Agriculture is one of the most important activities to ensure food security. Animal husbandry is the branch of agriculture concerned with animals that are raised for meat, fiber, milk, or other products.
Agriculture:
- Demographically and geographically, agriculture stands as the primary economic sector, playing a pivotal role in India’s overall socio-economic landscape.
- Presently, India holds the second position globally in farm output, contributing a significant share to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
- The decline in the agricultural sector’s share in GDP is primarily attributed to the transition from a traditional agrarian economy to industry and service sectors.
- Agriculture serves as the backbone of the Indian economy, with approximately 52% of the population relying on it for their livelihood. The model of inclusive growth in India revolves around activities related to agriculture.
- Indian agriculture grapples with various challenges, including both natural and man-made factors. Some prominent issues include small and fragmented land-holdings, poor seed quality, inadequate irrigation facilities, a lack of mechanization, soil erosion, substandard agricultural marketing infrastructure, insufficient storage facilities, limited transport capabilities, and a scarcity of capital.
- Salient Features of Indian Agriculture:
- Dominance of subsistence agriculture.
- Limited emphasis on fodder crops.
- Seasonal pattern comprising three major crop seasons: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid.
- Population pressure on agriculture, resulting in low per capita availability of land.
- High dependence on monsoon for irrigation.
- Low yield and inadequate mechanization in agriculture.
- Challenges in electricity supply, storage, credit availability, and marketing.
- Cultivation of a wide variety of crops, with a dominance of food crops.
- Labor-intensive cultivation practices.
Factors Affecting Indian Agriculture:
- Seeds: The quality of seeds significantly impacts agricultural productivity and overall growth.
- High Yield Variety (HYV) Seeds: Resistant to insects and diseases, these seeds contribute to high yields, playing a crucial role in the Green Revolution.
- Fertilizers: Used to address soil deficiencies, with India ranking as the fourth-largest global consumer of fertilizers.
- Climate: Climate, including temperature and rainfall, plays a vital role in determining suitable crops for cultivation.
- Agro Climatic Zones: Divided into 15 zones, based on major climates, suitable for specific crops and cultivators.
- Soil: Soil fertility, with black soil and alluvial soil considered most suitable for agriculture.
Types of Indian Agriculture/Farming Systems:
Subsistence Farming:
- Predominant farming style in India.
- Farmers grow crops for personal consumption.
- Typically small and dispersed landholdings.
Shifting Cultivation:
- Also known as Jhum cultivation.
- Farmers cultivate land temporarily for a few seasons before abandoning it.
- These farming systems reflect the diverse agricultural practices in India, addressing the country’s unique geographical and climatic conditions.
- Farmers relocate when soil fertility declines or when land is infested with weeds.
- Cultivation time is generally shorter, allowing the ground to regenerate fertility.
- Prevalent in hilly areas of the North-Eastern region and tribal belts.
Extensive Farming:
- Also known as mechanical farming due to the extensive use of equipment.
- Yields only one harvest per year, utilizing less labor and capital per hectare compared to intensive farming.
- Utilizes a vast land area, resulting in high total production but lower per-unit production.
Commercial Farming:
- Generates significant revenue in the economy.
- Mainly practiced in states like Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra.
- Involves the use of chemical pesticides, insecticides, and weed killers, ensuring large-scale cultivation.
- Provides employment opportunities and contributes to the economy through profit and foreign exchange policies.
Plantation Agriculture:
- Extensive farming with a focus on growing a single cash crop on large farms.
- Crops include sugarcane, coffee, cocoa, bananas, and pineapples, often sold at high global market prices.
- Employs modern techniques and creates employment opportunities, contributing to foreign exchange earnings.
Organic Farming:
- A system avoiding synthetic inputs like chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and genetically modified organisms.
- Enhances agro-ecosystem health, biodiversity, and soil biological activity.
- Sikkim became India’s first 100% organic state in January 2016.
Aquaculture:
- Involves cultivating aquatic organisms like fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants.
- Requires intervention in the rearing process for production enhancement.
