GS-I : Indian Geography Agriculture

22 March, 2021
Min Read

Crops

Major Crops

Recent developments in Crops- Economic Survey

Food Grains

Among total imports of food grains, the % share of different crops shows that- cereals are highest followed by pulses>cashewnuts > edible oils.
Food Grains Constitute 50.7% of agriculture production.
Among food grains, Weightage of Cereals is 41.7%, Pulses is 8.9%
Among Cereals, Weightage of Coarse Cereals is 6.9%.
296.7MT of food grains were produced in 2019-20, compared to 285.2 MT in 2018-19.
Except Potato (50.2 in 2018-19 to 48.7MT in 2019-20), Jute (9.5 to 9.4 MT), Rape Seed and Mustard (9.3 to 9.1 MT) and sugarcane (405.4 to 355.7 MT), rest ALL crops (Food and Non Food) witnessed a RISE in Production.
Sugar witnessed steep fall in production to 355.7MT (2019-20) from 405.4MT (2018-19).

Cereals

In 2020-21, the growth rate of agriculture is estimated to be 3.4%. While the contribution of the sector to Gross Value Added (GVA) declined from 18.3% to 17.8% between 2014-15 and 2019-20, it is estimated to increase to 19.9% in 2020-21. This is because the agricultural sector faced fewer disruptions on account of the COVID-19 pandemic as compared to non-agricultural sectors.

Crops

Conditions of growth

T/R/H

Other

Significance

Trade

Rice

Tropical

8-30°N

Kharif Crop

Sea level to 2500m

High Heat

Mean monthly- 24°C.

sowing- 20°-22°C growth- 23°-25°C

harvesting-25-30°C

West Bengal: Aus, Aman, Boro

1/4^th of TCA

World prodⁿ : China30%>

India24%>

Bangladesh=

Indonesia7%>

Vietnam5%

Fields must be flooded under 10-12 cm deep water at sowing time.

The fields must be level with mud walls to retain water.

High Humidity

100-200 cm

Combination:

Wheat, sugarcane barley

Methods of Cultivation: Broadcasti

Drilling, Trans-plantation

Japanese method³

WB15.7%> UP15% > PN11%>

TN8%>

AP7.5%>

BH6.5%

No month should have less than 12 cm of rainfall.

In Areas<100cm rain.

40% rice crop is under irrigation

Ideal soils:

Deep fertile clayey loams

Acidic/ Alkaline soils also.

Eastern regions, East of 75 cm isohyet

India33%>

Thai20%>

USA8%>

Vietnam6%>

Pak5%>

China

T/R/I/H– Temperature/Rainfall/Irrigation/Humidity.
TCA-TOTAL CROPPED AREA
Broadcasting-seeds are broadcast by hand , mostly in dry less fertile areas, Drilling- Ploughing and sowing done by two workersTransplantation- in fertile areas with abundant rain, seedlings are transplanted from nursery to field. Need more labour
Japanese method-HYV Seeds with heavy dose of fertilizers.
Prodⁿ– Production.

*Crops*	*Conditions of Growth*	*T/R/H¹*	*Other*	*Significance*	*Trade*
*Wheat*	It’s a Temperate crop. Grown in rabi Season. It is sown in the Start of winter and harvested in the Start of summer.	Temperature: Winter 10-15°c Summer 21-26°c	TCA: 1/5^th of Total Cropped Area is under wheat		Top prodⁿ : China21%> India> Russia> USA> France> Canada
	Extensive, mechanized and require comparatively less labour.	Requires cool climate with moderate rainfall. Avg 75cm	Combination Wheat is often grown with gram, barley, mustard, lentil, peas and rapeseed.	Mid latitude grassland	Indian prodⁿ : UP33%> MP20%> PN18%> HR>RJ>BH World2^ndin production(22%).
	Doesn’t tolerate: Sudden rise in temperature at the time of maturity.	Irrigation: In areas of less than 50 cm annual rainfall, irrigation is necessary for its successful growth.	Soil Well drained fertile, friable loams and clay loam are the best suited soils. It also grows well in the black soil of Deccan plateau.		World Trade : Russia17% USA16% Canada14% France11% & Australia.

