RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 18 Agriculture

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 18 Agriculture

Introduction :

India has been an agricultural country since ancient time. Vavilov (a Russian scholar) considered India as the centre of the origin of agriculture.
The beginning of agriculture took place in South-East Monsoon Area.

Importance of Agriculture :

India is an agricultural country. Today, 54.6% population of India directly depends on agriculture.
Due to dependence on monsoon, Indian agriculture and economy is called the gamble of monsoon. About 12.7% of total export value of the country comes from agricultural products.
Agriculture is the basis of Indian economy, society and culture. Agricultural work is done on 40.5% part of total area in India.
Indian agriculture extends important contribution in providing employment, raw material to industries, increasing national income, production of nutritious products and in obtaining foreign currency.

Characteristics of Indian Agriculture :

In India, traditionally, food crops have been grown. In the last few decades, due to modernisation, change has taken place in agricultural trend.

Dependence of population, dependent on monsoon, insufficient irrigation sources, less production per hectare, small holdings, lack of fodder crops, priority to food crops and diversity of crops are chief characteristics of agriculture in India.
Problems of Indian Agriculture

Increasing population pressure on land, unequal land distribution, less productivity, unpredictable weather, belief of the farmers in fate, connecting agriculture with livelihood, less development of irrigation source, traditional agriculture, wrong crop-cycle system and the farmers unable to get benefitted from various agricultural programmes are major problems of Indian agriculture.

Types of Agriculture :

In India subsistence and commercial agriculture, wet and dry agriculture, intensive and extensive agriculture, gardening, organic agtriculture, etc. are main types of agriculture.
On the basis of climate, the crops are divided into three parts. These are – Rabi, Kharif, Zaid.
On the basis of utility, Indian agricultural crops are divided into food crops, plantation crops, cash crops, and fibre crops.
In food crops, wheat, rice, barley, maize, in plantation crops, tea, coffee, tobacco are the major ones. In cash crops, sugarcane, oilseed, mustard, soyabean, and in fibre crops, cotton and jute crops are included.
In India, organic agriculture has been practised since beginning of the civilization. Sikkim is the first state of the country doing completely organic agriculture.

Wheat :

Wheat is the main food crop of India. In India, 11.7% of total wheat of the world is produced.
On 23% of total agricultural land, wheat is grown. In 2014-15, wheat production has been 88.9 lakh million tons.
Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Bihar, West Bengal, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh are wheat producing states.

Rice :

Rice is the main food crop of India. 19% of total rice of the world is grown in India. In 2014-15, rice was grown on 35.9% of total agricultural land on which food crops are grown.
Rice is a tropical plant for which alluvial and clayey soil and 100-200 cm rainfall is ideal.
There are several varieties of rice, in which Basmati, Jamunapari, IR8 and Sharwati are main.
In India, rice producing states are West Bengal, U. P., Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan, Assam and Kerala.

Cotton :

India is the birth place of cotton. It is a sub-tropical and tropical plant. India produces 12% cotton of the world.
For cotton crop, 50 to 100 cm rainfall, and black soil are suitable.
In India, cotton is produced in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya pradesh, Kerala, Odisha, Assam and Bihar.
Gujarat is first in cotton production and Punjab is first in per hectare production. B. T. cotton is genetically modified, high yield variety of cotton.

Sugarcane :

India is the birth place of sugarcane. It is a cash crop. 35% sugarcane producing area of the world is in India.
Sugarcane plant gives more production in 20°-30° temperature and 100-200 cm. rainfall.
North India is main producing area of sugarcane. The upper and central Gangatic valley have been major producing areas of sugarcane.
In India, the sugarcane producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar and Odisha.
Coastal climate is suitable for sugarcane production. It increases per hectare production.

Tea :

Tea plantation is an important agricultural activity. It is the most consumed beverage.
From the area and production point of view, India has first place in tea production. In terms of export, India has the second place.
Tea is a tropical plant. Sloping surface, 200-500 cm rainfall and 25 to 30 degree Celsius temperature is ideal for it.
In India, Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala produce 95% of total tea production. Other tea-producing states are Himachal Pradesh and Eastern states of India.

Truck Farming :

This is a form of plantation agriculture. For the fulfilment of certain local needs, fruit and vegetables are grown in areas of suitable climate and are sent to the distant market areas by trucks and trains. Thus, it is called truck farming.
India occupies second place in the production of fruits and vegetables. At present, in India, the production of horticulture crops is more than that of food crops.
In pea production, India is at the first position, in brinjal and cauliflower, second, and third in potato and tomato production.
In context to fruit production, main areas are the Himalayan Mountainous temperate areas; Eastern-Northern humid areas arid and semi-arid areas, southern plateau areas and coastal areas.
Due to variation in natural conditions and climate, different vegetables are grown in India.
In vegetable production, West Bengal, and in fruit production, Maharashtra state is at the first position in India.