- Encompasses both marine and freshwater species, ranging from land-based to open-ocean production.
- Includes kelp, seaweed, fish farming, shrimp farming, shellfish farming, and cultured pearl production.
Aquaponic Farming:
- Combining aquaculture and hydroponics, aquaponic farming cultivates fish in tanks alongside plants grown in water, creating a sustainable method for raising both fish and vegetables. Widely adopted by individuals, entrepreneurs, educators, missions, and governments.
Seaweed Farming:
- Seaweed, a marine algae with thousands of species, plays a vital role in coastal ecosystems. Seaweed farming or kelp farming involves cultivating and harvesting these plant-like organisms. It ranges from managing naturally found batches to fully controlling the life cycle of the algae.
Co-operative Farming:
- Co-operative farming involves joint agricultural activities where individuals collaborate with shared authorities on their properties. A compromise between collective farming and peasant proprietorship, it has a strong socio-economic foundation and was initially employed by large farmers to safeguard their lands from stringent ceiling laws.
Contract Farming:
- Agricultural production conducted based on an agreement between buyers and farmers characterizes contract farming. The agreement establishes conditions for production and marketing, ensuring the quality and timely supply of specific agricultural products. The Model APMC Act, 2003, outlines provisions for contract farming, including compulsory registration of sponsors and dispute settlement.
Dryland Farming:
- Operating in sub-humid to arid conditions with limited hydrology and dependence on monsoon rainfall, dryland agriculture encompasses coarse grains, millets, oilseeds, pulses, and cotton. Covering two-thirds of India’s geographical area, it supports 40% of the population.
Truck Farming:
- Specializing in vegetable cultivation, truck farming is characterized by farmers focusing on vegetables, and the distance from markets is determined by the range a truck can cover overnight.
Mixed Farming:
- Combining crop cultivation with animal raising, mixed farming involves growing cereal crops alongside keeping animals like cattle, pigs, or poultry. Practiced in countries like India, Afghanistan, and South Africa, it offers a diverse approach to agriculture.
Green Revolution:
- Referring to the remarkable increase in food grain production since 1968, the Green Revolution was introduced by Dr. Norman Borlaug, known as its father, and implemented in India by MS Swaminathan.
- Components of the Green Revolution include High Yield Varieties seeds, irrigation, fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides, command area development, consolidation of holdings, land reform, agricultural credit supply, rural electrification, rural roads and marketing, farm mechanization, and agricultural universities.
- The First Green Revolution faced limitations as it solely focused on grain production, neglecting dryland farming and favoring large farmers. The call for a Second Green Revolution emphasizes addressing these issues through a different strategy.
- In the context of India, the Second Green Revolution has been initiated in Eastern states via the Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI) program in recent years.
Various revolutions in agriculture have targeted specific areas:
- Green Revolution: Agriculture (food production)
- Yellow Revolution: Oil seed production (edible oil)
- White Revolution: Milk
- Blue Revolution: Fish
- Pink Revolution: Shrimp, Food processing
- Brown Revolution: Coffee/Cocoa
- Red Revolution: Meat/Tomato
- Golden Revolution: Fruits/Apple/Honey/Horticulture
- Grey Revolution: Fertilizers
- Silver Revolution: Eggs/Poultry
- Golden Fibre: Jute
- Silver Fibre: Cotton
Major food crops in India include:
- Rice: Predominantly a Kharif or summer crop, grown in hot and humid conditions with significant rainfall. The main producing states include Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and others.
- Wheat: A Rabi or winter crop sown in October-November and harvested in March-April, mainly cultivated in North India.
- These crops play a crucial role in India’s agricultural landscape, addressing the diverse geographical and climatic conditions across the country.
- Wheat serves as the staple food for millions of people, especially in the Northern and North-Western regions of India. Unlike rice, wheat is primarily grown as a Rabi or winter crop.
- Geographical conditions necessary for wheat production include:
- Temperature: It is a crop of mid-latitude grassland, requiring a cool climate with an ideal temperature between 10°C to 15°C at sowing and 21°C to 26°C at ripening.