Coarse Cereals

Includes maize, jowar, ragi, bajra, small millets and barley.
In overall Agriculture Production, Weightage of Pulses (8.9%)> Coarse Cereals (6.9%).
Among Coarse Cereals, Maize amounts for the highest production

Crops	Conditions of growth	T/R	Other	Significance	Trade
Maize	Kharif	21-35 °c	Combination: Inter culture with Pulses vegetables oil seeds	6% of TCA	Top prodⁿ : USA>CHINA> BRAZIL> ARGENTINA> UKRAINE> INDIA
	Doesn’t tolerate: Long dry spell or >100cm rain is harmful.	50-100 cm	Soil Fertile well drained alluvial or red loams free from coarse materials and nitrogen rich soils .	Used both as food and fodder	Indian prodⁿ : KA>MP> TL> MAH> TN> Weightage In Total Agri Production3%
		50-100 cm		Used both as food and fodder	World Trade : USA> BRAZIL> ARGENTINA> UKRAINE> FRANCE

Millets

Provide food for poor and fodder for cattle.
Promote dry land Agriculture.

*Millets*	*Conditions of growth*	*T/R/H¹*	*Other*	*Significance*	*Trade*
Jowar/ Sorghum	Grown in Plain Areas+ gentle slopes upto1200m ht. Loamy, Sandy, Clayey deep regur and alluvium	26-33°c R>30cm Doesn’t tolerate: T<16°c R>100cm	Grown both as Kharif and Rabi 4.7 M Ha TCA	Grown in areas without irrigation	Top prodⁿ : USA25%> India21%> Mexico> China Indian prodⁿ : MH36%> KA22.8%> MP11.5%> TN8%> AP6% World Trade: USA> BRAZIL> ARGENTINA
Bajra Bull Rush Millet	Poor Light Sandy Soils, Black and Red, Upland Gravely Soils	25-30°c 40-50 cm	Kharif Combinations: Cotton, Jowar Ragi.	Used as Food+ Fodder	Indian prodⁿ : RJ45%>UP22%>GJ10%> HR
Ragi	Red, Light black, Sandy Loams, Well drained Alluvial Soils	20-30°c 50-100 cm			KR73%>UK7%>TN>MH
Barley	Altitude: Plains to 1300 m Light Clay & Alluvial Soils are best suited	High Heat & High Humidity required. 10-15°c 75-100cm	Production declined by >50%	Beer and Whiskey manufacture	RJ(40%)>UP33%>MP>CG

Pulses

Among food grains (50.7% of total Agriculture Production), Weightage of Pulses is 8.9%.
In overall Agriculture Production, Weightage of Pulses (8.9%)> Coarse Cereals (6.9%).

	*Conditions of growth*	*T/R/H¹*	*Other*	*Significance*	*Production*
Pulses	Gram,Tur, Moong,Urad, Masur, Kulti,Matar, Khesri, Moth.		Rotated with other crops to restore soil fertility. Capacity to fix atm nitrogen.	Vegetable Proteins to vegetarian population.
Gram	Rabi season Ideal Soils: loamy	20-25⁰c 40 to 50cm	Combination: Wheat, Barley, Linseed, Mustard. Mixed Cropping checks gram blight to some extent.	37% of all pulses. 30% of total area of pulses	MP45%> KA12%> RJ11% > MH10%
Tur	Kharif Crop		Mixed with other kharif crops like cotton, jowar, bajra, ragi, maize, groundnut.	2nd most important pulse after gram	MP25%> MH20%> KA10%

Plantation

These are crops which are grown plantations covering large estates.
They are not annual crops, usually take 3-5yr to bear returns after they are sown.
They bear fruits, for 35-40yr.
Heavy initial capital investment and fig level technology needed.
They cover small area in India but are of high economic value.
Tea, coffee and rubber are the principal plantation crops but spices are also included in this category.
This generates full or part time employment to over 20 lakh persons.

Crops

Condition

Production

Distribution

Trade

Other

Tea

dried leaf of a bush

Tropical and sub-tropical. Hot and humid climate.

T: 20°-30°C

R: 150-300cm

Prolonged dry spell is harmful

High humidity, heavy dew and morning fog favour rapid development of leaves

To increase the yield, dose of N- fertilizers like ammonium sulphate should be applied to soil.

High Rain, No stagnancy.

Well drained, deep, friable loams.

Forest soils rich in humus and iron content.

600- 1,800 m from msl.

India is the 3rd largest producer (17.1%) of tea in the world.

Next to China and Turkey.

AS (40% of tea area & 44% tea prodⁿ)

WB(25% area and 22% tea prodⁿ)

TN,KR,KA accounts for 25% prodⁿ, 25% area.

Assam:

Brahma-putra

Valley; Sadiya to Golapara.

Surma Valley

WB:

Duars of

Kooch Behar

Darjelling Jalpaiguri

TN,KR,KA:

Nilgiri, Cardamom, Palani, Anamalai

UK,HP:

Dehradun Almora Garhwal, Kangra, Mandi.

