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INTRODUCTION

• Agriculture is science and Art of cultivation on the soil, raising crops and rearing livestock. 
• The word agriculture is derived from two latin words ‘ager’ or agri meaning ‘soil’ and ‘culture’ meaning ‘cultivation and tilling of soil’.
• It also includes the rearing of ‘livestock’. Sometimes forestry and fishing are also included in agriculture.
• Most of the agriculture production of the world is done at 7.5% of the Geographical area. This percentage is found only is 15 countries of the world (except Antarctica) to support 54% of the world’s population. Nearly half of the world’s population is engaged in cultivation.

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE

(a) On the basis of the availability of land :
(i) Extensive Agriculture :

• Extensive agriculture is a system of agriculture in which the amounts of labour and capital employed are small compared to the area being cultivated.
• It is usually practised in sparsely populated areas, where agricultural land is abundant with respect to the demand for food. The farms are usually large, and the yield per unit of land is low. The land is usually cultivated once in a year. This is known as single-cropping.

(ii) Intensive Agriculture :

• Intensive agriculture is a system of agriculture in which the amounts of labour and capital employed are large compared to the area being cultivated.
• It is usually practised in densely populated areas, where only a small amount of land is available to meet a large demand for food. Though farms are mostly small in size, the yield per unit of land is high. This is because a lot of capital is invested in buying good seeds, fertilizers, irrigation facilities, etc.    
• Two or more crops are raised annually from the same plot of land. The raising of two crops in a year is known as double - cropping, and the raising of more than two crops in a year is known as multiple cropping.

(b) On the objective of cultivation :
(i)  Subsistence Agriculture :

• Subsistence agriculture is practised by poor farmers whose plots are so small that they can produce just enough to support their families. There is hardly any surplus for sale. The plots are to small for the use of modern machines like tractors and harvesters.
• A lot of manual labour has to be used in order to get the maximum yield. Irrigation is sometimes available, but in most cases the farmer depends on rainfall besides, most subsistence farmers cannot buy good seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, etc. Hence yields are usually low.

(ii) Shifting agriculture :

• Shifting agriculture is practised mostly by tribal people living in hilly or forested regions. In this type of agriculture, a plot of land is cleared and cultivated for a short period. When the fertility of the plot is exhausted, it is abandoned and the cultivator moves on to a new plot.
• Shifting agriculture includes the slash and burn method, in which the standing vegetation is cut down and burnt to create a plot, and the ashes are used to enrich the soil. Most of the implements used in shifting agriculture are primitive.

(iii) Nomadic herding : 

• Nomadic herding is a system of raising animals by allowing them to graze on the natural vegetation.
• The money for buying of the necessities often comes from the sale of items made from the skin, wool or bones of animals. The animals raised include cattle, sheep, goats, camels and yaks.

(iv) Commercial Agriculture :

• In commercial agriculture, crops and grown mainly for sale. Generally, farmers specialise in growing a single type of crop, and farming is highly organised.
• Some important types of commercial agriculture are commercial grain farming, plantation agriculture, dairy farming and ranching.

(v) Commercial grain farming :

• Commercial grain farming is usually carried out on large, scientifically managed farms in areas of low population density.
• Machines are used in most farm operations. The yield per unit of land is low, but the total yield is high, as large areas are cultivated.
• Usually, cereals are grown. Sometimes, crop cultivation and animal husbandry are practised on the same farm. This is known as mixed farming.
• Some farmers grow fruits, flowers and vegetables to cater to urban markets. This is known as market gardening. Market gardening is also called truck farming, as the produce is often transported to the markets in such large automobiles as trucks.

(vi) Plantation agriculture :

• Crops such as tea, coffee, cocoa, oil palm and rubber are grown on large estates called plantations. This type of agriculture huge amounts of labour and capital.
• A single crop is grown for a year.

(vii) Ranching :

• The raising of animals, primarily for sale, on large farms is known as ranching. A ranch, or farm , is scientifically managed. It consists of pasture land, and buildings to house people and animals.

(viii) Dairy farming :

• The commercial raising of milch animals (animals that give milk) is known as dairy farming. This type of farming is usually intensive and highly specialised. The main products include milk, butter and cheese.

