Chapter – 4

Agriculture

In this post we have given the detailed notes of class 10 Social Science (Geography) Chapter 4 (Agriculture) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 10 board exams.

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Chapter 4: Agriculture

Importance of Agriculture

Agriculture is a primary activity that produces most of the food that we consume. It also produces raw materials for various industries such as cotton and jute textiles, and sugar and edible oil processing. About two-thirds of India’s population is still dependent on agriculture, either directly or indirectly, for their livelihood. Besides food grains, agriculture also produces raw material for many industries. Agriculture in India is not just an economic activity; it is essential for feeding the country’s large population.

Types of Farming

India has diverse natural and socio-cultural environments where a wide variety of farming systems exist. Farming systems depend upon the available natural resources and the technology known to the farmer. Agriculture is an age-old economic activity in our country, and over these years, farmers have developed various methods according to the characteristics of the physical environment, technological know-how, and socio-cultural practices.

1. Primitive Subsistence Farming

Primitive subsistence farming is still practised in a few pockets of India. This type of farming is practised on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao and digging sticks, and family/community labour. This type of farming depends upon monsoon, natural fertility of the soil, and suitability of other environmental conditions. It is a ‘slash and burn’ agriculture — farmers clear a patch of land and grow food crops sufficient for their family, and once the soil fertility decreases, the farmer shifts and clears a fresh patch of land for cultivation.

This type of shifting agriculture is known by different names in different parts of the country. It is known as Jhumming in the north-eastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Nagaland; Pamlou in Manipur; Dipa in Bastar district of Chhattisgarh and in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Other names by which it is known elsewhere include Podu in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, Bewar and Dahiya in Madhya Pradesh, and Khil in Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

2. Intensive Subsistence Farming

This type of farming is practised in areas of high population pressure on land. It is labour-intensive farming, where high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher production. Land holdings are small because of the large population and the resultant pressure on land. Farmers use high doses of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to get maximum output from limited land, sometimes at the cost of over-utilisation of natural resources.

3. Commercial Farming

In this type of farming, modern inputs like High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides are used in high doses to obtain higher productivity. The degree of commercialisation of agriculture varies from one region to another. For example, rice is a commercial crop in Punjab and Haryana but is a subsistence crop in Odisha.

Plantation Agriculture is also a type of commercial farming. In this type of farming, a single crop is grown on a large area. The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry, requires a large area of land, capital-intensive inputs, sophisticated technology, migrant labourers and good managerial ability. Its produce is used as raw material in respective industries, so a well-developed network of transport and communication connecting the plantation area, industry and markets plays an important role. Tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, banana, etc. are important plantation crops.

Cropping Pattern

India has three cropping seasons — Kharif, Rabi and Zaid.

Successful growth of Rabi crops requires the assistance of good rainfall received during winter months due to western temperate cyclones. In states like Punjab and Haryana, availability of assured irrigation has made rice-wheat rotation extremely popular, though this repeated cropping puts pressure on soil fertility.

Major Crops

Rice

Rice is the staple food crop of a majority of the people in India. India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world after China. It is a Kharif crop which requires high temperature (above 25°C) and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm. In areas of less rainfall, it grows with the help of irrigation. Rice is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions. Development of dense network of canal irrigation and tube wells has made it possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall such as Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. Major rice-producing states are West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Haryana.

Wheat

Wheat is the second most important cereal crop and is the main food crop in north and north-western parts of the country. This Rabi crop requires a cool growing season and a bright sunshine at the time of ripening. It requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed over the growing season. There are two important wheat-growing zones in the country — the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan. Major wheat-producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.

Millets — Jowar, Bajra and Ragi

Jowar, bajra and ragi are the important millets grown in India, and are also known as coarse grains. They have very high nutritional value; for example, ragi is rich in iron, calcium, other micro-nutrients and roughage.

• Jowar is the third most important food crop by area and production. It is a rain-fed crop, mostly grown in the moist areas which hardly needs irrigation. Major jowar-producing states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil. Major bajra-producing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.
• Ragi is a crop of dry regions and grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils. Major ragi-producing states are Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Arunachal Pradesh.

Maize

Maize is a crop which is used both as food and fodder. It is a Kharif crop which requires temperature between 21°C to 27°C and grows well in old alluvial soil. In some states, maize is also grown in the Rabi season. Major maize-producing states are Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.

