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Unit - 3

India - Agriculture

Learning Objectives

„„To understand the nature of India’s soil types and their distribution.
„„To know about the importance of irrigation and multi-purpose
projects in India.
„„To study about the agriculture, its types and importance.
„„To understand the livestock and fishing resources of India
„„To comprehend the problems of farming in India.

Introduction soils of India into the following eight major

groups. They are
Soil is one of the most important natural
resources. India’s varied natural environments 1. Alluvial soil
resulted in a great variety of soils compared to 2. Black soils
any other country of similar size in the world. 3. Red soils
The rich, deep and fertile soils support high 4. Laterite soils
density of population through agricultural 5. Forest and mountain soils
prosperity. 6. Arid and desert soils
7. Saline and alkaline soils
3.1 Soils 8. Peaty and marshy soils
Soil is the uppermost layer of the land Types of Soils in India
surface, usually composed of minerals, organic
matter, living organisms, air and water. Grains in Saline & Peaty &
Alkaline Soil Marshy Soil
the soil are of three categories namely, clay, silt,
and sand. Soils are generally formed by the Laterite Soil
1.29%

2.17%
Black Soil 2.62%
weathering of rocks under different conditions. 29.69%
Arid & Desert Soil
Some soils are formed by the deposition of 6.13%
agents of denudation. Soils can vary greatly Red Soil Forest &
28%
from one region to the other. Mountain
Alluvial Soil Soil
22.16% 7.94%
Types of Soils
The Indian Council of Agriculture
Research (ICAR) set up in 1953 divides the
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Soil Type Characteristics Distribution Crops growing

Khadar – light coloured, more siliceous.
Ganga and
Bhangar – the older alluvium composed of lime Brahmaputra
nodules and has clayey composition. It is dark river valleys;
in colour. Plains of Uttar Rice,
Formation - sediments deposited by streams Pradesh,
Alluvial Wheat,
and rivers when they slowly loose Uttaranchal,
soil Sugarcane and
Chemical properties - rich in potash, Punjab, Haryana,
phosphoric acid, lime and carbon compounds West Bengal and Oilseeds
but poor in nitrogen Bihar and river
Nature –Sandy-loam-silt-clay mouth of east
coast.
profile shows no marked differentiation
Formation - Derived from basalts of Deccan
trap.
Maharashtra and
Colour - black colour, due to presence of Malwa plateaus,
titanium, iron. Kathiawar
Chemical properties - Consist of calcium and peninsula,
Cotton, Millets,
magnesium corbonates, high quantities of iron, Telangana and
Black soils Tobacco and
aluminium, lime and magnesia. Rayalaseema
Sugarcane
Rich in potash lime, Aluminium calcium and region of Andhra
magnesium poor in Nitrogen Phosphoric acid Pradesh and
and humus northern part of
Nature - Sticky when wet Karnataka
High degree of moisture retentivity
Formation - decomposition of ancient
crystalline rocks like granites and gneisses and Eastern parts of
from rock type Deccan plateau,
Chemical properties - rich in minerals such as southern states Wheat, Rice,
iron and magnesium. of Kerala, Tamil Cotton,
Red soils
Deficient in nitrogen, humus, phosphoric acid Nadu, Karnataka Sugarcane and
and lime. and Chota Pulses
Nature - Light texture, porous friable presence Nagpur plateau
of limited soluble salts Clay fraction of the red (Jharkhand)
soils generally consists of Kaolinitic minerals.
Formation - formed in the regions where
alternate wet and hot dry conditions prevail. It Assam hills,
is formed by the process of leaching hill summits
Chemical properties - Composed mainly of of Kerala and Coffee, Rubber,
Laterite
hydrated oxides of iron and aluminium, Karnataka and Cashewnut and
soils
Nature - More acidic on higher areas poor in eastern Ghats Tapioca
high level, cannot retain moisture while plains and region of
they consist of heavy loam and clay and easily Odisha
retain moisture

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Soil Type Characteristics Distribution Crops growing