*    WORLD

RICE

• Production Zone - Tropical, humid zone (Monsoonal climate).
• Temperature - 20° to 27° celcius.
• Rainfall - 150 cm to 200 cm (less rainfall need irrigation).
• Soil - Heavy clay or clay loam soils, capable of holding water, alluvial, red and lateritic soils, are also suitable labour. Cheap labour for preparing seed-beds, in broadcasting seeds and transplantation of plants from nurseries to fields.
• Production Areas - China, India, Bangladesh, Maynmar, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, Indochina, Phillipines, Italy, France, Spain, Russia, U.S.A., Vietnam, Korea, Taiwan, Columbia, Peru, Venezuela, Guyana, Equador, Egypt and Malagai are the other rice producing countries.

WHEAT

• Production Zone - A winter crop, produced in temperate and subtropical zone.
• Temperature - For summer Wheat 20°C to 26°C, and for winter wheat 10°C to 15°C.
• Rainfall - 50 cm to 75 cm (in less rainfall, regions, the irrigation is needed).
• Soils - Fertile loans, and Black soil.
• Production Areas - China, Ukrain, U.S.A., India, Canada, Argentina, Pakistan, Turkey, Australia, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Brazil, Chile, Egypt, Republic of South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Germany, Polant, Romania.

MAIZE

• Production Zone - Sub-tropical zone.
• Temperature - 25°C to 30°C.
• Rainfall - 60 cm to 100 cm.
• Soils - Alluvial loam.
• Production Areas - U.S.A., China, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Ukraine, Uzbakistan, France, Yugoslavia, Romania, Bugaria, Hungary, Republic of South Africa, Morocco, Algeria, Tunesia.

COTTON

• Production Zone - A product of Tropical and temperate zone.
• Temperature - 20°C to 35°C.
• Rainfall - 75 cm to 100 cm.
• Soils - Black, Argillaceous and Calcerous soil.
• Production Areas - U.S.A., Ukrain, China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Pakistan, Egypt, Sudan, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Peru, Argentina, Nicaragua, El-salvador, Gautemala, Tanzania, Uganda, Cango, Mozambigue, Nigeria, Greece.

JUTE

• Production Zone - Warm temperature zone (Mansoonal area)
• Temperature - 27°C to 37°C.
• Rainfall - 125 cm to 250 cm.
• Soils - Loamy soils, clayey soils and sandy soils, Best soil is newly alluvial enriched (river inundation).
• Production Areas - India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Indo-China, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Taiwan, China and Nepal.

 

SUGARCANE

• Production Zone - Warm temperature zone.
• Temperature - 20°C to 25°C.
• Rainfall - 100 cm to 200 cm.
• Soils - Deep,  rich loamy soil neither too acidic nor too alkaline.
• Production Areas - India, Cuba, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, U.S.A., Australia, British  Guyana, Colombia, Argentina, Mozambique, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Fiji, China, Phillipines, Taiwan, Pakistan, Mauritius.

SUGARBEET

• Production Zone - temperature zone.
• Temperature - 16°C to 23°C.
• Rainfall - 70 cm to 100 cm.
• Soils - Alkaline, loam, coarsely soil.
• Production Areas - Ukraine, Kazakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Western Siberia, France, U.S.A.,   Germany, Poland, China, Italy, Great Britain, Spain, Netherland, Romania, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Australia, Checkslovania, Argentina, Turkey and Japan.

TEA

• Production Zone - Warm temperate zone.
• Temperature - 24°C to 30°C.
• Rainfall - 125 cm to 250 cm.
• Soils - Slopy land with light and dark colour sandy loam, rich in potash and iron.
• Production Areas - India, China, Japan, Indonesia, Sir Lanka, Kenya, Bangladesh, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, Iran, Myanmar, Malaysia, Australia, Fiji.

COFFEE

• Production Zone - Tropical zone.
• Temperature - 15°C to 28°C.
• Rainfall - 150 cm to 250 cm.
• Soils - Alkaline red, slopy land.
• Production Areas - Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Ethopia, Uganda, India, Guatemala, Elsalvador, Nicaragua, Panama, Costarica, Angola, Kenya, Liberiya, Saudi-Arabia.