Imported from:
Vietnam(55%)>Indonesia> Sri Lanka.

Competition with: Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, African countries like Kenya

Exports to: Russia, U.K, US, Germany, Australia, Afghanistan, Iraq Egypt.

World Trade:

China(32%) India(12%) Sri lanka 11%

In Darjeeling- P,K nutrient rich soil gives special flavour to tea.

Labour intensive crop

Requires cheap skilled labour,

10M people derive their livelihood from tea.

Women are over 50% of the total workforce

Coffee

Hot and humid climate

T: 15°C and 28°C

R:150 to 250 cm

Grown on Hill slopes at elevations from 600 to 1,600m above msl.

Shade loving plant.

Dry weather is necessary at the time of ripening of the berries.

N & E slopes are preferred as they are less exposed to strong afternoon sun and SW monsoon winds

Well drained, rich friable loams with Humus and minerals like iron and calcium.

Does not tolerate: frost, snowfall, T>30°C, strong sun shine, Water Stagnancy

India is 7^th largest producer of coffee in the world after Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Mexico

India produces 3.5% of world's coffee.

Production is shared by three states namely KA, KR & TN.

Indigenous to Abyssinia Plateau (Ethiopia) Brought to Baba BudanHills in 17^thC, later spread to Chikmagalur, Waynad, Shevoroy Nilgiris, Araku.

Exports to: U.K., U.S.A., Russia, Australia& Iraq.

Chennai, Mangalore and Kozhikode are the chief ports of export.

Brazil-1^st (25%)> Vietnam (17%)> Colombia (7%). India-7^th in exports

Employment to 2.5M people.

Arabica and Robusta are the two main variety of coffee accounting for 49% & 51% of area under coffee.

Rubber

Elastic solid taken from latex of many tropical trees.

Yields latex in 5-7 years. Requires hot and humid climate with T : 25°-35°C

R: 200 cm.

Deep well drained loamy soils on the hill slopes at elevation 300 to 450 m above msl.

Does not tolerate: Dry spell, and low temperatures, Elevation >700m.

Small holdings constitute 88% of area with Average productivity greater than that of estates.

India(3^rd) natural rubber prodⁿ (9% of worldOutput) next to Thailand & Indonesia,

Entire rubber is produced in KR,TN,KA.

KR(92%) of total rubber production

Potential Regions: NE region, parts of WB, OD, MH and KA

Main districts: Kottayam, Kollam, Ernakulam Kozhikode

Exports to: Iran(43%)> China(24%)>Brazil(5%)

Top exporting Countries:

Thailand, Indonesia, Cote’d’Ivore, Vietnam, Malaysia, Myanmar.

Imported from: Thailand, Indonesia, , Vietnam, Malaysia

Hevea brasiliensis is an important variety.

Uses: Pencil Eraser, Tyre manufacture to many other industrial products.

Horticulture

Export growth of fresh fruits and vegetables in term of value is 14% and of processed fruits and vegetables is 16.27%
Globally, second largest producer of fruits and vegetables
Largest producer of mango,banana, coconut, cashew, papaya, pomegranate etc.
In fruits, Largest portion of exports are in pomegranate, mango, banana, Oranges Grapes.
Ranks first in productivity of grapes, banana, cassava, peas, papaya etc.
In vegetables, Largest portion of exports are in TOP, Mixed Vegetables, Green Chillies.