Differ from region to region depending on
climate. Coniferous forest
belts of Jammu
Formation - due to mechanical weathering
and Kashmir, Coffee, tea, rice,
caused by snow, rain, temperature variation
Forest and Himachal maize, potato,
Chemical properties - are deficient in potash,
mountain Pradesh, barley, tropical
Phosphorus and lime.
soils Uttarakhand and fruits and various
Nature - light, sandy, thin and found with the Sikkim. Eastern types of spices
pieces of rock. Their character changes with and Western
the parent rocks. Very rich in humus. slow Ghats
decomposition makes it acidic
Formation - Due to prevalence of the dry
climate, hightemperature and accelerated
evaporation, the soil is dry, it also lacks humus
content due to the absence of vegetative cover Millets,
Rajasthan,
Chemical properties - Contain high
Arid and Northern Gujarat barley, cotton,
percentages of soluble salts, alkaline with
desert soils and southern maize and pulses
varying degree of calcium carbonate and
Punjab (with irrigation)
are poor in organic matter; rich enough in
phosphate though poor in nitrogen
Nature - light in colour, low humus,friable
structure, low in moisture
Formation - formed due to ill drainage which
causes water logging, injurious salts are Andhra Pradesh
transferred from subsurface to the top soil by and Karnataka.
the capillary action, it causes the salinisation of Crops do not
Saline and In the drier
soils grow because
parts of Bihar,
alkaline of excess
Chemical properties - liberate sodium, Uttar Pradesh,
soils salinisation of
magnesium and calcium salts and sulphurous Haryana, Punjab,
soils
acid Rajasthan and
Nature - Consists of an excess of sodium salts Maharashtra
and mineral fragments which are weathering

Kottayam and
Formation - formed in humid regions from the Alappuzha
organic matter. It is found in the areas of heavy districts of
rainfall and high humidity Peaty soils are black, Kerala; and
heavyand highly acidic. coastal areas
Peaty and
of Odisha and
marshy Chemical properties - deficient in potash and Paddy, jute
Tamil Nadu,
soils phosphate.
Sundarbans of
Nature - Contain considerable amount of West Bengal,
Soluble salts and 10-40 per cent of organic in Bihar and
matter; and high proportion of vegetable matter. Almora district
of Uttarakhand

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Soil degradation: Soil degradation is an acute problem in India. According to a 2015 report of the
Indian institute of remote sensing (IIRS). The estimated the amount of soil .erosion that occurred
in India was 147 million hectares.
The main problems of the Indian soils are i) soil erosion (sheet erosion,
Rill erosion, Gully erosion, Ravine and Badland) ii) Degradation of Soil,
iii) Water-logging, iv) Saline and Alkaline, and v) Salt Flats, types of soils are different erosion.
Methods of Conservation and Management of Soil
1. Afforestation
2. Constructing Dams and Barrages
3. Prevention of Overgrazing
4. Improved methods of Agricultural practices
Contour method, Rotation of crops, Contour bunding, Strip cropping, Planting of shelter belts,
Adopting the techniques of sustainable agriculture are different conservation methods for better
soil management.

N
INDIA W E
MAJOR SOIL TYPES
S

TYPES OF SOILS
Alluvial
Red
Black
Laterite
Forest and Mountain
Arid and Desert
Saline and Alkaline

Not to Scale Peaty and Marshy

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3.2 Irrigation b) Well Irrigation

