Chapter – 4
Agriculture
Agriculture Cultivation of crops and domestication of animals is called agriculture.
Cash Crops
The crops which are cultivated for trade and commerce and selling them in the market to earn money, like tobacco, spices, fruits, sugarcane etc.
Animal Husbandry
Domesticating animals for production of milk and meat is called animal husbandry.
Green Revolution
Sudden rise in the production of crops by using HYV seeds, irrigation water, chemical fertilizers etc. is called green revolution. It took place during 1960s in our country.
Horticulture
Cultivation of fruits and vegetables is called as horticulture.
Sericulture
Rearing of silk worm and producing silk is called sericulture.
Jhumming
Shifting agricultural in the north east is called as jhumming. It is also called slash and burn agriculture because tree are cut and burnt to clear the land for agriculture.
Shifting Agriculture
It is also called as slash and burn agriculture. In this agriculture forest land is cleared and they are burnt. Agriculture is done using very old tools on very small scale. After one or two year new land is selected and same process is followed. This method of agriculture is very old; and gives very low production; and also it degrade forest. In the north-east this agriculture is called as jhumming or jhum cultivation.
Important Crops in India:
Cereal Crops: Rice, Wheat, Bajra
Millets: Jowar, Bajra and Ragi
Pulses: Tur [Arhar], Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas, Gram
Oilseeds: Mustard, Coconut, Groundnut, Coconut, Sunflower, Soyabean
Beverage: Tea, Coffee
Fiber Crops: Cotton, Jute, Hemp and Natural Silk
Cash Crops: Sugarcane, Rubber, Tobacco, Spices
Operation Flood
It means sharp rise in the production of milk. It is also called as White Revolution.
Important Features and Characteristics of Indian Agriculture
Indian agriculture is subsistence in nature. It means produce is consumed by the farmer itself.
Agriculture is dependent on monsoon rain. Only 1/3rd net sown is under irrigation.
Consumption of chemical fertilizer, HYV seeds, pesticide etc is very low.
Size of agriculture fields is very small.
Machines and modern farm implements are used only in small area.
Food crops [rice, wheat] are more important than commercial crops.
There are poor banking and insurance facility available to the farmers.
Agricultural Seasons [Cropping Pattern]
Agricultural Seasons
Sowing Season
Harvesting Season
Important Crops
Areas
Rabi
October - December
February - April
Wheat, Barley, Gram, Oilseeds
Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh and Uttrakand
Kharif
May – July
September - October
Rice, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Moong
Assam, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, and coastal areas of Odisha
Zaid
April - June
Watermelon,Cucumbers, Vegetables
Difference between Subsistence Farming and Commercial Farming
Subsistence Farming
Commercial Farming
Subsistence farming is done for self-consumption not for market.
It is done where population pressure on the land is very high.
Size of agricultural fields is very small.
Consumption of chemical fertilizers, HYV seeds, insecticide etc is low.
Use of machines and modern farm implements are less.
Important crops are rice, jowar, bajra etc.
Commercial farming is done for market, trade and commerce.
It is done where population pressure on the land is low.
Agricultural fields are bigger in size.
Consumption of chemical fertilizers, HYV seeds, pesticides etc is high.
Modern machines e.g. tractors, harvesters, combine etc. are used.
Wheat, cotton, sugarcane, tea, coffee are important crops.
Difference between Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture
Subsistence Agriculture
Commercial Agriculture
Agriculture is done only for self-consumption.
More importance is given to food crops like rice, wheat, maize, Jowar and Bajra.
Most of the works are done manually. Human labour is used more.
Size of the field is very small and they are scattered.
Investment of capital for HYV seeds, fertilizers, insecticides etc. is very low.
Agriculture is done for trade and commerce.
More importance is given to cash crops like tea, coffee, spices, sugarcane and cotton.
Modern machines are used in various activities of agriculture.
It is done on large size fields.
There is huge capital investment on machinery, fertilizers, labours etc.
Plantation Agriculture
It is a type of commercial agriculture which need huge investment of money.
It is single crop farming practiced on large land.
Plantation agriculture was started by British in India.
Generally it is done in hilly and sloppy area where rainfall is high and water can drain easily.
Heavy dose of fertilizers, pesticides etc are required.
Efficient and fast transport and communication help this farming to connect with market.
Important crops are tea, coffee, banana, spices, rubber etc.
Types of crops
Crops
Temperature
Rainfall
Leading producing
Major Crops
Rice (Kharif)
Above 250c
Above 100 cm
Plains of north and north – eastern India, coastal areas and deltaic regions
Wheat (Rabi)
Cool growing season and a bright sunshine at the time of ripening
50 – 70 cm
Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and parts of Madhya Pradesh
Millets
Jowar
Below 160c
Less than 100 cm
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh
Bajra
25 – 300c
40 – 50 cm
Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat
Ragi
25 – 300c
50 – 100cm
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Orrisa and Jharkhand
Maize
21- 270c
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar
Pulses
Less moisture
Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka
Food crops other than Grains
Sugarcane
21- 270c
75 – 100 cm
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar and Haryana
Oil seeds
Groundnut (Kharif)
Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat
Sesamum (Kharif - North)
(Rabi -South)
Castor (Kharif and Rabi )
Tea
Warm Frost free
Frequent showers all over the year
Assam (Jalpaiguri), Tamil Nadu, Kerala , Darjeeling
Coffee
Warm Frost free
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala
Horticulture crops
Non – Food Crops
Rubber
Above 250c
Above 200 cm
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Garo Hills (Meghalaya)
Fiber crops
Cotton
High temperature
High Rainfall
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana
Jute
High temperature
Above 200 cm
West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Assam Meghalaya
Technological and Institutional Reforms
Agricultural in India is thousands of year old.
It is subsistence in nature because farmers consume most of the produce by themselves.
But because of use of modern technology and institutional reform Indian agriculture is becoming commercial.
Green Revolution [Crops] and White Revolution [Milk – Operation Flood] is the result of these two reforms.
Technological Reforms
Wooden plough was replaced with tractors and tillers.
Drip irrigation and sprinklers are now used for irrigation which irrigates more area in less water.
Use of chemical and bio fertilizers have increase manifold. HYV Seeds, pesticide, insecticides are also used more.
Biotechnology has developed much genetically improved variety of seed which are resistant to drought and pest. They give more production also.
Farmers are now using TV, Radio, Newspapers and Cell Phone to know about weather condition and according they plan agricultural activities.
Institutional Reforms
Zamindari system was abolished by the Government of India.
Small fields were consolidated to make large fields.
Agriculture was the main focus in the first Five Years Plan.
Kissan Credit Card [KCC], Personal Accident Insurance Scheme [PAIS] was started by Govt. to help the Indian farmers.
Govt. also announces Minimum Support Price and has abolished the role of middleman in the market.
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