TOPIC INFO (UGC NET)
TOPIC INFO – UGC NET (Geography)
SUB-TOPIC INFO – Geography of India (UNIT 10)
CONTENT TYPE – Detailed Notes
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1. Introduction
2. Types of Major Crops in India Based on Season
2.1. Kharif Crop
2.2. Rabi Crop
2.3. Zaid Crops
3. Types of Crops Based on Cultivation
4. India’s Changing Cropping Patterns
5. Regions of Crops
5.1. The Rice Region
5.2. The Jowar-Bajra Region
5.3. The Wheat Region
5.4. The Cotton Region
5.5. The Millet Maize Region
5.6. The Fruit and Spice Region
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Major Crop Regions in India
UGC NET GEOGRAPHY
Geography of India (UNIT 10)
Introduction
India has a long history of agrarian culture. Agriculture is the heart of rural India. It is an ancient form of economic activity in our country. It also contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Agriculture employs roughly two-thirds of India’s population. It is a primary activity that generates food grains as well as raw materials for industries. Since India is geographically vast, it has a diverse range of food and non-food crops that are grown during three main cropping seasons: rabi, Kharif, and zaid.
- India is one of the world’s largest producing countries of agricultural commodities. Agriculture is regarded as a way of life, and farmers are worshiped as Gods.
- In India, there are several major crops such as rice, wheat, maize, millets, and pulses, cash crops such as cotton, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and oilseeds, plantation crops such as tea, coffee, coconut, and rubber, and horticulture crops such as fruits and vegetables.
- Cotton, the natural fiber, grows on plants, and Gujarat is India’s leading cotton producer. Similarly, crops are divided appropriately based on seasons and cultivation.
- India is now the world’s second-largest agricultural product producer. India is an agricultural country, with agriculture employing more than 60% of the population.
- While we may not realize the significance of agriculture while living in cities, it is a well-known fact that agriculture is the primary source of income for the majority of our country’s people.
- India’s population is outstripping the country’s ability to produce rice and wheat, the country’s main crops. The cost of building marketing, storage, and cold storage infrastructure is expected to be enormous.
- Throughout the country, a variety of crops, ranging from medicinal to grain crops, are grown. These commodities are used for a variety of purposes such as human consumption, industry, and animal feed.
Types of Major Crops in India Based on Season
Kharif Crop
Kharif crops, also known as monsoon crops or autumn crops, are domesticated plants grown and harvested in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh during the monsoon season, which lasts from June to November depending on location. Rice, maize, and cotton are some of India’s major Kharif crops. Monsoon rains can begin as early as May in some parts of the Indian subcontinent, and crops are typically harvested between the third and fourth weeks of September and October. In contrast to Rabi crops, which are grown in the winter, Kharif crops require adequate rainfall.
Common Kharif Crops
What is a Kharif Crop?
- The Kharif crops are often called monsoon crops because they are usually sown in the months of June-October.
- The monsoon months are regarded as ideal for seeding since the crops need a warm, humid temperature for germination.
- As monsoon arrives at a different time in the different states of the country, the exact months vary from state to state.
- For instance, seeds may be seeded in the southern states by the end of May, whereas they are often shown in the northeastern states by the end of June.
- Major crops planted during this season are paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, and soya bean.