A well is a hole or trough, usually vertical,
Watering of agricultural plants through
excavated in the earth for bringing groundwater
artificial means is called irrigation. Being a hot
to the surface. Well irrigation is the most
country with seasonal and irregular rainfall, it
important source of irrigation. It is a cheap,
always needs irrigation to carry out agricultural
dependable, and popular source of irrigation in
activities during dry period.
the country. Well irrigation is unavoidable in the
Sources of Irrigation region of low rainfall and becomes an essential
In India, different sources of irrigation are one where the canals and tank irrigation are not
used depending upon the topography, soils, available. Wells are of two types:
rainfall, availability of surface or groundwater, i) Open wells
nature of river (whether perennial or non- ii) Tube wells
perennial), requirements of crops etc. The main
1. Open Wells: This type of irrigation
sources of irrigation used in different parts of
is widely practiced in the areas where
the country are
groundwater is sufficiently available. The
„„ Canal irrigation
areas are in Ganga Plains, the deltaic
„„ Well irrigation and region of Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna,
„„ Tank irrigation Cauvery and parts of Narmada and Tapti
Other valleys.
Sources 11% Tanks 3% 2. Tube Wells: Tube wells are developed in the
Canals 24% areas of low water table, sufficient power
Other wells 16%
supply and soft subsurface geological
Tube wells 46%
units. Tube wells are predominant in the
states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab,
Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.
Area under Irrigation c) Tank Irrigation
a) Canal Irrigation A tank is a natural or man-made hollow
on the surface developed by constructing a
It is the second most important source of small bund around it across a stream. It is used
irrigation in our country. to collect and store water for irrigation and
Canals are the effective source of irrigation other purposes. Irrigation by tanks is a very old
in areas of low level relief, deep, fertile soils, system in India. It also includes irrigation from
perennial source of water and extensive lakes and ponds.
command area. The canals are of two types: The tank irrigation is popular in the
1. Inundation Canals: In this, water is peninsular India due to the following
taken out directly from the rivers without reasons:
making any kind of barrage or dam. Such 1. The undulating relief and hard rocks make
canals are useful for the diversion of difficult to dig canals and wells.
flood water from the rivers and remain
2. Natural depressions serve as reservoirs.
operational during rainy season.
3. Absence of perennial rivers.
2. Perennial Canals: These are developed
from perennial rivers by constructing 4. Impermeable rock structure which do not
barrage to regulate the flow of water. permit percolation.
About 60 percent of the canal irrigated 5. The scattered nature of population and
area falls in the northern plains of India, agricultural fields
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Modern irrigation methods

Pradhan Mantri Krishi
There are many ways in Modern Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
Irrigation. Among them mostly practiced in
This has been
India are drip irrigation, sprinklers and Rain
implemented to get more
Gun and central pivot irrigation
production by using water saving and
Drip Irrigation Method conservation technologies.
It was first developed. In this method,
water is supplied in the form of drops through 3.3 Agriculture
nassals. water can be saved upto 70%. Agriculture is the process of producing
Springler Method food for people, fodder for cattle, fiber and
many other desired products by the cultivation
It is the simplest and easiest method of
of certain plants and the raising of domesticated
all. In this method, water is supplied to the
animals (livestock).
field from the source through the pipes with
have small holes. It can be used in the areas of Determinants of Agriculture
uneven surface also. Agriculture in India is determined by a set
Rain Gun of factors. Some of the important factors:

Rain gun is used to spread water like 1. Physical factors: relief, climate and soil.
rain. It can be used to water the crops which 2. Institutional factors: Size of farm holdings,
grow upto 4 feet. It is useful to irrigate the land tenure, and land reforms.
crops like sugarcane and maize.
3. Infrastructural factors: Irrigation, power,
Central - Pivot Irrigation transport, credit, market, insurance and
It is also called water wheel and circle storage facilities.
irrigation. It is a method of crop irrigation in 4. Technological factors: High yielding
which equipment roatates around a pivot and varieties of seeds, chemical fertilisers,
crops are watered with springlers. insecticides and machinery.
Multipurpose River Valley Types of Farming
Projects a) Subsistence Farming
It is a scientific A considerable proportion of farmers
management of water in the country practice subsistence farming.
resources in our country. Farmers grow crops with the help of family
Construction of dam across members and consumes almost the entire farm
rivers is aimed at many produce with little surplus to sell in the market.
purposes. Hence, it is termed
Preference is given to food crops. In addition
as multi-purpose river
to the food crops, sugarcane, oilseeds, cotton,
valley projects. The various purposes of a dam
jute and tobacco are also cultivated. Traditional
serves are irrigation, hydro power generation,
farming method results in low productivity.
water supply for drinking and industrial
purpose, controlling floods, development of b) Shifting Agriculture
fisheries, navigation etc. Generally, majority This type of agriculture is performed
of multipurpose projects are combination of by tribal people in a piece of forest land after
irrigation and hydro-power which are the clearing the trees through felling and burning
major aims of the projects. the trunks and branches. Once the land is