- Rainfall: Wheat thrives in areas with annual rainfall around 75 cm, with an upper limit of 100 cm. Irrigation can be used in regions with less than 75 cm of rainfall, but frost during flowering and hailstorms during ripening can damage the crop.
- Soil: Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy soil is best suited for wheat cultivation, with plain areas being highly suitable.
- Labour: Wheat cultivation is highly mechanized, requiring less manual labor.
- Distribution: Major wheat-producing regions in India include Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana together contribute over 66% of the total wheat production in the country.
Millets
- Millets are short-duration warm-weather crops, coarse grains used for food and fodder, and grown during the Kharif season (May-August) with harvesting in October-November. Millets are mainly consumed by the economically challenged as a staple food, with various local names such as Jowar, Bajra, Ragi, Korra, Kodon, Kutki, Hraka, Bauti, and Rajgira.
- Geographical conditions for growing millets include:
- Temperature: Millets thrive in high temperatures ranging from 27°C to 32°C.
- Rainfall: These dryland crops require rainfall between 50 to 100 cm for optimal cultivation.
- Soil: Millets are less sensitive to soil deficiencies and can be grown in inferior alluvial or loamy soil.
- Distribution: Jowar and Bajra are grown in both North and South India, while Ragi is concentrated in Southern India, specifically Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Pulses
- Pulses, leguminous crops providing valuable proteins for the vegetarian population of India, also serve as excellent forage and grain concentrates in cattle feed.
- These crops have the ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, maintaining and restoring soil fertility.
- Various pulses found in India include gram, tur or arhar (pigeon pea or red gram), urad (black gram), mung (green gram), masur (lentil), kulthi (horse gram), and matar (peas).
Gram
- Among these, gram and tur or arhar are considered more important pulses, with gram accounting for approximately 37% of production and 30% of the total area of pulses in India.
- Between September and November, pulses are cultivated and harvested from February to April, either as a single crop or in mixed cultivation with wheat, barley, linseed, or mustard.
- Geographical conditions for growing pulses include:
- Temperature: It thrives in a mild, cool, and relatively dry climate with temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C.
- Rainfall: An optimal 40-45 cm of rainfall is favorable for gram cultivation.
- Soil: Gram grows well in loamy soils.
- Although gram is cultivated across the country, 90% of the total production comes from five states: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Maharashtra.
Tur
- Tur, also known as red gram or pigeon pea, is the second most important pulse crop in the country, cultivated over marginal lands and under rain-fed conditions in the dry areas of Central and Southern states. Occupying about 2% of the total cropped area of India, Maharashtra contributes approximately one-third of the total production of tur, with other leading producer states being Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
- Geographical conditions for tur cultivation include:
- Temperature: Growth requires a temperature of 20°C-25°C.
- Rainfall: Optimal rainfall ranges from 40-80 cm.
- Soil type: Alluvial and Black soil.
Commercial crops
- Moving on to commercial crops, which are grown for sale either in raw or semi-processed form, we’ll delve into selected cash crops like sugarcane, cotton, and jute, as well as beverages (tea and coffee) and oilseeds (groundnut, mustard, and rapeseed).
Sugarcane
- Sugarcane, a Kharif crop, serves as the main source of sugar, gur, and khandsari, providing raw material for alcohol and multiple other uses like manufacturing paper. Geographical conditions for sugarcane growth include:
- Temperature: Requires a hot and humid climate with an average temperature of 21°C to 27°C.
- Rainfall: Favorable conditions include 75-150 cm of rainfall, with irrigation needed in areas with less rainfall.
- Soil: Can grow in various soils, with deep rich loamy soil being ideal.
- Distribution: India has the largest area under sugarcane cultivation globally and is the second-largest producer after Brazil.
- Regarding the distribution of sugarcane cultivation in India, three distinct geographical regions stand out:
- The Sutlej-Ganga plain from Punjab to Bihar, covering 51% of the total area and contributing to 60% of the country’s total sugarcane production.
- The black soil belt extending from Maharashtra to Tamil Nadu along the Eastern slopes of the Western Ghats.
