.
 METHODS OF CULTIVATION
JAPANESE METHOD
USE OF LESS, BUT GOOD QUALITY SEEDS

SEEDS ARE SOWN IN RAISED NURSERY BED

TRANSPLANTING THE SEEDLINGS IN ROWS TO

MAKE WEEDING AND FERTILIZING EASY

INVOLVES MUCH USE OF MANURE TO OBTAIN

HIGHER YIELD

ENSURES THREE TIMES HIGHER YIELDS

 HARVESTING AND PROCESSING
• HARVESTING OF RICE IS DONE BY HAND.
• THE CUT-CROP IS LEFT IN THE FIELD TO DRY FOR A PERIOD OF
ABOUT 3-4 DAYS.
• AFTER THAT, IT IS THRESHED AND TRAMPLED BY BULLOCKS TO
SEPARATE THE KERNEL FROM THE SEED.
• THE RICE IS THEN SENT FOR POLISHING.
– BY POLISHING, THE RICE MAY LOOK BETTER, BUT
IMPORTANT
NUTRIENTS ARE LOST IN THE PROCESS.
– HAND POUNDED RICE IS THUS CONSIDERED BETTER AND
MORE NUTRITIOUS
 DISEASES
RICE
TUNGRO
VIRUS
STEM-
ROT GREEN
AND LEAF
STRIPE. HOPPER
PESTS
AND
BLAST OF
BACTERIAL DISEASES
LEAF RICE
STREAK CASE
WORM
PADDY
STEMBORN
 PROBLEMS IN RICE CULTIVATION

• YIELD PER HECTARE IS LOW.

• FARMERS DO NOT GET SUITABLE PRICE FOR THEIR CROP.

• UNAVAILABILITY OF PROPER STORAGE FACILITY.

• DISEASE AND PEST AFFECT THE PRODUCTIVITY.

DISTIRBUTION
• RABI CROP
• MOST IMPORTANT CROP.
• STAPLE FOOD OF INDIA (NORTH AND NORTH WEST).
• TEMPERATE CROP.
• RICH IN PROTEINS, VITAMINS AND CARBOHYDRATES
AND PROVIDES A BALANCED DIET.
 VARIETIES
• COMMON BREAD VARIETY

(TRITICUM VILGARE):

– MOST WIDELY GROWN SPECIES,

– CHIEF INGREDIENT IN COMMERCIAL

FOODS, SUCH AS LOAF AND

DOUGHNUTS AND CAKES, AND EAST

ASIAN NOODLES

– PUNJAB, HARYANA AND UTTAR

PRADESH.
 VARIETIES
• DURUM/MACARONI WHEAT:

– HARDER VARIETY. USED IN

MOST DRIED PASTA AND

COUSCOUS

– MADHYA PRADESH,

MAHARASHTRA AND

WESTERN ANDHRA PRADESH.

 VARIETIES
• EMMER (TRITICUM DICOCUM):

– COMMONLY KNOWN AS

“KHAPLI

– KARNATAKA, SOUTHERN

MAHARASHTRA, SAURASHTRA

REGION OF COASTAL GUJARAT,

PARTS OF TAMIL NADU AND

ANDHRA PRADESH.
 • AVERAGE TEMPERATURE BETWEEN 100C TO 150C AT THE TIME
OF SOWING..
TEMPERATURE
• DURING HARVESTING PERIOD HIGHER TEMPERATURES (20°C –
25°C) ARE REQUIRED TO HELP RIPENING.

• 50 CM TO 100 CM.
• A LITTLE WINTER RAIN BEFORE RIPENING IS IDEAL (HELPS IN
INCREASING THE YIELD).
RAINFALL • FROST AT FLOWERING TIME AND HAILSTORM AT THE TIME OF
RIPENING CAN CAUSE HEAVY DAMAGE TO THE WHEAT CROP