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Name of projects River Benefit States

Damodar Valley project Damodar Jharkhand, West Bengal
Bhakra-Nangal Project (highest gravity dam in the
Sutlej Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan
world)
Hirakud Project
Mahanadi Orissa
(longest dam in the world)
Kosi Project Kosi Bihar & Nepal
Tungabhadra Project Tungabhadra Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka
Tehri Dam: Bhagirathi Uttarakhand
Chambal Valley Project Chambal Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
Nagarjuna Sagar Project Krishna Andhra Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Sardar Sarover Project Narmada
Rajasthan
Indira Gandhi Canal Project Sutlej Rajasthan, Punjab and Haryana
Mettur Dam Cauveri Tamil Nadu

cleared, crops are grown for two to three years the help of irrigation are also grown under
and the land will get abandoned as the fertility dry farming. In such circumstances, the yields
of the soil decreases. The farmers then move to are generally low. Most of the areas under dry
new areas and the process will be repeated. They cultivation entertain only one crop per year.
cultivate some grains and vegetable crops using
the manual labour. It is also called as “Slash and e) Mixed Farming
burn” cultivation. Mixed farming is defined as a system of
Different names of shifting agriculture in farm which includes crop production, raising
different regions in India livestock, poultry, fisheries, bee keeping etc. to
Name Place sustain and satisfy as many needs of the farmer
Jhum Assam as possible.
Poonam Kerela
Podu Andhra Pradesh, Odisha
Beewar, Mashan, Madhya Pradesh
Penda, Beera
c) Intensive Farming
Intensive farming is an agricultural
intensification and mechanization system that
aims to maximize yields from available land
through various means, such as heavy use of
pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
Mixed Farming Agriculture
d) Dry Farming
This type of farming is practiced in arid f) Terrace Farming
areas where irrigation facilities are lacking.
This type of cultivation is practiced
Crops cultivated in these areas can withstand
specially in hilly areas, where lands are of
dry conditions. The crops grown generally with
sloping nature. The hill and mountain slopes
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are cut to form terraces and the land is used Rice in India is sown in three ways:
in the same way as in permanent agriculture. i) Broadcasting,
Since the availability of flat land is limited,
ii) Ploughing or drilling
terraces are made to provide small patches
of level land. Soil erosion is also checked iii) Transplanting
due to terrace formation on hill slopes. Due to increased use of High Yielding
Variety (HYV) seeds (CR Dhan 205, AR Dhan
3.4  Major Crops Cultivated 306, CRR 451 etc.), many of the indigenous
in India varieties were disappeared. In 2016, the first 10
The major crops of India are divided into leading rice producing states are West Bengal
four major categories as follows: (First in India) Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil
1. Food crops (wheat, maize, rice, millets, Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh,
pulses etc.). Odisha, Assam, and Haryana.
2. Cash crops (sugarcane, tobacco, cotton,
jute, oilseeds etc.).
3. Plantation crops (tea, coffee and rubber).
4. Horticulture crops (fruits, flowers and
vegetables).
1. Food Crops
Due to its large population, Indian agriculture
is largely dominated by the food crops.
Rice
Rice is an indigenous crop. India is the
second largest producer of rice in the world
after China. It is mainly a tropical crop, growing
mainly with mean temperatures of 24°C and
annual rainfall of 150 cm. Deep fertile clayey or
loamy soils are suited well for rice cultivation.
It also needs abundant supply of cheap labour.