- Coastal Andhra Pradesh and the Krishna River valley.
Cotton
- Now, let’s move on to Cotton, a crucial fibre crop globally and especially in India. Cotton not only provides raw material for the textile industry but also its seeds are utilized in the Vanaspati oil industry, and as fodder for milch cattle to enhance milk production. Being primarily a Kharif crop, it is grown in tropical and sub-tropical areas.
- Geographical conditions for cotton cultivation include:
- Temperature: It thrives in tropical and sub-tropical areas, requiring a consistently high temperature between 21°C and 30°C.
- Rainfall: Preferably grown in areas with at least 210 frost-free days annually, needing a moderate amount of rainfall (50 to 100 cm). However, irrigation is employed in regions with less than 50 cm of rainfall.
- Soil: Cotton cultivation is closely linked to black soils of the Deccan and Malwa plateau, but it also flourishes in alluvial soils of the Sutlej-Ganga plain and red and laterite soils of the peninsular region.
- As for distribution, India has the largest area under cultivation and is the third-largest producer of cotton globally, surpassed only by China and the USA. Four states—Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana—contribute two-thirds of the total area and production.
Jute
- Moving on to Jute, a crop used for coarse cloth, bags, socks, and decorative items. It is a cash crop in West Bengal and adjoining Eastern parts of the country, with India producing about three-fifths of the world’s jute. West Bengal alone accounts for approximately three-fourths of the country’s jute production.
- Geographical conditions for jute cultivation include:
- Temperature: 24-35°C
- Rainfall: 125-200 cm
- Soil: Sandy and Loamy
Rubber
- Rubber, an equatorial crop grown under special conditions in tropical and subtropical areas, requires a moist and humid climate with rainfall exceeding 200 cm and temperatures above 25°C. Mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and the Garo hills of Meghalaya.
Oilseeds
- Lastly, Oilseeds, a crucial group of commercial crops in India, boast the largest area and production globally. The oil extracted from oilseeds serves as a vital item in our diet and raw material for various industries.
Groundnut
- Groundnut, the most important oilseed in India, is grown as both Kharif and Rabi crops, with 90-95% of the total area dedicated to Kharif cultivation.
- Geographical conditions for groundnut cultivation include:
- Temperature: Thriving best in tropical climates, groundnut requires temperatures between 20°C and 30°C.
- Rainfall: Groundnut cultivation thrives in areas with 50-75 cm of rainfall. It is highly susceptible to frost, prolonged drought, continuous rain, and stagnant water. A dry winter is necessary during ripening.
- Soil: Well-drained light sandy loams, red, yellow, and black soils are well-suited for groundnut cultivation.
- Distribution: As the most important oilseed in India, groundnut accounts for about half of the major oilseeds produced in the country. India is the world’s largest groundnut producer, contributing to about one-third of global production.
- Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat are the main producers, contributing around 60% of the total production. Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Odisha together contribute another 30% to the total production.
Beverage Crops
Tea
India, renowned for its tea gardens, has a rich history in tea production:
- Temperature: Tea requires a hot and wet climate, with the ideal temperature for growth varying between 20°C to 30°C. Extreme temperatures above 35°C or below 10°C can be harmful.
- Rainfall: Tea needs substantial rainfall, ranging from 150-300 cm annually, well-distributed throughout the year. A prolonged dry spell is detrimental.
- Soil: Tea bushes thrive in well-drained, deep, loamy soil. Virgin forest soil rich in humus and iron content is preferred for tea cultivation. The plant is shade-loving and grows better when planted with shady trees.
- Labour: Efficient and affordable labor is essential for tea production.
- Distribution: Assam leads in tea production, contributing over 50% of India’s total tea output. Tea-producing areas in Assam are found on the hill slopes bordering the Brahmaputra and Surma valleys.
- West Bengal is the second-largest producer, with tea mostly grown in Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar districts. Tamil Nadu, the third-largest producer, concentrates its tea growing areas in the Nilgiri hills.