• WELL-DRAINED, FERTILE, FRIABLE

LOAMY, ALLUVIAL SOILS OF CLAYEY COMPOSITION.
SOILS
• BLACK SOIL
 METHOD OF CULTIVATION
• SEEDS ARE SOWN BY BROADCASTING, DIBBLING AND
DRILLING METHODS.
• WHEAT CROP IS HARVESTED BY CUTTING THE PLANTS WITH
A SICKLE CLOSE TO THE GROUND.
• THRASHING IS THE NEXT PROCESS AND INVOLVES THE
SEPARATION OF THE GRAIN FROM THE SPIKE.
• AFTER THRASHING THE WHEAT IS WINNOWED AND
SIFTED( LOOSEN THE CHAFF FROM THE EDIBLE GRAIN).
 DISEASES
• FUNGAL DISEASE CALLED ‘RUST’ AFFECTS THE CROP YIELD.
• OTHER DISEASES:
– STRIPE RUST OR YELLOW RUST
– BLACK POINT
– LOOSE SMUT.
 DISTRIBUTION
• INDIA IS THE FOURTH LARGEST PRODUCER OF WHEAT AFTER
RUSSIA, USA AND CHINA.
– UTTAR PRADESH (LARGEST PRODUCER – 34%)
– PUNJAB
– HARYANA
– MADHYA PRADESH
– RAJASTHAN
– BIHAR
– GUJARAT AND MAHARASHTRA.
• UTTAR PRADESH, PUNJAB, HARYANA: TOGETHER REFERRED
AS WHEAT GRANARY OF INDIA.
 PULSES
• PULSES ARE LEGUMINOUS CROPS WHICH PRODUCE
PODS (OFTEN YIELD ONE TO TWELVE SEEDS)
• LEGUMES THAT ARE RICH IN PROTEINS AND AMINO
ACIDS.
• THEY ARE ROTATED WITH OTHER CROPS TO MAINTAIN
OR RESTORE SOIL FERTILITY.
• SERVE AS AN EXCELLENT FORAGE (FOOD FOR CATTLE)

• GRAM (CHANNA), URAD, MOONG, MASUR AND ARHAR

ARE THE PRINCIPAL PULSES.
 GRAM
• SOWN BETWEEN SEPTEMBER AND
RABI CROP. NOVEMBER AND IS HARVESTED BETWEEN
FEBRUARY AND APRIL.

• 20°-250 C, MILD, COOL AND

TEMPERATURE
COMPARATIVELY DRY CLIMATE.

• MODERATE RAINFALL OF 50-100 CM.

RAINFALL

SOIL • BEST GROWN IN LOAMY SOIL.

 GRAM
• USES:
– DAL, BESAN (FLOUR), ROASTED OR COOKED
– SWEETS AND SAVOURIES.
– ITS GREEN LEAVES ARE USED AS VEGETABLE.
– ITS GRAIN IS USED TO FEED HORSES AND CATTLE

• AREAS:
– UTTAR PRADESH
– HIMACHAL PRADESH
– RAJASTHAN AND HARYANA.
• BOTH KHARIF AND RABI CROP.
• GROWN IN KHARIF SEASON IN MOST
PARTS OF INDIA.
• TAMIL NADU, IT IS GROWN AS A RABI
CROP

• INFERIOR GRAIN WHICH IS USED

BOTH AS FOOD AND FODDER.
• GRAIN PROVIDES FOOD AND IS USED
FOR OBTAINING STARCH AND
GLUCOSE.
• STALK IS USED AS FODDER.
• CAN BE GROWN AT DIFFERENT
ALTITUDES FROM PLAINS TO THE
AREAS AT 2500 M ABOVE SEA LEVEL.
 REQUIREMENTS
• TEMPERATURE:
– 210C TO 270C. CAN TOLERATE UPTO 350C.
– FROST IS INJURIOUS TO THE CROP(AT LEAST 4½
FROST-FREE MONTHS IN A YEAR).
• RAINFALL: 50 TO 100 CM.
• SOIL:
– CAN BE GROWN ON A VARIETY OF SOILS.
– DEEP HEAVY CLAYS TO LIGHT SANDY SOILS
– FERTILE, WELL DRAINED ALLUVIAL SOIL OR RED LOAMS
FREE FROM COARSE MATERIAL AND RICH IN NITROGEN
ARE BEST SUITED.
 METHOD OF CULTIVATION
• SOWN JUST BEFORE THE ONSET OF MONSOON AND
HARVESTED AFTER RETREAT OF MONSOON.
• SUNSHINE AFTER SHOWERS IS VERY USEFUL TO MAIZE
CROP.
• COOL AND DRY WEATHER HELPS IN RIPENING.
• HARVESTED WHEN THE CROP IS NEARLY DRY AND DOES
NOT CONTAIN MORE THAN 20% MOISTURE.
• MAIZE CORNS ARE REMOVED AND DRIED IN THE SUN
BEFORE SHELLING.
• GROWN IN ALMOST ALL PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
• USES
– CHAPATIS, ROASTED CORNS AND POPCORN.
– USED IN CONFECTIONERY AS CORN FLOUR AND CEREAL AS
CORN FLAKES.
– MAKES EXCELLENT FODDER FOR THE CATTLE
• KHARIF CROP.
• HARDY, DROUGHT AND HEAT-RESISTANT PLANTS AND THEREFORE
MOSTLY CULTIVATED IN THE
DRIER PARTS OF THE MONSOON LANDS
• WARM WEATHER GRASSES GROWN IN THOSE INFERIOR AREAS
WHERE RAIN-FED CROPS LIKE WHEAT AND RICE CANNOT BE
GROWN.
• GRAIN (ROUND IN SHAPE) PROVIDES FOOD FOR THE
POOR, AND STALK AND STEM ARE USED AS FODDER FOR
THE CATTLE.
• TYPES:
– JOWAR, BAJRA, RAGI.
 REQUIREMENTS