Wheat

Wheat is the second most important

food crop of the country, after rice. It
accounts for 22 percent of the total area and
Paddy Cultivation
Cropping Seasons in India
Cropping Seasons Major crops cultivated
Northern States Southern States
Kharif Season Rice, Ragi, Maize, Jowar,
Rice, Cotton, Bajra, Maize, Jowar, Tur
June–September Groundnut
Rabi Season Wheat, Gram, Rapeseeds, Mustard, Rice, Maize, Ragi, Groundnut,
October–March Barley Jowar
Zaid Season
Vegetables, Fruits, Fodder Rice, Vegetables, Fodder
April–June

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34 percent of the total production of food purposes. Bajra is a crop of dry region. Rajasthan
grains in the country. It requires 10-15°C is the largest producer of bajra followed by Uttar
at the time of sowing and 20-25°C at the time of Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
ripening of grains.
Barley
Over 85% of the India’s wheat production
Barley is one of the important cereals of
comes from 5 states namely Uttar Pradesh,
our country. Besides, being poor man’s diet, it is
Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Madhya
used for making barley water, beer and whiskey.
Pradesh. Apart from these regions, the black
Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are the two leading
soil tract of the Deccan covering parts of
producers of Barley.
Maharashtra and Gujarat also contribute a
major wheat production. Pulses
Pulses include a large number of crops
N
WHEAT PRODUCTION
W E
which are mostly leguminous and rich in
IN INDIA
S vegetable protein. They are used as human
food and feeding cattle. They fix atmospheric
nitrogen in the soil and hence are usually rotated
with other crops. India is the largest producer of
pulses.
2. Cash Crops
The crops which are cultivated for
commercial purpose are called cash crops.
These crops include sugarcane, tobacco, fibre
Bay of Bengal crops (cotton, jute, and mesta) and oilseeds.
Arabian
Sea
Sugarcane
It is the second largest producer in the
world. This crop provides raw material for
the sugar industry which is the second largest
industrial category of our country. Besides
Not to Scale
Indian Ocean

Jowar providing sugar, gur and khandsari, it supplies

molasses for alcohol industry and bagasse for
Jowar is the third important food crop of
paper industry. India is ranked third in sugar
our country. It is an indigenous plant of Africa.
production in the world after Cuba and Brazil.
The plant has a tendency to grow in adverse
At the state level, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are
climatic conditions. Its grains are rich in
the leading producer of sugarcane followed
carbohydrates, protein, minerals, and vitamins.
by Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and
Hence, it provides cheap food to the large
Gujarat.
section of the poor population. It is also used
as fodder in many parts of the country. Jowar Cotton
is essentially a crop of the Peninsular India. Cotton is the most important cash crop
Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh of India. It provides raw material to the largest
are the leading producers of Jowar. industry of India. India ranks second next to
Bajra China in the production of cotton.
Bajra is an indigenous plant of Africa. This About 79% of the total area and production
forms the staple food for poor people. Its stalks in the country were contributed by four states viz.,
are used as fodder for cattle and for thatching Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Punjab.
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Jute Tea
It is a tropical fibre crops, grows well in the Tea is an evergreen plant that mainly grows
alluvial soil. It provides raw material for Jute in tropical and subtropical climates. Tea is a
industry. It is used for manufacturing of gunny labour intensive and grows faster under light
bags, carpets, hessian, ropes and strings, rugs, shade. Tea plants require high rainfall but its
clothes, tarpaulins, upholstery etc. West Bengal root cannot tolerate water logging. Two major
is the leading state both in cultivation and varieties of tea are cultivated in India. They are
production of jute. The other cultivators of jute i) BOHEA - originated from China
are Bihar, Assam and Meghalaya.
N
ii) ASSAMICA - from India
INDIA W E

MAJOR CASH CROPS S

A number of hybrid varieties have been
developed by mixing these two. India is the
second largest producer of tea after China in
the world. Assam is the larger producer of tea in
India. Other states are Tamil Nadu, Kerala and
West Bengal.
Coffee
Coffee is grown in shade and it grows
LEGEND
effectively in the altitudes between 1,000 and
SUGARCANE 1,500 m above mean sea level. There are two
COTTON main varieties of coffee. They are
Arabian
Sea JUTE