Crops	Conditions of growth	T/R/H	Significance	TCA²/Production	Trade
Horti culture	1^stin Exports in Banana, Mango, Cashew Among first 10 in Citrus Fruits, pineapple, apple. 1^st in global production of cauliflower, 2^ndin onion 3^rd in cabbage		Increase Land Productivity, exports Employment Generation, Nutritional Security.	Contributed 30% to GDP from agri- culture. TCA:23.78MHa	10% of global prodⁿ of fruits. 2^ndlargest producer of fruits
Cashew	Tropical crop Poor RockySoils ,laterite ,Sandy soils	Temp: 16-25⁰c R: 50-350 cm.	Cashew nut, fruit, Shell oil is used in paints varnishes. Jams, Syrup, Wine.	Introduced by Portugese.	1^stin world prodⁿ& exports (90% of world demand). Exports to USA, Russia, UK, Germany.
Mango	Tropical Clayey loams	20-30⁰c 75-250 cm. Monsoon Areas	1000s of varieties in india	Pickles, Squash etc.,	1^st world prodⁿ(54%) & export Top States: UP>BH>AP>WB Exported to: Bangladesh>UAE>Saudi> UK
Banana	Tropical and Sub-Tropical Rich well drained soil +Ample moisture +humus	20-30⁰c 150 cm.	World’s most traded fruit (15% of total fruits exported)	3^rdin total fruit producing area 1^stin India’s total fruit prodⁿ 29% of world prodⁿ TN>GJ>MH> AP>KA	1^stin India’s total fruit prodⁿ. 1/3 ^rd of total fruits produced in the country Exported to: UAE>Saudi> Iran>Kuwait
Apple	Temperate 21-24⁰c 1500-2700m Altitude	Loamy Soil + organic matter + good drainage. Must not have hard sub strata and water logging.	Replaced millet increasing the income level	HP: Kullu, Kinnaur, Shimla, JK: Kashmir UK	It’s fruit that is most exported from india.
Strawberry	Temperate 16⁰c	Submerged under 10 cm slowly moving water for three months		Hilly areas of HP, UK,
Other Temperate Fruits	Peach, Pear, Apricot, Almond, Walnut	Peach is highly perishable than apple. Hence its Costly and require Fast transportation.	COOL climate, mist cloudiness allow pear production in Nilgiris	HP,UK, Kashmir Valley, Kumaon-Garhwal.	Temperate Fruits contribute 8% in total agri exports
Vegetables	Throughout the year Short Duration	175 different types in all. But only 5 crops constitute 60% of total production (TOP+Cabbage+ Cauliflower)	More jobs created than in cereal cultivation.	More vegetable prodⁿ result in more cereal production, hence more income generation	1^st in the world prodⁿ

Non Food Grains

Amount for 49.3% of total Agriculture Production.
Oilseeds amount for highest among Non-food Grains with 13.2 % weightage, followed by Sugarcane(9.9%)

Cotton:

It has imposed a 10% import tax on the import of this fibre to help farmers.
Government has also raised the levy on raw silk and silk yarn from 10% to 15%.
India is the biggest cotton grower. India’s cotton output is expected to climb to 37.12mn bales of 170 kg each in 2020-21 from 35.49mn bales a year earlier.
The imports are expected to fall to 1.4mn this year from 1.55mn bales in 2019-20.
There was no import duty on cotton imports till now.

Cash

Crops

Conditions of growth

T/R/H

Significance

Other

Trade

Cotton

Kharif crop requires 6 to 8 months to mature.

T: 21-30 ^oc

R: 50-100 cm

Tropical and sub-tropical areas

Slow Growth<20^oC

Does not tolerate: Frost

Need 210 frost free days

Moist weather and heavy rainfall at the time of boll-opening and picking are detrimental, due to pests and diseases.

80% of the total irrigated area under cotton is in PN, HR, GJ, RJ

Soils: A. deep black(regur)) of the Deccan Plt and the Malwa Plt & GJ.

B. alluvial soils of the Satluj-Ganga Plain and

C. red and laterite soils of the peninsular region.

Exhausts fertility of soil. Hence needs regular application of manures.

2nd most important crop.

Combination:

Mixed with other kharif crops such as maize, jowar, ragi, sesamum, castor, groundnut and some vegetables.

Lot of cheap and efficient labour is required.

Grown over 8.6% of net sown area. All the three species of cotton are grown.

Grown in 3 agro-ecological zones, viz.. Northern (PN,HR,RJ), Central (GJ,MH,MP) and Southern zone (AP,TN,KA).

Cotton yarn and fabrics exports - 23% of India’s total textiles and apparel exports.

In 2018-19, prodⁿ was 28.70 M bales.

About 1/3rd of the total area under cotton cultivation is irrigated.

TN, it is grown both as a kharif and as a rabi crop

Types of Cotton

On the basis of the length, strength & structure of fibre.

Long staple cotton- (24 to 27mm)- superior quality. This is of 50% of total cotton prod^n.Grown in PN,HR,MH,TN,MP.

Medium staple

20 - 24 mm.

44% prodⁿ RJ,PN,TN,MP,UP

Short staple-inferior <20 mm long.

6% of total prodⁿ. UP,AP,RJ,HR

3^rd largest producer of cotton after China and the U.S.A.

Prodⁿ

GJ(32%) MH(21%) TS(13%) AP(8%)

Imported from:

USA, Russia, UAR, Sudan & Kenya.

Jute

Hot and Humid

T: 24°C-35°C, R:120-150 cm 80 to 90 per cent relative humidity.

8-10 months to mature

Soils: Light sandy or clayey loams.

Cheap Labour, Large quantity of water are necessary for growing and processing the fibre.

High demand due to Cheap, soft, strong, long, lustre and uniformity of its fibre.

