AGRICULTURE

1. Types of Farming

Farming methods in India have evolved based on the physical environment, technology, and socio-cultural practices.

A. Primitive Subsistence Farming

• Practised on small patches of land using primitive tools like hoe, dao, and digging sticks.
• Relies on monsoon rainfall, natural soil fertility, and environmental conditions.
• Also known as Slash and Burn agriculture: Farmers clear land, burn vegetation, and grow crops. When fertility declines, they shift to a new patch, allowing nature to replenish the soil.
• Local Names for Slash and Burn:
  • Jhumming in North-eastern states (Assam, Meghalaya, etc.).
  • Pamlou in Manipur, Dipa in Chhattisgarh.
  • Bewar/Dahiya in Madhya Pradesh, Podu/Penda in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Milpa in Mexico, Roca in Brazil, Ladang in Indonesia.

B. Intensive Subsistence Farming

• Practised in areas with high population pressure on land.
• It is labour-intensive and uses high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation to increase production.
• Landholdings are often small and uneconomical due to the right of inheritance, creating immense pressure on agricultural land.

C. Commercial Farming

• Characterized by the use of higher doses of modern inputs like High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, insecticides, and pesticides.
• Commercialization varies by region (e.g., rice is a commercial crop in Punjab but a subsistence crop in Odisha).
• Plantation Agriculture: A type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown over a large area.
  • Requires capital-intensive inputs and migrant labour.
  • Produce is used as raw material for industries.
  • Examples: Tea in Assam/North Bengal, Coffee in Karnataka.

2. Cropping Pattern

India has three major cropping seasons:

3. Major Crops

Grains

• Rice:
  Staple food for the majority of Indians. India is the 2nd largest producer after China.
  Requirements: High temperature (>25°C), high humidity, annual rainfall >100cm. Can grow in low rainfall areas with irrigation (Punjab, Haryana).
• Wheat:
  Second most important cereal. Main food crop in the North/North-west.
  Requirements: Cool growing season, bright sunshine at ripening. 50-75cm annual rainfall.
  Major Zones: Ganga-Satluj plains and black soil region of the Deccan.
• Millets (Coarse Grains):
  Have very high nutritional value.
  Jowar: 3rd most important food crop. Rain-fed, grown in moist areas (Maharashtra, Karnataka).
  Bajra: Grows well on sandy and shallow black soil (Rajasthan, UP).
  Ragi: Crop of dry regions, rich in iron and calcium (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu).
• Maize:
  Used as both food and fodder. Kharif crop. Requires temperature 21°C-27°C and old alluvial soil.

Pulses

• India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses.
• Major source of vegetarian protein.
• Types: Tur (Arhar), Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas, Gram.
• Leguminous crops (except Arhar) help restore soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air. Usually grown in rotation with other crops.

4. Food Crops Other Than Grains

• Sugarcane: Tropical/Subtropical crop. Needs hot and humid climate (21°C-27°C) and 75-100cm rainfall. India is the 2nd largest producer after Brazil. Main source of sugar, gur, and khandsari. Major state: Uttar Pradesh.
• Oil Seeds: India is a major producer. Covers approx. 12% of cropped area. Includes groundnut (major crop), mustard, coconut, soyabean, sunflower. Used for cooking and as raw material for soap/cosmetics.
  Groundnut: Kharif crop, accounts for half of major oilseeds produced. Gujarat is a top producer.
• Tea: Plantation agriculture. Beverage crop initially introduced by the British.
  Requirements: Tropical/sub-tropical climate, deep fertile well-drained soil, warm and moist frost-free climate, frequent showers.
  Labour: Labour-intensive industry.
  States: Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling/Jalpaiguri), Tamil Nadu, Kerala.
• Coffee: India produces the Arabica variety (initially from Yemen), known for good quality. Cultivation is confined to the Nilgiris in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
• Horticulture: India is a major producer of fruits and vegetables (tropical and temperate). Important fruits include Mangoes (Maharashtra), Oranges (Nagpur), Bananas (Kerala), and Apples (J&K). India produces pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal, and potato.

5. Non-Food Crops

• Rubber: Equatorial crop, also grown in tropical areas. Requires moist/humid climate, >200cm rainfall, and temp >25°C. Grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka. Important industrial raw material.
• Fibre Crops: Cotton, Jute, Hemp, and Natural Silk. The first three are soil-grown; Silk is obtained from cocoons (Sericulture).
• Cotton: India is believed to be the original home of cotton. 2nd largest producer.
  Requirements: Drier parts of black cotton soil (Deccan), high temperature, light rainfall, 210 frost-free days, bright sunshine. Kharif crop.
• Jute (Golden Fibre): Grows on well-drained fertile soils in flood plains. Requires high temperature. Used for gunny bags, mats, ropes, carpets. Losing market to synthetic fibres like nylon due to high cost. Major state: West Bengal.

6. Technological and Institutional Reforms

Sustained land use without technological changes has hindered development. Reforms were necessary to support the growing population.

Institutional Reforms (Post-Independence)

• Collectivisation and consolidation of landholdings.
• Cooperation and abolition of Zamindari.
• "Land Reform" was the main focus of the First Five Year Plan.

Technological Reforms (1960s & 1970s)

• Green Revolution: Based on package technology to improve productivity.
• White Revolution (Operation Flood): Focused on milk production.

Comprehensive Land Development (1980s & 1990s)

• Crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire, and disease.
• Establishment of Grameen banks and cooperative societies to provide low-interest loans.
• Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS).
• Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes on radio/TV.
• Announcement of Minimum Support Price (MSP) to check exploitation by middlemen.