COCO

• Production Zone - Tropical zone.
• Temperature - 24°C.
• Rainfall - 150 cm to 200 cm Soil-Fertile soil of river valleys, and Lava soil.
• Production Areas - Ivory Coast, Brazil, Ghana, Equador Camroom, Nigeria, Malayasia, Colombia, Dominican, Republic, Mexico, Newguinea, Venezuela etc.

RUBBER

• Production Zone - Tropical-wet zone.
• Temperature - 20°C to 25°C.
• Rainfall - 200 cm to 300 cm, Soil-Laterite clayey loams, Lava soil.
• Production Areas - Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China, India, Sir Lanka, Philipines, Vietnam, Combodia, Zaire, Brazil, Equador, Thailand.

TOBACCO

• Production Zone - Tropical and sub-tropical zone.
• Temperature - 18°C to 25°C.
• Rainfall - 60 cm to 100 cm.
• Soil - Well drained, friable, sandy loam, light sandy loam, nor too rich in organic matters but rich in mineral salts.
• Production Areas - China, U.S.A., India, Brazil, Ukrain, Azerbaijan, Russia, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Zimbabwe, Japan etc.

FISHING    

Fishing occupies a very minor place in its economy, being the important element of food. The fishing is cheap, easily available and nutritive food. Fish contains Vitamin ‘D’, nutritive salts and lodine.

Fishing Zone :
    On the basis of climate the fishing zones can be divided into two zones -
(a) Tropical Region :

• Indian and Pacific Ocean Regions - Includes Islands of South east Asia. Here the 10% of the world fishing is done. Herring, Sardine, Enkobi fishes are caught.
• Western Part of Mid Atlantic - Includes the Caribean sea and Mexico Gulf area. Here the 4% of the world fishing is done.
• Eastern Part of Mid Pacific Ocean - Include Peru, Panama and Coastal area of Western Mexico.

(b) Temperate Region :

• North-West Europe-Great Britain, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France known as a Doggar Bank zone.
• North-Eastern Part of North America-Includes U.S.A. and Canada, where the fog is caused due to cold current of Labrador and warm current of Gulf stream, a favourable factor for fishing, Grand, bank, George bank, St-Pierre bank, La-have bank, Saebel bank and Vancuber bank are important bank.
• North-Eastern Coast Area - Islands of Japan, includes Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China and Russia, where the warm Kurioshiwo current and Cold Kuraile current caused fog, a favourable condition for fishing.
• North-Western Coast of North-
• America - Includes Canada and U.S.A.

    INDIA

• Agriculture occupies a pride of place in the country’s economy. Contributing a little less than one-third national income (26%) of the Gross Domestic Production) which accounts about 18% share of the total value of the country’s exports. It provides livelihood to 64% of the labour force.
• According to the landuse statistic data so far available Net sown area has increased 1187’5 lakh hectares (1950-51) to 1428’2 lack hectares during the same periods. Broad cropping pattern indicates that through food grains have a preponderance in gross cropped area as compared to non-foodgrains, their relative share came down from 76’7% (1950-51) to 66% (1996-97). 

CROPPING SEASON    

India has many growing seasons due to prevalence of high temperature, though a long period. Different crops are grown.
(a) Kharif Season :

• Starts with the onset of monsoon and continues till the beginning of winter. Months are June-July to October-November.
• Crops like Rice, Maize, Millets, Cotton etc. are grown. 

(b) Rabi Season :

• Starts with the beginning of winter and continues till the beginning of summer. Months are October-November to March-April.
• Crops such as Wheat, Barley, Gram and Oilseeds are grown. These crops are grown in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh.

(c) Zaid Season :

• Is a short crop season. Practiced on the sandy tracts along the river channels.
• Watermelons, cucumbers, muskmelon, vegetables, and fodder crops are grown.

MAIN INDIAN CROPS

(a) Rice :
    India is the second largest producer of rice. It si grown on about ¼ of the total cropped areas. It is the staple food crop of a majority of the people in India.

• A tropical kharif plant, requires high temperature and high humidity.
• Requires high temperature, (above 25°C)
• Rainfall-above 100 cm, irrigation required in areas of less rainfall.
• Is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions.
• Irrigation has made it possible to grow rice in areas of less rainfall such as Punjab. Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan.

(b) Wheat :
    Is the second most important food crop. India is second largest producer of wheat. It is grown on about 1/6th of the cropped area.

