Agriculture in India

Agriculture in India

Kinds of Agriculture

Origin of Some Crops

Agriculture in India

• According to census 2011 nearly 55% of the total population of the country is engaged in agriculture and allied activities.
• Sikkim is the First organic State of India.
• It provides food to the second biggest population and the biggest population of cattle in the world.
• Our agro-based industries are fully dependent on raw material provided by agriculture.
• Agriculture with its allied activities contributes 17.4% to the country's GVA (Gross Value Added).

Types of Agriculture in India:

Subsistence Farming

• In this type of agriculture, farmers work hard to grow enough food to survive only.
• In this type of farming the produce is consumed mainly by farmer and his family.
• There remains no surplus to sell in the market.

Mixed Farming

• The combination of agriculture and pastoral farming is called mixed farming.
• In this type of farming, cultivation of crops and rearing of animals are done together on the same farm.

Jhum/Shifting Cultivation

• This is a primitive form of agriculture, in which a plot of land is cultivated for a few years and then is deserted.
• This slash and burn method of farming is carried on in jungles of north-eastern part of India e.g. in Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram etc.
• A plot of land is cleared for cultivation. As the yield decreases after two or three years, the plot is abandoned and a fresh clearing is made.

Organic Farming

• Organic farming is an alternative and innovative agricultural system which originated in early 20^thcentury in reaction to rapidly changing farming practices.
• It relies on fertilizers of organic origin such as compost, manure, green manure and bone meal and places emphasis on techniques such as crop rotation and companion planting. Biological pest control mixed cropping and fostering of insect predators are encouraged.

Zero Budget Natural Fanning (ZBNF)

• In order to increase food production, several steps are being taken. Fertilizers, pesticides and new technology are required but they are harmful for sustainable agricultural development. To overcome this problem farmers are now adopting Zero Input Farming techniques.
• According to this technique farmers can increase their yield without using fertilizers & pesticides from outside.
• In this type of agriculture, chemical fertilizer and pesticides are not used. Through this process soil becomes favourable for zero budget natural farming In India, it first evolved in the state of Karnataka.

Contract Farming

• Contract farming is defined as agricultural production carried out by agreement between farmers and buyers. It includes production of banana, mango, potato, garlic, onion etc. For example, contract farming of tomato is being done in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, sun-flowers in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, and fruits and vegetables in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.
• Besides local food processing firms, Pepsi, Cola, Hindustan Ltd. etc. also participated in it. Presently, a new series of organized and modem retailers have stepped in the market. Subhiksha, Reliance Fresh, Big Apple, etc. are some of them.
• Contract farming helps farmers in being more decisive and being capable of selling and purchasing more efficiently.

Ktensive Farming

• This is a system of farming in which the cultivator uses a limited amount of labour and capital on relatively large area.
• This type of agriculture is practised in countries where population size is small and land is enough.
• Here, per acre yield is low but overall production is in surplus due to less population.
• Agriculture is done with the help of machines.

Intensive Farming

• This is a system of farming in which the cultivator uses large amount of labour and capital on a relatively small area.
• In countries where the size of population is big but land is less, this type of farming is done.
• Annually two or three crops are grown due to the demand of food for the large size of population.
• Agriculture is done with the help of manual labour.

Plantation Agriculture

• In this type of agriculture, trees or bushes are planted on huge estates. A single crop like rubber, sugarcane, coffee, tea or banana is grown. These crops are major items of export.

Three Crop Seasons in India:

1. Rabi

• This season starts after the rainy season. Sowing begins in September-October and harvesting takes place in February-March.
• Wheat, barley, pulses and some oil seeds are grown in the Rabi season.

2. Kharif

• The Kharif season begins with the onset of the monsoons in June-July.
• The crop grows in the rainy season and harvesting takes place after the retreat of monsoon in September-October.
• Rice, maize, millets, groundnuts, cotton and jute are grown in the Kharif season.

3. Zayad

• This is the summer season for growing crops which remain till April, May and June.
• Products are mainly vegetables and fruits.

Important Crops and their Prodcers (World)

• Note: Classification of agriculture area in world by D. Hytlasy.

Green Revolution

• The increase in agriculture productivity of cereals that has taken place since the 1960s mainly as a result of introduction of high yielding varieties of wheat and rice and use of fertilizers, machines and irrigation etc., is known as green revolution.
• Green revolution has made us self-sufficient in food production. This has not only saved our much precious foreign exchange but has also made us self-reliant.
• But green revolution has proved more beneficial to rich farmers only, because it involves a lot of investment.