Coffee
- Originating from Ethiopia and later introduced to India by Baba Budan, coffee has significant geographical conditions:
- Temperature: Coffee requires a hot and humid climate, with temperatures ranging between 15°C and 28°C. It is typically grown under shady trees.
- Conditions: Strong sunshine, high temperatures above 30°C, frost, and snowfall are harmful to coffee cultivation. Dry weather is essential during the ripening of berries.
- Rainfall: It receives rainfall ranging from 150 to 250 cm.
- Soil: Ideal for coffee cultivation is well-drained, rich friable loamy soil containing a substantial amount of humus and minerals like iron and calcium. Proper manuring is essential to maintain and replenish fertility, enhancing productivity.
- Labour: Similar to tea, coffee cultivation demands an abundance of cheap and skilled labor for tasks such as sowing, transplanting, pruning, plucking, drying, grading, and packing.
- Distribution: Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu are the primary states for coffee production in India.
Horticulture
- Horticulture is the agricultural branch dedicated to intensively cultivating plants directly used by humans for food, medicinal purposes, and aesthetic gratification. In simpler terms, it involves the cultivation, production, and sale of vegetables, fruits, flowers, herbs, and ornamental or exotic plants.
- The term “Horticulture” originates from the Latin words hortus (garden) and cultura (cultivation). LH Bailey is recognized as the Father of American Horticulture, while MH Marigowda is acknowledged as the Father of Indian Horticulture.
- India is a producer of both tropical and temperate fruits. Mangoes from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, oranges from Nagpur and Cherrapunji (Meghalaya), bananas from Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, litchi and guava from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, pineapples from Meghalaya, grapes from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra, apples, pears, apricots, and walnuts from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are highly sought after worldwide.
- India contributes about 13% of the world’s vegetable production, with significant outputs of peas, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal, and potato.
Cropping Seasons
- Rabi: These crops are typically sown in October-November and harvested in April-May. Dependent on irrigation, they include wheat, barley, gram, peas, mustard, and rye.
- Kharif: These crops are cultivated during the rainy season, sown in June-July, and harvested in September-October. They encompass rice, jowar, bajra, ragi, maize, jute, groundnut, cotton, sunn hemp, tobacco, and beans.
- Zaid: These short-term crops are grown between Rabi and Kharif, from March-June. Various fruits and vegetables like watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, and bitter gourd are cultivated, along with some pulses like moong and urad, with the aid of irrigation.
Major Crops and the Producing States in India
| Name of Groups | Crops Name | States |
| Cereals | Wheat | Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana |
| Rice | West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu | |
| Gram | Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu | |
| Barley | Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan | |
| Cash Crops | Bajra | Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan |
| Sugarcane | Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra | |
| Poppy | Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh | |
| Oil Seeds | Coconut | Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
| Linseed | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh | |
| Groundnut | Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu | |
| Rape and Mustard | Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh | |
| Sesame | Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan | |
| Sunflower | Maharashtra, Karnataka | |
| Fibre Crops | Cotton | Maharashtra, Gujarat |
| Jute | West Bengal, Bihar | |
| Silk | Karnataka, Kerala | |
| Hemp | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh | |
| Plantations | Coffee | Karnataka, Kerala |
| Rubber | Kerala, Karnataka | |
| Tea | Assam, Kerala | |
| Tobacco | Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh |
| Name of Group | Crops Name | States |
| Spices | Pepper | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu |
| Cardamom | Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh | |
| Ginger | Kerala, Uttar Pradesh | |
| Cash Crops | Cashew Nuts | Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha |
Animal Husbandry
- Animal husbandry involves rearing, breeding, and raising animals for various products such as meat, fiber, eggs, milk, and other food items.
- Nearly 55% of the rural population depends on animal husbandry for their livelihood, making a significant contribution to the agricultural and allied sector. According to the Economic Survey 2021, livestock’s contribution to Gross Value Added in agriculture and allied sectors has increased from 24.32% (2014-15) to 28.63% (2018-19).
- India boasts the world’s largest livestock population.
Livestock
- Livestock includes domestic animals like cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, horses, ponies, donkeys, camels, and pigs. India possesses about 20% of the world’s livestock population, reaching 535.78 million in the livestock Census 2019—an increase of 4.6% from 2012.