• Is a Rabi crop. Ideal temperature at the time of sowing is 10° - 15°C, at harvesting           20°–25°C.
• Rainfall required is 50-75 cm annually. Requires well drained fertile soil.
• Two important wheat - growing zones - the Ganga - Satluj plains, black soil region of the Deccan.
• Major producing states - Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan & Bihar.

(c) Millets :
    These are known as coarse grain, have a very high nutritional value.
(i)    Jowar :

• Third most important food crop of India.
• Monthly temperature required 18° - 32°C, rainfall 30-60 cm.
• Major producing states are Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.

(ii)    Bajra :

• Crop of dry and warm climate.
• Producing states are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana.

(iii)    Ragi :

• A rain fed kharif crop. Requires well drained alluvial loams, red or black sandy loam.
• Grown in drier parts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

(d) Maize :

• It is a coarse grain, used both as food and fodder.
• A kharif crop, rainfall required 50-100 cm, irrigation required in areas of less rainfall.
• Temperature required between 21° - 27°C.
• Requires well drained fertile soil.
• Grown on about 4% of the cropped area, states are Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.

(e) Pulses :

• Major source of protein. India is the largest producer as well as the consumer of pulses in the world. It helps in retaining fertility of the soil.
• Major Pulses - Tur or Arhar, Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas, Gram.
• Producing states - Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka. Tur producing states are Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh.

(f) Rubber :

• Used for the manufacturing of industrial products i.e. tubes and tyres.
• Requires moist and humid climate, rainfall more than 200 cm and temperature above 25°C.
• India is the 5th major rubber producing state.
• Is mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Adaman and Nicobar islands and Garo hills of Meghalaya.

(g) Cotton :

• Grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas, requires at least 210 frost free days.
• Kharif crop, requires 6-8 months to nature, weather should be fine to maintain luster of cotton.
• Grows well in black and alluvial soil.
• Requires cheap and efficient labour.
• India is third largest producer of cotton.
• Producing states : Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Gujarat.

(h) Jute :

• It is known as Golden fibre. Crop of hot and humid climate.
• Required 8-10 months of mature.
• Obtained from the retting of the plant.
• Major producers : West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orrissa, Maghalaya.

(i) Sugarcane :

• Main source of sugar, gur, khandsari and molasses. 
• Requires hot and humid climate.
• Temperature between 21° - 27°C, rainfalll required is between 75-100 cm.
• Needs manual labour in large number.
• India is the second largest producer of sugarcane in the world.
• Major producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana.

(j) Horticulture Crops :
    India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. India leads the world in production of Mango and Banana. India is the largest exporter of Cashew nut in the world.

• Mango : Most important fruit, grown in almost all parts of the country.
• Apple : Temperate fruit crop, grown in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal.
• Banana : Tropical as well as sub-tropical plant, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are major producer.
• Vegetables : India produces about 13 percent of the world’s vegetables. It is an important producer of pea, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjan and potato.

(k) Oilseeds :

• Are edible and used as cooking mediums, some of these are also used as raw material in the production of soap, cosmetics and ointments.
• Largest producer of oilseeds in world is India.
• Oilseeds covers about 12% of the total croppped area.
• Main oil-seeds produced in India are groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, castroesseds, cotton  seeds, linseed and sunflower.
• Groundnut - The most important oilseed of India. It accounts for about ½ of the major oilseeds.
• Major producing states are Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra.
• Sesamum (Til) - A rain fed crop. Kharif crop in the north and Rabi crop in the south.
• Castor seed is grown both as rabi and kharif crop.

(l) Tea :

• An important beverage crop. A classic example of plantation agriculture. India is the leading producer as well as exporter of tea. Tropical as well as sub -tropical plant, requires hot and humid climate.
• Temperature required 20°C - 30°C, annual rainfall 150-300 cm. High humidity is good for the crop.
• Grows well in drained soil, requires abundant, cheap and skilled labour.
• Major Production States - Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura and also tea-producing states in the country.

(m) Coffee :

• Second most important beverage crop. Because of good quality is in much demand in the international market. It brings handsome amount of foreign exchange.
• Hot and humid climate. Requires temperature between 15°-28°C, rainfall required 150-200 cm.
• Major Producing States - Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.