OILS AND SEEDS

i) Arabica (High quality-cultivated more
Bay of Bengal
TEA
in India)
COFFEE
ii) Robusta (Inferior quality).
RUBBER
India is the 7th largest producer of coffee
Not to Scale

SPICES
Indian Ocean globally. Karnataka is the leading producer of
coffee in India. It produces 71% in India, and
Oil Seeds 2.5 % in the world (source; coffee board of
Oil seeds, the premier source of fat in the India-2018).
Indian diet are derived from number of crops
Rubber
like groundnut, rapeseed, mustard, sesame,
linseed, sunflower, castor seed, cotton seed, Rubber plantation were first established in
niger seed etc. These provide oil and oilcake Kerala in 1902. It needs hot and wet climatic
which are used for making lubricants, varnish, conditions (temperature above 20°C and
medicine, perfume, candles, soaps, manure and rainfall above 300cm). Most of the land under
cattle feed. Gujarat is India’s largest oilseeds rubber belongs to small land holders. The major
producing state. In groundnut production, rubber growing areas are Tamil Nadu, Kerala,
India is the second largest producer in the world Karnataka and Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
after China.
Spices
3. Plantation Crops India has been world famous for its spices
Plantation crops are cultivated for the since ancient times. These spices mostly used
purpose of exports. These are cultivated in large for flavouring or tampering cooked food and for
estates on hilly slopes. Tea, coffee, rubber and preparing medicines, dyes etc. Pepper, chillies,
spices are the major plantation crops of India. turmeric, ginger, cardamom, clove and areca
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nut are the major spices cultivated in India.

Kerala is the leading producer of spices in India. Livestock Census: First Livestock
Census in India was conducted with the
4. Horticulture Crops title of Dairy Cattle Census in 1919.
It refers to the cultivation of fruits, flowers
and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are How is livestock census
important supplement to the human diet, as conducted in Tamil Nadu?
they provide essential minerals, vitamins, and State Government is
fibres required for maintaining health. India conducting Livestock Census
is in the second position in the production of with the help of Department of Animal
fruits and vegetables. Husbandry at state level and Regional
3.5 Livestock Joint Director at Distric level under the
guidelines of Government of India Ministry
Livestock is an integral component of the of Agriculture and farmers welfare,
farming system in India. The livestock sector Department of Animal Husbandary
is socially and economically very significant Dairying and Fisheries.
due to its multi-functional outputs and
contribution to socio-cultural security. It also Dairy, Meat and Wool Production
helps to improve food and nutritional security
by providing nutrient-rich food products, According to 2016-17 Census held by State
generate income and employment and act /UT Animal Husbandry Department, Uttar
as a cushion against crop failure, provide Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
draught power and manure inputs to the crop While looking at the meat, Uttar Pradesh
subsector. is the leading producer following Maharashtra
Cattle and West Bengal.

Cattle constitute 37.3 percent of livestock The leading state in the wool production is
population in India. India has second largest Rajasthan followed by Karnataka
cattle population after Brazil at World level.
Cattle population in India belongs to different 3.6 Fisheries
breeds. These include:
Fisheries in India are a very important
1) Milch Breed economic activity and a flourishing sector
2) Draught breed with varied resources and potentials. Fishing
in India is a major industry in its coastal
3) Mixed or General breed. states, employing over 14 million people.
Goats It produces about 3 percent of World’s fish
and occupies second place among the fish
The goat is the poor man’s cow providing
producing nations of the world after China.
milk, meat, skin and hair. It is the main source
It also helps in augmenting food supply,
of meat for the country.
generating employment, raising nutritional
Buffaloes level and earning valuable foreign exchange.
Buffaloes are an important source of In India, fishing is categorised into two types:
They are
milk supply for India. Uttar Pradesh has the
highest number of buffaloes (28.2%) followed 1. Marine or Sea Fisheries
by Rajasthan (9.6%) and Andhra Pradesh
(7.9%). 2. Inland or Fresh Water Fisheries

