Cash crops, also known as commercial crops, are those that are grown to be
sold in the market in order to profit from their sale. Cash crops, in contrast to
staple food crops, are primarily grown for commercial purposes and sold in
national and international markets.
What are Cash Crops?
India is one of the world's leading crop producers.
Crops grown in the country are classified as food, cash, plantation,
or horticulture.
Cash crops are agricultural crops grown for the purpose of selling on the
market or exporting for profit, as opposed to subsistence crops grown for
the farmer's self-supply (like livestock feeding or food for the family).
Most cash crops grown in developing countries are sold to developed
countries at a higher price.
Coffee, tea, cocoa, cotton, and sugarcane are all well-known cash crops.
These are grown for market sale or as raw materials for industries.
With increased productivity of certain crops, particularly sugar, the
government assists agriculture by providing incentives.
These occupy only 15% of the country's total cropped area but account
for more than 40% of agricultural production by value.
1. Cotton
India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plant.
It is also one of the most important industrial crops of India.
Geographical Conditions of Growth:
o Cotton grows well in the drier parts of the black cotton soil of the
Deccan plateau. It can also be grown on alluvial and red soils.
o It requires high temperature (20-35°C), light rainfall (50 to 80cm)
or irrigation, 210 frost free days and bright sunshine for its
growth. Clear sky during the picking season is ideal.
o It is a Kharif crop and requires 6-8 months to mature.
Important Producing Areas:
o India is the fourth largest producer of cotton in the world. China,
USA and Pakistan grow more cotton than India.
o Cotton is cultivated in about 45% of the total sown area in the
country.
o The major cotton producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat,
Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab,
Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Important Varieties: India produces both short staple (Indian) cotton
and long staple (American) cotton. American Cotton is called ‘Narma’ in
the north-western part of the country.
2. Jute
It is also known as the golden fibre and is India’s major cash crop.
Jute fibre is obtained from the inner bark of the jute plant.
It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets, and other
artefacts. Jute cultivation in India has recently suffered due to reduced
demand because of increasing competition with artificial fibre and
packaging material.
Geographical Conditions of Growth:
o It is a soil-exhausting crop like sugarcane and lowers soil fertility
rapidly. It thus grows well on the well-drained fertile soils in the
flood plains where the soils are renewed every year.
o High temperatures (24°C to 35°C), heavy rain (125 – 200cm) and
low plain land are favourable conditions for the cultivation of jute.
Important Producing Areas:
o West Bengal (largest producer in India), Bihar, Assam, Orissa, and
Meghalaya.
o India is the largest producer of jute in the world.
Important Varieties: Mesta
3. Oilseeds
Main oilseeds produced in India include groundnut, mustard, coconut,
sesamums (til), soyabean, castor seeds, linseed, and sunflower.
Uses – Most of these are edible and used as cooking mediums. Some of
these are also used as a raw material in the production of soaps,
ointments, and cosmetics.
Geographical Conditions of Growth:
o Most oilseeds are grown as dry crops or in association with other
crops e.g. mustard is grown with wheat.
Important Producing Areas:
o India is the largest producer of oilseeds in the world. About 20% of
the world’s oilseed producing area is in India.
o Different oilseeds are grown covering approximately 14% of the
total cropped area of the country.
o Major oilseed producing areas are the plateau of Malwa,
Marathwara, Gujarat, dry areas of Rajasthan, Telangana and
Rayalseema regions of Andhra Pradesh.
o Madhya Pradesh ranks first (31%) in the total oilseeds production
and is followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat.
o The smaller oilseeds are grown mainly in the north (Gujarat, MP,
Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana) and the larger seeds in the south
mainly Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. A list
of oilseeds and their producing states:
o Coconuts – The southern coastal region in the states of
Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
o Castor seed – Gujarat
o Linseed – Chhattisgarh
o Soya beans – Madhya Pradesh
o Mustard and rapeseeds – Rajasthan
o Sunflower – Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh
B. Important Plantation Crops
1. Tea
It is an important beverage crop introduced in India initially by the
British.
Geographical Conditions of Growth and Production:
o The tea plant grows well in tropical humid and subtropical humid
climates endowed with deep and fertile well-drained soils, rich in
humus and organic matter.
o 150cm summer rain and 21°C to 27°C daily temperature are
needed for its cultivation.
o Tea bushes require warm and frost-free climate all through the
year.
o Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure
continuous growth of the tender leaves.
o Tea is often cultivated on the hill slopes so that there is no
waterlogging in its roots.
o Its leaves are to be plucked several times in a year, so availability
of abundant and cheap labour is essential for its cultivation.
Important Producing Areas:
o Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts, West Bengal,
Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh,
Uttaranchal, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, and Tripura are also tea
producing states in the country.
o India is the leading producer as well as exporter of tea in the
world. 28% tea of the world is produced here.
2. Coffee
Geographical Conditions of Growth:
o Coffee is a tropical plantation crop.
o 16° – 28°C temperature, 150-250cm rainfall and well-drained
slopes are essential for its growth.
o It grows on hilly slopes at the height of 900-1800m.
o Low temperature, frost, dry weather for a long time and harsh
sunshine are harmful for its plants.
o Coffee plants grow better in the laterite soils of Karnataka in India.
Important Producing Areas:
o India contributes about 4% of the world’s total coffee production.
It ranks 6th in the world in coffee production.
o The coffee plant was grown for the first time on the Baba Budan
Hills (Karnataka) in India.
o At present, more than half of the total coffee production in India is
produced by Karnataka alone, followed by Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Important Varieties: The Arabica variety initially brought from Yemen is
produced in the country.
Conclusion
A cash crop is exactly what its name implies: a crop of plants grown solely for
profit. A farmer may grow grains, legumes, and vegetables to feed his family
and livestock, but anything else is a cash crop. Cash crops, as opposed to
subsistence crops, are agricultural crops grown for the purpose of selling on
the market or exporting for profit. Most cash crops grown in developing
countries are sold at a higher price to developed countries. As a result, cash
crop cultivation is critical in developing countries like India for ensuring
farmers' economic sustainability and societal food security.