Different Breeds of Animals
- Milch Breed of Cow: Gir, Sindhi, Red Sindhi, Sahiwal, Tharparkar, and Deoni.
- Draught Breed of Cow: Nagori, Bauchaur, Malvi Hallikar, Ponwar, Siri, Bargur.
- Dual Purpose Breed of Cow: Tharparkar, Haryana, Mewati, Kankrej, Rath, Nimari, Dangi, and Ongole.
- Goats Breed: Angora, Pashmina, Barbari, Marwari, Mehsana Beetal, Kathiawari, and Zalwadi.
- Buffaloes Breed: Murrah, Jaffarabadi, Sruti, Mehsana, Nagpuri, Nili Ravi, and Bhadawari.
- Horses and Ponies Breed: Marwari, Kathiawari, Manipuri, Bhutani, Spiti, and Chummarti.
Poultry Farming
- Poultry farming involves raising birds like chickens, turkeys, ducks, and geese for meat or egg production, contributing significantly to animal husbandry. India is the world’s third-largest egg producer and fifth-largest meat producer. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra are top egg producers in the country.
Pisciculture
- Pisciculture, or fishing, is crucial for food production due to the increasing population and diminishing land resources. Marine fishing occurs offshore and in deep-sea fisheries, mainly on the continental shelf, while inland fishing involves catching fish from rivers, lakes, canals, ponds, and tanks.
Sericulture
- Sericulture involves rearing silkworms for raw silk production, serving as an agro-based industry with a significant role in rural economies. Indian sericulture is labor-intensive, export-oriented, and considered a cottage industry, contributing to rural development and poverty alleviation.
- Silk is exported to over 80 countries, including the USA, UK, Italy, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. India holds the unique distinction of being the sole producer of all four silk varieties—mulberry, tasar, eri, and moonga. India monopolizes moonga silk production globally and ranks second (18%) in the world, following China. Karnataka is the primary silk producer, with Andhra Pradesh and Assam following suit. The Central Silk Board (CSB) is India’s main agency responsible for sericulture development.
Apiculture
- Apiculture encompasses the science and management of honey bees. Beekeeping involves intentionally maintaining honey bee colonies, typically in hives, for various purposes such as collecting honey, beeswax, pollinating crops, or selling bees to other beekeepers. The location where bees are kept is known as an apiary. In Uttarakhand, the Ram Krishan Dham Centre in Almora and the Gandhi Ashram Centre in Haldwani are major apiculture centers. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Maharashtra lead in apiculture among Indian states.
Prelims Facts
- the author of the book The History of Indian Agriculture? – MS Randhawa [UPPSC (Mains) 2015]
- The approximate representation of land use classification in India is Net area soten 47%, Forest 23%, and other areas 30% [IAS (Pre) 2010)
- Which region is called the Granary of South India? Thanjavur (WBCS (Pre) 2020]
- How many agroecological regions are there in India? -20 (UPPSC (Mains) 2016]
- Which province of India is the first to have complete organic farming? – Sikkim (WBCS (Pre) 2019]
- P Sengupta and G Sdasyuk in 1968 had divided India into how many micro-agricultural regions 60 [UPPSC (Mains) 2017) –
- The area for which land use classification data can be obtained is called – Reporting Area [Punjab PSC (Pre) 2015]
- The country, which is the largest silk producer in the world is -China (BPSC (Pre) 2018]
- Who is credited for initiating the cultivation of Rajma and Potato in Bhagirathi valley -Wilson (UKPSC (Pre) 2010)
- What is Jhumming (also Known as Paida) system? – Cutting of Jungle and leaving it to dry [MPPSC (Pre) 1999, 2000
- Stock farming is breading of animals, it is also called? – Animal Rearing (UPPSC (Mains) 2005]
- Which state is the pioneer in introducing contract • farming in India? – Punjab (UPPSC (Mains) 2005)
- Which traditional agricultural the Apatanie Tribes of Arunachal Pradesh? – Paddy Gum fish culture system [APSC (Pre) 2019]
- Milpa and ladang are different names for -Shifting cultivation [APSC (Pre) 2019]
- Which farming process is the mixed farming? chief characteristics of – Rearing of animals and cultivation of crops together [RAS/RTS (Pre) 2010, IAS (Pre) 2012
- Jhumming is practices mostly in which state of India? – Nagaland (UPPSC (Pre) 2005]
- What is an example of ‘Parallel Cropping’? Wheat-Mustard [UKPSC (Pre) 2016]
- ‘Wet Farming’ is practice in which state of India -Assam [Nagaland PSC (Pre) 2013]
- Rudimentary sedentary farming is practiced in – Gujarat [Nagaland PSC (Pre) 2013].