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Lack of mechanization
In spite of the large scale mechanization of
agriculture in some parts of the country, most
of the agricultural operations in larger parts are
carried on by human hand using simple and
conventional tools.
Soil erosion

Fisheries Large tracts of fertile land suffer from soil

erosion by wind and water.
1. Marine or Sea Fisheries: It includes coastal,
Agricultural marketing
off-shore and deep sea fisheries mainly on
the continental shelves. Kerala leads in the Due to the absence of sound marketing
marine fish production in India. facility, the farmers have to depend on local
traders and middlemen for the disposal of
2. Inland or Fresh Water Fisheries: Rivers,
their farm products which is sold at low price.
lakes, canals, reservoirs, ponds, tanks etc.
Besides, there is a fluctuation in the prices of
are the sources of fresh water fresh water
agriculture products.
fisheries. About 50 percent of the country’s
total fish production comes from the inland Inadequate storage facilities
fisheries and Andhra Pradesh is the leading Storage facilities in the rural areas are either
producer in India. totally absent or grossly inadequate. Under such
In India, the important varieties of fishes conditions the farmers are compelled to sell
caught by the fisherman are Cat fish, Herrings, their products immediately after the harvest
irrespective of the condition of market.
Mackerels, Perches, Eels, Mullets etc.
Inadequate transport
3.7  Major issues faced by
One of the main handicaps with Indian
farmers in india
agriculture is the lack of cheap and efficient
Small and fragmented land-holdings means of transportation.
The problem of small and fragmented Scarcity of capital
holdings is more serious in densely populated
Agriculture is an important industry which
and intensively cultivated states in India.
requires a huge capital. The role of capital plays
High Costs of Inputs a major role in the purchase of advanced farm
Good quality seeds are out of reach for machineries and equipments.
many small and marginal farmers due to their
high price.
Infertile Soil
Indian soils have been used for growing crops
over thousands of years without caring much
for replenishing. This has led to depletion and
exhaustion of soils resulting in low productivity.
Lack of Irrigation
Only one-third of the cropped area falls
under irrigated area. To make agriculture
reliable, irrigation facility has to be developed.
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List of important Agricultural Revolutions in India

Revolution Related Product

Yellow Revolution Oil seed Production (Especially Mustard and Sunflower)

Blue Revolution Fish Production
Brown Revolution Leather / Cocoa / Non-Conventional Products
Golden Fibre Revolution Jute Production
Golden Revolution Fruits / Honey Production / Horticulture Development
Grey Revolution Fertilizers
Pink Revolution Onion Production / Pharmaceuticals / Prawn Production
Silver Revolution Egg Production / Poultry Production
Silver Fibre Revolution Cotton
Red Revolution Meat Production / Tomato Production
Round Revolution Potato
Green Revolution Food Grains
White Revolution Milk Production

SUMMARY
„„Soil is the finest particle found on the earth surface.
„„The main sources of irrigation found in India are canal irrigation, well irrigation and tank
irrigation etc.
„„Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid are the three cropping seasons of India.
„„The agricultural crops of India can be divided into food crops, cash crops, plantation crops
and horticultural crops.
„„Fishing in India is categorized into marine fishing and inland fishing