Pulses

India is the largest producer as well as the largest consumer of pulses in the world. Tur (arhar), urad, moong, masur, peas and gram are the major pulses grown in India. Pulses are the major source of protein in a vegetarian diet. Being leguminous crops, all these crops help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air into the soil. Therefore, pulses are mostly grown in rotation with other crops. Pulses need less moisture and can survive even in dry conditions. Major pulses-producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Food Crops Other Than Grains

Sugarcane

Sugarcane is a tropical as well as a sub-tropical crop. It grows well in hot and humid climatic conditions with a temperature of 21°C to 27°C and annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm. It is the main source of sugar, gur (jaggery), khandsari and molasses. India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane in the world after Brazil. Major sugarcane-producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.

Oilseeds

India is one of the largest producers of oilseeds in the world, which are produced from different crops covering about 12 per cent of the total cropped area of the country. Groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed and sunflower are the main oilseeds grown in India, and most of them are used as cooking mediums.

• Groundnut is a Kharif crop and accounts for about half of the major oilseeds produced in the country. Major groundnut-producing states are Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
• Mustard is a Rabi oilseed crop and is grown mainly in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
• Coconut is grown in tropical areas and is largely a crop of coastal regions such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Goa.
• Sesamum (til) is a Kharif crop in north India and a Rabi crop in south India, while castor seed is grown both as Rabi and Kharif crop.

Tea

Tea cultivation is an example of plantation agriculture. It is also an important beverage crop, introduced in India initially by the British. It is a labour-intensive industry that requires a hot and humid climate all through the year. It requires deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter. Tea bushes require frequent rainfall spread over the year. Tea is processed within the tea garden to restore its freshness. Major tea-producing states are Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in West Bengal, and Nilgiri hills in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

Coffee

Indian coffee is known in the world for its good quality. The Arabica variety, initially brought from Yemen, is produced in the country. This variety is in great demand the world over. Coffee is mainly grown in the Nilgiri hills of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Horticulture Crops

India is a producer of tropical as well as temperate fruits, which helps in earning valuable foreign exchange. India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world, producing mangoes, bananas, litchis, guavas, oranges, pineapples, papayas, and vegetables like peas, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal and potato. This sector plays an important role in raising farmers’ incomes and generating additional employment.

Non-Food Crops

Rubber

Rubber is an important industrial raw material. It is a tropical as well as sub-tropical crop, requiring moist and humid climate with rainfall of more than 200 cm and temperature above 25°C. It is mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, the Garo hills of Meghalaya, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Fibre Crops

India produces several fibre crops. These are classified into two groups based on their origin — natural fibres obtained from plants (like cotton and jute) and fibres obtained from animals (like silk and wool).

• Cotton is believed to have originated in India. It grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan Plateau. Cotton requires high temperature, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost-free days and bright sunshine for its growth. It is a Kharif crop and requires 6 to 8 months to mature. Major cotton-producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab and Tamil Nadu.
• Jute is known as the golden fibre. It grows well on well-drained fertile soil in the flood plains where the soil is renewed every year. High temperature is required during the time of growth. Major jute-producing states are West Bengal, Bihar and Assam. Due to its high cost, it is losing ground to synthetic fibres and packing materials, particularly nylon.
• Silk is obtained through sericulture — the rearing of silkworms for the production of silk fibre.
• Hemp is another important fibre crop grown in India, used for making ropes and coarse cloth.

Technological and Institutional Reforms

Agriculture has been practised in India for thousands of years and, on a sustained basis, for at least 10,000 years. In this long journey, the crop environment has changed with time. Yet even today, Indian agriculture depends on the monsoon to a large extent. Since Independence, several technological and institutional reforms have been implemented to improve the condition of Indian agriculture.

Land Reforms

At the time of Independence, our agriculture was largely characterised by the prevalence of the feudal-type agrarian system. Land reforms were the first priority after Independence.

• Abolition of Zamindari: The zamindari system was abolished so that cultivators could get direct ownership of the land they tilled.
• Consolidation of Holdings: Fragmented and scattered land holdings were consolidated into single, larger holdings to improve efficiency of cultivation.
• Ceilings were also imposed on land holdings, and land was redistributed to landless farmers.

Cooperation

In 1960-61, the government emphasised the development of cooperative societies for a better and speedy agricultural development, enabling farmers to access credit, seeds, fertilisers and other inputs at reasonable rates.

