This document provides an overview of agriculture in India. It discusses how India has traditionally been an agricultural country, with around 70% of the population depending on agriculture and one-third of national income coming from agriculture. It describes how Indian agriculture remained underdeveloped for a long time but has since improved, making India now self-sufficient in food grains and even able to export surpluses. It also discusses the different types of farming practiced globally including subsistence and commercial farming.
4. India is an agricultural country.About seventy
percent of our population depends on
agriculture.One-third of our national income comes
from agriculture.Our economy is based on
agriculture.The development of agriculture has
much to do with the economic welfare of our
country.
Our agriculture remained under developed for a
long time.We did not produce enough food for our
people.Our country had to buy food-grains from
other countries,but the things are changing
now.India is producing more food- grains then its
need.Some food-grains are being sent to other
countries.
5. Great improvements have been made in
agriculture through our five years plans Green
Revolution has been brought about in the
agricultural field. Now our country is self-sufficient
in food-grains. It is now in a position to export
surplus food-grains and some other agricultural
products to other countries.
Now India ranks first in the world in the
production of tea and groundnuts. It ranks second
in the world in the production of rice, sugarcane,
jute and oil seeds. Till recent past
before independence our agriculture depended on
rains.
6. As a result our agriculture production was
very small. In case the monsoons were good ,
we got a good harvest and in case the
monsoon were not good , the crops failed and
there was famine in some parts of the
country. After the independence our
government made plans for the development
of its agriculture.
7.
8. Farming is practised in various ways across
the world. Depending upon the geographical
conditions ,demand of produce, labour and
level of technology , farming can be classified
into two main types. These are Subsistence
Farming and Commercial Farming.
Subsistence Farming
This type of farming is practised to meet
the needs of farmers family. Traditionally, low
levels of technology and household labours
are usd to produce on small output.
9. Subsistence farming and primitive
subsistence farming . In intensive susistence
agriculture the farmer cultivates a small plot
of land using simple tools used more labour.
Climate with large number of days with
sunshine and fertile soils permit growing of
more than one crop annually on the same
plot. Rice is the main crop. Other crops
include wheat, maize, pulses and oil seeds.
Intensive subsistence agriculture is prevalent
in the thickly populated areas of the
monsoon regions of southeast and east asia .
10. Primative subsisteance agriculture includes
shifting cultivation and nomadic herding .
Shifting cultivation is practised in the thickly
forested areas of Amazon basin , tropical africa,
parts of southeast Asia and Northeast India. These
are the areas of heavy rainfall and quick
regeneration of vegetation. A plot of land is cleared
by felling the trees and burning them. The ashes
are then mixed with the soil and crops like maize,
yam, potatoes and cassava are grown. After the
soil loses its fertility, the land is abandoned and the
cultivator moves to a new plot. Shifting cultivation
is also know as ‘Slash and Burn’agriculture.
11. Nomadic herding is practiced in the semi-
arid arid regions of Sahara, Central Asia and
some parts of India, like Rajasthan and
Jammu & Kashmir. In this type of farming ,
herdsman move from place to place with
their animals for fodder and water, along
defined routes. This type of movement arises
in response to climatic constraints and
terrain. Sheep, Camel, Yak & Goats are
most commonly reared. They provide milk,
meat, wool, hides & other products to the
herders & their families.
12. COMMERCIAL FARMING
In commercial farming crops are grown & animals
are reared for sale in market .The area cultivated &
the amount of capital used is large. Most of the
work is done by machine.
Commercial farming includes commercial grain
farming, mixed farming & plantation agriculture.
In commercial grain farming crops are grown
for commercial purpose. Wheat & Maize are
common commercially grown grains. Major areas
where commercial grain farming is practised are
temperate grassland of North America, Europe &
Asia.These areas are sparsely populated with large
farms spreading over hundreds of hectares.
13. Severe winters restrict the growing season & only a
single crop can be grown.
In mixed farming the land is used for growing
food & fodder crops & rearing live stock.It is
practised in Europe, eastern
USA,Argentina,southeast Austrlia,New Zealand &
South Africa.
Plantations are type of commercial farming
where single crop of tea, coffee , sugarcane,
cashew, rubber, banana or cotton are grown.Large
amount of labour & capital are required. The
produce may be processed on the farm itself or in
nearby factories.The development of a transport
network is thus essential for such farming.
15. Agricultural development refers to efforts
made to increase farm production in order to
meet the growing demand of increasing
population.This can be achieved in many
ways such as increasing the cropped area,the
number of crops grown,improving irrigation
facilities,use of fertilisers & high yielding
variety of seeds.Mechanisation of agriculture
is also another aspect of agriculture
development. The ultimate aim of agriculture
development is to increase food security.
30. The crops are divided into two major groups.
Food grains & non -food grains.
FOOD CROPS
Rice, Wheat, Millets, Maize &
pulses.
NON- FOOD CROPS
Oil seeds, Sugarcane, Fibres, Cotton
& jute.
PLANTATION CROPS
Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Fruits, Tobacco.
31. Major crops in Karnataka
Main crops grown there are rice, ragi,
jawar, maize & pulses ( Tur & Gram) besides
oilseeds & number of case crops…. Cashews,
Coconut, cardamom, Chillies, Cotton,
Sugarcane & Tobacco are among the other
crops produced in the state. Karnataka is the
largest producer of rice, cereals, coffee and
raw silk among the states in India.
32. MAJOR CROPS IN BAGALKOT
Major crops are Rabi & jawar apart from the
groundnut ,cotton, maize, bajra, wheat,
sugarcane & tobacco the other crops. Rulses
are also grown in the region, similarly tuvardal,
gram, moongdal, linseed & sesamum are also
grown in Bagalkot.
34. Leading as second in Green Revolution- Gujarat has
achieved agricultural growth table at 9.6 % & have
carved niche in the field of agriculture development
in India.As of 2009 ,Gujarat’s agriculture growth
has been three times more than the national
growth rate. The department is confident to change
the live of farmers with its agriculture policies &
the unique initiativity of the “Krushi Mahotsava”in
the state.In 2001, the state was on verge of less
water resources but today it stand as world’s
biggest water resource Narmada canal.Where the
dust took of windstorm,there are green fields &
where the farmers tilled the land with 1-2 crops,
they have sort for 3-4 crops continuous hardwork of
35. Seven years & planned efforts of the
government have resulted in Green
Revolution taking shape in Gujarat.