2. Which of the following organization has

divided the Indian soils into 8 major
EXERCISE groups?
a) Indian Council of Agricultural Research
b) Indian Meteorological Department
I Choose the correct answer
c) Soil Survey of India
1. The soil which is rich in iron oxides is
d) Indian Institute of Soil Science
__________.
a) Alluvial b) Black 3. The soils formed by the rivers are:
c) Red d) Alkaline a) Red soils b) Black soils
c) Desert soils d) Alluvial soils
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4. _________ is the highest gravity dam in (b) Both (A) and (R)are true and (R) does
India. not explain (A)
a) Hirakud dam (c) (A) is correct (R) is false
b) Bhakra Nangal dam (d) (A) is false (R) is true
c) Mettur dam III Pick the odd one out
d) Nagarjuna Sagar dam
1. a) Wheat b) Rice
5. __________ is a cash crop. c) Millets d) Coffee
a) Cotton b) Wheat 2. a) Khadar b) Bhangar
c) Rice d) Maize c) Alluvial soil d) Black soil
3. a) Inundational canals
6. Black soils are also called as:
b) Perennial canals
a) Arid soils b) Saline soils
c) Tanks
c) Regur soils d) Mountain soils
d) Canals
7. The longest dam in the world is IV Match the following
___________.
1. Sugar bowl
a) Mettur dam b) Kosi dam
of India - Mahanadi
c) Hirakud dam d) Bhakra-Nangal dam 2. Coffee - Golden revolution
8. Which crop is called as “Golden Fibre” in 3. Tehri - Karnataka
India? 4. Hirakud - Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
a) Cotton b) Wheat 5. Horticulture - Highest dam in the India
c) Jute d) Tobacco
V Answer in brief
II Consider the given statements and 1. Define soil.
choose the right option given below 2. Name the types of soil found in India.
Assertion (A): Horticulture involves
1.  3. State any two characteristics of black cotton
cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. soil.
Reason (R): India ranks first in the world 4. Define Agriculture.
in the production of mango, banana, and 5. State the types of agriculture practices in
citrus fruits. India.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) 6. Name the seasons of agriculture in India?
explains (A) 7. Mention the plantation crops of India.
(b) Both (A) and (R)are true: (R) does not 8. Write a brief note on the categories of
explain (A) fisheries in India?
(c) (A) is correct (R) is false VI Give reasons
(d) (A) is false (R) is true 1. Agriculture is the backbone of India.
2. Assertion (A): Alluvial soil is formed by the 2. Rain water harvesting is necessary.
deposition of eroded and decayed materials
brought by the rivers. VII Distinguish between the following
Reason (R): Paddy and wheat are grown 1. Rabi and Kharif crop seasons.
well in the soil. 2. Inundational canal and perennial canal.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) 3. Marine fishing and Inland fishing.
explains (A) 4. Alluvial soils and Black soils.
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VIII Answer in a paragraph

REFERENCE BOOKS
1. State any five types of soil in India and
explain the characteristics and Singh, G. (1976). A Geography of India.
1. 
distribution of soil. Atma Ram & Sons Publications, New
2. What is Multipurpose projects and write Delhi.
about any two Multipurpose projects of 2. 
Siddhartha, K. and Mukherjee, S. (2013).
India. Geography through Maps (11th Edition).
3. Bring out the characteristics of Intensive Kisalaya Publications Pvt. Ltd., New
and mixed farming.
Delhi.
4. Examine the geographical conditions
Husain, M. (2015). Geography of India
3. 
favourable for the cultivation of rice and
(6th Edition). McGraw Hill Education,
wheat.
New Delhi.
IX Hot questions 4. 
Sharma, T.C. and Coutinho, O. (1978).
1. Can you imagine a world without Economic and Commercial Geography
agriculture? India (2nd Edition). Vikas Publishing
2. Can you give solutions for the prevailing House Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi.
water disputes in South India? Mamoria, C.B. (1980). Economic and
5. 
X Map exercise Commercial Geography of India. Shiva Lal
1. Demarcate the major tracts of alluvial Agarwala & Company, Agra.
soils.
2. Delineate the main regions of black soil. INTERNET RESOURCES
3. Locate the Hirakud dam, Mettur dam
and Damodar dam. 1. https://extension.psu.edu/introduction-
4. Shade the regions of jute cultivation.. to-soils-managing-soils
5. Mark any three tea and coffee growing 2. http://mospi.nic.in/statistical-year-book-
areas. india/2017/181
6. Demarcate the regions of desert soil. 3. http://www.india-wris.nrsc.gov.in/
7. Locate the fishing hubs: Tuticorin, w r p i n f o / i n d e x . p h p ? t i t l e = Mu l t i _
Chennai, Cochin, Mumbai, Purpose_Projects
Machilipatnam 4. http://dahd.nic.in/sites/default/filess/
8. Demarcate: Cauveri delta, Godavari delta Volume%20I.pdf

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