Glossary :

Agriculture : Growing different crops in soil by human labour is called agriculture. This is a primary occupation of man. Livestock rearing is also included in it. At present, due to modernisation, change is taking place in agricultural methods.
South East Monsoon Asia : Part of land situated in South East area of Asian continent which receives rain from monsoon winds.
Industry : Transformation of primary products into more useful products through human technique is called industry. It comes under secondary occupation.
Export : Goods which are sent to other countres is called export.
Import : Goods which are brought in a country from other countries is called import.
Food Crops : The crops which are consumed by humans as a food.
Modernisation : Use of modern methods and techniques in any work is called modernisation.
Cultivative Land : Part of land which is used for agriculture and which has a specific size.
Productivity : The production which is received from a particular area of land is called productivity of that area.
Heavy Rain : Excessive quantity of rain which becomes a problem to a particular area, is called heavy rain.
Drought Prone Area : Less quantity of rain which is not sufficient for crops, human use, animals and other necessary works is called drought. Areas suffering from such persistent conditions of scarce rainfall are called drought prone areas.
Subsistance Agriculture : This is the earliest form of agriculture in which food crops are grown only for sustaining livelihood by old methods. Animal retiring is also a part of this agriculture. Most of the produce is consumed by the family.
Commercial Agriculture : From the point of view of export and profit, growing a particular crop is called commercial agriculture.
Shifting Agriculture : This is primary form of subsistence agriculture. This method of agriculture is adopted by tribes. In this method, the agricultural fields are frequendy shifted. In this method, a patch of land in the forest is burnt, cleaned and cultivated for two or three years till the soil becomes infertile. Leaving that area, this process is repeated in other forest areas. It is also called ‘Jhooming’ agriculture.
Sedentary Agriculture : Such tribal areas where population increases, there soil fertility is increased by manures, etc. and agricultural work is done. This is called sedentary agriculture.
Wet Agriculture : This agriculture is done in the areas where the rain is sufficient and ample for crops. Two or three crops are grown in such areas.
Dry Agriculture : The agriculture, done in the area where rainfall is less than 50 cm, is called dry agriculture. Here, rainfall is not sufficient for agriculture and artificial sources are used for irrigating crops.
Intensive Agriculture : This kind of agriculture is done in the areas which are thickly
populated and have less cultivated areas. There, many crops are grown and use of human labour is given priority.
Extensive Agriculture : It is mechanical agriculture. This is done in those parts where agricultural area is more in proportion to population. Here, agricultural holdings are larger.
Plantation Agriculture : It is specialised, intensive commercial agriculture, which is done on small scale. Vegetables, fruits, flowers, plant’s nursery etc. are included in it.
Truck Farming : This is a kind of garden farming done far from cities in areas of suitable climate and soil, and the supply of fruits and vegetables is done by trucks and vehicles with freezers. Such kind of fruits and vegetables farming is known as Truck farming.
Bio Agriculture : Farming done by use of organic manures (compost, vermicompost, cow urine) and traditional methods in agriculture is called bio agriculture. This manure is prepared from remains of animals, trees and plants.
Chemical Agriculture : The agriculture which is done using chemical manures (fertilizers) and pesticides is called chemical agriculture. Chemical agriculture has negative effect on bio-diversity.
Kharif : The crops produced from June-July to September-October are called Kharif crops. Rice, Sorghum, Millet, Maize, Cotton, Jute and Coconut etc. are main Kharif crops.
Rabi : The crops produced between October-November to March-April are called Rabi crops. Wheat, Gram, Mustard, Barley etc. are Rabi crops.
Zaid : Crops grown between the period of Rabi and Kharif are called Zaid crops, in which vegetables, cucumber, watermelon, melon, fodder etc. are grown.
Plantation Crops : These are the crops which are grown in the form of plantation, and some of them, after being cultivated once, give production many times. Tea, coffee, tobacco, etc. are plantation crops.
Fibre Crops : These are the crops whose fibre is used. Cotton and jute are main fibre crops grown in India.
Geographical Conditions : For the production of any crop, suitable temperature, rainfall, soil and land etc. are geographical conditions which are necessary.
B. T. Cotton/ G. M. Crop : Genetic modefied crop in which to kill Doda insect, poison producing Bacteria, Barilus thoregiasis, is induced into cotton, such cotton is developed which has partial strength to kill Doda insects.
Doab : Plain part formed between the two rivers is called doab.