- Which crop is the most important food crop in terms of cropped area? -Rice (BPSC (Pre) 1996, 2000, UPPSC (Mains) 2011]
UPSC NCERT Practice Questions
1 Which one of the following is the pathway to increase productivity in agriculture? BPSC (Pre) 2018
(a) Efficient irrigation
(b) Quality seeds
(c) Use of pesticides
(d) Use of fertilisers
(e) None of the above/ More than one of the above
2. Which one of the following groups of plants was domesticated in the New World and introduced into the Old World? IAS (Pre) 2019
(a) Tobacco, cocoa and rubber
(b) Tobacco, cotton and rubber
(c) Cotton, coffee and sugarcane
(d) Rubber, coffee and wheat
3. In the context of India, which of the following is/are considered to be the practice(s) of eco-friendly agriculture? IAS (Pre) 2020
1. Crop diversification
2. Legume intensification
3. Tensiometer use
4. Vertical farming
Codes
a 1,2 and 3
(b) Only 3
(c) Only 4
(d) All of these
4. Which province of India is the first to have complete organic farming? WBCS (Pre) 2019
(a) Mizoram
(b) Tripura
(c) Arunachal Pradesh
(d) Sikkim
5. Assertion (A) The Eastern coast of India produces more rice than the Western coast.
Reason (R) The Eastern coast receives more rainfall than the Western coast. TAS (Pre) 2003
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
6. Which one of the following sequences is correct in the context of the three largest wheat-producing states? UPPSC (Pre) 2016
(a) Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana
b) Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab
(c) Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana
(d) Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh
7. Which one among the following states of India is called the Sugar Bowl? UPPSC (Mains) 2008, BPSC (Pre) 2008
(a) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Bihar
(d) Haryana
8. In India four major producers of rice are UPPSC (Mains) 2015
(a) Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha
(b) Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam
(c) West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh
(d) West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab
9. Which of the following states is the largest producer of groundnut in India? UPPSC (Mains) 2006
(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Madhya Pradesh
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Gujarat
10. Concerning the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements. IAS (Pre) 2019
1. The area under rice cultivation is the highest.
2. The area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.
3. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.
4. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.
Which of the statements) given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 3
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 2 and 4
(d) All of these
11. The maximum production of banana is obtained from the state of UPPSC (Mains) 2013
(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Bihar
12. Qualities of an area in India are as follows. IAS (Pre) 2010
1. Hot and moist climate
2. 200 cm annual rainfall
3. Mountain slopes of height up to 1100 metre
4. 15°C to 30° C range of annual temperature
Which of the following produces you will find most suitable to grow in the above type of climate?
(a) Mustard
(b) Cotton
(c) Black pepper
(d) Virginia tobacco
13. Assertion (A) Sugarcane and sugar production in Uttar Pradesh is more than Maharashtra, but productivity is less.
Reason (R) Most of the sugar factories in Maharashtra are in the co-operative sector. UPPSC (Pre) 2019
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(d) A is false, but R is true.
14 Shifting cultivation’ is not practiced in which one of the following states? WBCS (Pre) 2017
(a) Assam
(b) West Bengal
(c) Odisha
(d) Andhra Pradesh
15. Green Revolution means BPSC (Pre) 2018
(a) use of green manure
(b) grow more crops
(c) high yield variety programme
(d) green vegetation
16. Assertion (A) Green Revolution has resulted in the growth of food grain production in India.
Reason (R) Regional disparities have been aggravated due the Green Revolution in India.
