Agricultural landholdings in India are small and fragmented; about two-thirds of Indian farms fall into the category of less than one hectare.
India, as an agrarian economy, is largely self-sufficient in food production, except for wheat and sugar. Farmers who practice subsistence farming and women farmers play a pivotal role in ensuring food security.
A variety of food and non-food crops are grown in different parts of India depending upon the variations in soil, climate and cultivation practices.
With Indian agriculture playing a crucial role in the economy, the challenges of resource deficit and environmental degradation push us to develop modern and sustainable farming techniques.
i. Rice
- It is a kharif crop.
- It requires high temperature and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
- India is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China.
- It is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaicregions.
- Top Rice Producing States: West Bengal > Punjab > Uttar Pradesh > Andhra Pradesh > Bihar.
- It is the staple food crop of majority of Indian people.
- In states like Assam, West Bengal and Odisha, three crops of paddy are grown in a year. These are Aus, Aman and Boro.
- National Food Security Mission, Hybrid Rice Seed Production and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana are few government initiatives to support rice cultivation.
2. Wheat
- This is a rabi crop.
- It requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
- It requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed over the growing season.
- The Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan are two main wheat-growing zones in India.
- It is the second most important cereal crop and main food crop, in the north and north- western part of India.
- Top Wheat Producing States: Uttar Pradesh > Punjab > Madhya Pradesh > Haryana > Rajasthan.
- India is the second largest producer after China.
- This is the second most important cereal crop and the main food crop, in north and north-western India.
- Success of Green Revolution contributed to the growth of Rabi crops especially wheat.
- Macro Management Mode of Agriculture, National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana are few government initiatives to support wheat cultivation.
3. Millets
- Jowar, Bajra and Ragi are the important millets grown in India.
- These are known as coarse grains and have very high nutritional value.
- Top Millets Producing States: Rajasthan > Karnataka > Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Uttar Pradesh
- Jowar: Maharashtra > Karnataka > Madhya Pradesh > Tamil Nadu > Andhra Pradesh.
- Bajra: Rajasthan > Uttar Pradesh > Gujarat > Madhya Pradesh > Haryana.
- These are also known as coarse grains, which have high nutritional value. Ragi is very rich in iron, calcium, other micro nutrients and roughage.
- Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production.
- National Agricultural Insurance Scheme, Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion are examples of government’s efforts to support millet production.
4. Maize
- It is a Kharif crop.
- It requires temperature between 21°C to 27°C and grows well in old a11uvia1 soil.
- It is used both as food and fodder.
- Top Maize Producing States: Karnataka > Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Tamil Nadu > Telangana
- India is the seventh largest producer worldwide.
- Use of modern inputs such as High-Yielding Variety seeds, fertilisers and irrigation have contributed to the increasing production of maize.
- Technology Mission on Maize is one of the government’s initiatives for mazie.
5. Pulses
- India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world.
- Pulses are the major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
- Major pulses grown in India are Tur (Arhar), Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas and Gram.
- Pulses are mostly grown in rotation with other crops so that the soil restore fertility.
- Top Pulses Producing States: Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh > Karnataka.
- Being leguminous crops, all these crops except arhar help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air. Therefore, these are mostly grown in rotation with other crops.
- National Food Security Mission for Pulses, Pulses Development Scheme and Technological Mission on Pulses are few of the government’s plans to support pulses production.