Competition due to substitutes like- plastic products, synthetic fibres, paper package etc

Rapidly exhausts the fertility of soil. Hence soils replenished annually by the silt-laden flood water of the rivers are best suitable.

Retting Process (immersed in flood water or ponds for 2-3 weeks)

Prod^n: 56% of world> Bangladesh(25%)

WB74% BH15% AS8%

Sugar cane

Belongs to bamboo family

Indigenous to India.

Hot and humid climate

T: 21°-27°C and R:75-150 cm.

Largest value of production among all the commercial crops.

Long duration crop and requires 10 to 18 months to mature

Suitable soils include loams, clayey loams, black cotton soils, brown or reddish loams and even laterites.

Soil should be rich in N_2, Ca, K.

Uses: a. In manufacturing alcohol.

b. Bagasse(the crushed cane residue)- To manufacture paper or as fuel in the mills.

c. Substitute for petroleum products.

d. also used as fodder.

Distribution:

a. Satluj-Ganga Plain: PN to BH, contributing 60% of total prodⁿ.

b. Black soil belt-MH to TN, c. Coastal AP

2/3rd of produce is used in making gur & khandsari and only 1/3rd of it goes to sugar factories.

High rainfall results in low sugar content crop.

Deficiency in rainfall -fibrous crop

Exhausts fertility of soil quickly. Its cultivation requires heavy manures and fertilizers.

India is:

1^st in consumption,

1^st in area under sugarcane, 2^nd in Prodⁿ after Brazil.

World Exports: 1^st Brazil, 2^nd Thailand.

States prodⁿ: UP(41%) MH(20%) KA(10%) TN(7%), AP, BH,GJ

Tobacco

Sub-tropical and tropical Climates, T: 16-35⁰c

R: 100cm

Grown in rotation with other crops.

Manufacture of:

Cigarette, Bidi, Cigar, Cheroot and Hookah.,

Insecticides.

Introduced by Portuguese.

Production and Distribution:

AP(42%), GJ(30%), UP(16%), KA(8%)

90% of tobacco export trade is handled by Chennai, followed by Kolkata Mumbai Visakhapatnam

World prodⁿ India(11.25%) is the 3rd after China and Brazil., followed by USA, Malawi, Indonesia.

Exports to:

2/3rd Exports to Russia, UK followed by Japan Egypt Srilanka Nepal

Oilseeds

India has largest area of production of oil seeds in the world.

Top 3 states in Production of different Oil Seeds

Ground nut : GJ45%>RJ16%>TN10%.
Rape Seed and Mustard: RJ(46%)>HR(12%)>UP(10%)
Soybean: MP(45%) >MH(40%)>RJ(4%)
Sunflower: KA(54%)>OD(12%)>BH(5%)
Total Oilseeds: RJ,GJ,MP, each 20% share in production.

Used in Production of : Edible oil, paints, varnishes, hydrogenated oils, soaps, perfumes, lubricants etc.,
Oil cake (residue after oil extraction) is used as cattle feed and manure.
Most of them rotated with other crops, as it synthesizes atmospheric nitrogen and increases fertility of soil.
Used in manufacture of Medical Emulsions, Soap and Toilet Requisites, Margarine(G.Nut),Paints, Varnishes, Printing ink, Oil cloth and Water proof Fabric(Linseed, Castor, Mustard).
India(with 17% of world production) is 2^nd largest producer of Groundnut, after China(40%).
Oilseeds mostly grown both as Kharif and Rabi Crop, Except Mustard(Rabi)

Spices

Pepper:

2^nd largest producer of pepper after Indonesia
T: 10-30⁰C, R-200-300cm.
Grows as a vine.
Deep friable,well drained, loamy Soils, lateritic Soils
Sea level to 1200 m
World’s 2^nd largest producer after Indonesia.
KR(94%), KA(4%), TN
1/3^rdof total produce exported to :Russia, USA, Canada, EU
Faces competition from Vietnam.

Cardamom(a.k.a. queen of aromatic spices)???????

15-32⁰c, 150-300cm
Well drained forest loams, loamy Soils, deep red lateritic Soils, Humus.
800-1600m above msl.
KR,KA,TN
>50% of total produce exported., to countries like-Saudi Arabia, Russia, UK, Germany.
2^nd after Guatemala.

Ginger

Used as: Spices, Medicines
Grown in tropical and Sub-Tropical climates.
T: 10-25⁰C, R: 125-250cm.
Sea level to 1300 msl.
1^st in production and export.
Major Producers: ML,AP,KR,SK.
85% of total produce is consumed, rest is exported. Still Indian exports make up 50% of world trade .