Green Revolution

The Green Revolution, based on the use of High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds, chemical fertilisers, pesticides and assured irrigation, led to a marked increase in the production of foodgrains, especially wheat and rice. However, the benefits of the Green Revolution were unevenly distributed. The green revolution mainly benefitted the irrigated areas of Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, while the rainfed regions gained comparatively less. This led to widening regional disparities in agricultural development.

Minimum Support Price (MSP)

The government announces the Minimum Support Price for various crops before the sowing season to protect farmers from the exploitation caused by price fluctuations, ensuring that they get a fair and remunerative price for their produce.

Crop Insurance

Farmers’ crops are insured against natural calamities such as drought, flood, cyclone, fire and disease so that they can be compensated for losses arising from such unforeseen events.

Kisan Credit Card (KCC)

The Kisan Credit Card scheme provides farmers with timely access to credit for purchasing agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.

Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS)

This scheme provides financial protection to farmers in the event of accidental death or permanent disability.

Special Weather Bulletins and Agricultural Programmes

Special weather bulletins and agricultural programmes for farmers are being telecast and broadcast on radio and television so that farmers can plan their farming activities according to weather conditions.

Other Institutional Support

The government has set up grain and agricultural marketing, storage (warehousing), and credit systems and networks of agricultural universities, veterinary services and animal breeding centres, and horticulture development. Furthermore, the introduction of the Kisan Channel, a dedicated television channel, has helped in disseminating agricultural information to farmers on a regular basis.

Contribution of Agriculture to the National Economy

Agriculture is the largest source of livelihood in India. About two-thirds of India’s population is still dependent on agriculture, directly or indirectly, for its livelihood. While the share of agriculture in India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been declining steadily over the years, its role in providing employment and raw material to industries remains crucial. Agriculture is also an important source of foreign exchange through the export of agricultural products.

Food Security

As a result of the Green Revolution, India achieved self-sufficiency in foodgrains. A sufficient buffer stock of foodgrains is maintained by the government, which is used for distribution in deficit areas and among the poorer sections of society at a lower price. Foodgrains, sugar and kerosene are distributed to consumers through Fair Price Shops under the Public Distribution System (PDS), ensuring that the weaker sections of society have access to essential commodities at affordable prices.

Impact of Globalisation on Agriculture

India’s membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) has exposed Indian farmers to new challenges. Farmers in developed countries are given heavy subsidies by their governments, which artificially lowers the price of their agricultural produce. As a result, Indian farmers have to face uncompetitive prices in the international market compared to farmers from developed countries. This has adversely affected the income and profitability of Indian farmers, making agriculture less remunerative and increasing economic insecurity among the farming community.

What Needs to Be Done for Improvement

Several steps need to be taken to improve the condition of Indian agriculture:

• Rationalisation of subsidies is needed so that the benefit actually reaches small and marginal farmers who need them the most.
• The government should withdraw from certain areas, such as marketing of agricultural produce, and encourage greater participation of private and cooperative sectors.
• Farmers need better access to technical guidance, credit facilities and market linkages.
• Expansion of irrigation facilities, especially in rainfed areas, is required.
• Crop diversification should be promoted to reduce excessive dependence on the rice-wheat cropping cycle.

Key Points to Remember

• India has four main types of farming — primitive subsistence farming, intensive subsistence farming, commercial farming and plantation agriculture.
• Shifting cultivation is known by different names — Jhumming in the north-east, Pamlou in Manipur, Dipa in Chhattisgarh.
• India has three cropping seasons — Kharif (June-September), Rabi (October-March) and Zaid (March-June).
• Rice and wheat are the major foodgrain crops of India; jowar, bajra and ragi are known as millets or coarse grains.
• Sugarcane, oilseeds, tea, coffee and horticulture crops are important food crops other than grains.
• Rubber and fibre crops (cotton, jute, silk, hemp) are the major non-food crops.
• Land reforms, cooperation, Green Revolution, Minimum Support Price, crop insurance and Kisan Credit Card are important technological and institutional reforms.
• The benefits of the Green Revolution were largely confined to irrigated areas like Punjab and Haryana, widening regional disparities.
• Buffer stock and the Public Distribution System (PDS) are key instruments for ensuring food security in India.
• WTO membership and subsidy policies of developed countries have made Indian agricultural produce non-competitive in the international market.

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