Codes
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is false, but R is true.
(d) A is true, but R is false.
17. The term Evergreen Revolution has been used for increasing agricultural production in India by CGPSC (Pre) 2003, UPPSC (Mains) 2015
(a) Norman Borlaug
(b) MS Swaminathan
(c) Raj Krishna
(d) RKV Rao
18. The ratio of gross cropped area to the net sown area is called
(a) cropping intensity
(b) intensity of crop rotation
(c) crop productivity
(d) cropping diversity
19. India’s place in milk production in the world is UPPSC (Pre) 2008
(a) first
(b) second
(c) third
(d) fourth
20. Who is known as the Father of India’s White Revolution? MPPSC (Pre) 2012, UPPSC (Pre) 2015
(a) Dr. Varghese Kurien
(b) Dr. Hargovind Khurana
(c) Dr. Homi Bhabha
(d) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
21. What is Operation Flood associated with? MPPSC (Mains) 2004
(a) Flood control
(b) Irrigation project
(c) Storage of food grains
(d) Milk production and distribution
22. The cow breed known for high milk yield is UPPSC (Mains) 2004
(a) Gangotri
(b) Haryana
(c) Sahiwal
(d) Tharparkar
23. The Indian Institute of Pulses Research is located UPPSC (Pre) 2015
(a) New Delhi
(b) Varanasi
(c) Kanpur
(d) Lucknow
24. The Central Institute of Arid Horticulture is situated at
(a) Sri Ganganagar
(b) Udaipur
(d) Jodhpur
(c) Bikaner
Know Right Answer
1 (e)
2 (a)
3 (d)
4 (d)
5 (c)
6 (c)
7 (a)
8 (c)
9 (d)
10 (a)
11 (a)
12 c)
13 (b)
14 (b)
15 (c)
16 (a)
17 (b)
18 (a)
19 (a)
20 (a)
21 (d)
22 (c)
23 (c)
24 (C)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
FAQ 1: What is the significance of agriculture in India according to UPSC NCERT notes?
Answer: Agriculture plays a crucial role in the Indian economy as it is the primary source of livelihood for a significant portion of the population. According to UPSC NCERT notes, the significance lies in providing food security, employment, and raw materials for various industries. It also contributes to the country’s GDP and is vital for rural development.
FAQ 2: How does climate influence agriculture, as per UPSC NCERT notes on Geography?
Answer: According to UPSC NCERT notes on Geography, climate has a profound impact on agriculture. The type of crops grown and the agricultural practices adopted depend on the climatic conditions of a region. For example, regions with a tropical climate may be suitable for growing tropical crops like rice and sugarcane, while temperate climates may favor the cultivation of wheat and barley.
FAQ 3: What are the challenges faced by animal husbandry in India, as mentioned in UPSC NCERT notes?
Answer: UPSC NCERT notes highlight several challenges in animal husbandry in India. These include inadequate veterinary services, lack of proper nutrition for livestock, insufficient infrastructure, and traditional methods of animal rearing. Additionally, diseases affecting livestock pose a significant challenge, emphasizing the need for improved healthcare facilities in the sector.
FAQ 4: How does irrigation contribute to agriculture, as per UPSC NCERT notes on Geography?
Answer: According to UPSC NCERT notes, irrigation is essential for agriculture as it ensures a regular and reliable supply of water to crops. It helps in overcoming the dependence on erratic rainfall and enables farmers to cultivate multiple crops throughout the year. Proper irrigation methods enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to food security.
FAQ 5: What role does sustainable agriculture play in the context of UPSC NCERT notes on Geography?
Answer: Sustainable agriculture, as emphasized in UPSC NCERT notes, is crucial for maintaining ecological balance and ensuring long-term food security. It involves practices that minimize environmental impact, conserve natural resources, and promote the well-being of farmers. Sustainable agriculture aims to meet the current needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, aligning with the principles of environmental conservation.
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