• TEMPERATURE: 260C TO 330C.

• RAINFALL: 50 TO 120 CM

• SOILS: LOAMY, SANDY AND CLAYEY DEEP REGUR

AND ALLUVIUM ARE BEST SUITED.

• GROWN IN THE PLAIN AREAS, BUT CAN

BE GROWN ON UPLANDS UP TO 1200 M IN HEIGHT.
• BOTH KHARIF AS WELL AS RABI CROP.
• SOIL: MEDIUM REGUR, CLAYEY BLACK
SOILS.
– KHARIF JOWAR :LIGHT SANDY SOIL
– RABI JOWAR:BLACK REGUR SOILS.

• TEMPERATURE:260C TO 330C.
• RAINFALL:
– RAINFED CROP OF DRY FARMING
AREAS.
– 30CM – 100CM
• EXCESSIVE RAINS AND DROUGHT
CONDITIONS ARE HARMFUL FOR THE
PLANT
• MAINLY USED FOR MAKING • MAHARASHTRA
ROTI. • (LARGEST PRODUCER)
• THE STRAW OF THE PLANT • KARNATAKA
IS USED FOR FODDER FOR • MADHYA PRADESH
FEEDING CATTLE.
• ANDHRA PRADESH
• IN SOME AREAS IT IS RAISED
• TELANGANA
ONLY AS CATTLE FEED
• TAMIL NADU
• RAJASTHAN,

USES: • UTTAR PRADESH

• GUJARAT
AREAS:
BAJRA – BUL RUSH MILLET/PEARL MILLET
• KHARIF CROP.
• SOWN AS ROTATION OR MIXED
CROP.
• TEMPERATURE: 250C TO 350C.
• RAINFALL: LESS THAN 100CM.
– BRIGHT SUNSHINE AFTER LIGHT
SHOWERS IS VERY USEFUL IN
EARLY STAGES.
• SOIL: VARIETY OF SOILS.
– POOR LIGHT- SANDY TO BLACK
OR RED OR GRAVELLY SOIL OF
UPLAND AREAS.
• AS A FOOD CROP • RAJASTHAN(LARGEST
• ROTI PRODUCER)
• FODDER FOR CATTLE. • MAHARASHTRA
• GUJARAT
• UTTAR PRADESH
• HARYANA.

USES AREAS
 RAGI -FINGER MILLET
• KHARIF CROP.
• SOWN BETWEEN MAY AND AUGUST
AND HARVESTED BETWEEN
SEPTEMBER AND JANUARY.
• TEMPERATURE:
– 200C TO 300C.
• RAINFALL: 50-100 CM
– BRIGHT SUNSHINE AFTER LIGHT
SHOWERS IS VERY USEFUL IN
EARLY STAGES.
• SOIL:
– WELL DRAINED ALLUVIAL SOILS.
– RED, LIGHT-BLACK AND SANDY
SOILS
• USED FOR FOOD. • KARNATAKA (LARGEST
• FODDER FOR CATTLE. PRODUCER)
• TAMIL NADU
• MAHARASHTRA
• UTTAR PRADESH

USES AREAS