Agriculture

Plantation agriculture is a process in which the same kind of crop is grown in a large area. This disturbs the soil fertility.

Explanation: Gram is a Rabi crop as they are sown around mid- November after the monsoon rains have finished. The harvesting begins in the month of April – May.

Leguminous plants are a member of the pea family. The seeds are in pods, they have distinctive flowers and these plants are able to provide Nitrogen to the soil due to the symbiotic bacteria in the roots.

Minimum support price is the price at which the government purchases the crops from farmers irrespective of the actual rate. This was started to encourage farmers.

Tea is an important beverage crop. It is used almost all across the country. The geographical conditions for its growth are: -

(a) There is good growth of tea plants in tropical and sub-tropical climates.

(b) The soil required for its growth should be fertile and well-drained, rich in humus and organic matter.

(c) Tea plants require constant warm and moist climate throughout the year.

(d) The tender leaf growth is ensured by evenly distributed annual rainfall.

Rice is the staple food crop of majority people in India. It is cultivated in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions. The growth of rice has been made possible with the dense network of canals and tube wells. These tube wells and canals have made the cultivation of rice possible in areas with low rainfall such as Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan.

The various institutional reform programmes introduced by the government for the benefits of farmers are: -

1. Crop insurance against drought, floods, fire, etc.

2. Minimum support price to encourage farmers for farming.

3. Subsidy on various agricultural inputs and resources such as power and fertilisers.

4. Kissan credit card and personal accident insurance scheme have been introduced which help the farmers even more.

5. Abolition of zamindari system also helped farmers to get more money and more produce.

Declining area of land under cultivation coupled with increasing population have many consequences. They are: -

1. Food shortage for the increasing population of the country.

2. There will be increase in the prices of the food grains.

3. The unemployment in the country will increase and there will be loss of livelihood of the farmers.

4. There will also be shortage of supply of raw materials for agro-industries.

5. There will be adverse effect on the export trade as the agricultural products comprise a major section of international trade business.

various initiatives have been taken by the Govt of India to ensure increase in the agricultural production. They are: -

1. Collectivisation, consolidation of holdings, cooperation and removal of zamindari system, etc. were given priority to bring about the institutional reforms in the country post-independence.

2. Land reform was the prime focus of the 'First Five Year Plan'.

3. The Green Revolution was based on the use of package technology and White Revolution were some of the strategies initiated to improve the lot of Indian agriculture.

4. Minimum Support Price policy, provision for crop insurance, subsidy on agricultural inputs and resources such as power and fertilizers, Grameen Banks, Kissan Credit Card and Personal Accident Insurance Scheme are also some of the reforms brought about by the Indian Government.

The term Globalisation is not a new term associated with Indian agriculture. It was practiced at the time of colonisation. In the 19th century, European traders came to India and exported Indian spies to different parts of the world. Even today these are being exported in good quantity.

Despite India being a chief producer of rice, cotton, rubber, tea, coffee, jute and spices our agricultural products are not in a state to compete with the developed countries because of the high subsidised agriculture in those countries. A few economists think that there is a dark future for Indian farmers if the same cropping pattern is followed. Indian farmers need to diversify their cropping pattern from cereals to high value crops. This will not only increase the income but also reduce environmental degradation at the same time. India's climate can be harnessed to grow a wide range of high value crops.

Rice is the staple food crop of a major portion of people in India. Our country is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China. It is kharif crop.

the geographical conditions required for it's growth are: -

1. It requires high temperature (above 25 degrees celcius)

2. It requires high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.

3. In the areas of low rainfall, it is cultivated with the help of irrigation.

4. It is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions.

5. Development of dense network of canal irrigation and tube-wells have made it possible to cultivate rice in areas of less rainfall such as Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan.

In a country like India, educating and training farmers is very essential. The farmers of India need proper guidance about the quality of their land and the decision about the growth of crops. A proper guidance is needed for the farmers about using fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides. Still, today, most of the farmers use the old method of agriculture. It not only takes more time, but also more effort. This is the main reason for the farmers are still so poor. It is very important to provide these farmers to provide them with the modern technologies to cultivate the land.

If they are educated, they will get to know about many important things which otherwise they were unaware of, like the following: -

1. How to run the equipment and machines to improve agricultural.

2. Right kind of fertilisers, pesticides, seeds, climate, etc. required for the growth of particular type of crop.

3. The condition of the soil, or if it requires ore nutrients and in what quantity.

4. They also will know about how to deal with bankers and loans and grants and subsidies if there is any.

See the given map.

(i) Wheat and rice

(ii) Kharif

(iii) Protein

(iv) Jowar

(v) Tea and Coffee

(vi) Cotton