Major Crops in India

Agriculture has a long history throughout India. Agriculture is the lifeblood of India’s rural areas. In our nation, it is an old kind of commercial activity. It also makes a substantial contribution towards the Global Domestic Product (GDP).

About 2/3rds of the population of India depend on agricultural activities for employment and livelihood. This fundamental activity provides industrial raw materials and food grain. Because India really is a gigantic nation, it has a diverse food range & non-food goods grown in three main seasons of agriculture of rabi, Zaid and Kharif.

In India, the field crop year runs from July to June. Based on the monsoon, the Indian crop cycle is divided into two distinct seasons:  Kharif & Rabi. Even during south-west rainfall, the Kharif farming season runs through July to October, while the Rabi farming season runs from October to March (winter). Summer harvests are those that are cultivated between March and June.

Major Crops Classification

Some common crops:

• Rice, millets, wheat, pulses and maize are all food crops.
• Sugarcane, horticulture, oilseeds, crops, coffee, tea, rubber, jute, and cotton are all cash crops.

Cropping Seasons

Farming Styles

Agriculture in our nation is a centuries-old economic growth. Cultivating methods have evolved greatly over time, owing to changes in the physical surroundings, technical knowledge, and cultural behaviours. Farming is classified as either subsistence or commercial. The below agricultural techniques are currently used in various areas of India.

• Subsistence farming is a type of farming that is done on a small scale.

In a few parts of India, this form of farming was used. Primitive subsistence agriculture is carried out on tiny plots of land using primitive implements such as hoes, doors, and digging sticks, as well as family/community employment. Monsoon, organic soils fertility, and the compatibility of many other climate factors to the crops planted are all factors that influence this style of farming.

• Intensive Subsistence Agriculture

This style of farming is used in locations where there is a lot of population strain on the land. It is a labour-intensive agricultural method that employs high dosages of biochemical fertilizers plus irrigate to boost yields.

• Farming for Profit

The most distinguishing feature of this form of farming is the application of greater dosages of contemporary inputs, Seeds from high yielding varieties (HYV), for example, or chemicals in order to use fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides in order to increase productivity The extent to which Agriculture’s commercialization differs. from one area to the next Rice, for example, is a Haryana & Punjab have commercial crops, however, this is a livelihood crop in Odisha.

Conclusion

Currently, Indian agriculture is at a fork in the road. To make agriculture effective and lucrative, a strong focus on improving the situation of marginal and small farmers must be given. Much was promised by the green revolution. However, it is currently the subject of debate. It is claimed that it has resulted in land degradation as a result of excessive chemical usage, drying groundwater, and diminishing biodiversity. Today’s buzzword is “gene revolution.” This involves the use of genetically engineered genes.

A few analysts believe that if Indian farmers keep raising agricultural goods on fewer and smaller estates as the population increases, they will face a grim future. The rural population of India is estimated to be over 600 million people, who rely on 250 million (roughly estimated) hectares of farmland, or less than 1/2 an acre per person.

Farmers in India should shift their planting patterns away from grains and toward high-value commodities. This will enhance revenues while also reducing environmental deterioration.

Since fruits, herbal remedies, flowers, and vegetables require far less watering than rice or sugarcane, biodiesel plants such as jatropha and jojoba require far less irrigation than rice or sugarcane. The varied climate of India may be used to develop a wide variety of quality crops.