Major Crops in India – Geography

Agricultural landholdings in India are small and fragmented; about two-thirds of Indian farms fall into the category of less than one hectare.

India, as an agrarian economy, is largely self-sufficient in food production, except for wheat and sugar. Farmers who practice subsistence farming and women farmers play a pivotal role in ensuring food security.

A variety of food and non-food crops are grown in different parts of India depending upon the variations in soil, climate and cultivation practices.

With Indian agriculture playing a crucial role in the economy, the challenges of resource deficit and environmental degradation push us to develop modern and sustainable farming techniques.

i. Rice

• It is a kharif crop.
• It requires high temperature and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
• India is the second largest producer of rice in the world after China.
• It is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaicregions.
• Top Rice Producing States: West Bengal > Punjab > Uttar Pradesh > Andhra Pradesh > Bihar.
• It is the staple food crop of majority of Indian people.
• In states like Assam, West Bengal and Odisha, three crops of paddy are grown in a year. These are Aus, Aman and Boro.
• National Food Security Mission, Hybrid Rice Seed Production and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana are few government initiatives to support rice cultivation.

2. Wheat

• This is a rabi crop.
• It requires a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
• It requires 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed over the growing season.
• The Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and black soil region of the Deccan are two main wheat-growing zones in India.
• It is the second most important cereal crop and main food crop, in the north and north- western part of India.
• Top Wheat Producing States: Uttar Pradesh > Punjab > Madhya Pradesh > Haryana > Rajasthan.
• India is the second largest producer after China.
• This is the second most important cereal crop and the main food crop, in north and north-western India.
• Success of Green Revolution contributed to the growth of Rabi crops especially wheat.
• Macro Management Mode of Agriculture, National Food Security Mission and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana are few government initiatives to support wheat cultivation.

3. Millets

• Jowar, Bajra and Ragi are the important millets grown in India.
• These are known as coarse grains and have very high nutritional value.
• Top Millets Producing States: Rajasthan > Karnataka > Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Uttar Pradesh
• Jowar: Maharashtra > Karnataka > Madhya Pradesh > Tamil Nadu > Andhra Pradesh.
• Bajra: Rajasthan > Uttar Pradesh > Gujarat > Madhya Pradesh > Haryana.
• These are also known as coarse grains, which have high nutritional value. Ragi is very rich in iron, calcium, other micro nutrients and roughage.
• Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production.
• National Agricultural Insurance Scheme, Initiative for Nutritional Security through Intensive Millets Promotion are examples of government’s efforts to support millet production.

4. Maize

• It is a Kharif crop.
• It requires temperature between 21°C to 27°C and grows well in old a11uvia1 soil.
• It is used both as food and fodder.
• Top Maize Producing States: Karnataka > Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Tamil Nadu > Telangana
• India is the seventh largest producer worldwide.
• Use of modern inputs such as High-Yielding Variety seeds, fertilisers and irrigation have contributed to the increasing production of maize.
• Technology Mission on Maize is one of the government’s initiatives for mazie.

5. Pulses

• India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world.
• Pulses are the major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
• Major pulses grown in India are Tur (Arhar), Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas and Gram.
• Pulses are mostly grown in rotation with other crops so that the soil restore fertility.
• Top Pulses Producing States: Madhya Pradesh > Rajasthan > Maharashtra > Uttar Pradesh > Karnataka.
• Being leguminous crops, all these crops except arhar help in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen from the air. Therefore, these are mostly grown in rotation with other crops.
• National Food Security Mission for Pulses, Pulses Development Scheme and Technological Mission on Pulses are few of the government’s plans to support pulses production.