Types of Farming and Cropping Patterns in India
Types of Farming in India
Primitive Subsistence Farming
This type of farming, practiced on small patches of land, utilizes primitive tools and family/community labor. Primarily dependent on monsoon and natural soil fertility, crops are cultivated based on environmental suitability. Also known as ‘slash and burn’ agriculture, this method involves clearing land by slashing vegetation and burning it, with the resulting ash mixed into the soil for cultivation. This farming produces just enough for sustenance, and after a few seasons, the land is left fallow to replenish fertility naturally.
Different Names of Slash and Burn Farming
While names for slash and burn farming vary across India, ‘Jhum Cultivation’ or Jhuming is commonly used.
Intensive Subsistence Farming
Practiced in densely populated areas, this type involves high usage of biochemical inputs and irrigation. Population pressure significantly impacts this farming method.
Problems of Intensive Farming
Land division across generations leads to smaller plot sizes, hindering proper farm management and large-scale farming.
Commercial Farming
This farming focuses solely on selling produce, utilizing modern inputs like HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides. Regions like Punjab, Haryana, Western UP, and parts of Maharashtra practice large-scale commercial farming, with other states like Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu also contributing.
Plantation
This type involves cultivating a single crop on a large area, requiring substantial capital and labor. Most produce is used industrially, with tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and banana being key plantation crops. A well-developed transport and communication network, processing industries, and a good market are crucial for plantation success.
Cropping Pattern
India has three cropping seasons: rabi, kharif, and zaid.
1. Rabi (Winter Crops)
Sown from October to December and harvested from April to June, key rabi crops include wheat, barley, pea, gram, and mustard. Major producers are Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
2. Kharif (Summer Crops)
Sown at the onset of monsoon and harvested in September-October, key kharif crops include paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur, moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, and soybean. Assam, West Bengal, coastal Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar are major rice-growing states. Assam, West Bengal, and Orissa have three paddy crops annually: Aus, Aman, and Boro.
3. Zaid
Falling between rabi and kharif seasons, zaid crops include watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, and fodder. Sugarcane, planted in this season, takes almost a year to mature.
Major Crops in India
Rice
India is the second-largest rice producer globally, requiring high temperature, humidity, and rainfall. Cultivated in northern plains, northeast India, coastal areas, and deltaic regions, rice cultivation has expanded to Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan due to canal irrigation.
Wheat
The main food crop in north and north-western India, wheat requires evenly distributed rainfall. The Ganga-Sutlej plains and Deccan’s black soil region are major wheat-growing zones, with Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and parts of Madhya Pradesh being key producers.
Millets
Jowar, bajra, and ragi are important millets, known as coarse grains but rich in nutrients. Maharashtra leads in jowar production, Rajasthan in bajra, and Karnataka in ragi.
Maize
Used as food and fodder, maize thrives in old alluvial soil. Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh are major producers.
Pulses
India leads in pulse production and consumption, often cultivated in rotation with other crops. UP, MP, Rajasthan, and Karnataka are major producers.
Sugarcane
Requiring a hot, humid climate, India is the second-largest sugarcane producer. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana are major producers.
Oilseeds
India is the largest oilseed producer, with groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesame, soybean, castor, cotton seeds, linseed, and sunflower being key crops. Andhra Pradesh leads in groundnut production.
Tea
Thriving in tropical and subtropical climates, tea is a labor-intensive industry. Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala are major producers, with Darjeeling known for its unique tea quality.
Coffee
Initially the Arabica variety from Yemen, coffee cultivation began in the Baba Budan Hills.
Fruits and Vegetables (Horticulture Crops)
India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables globally, known for mangoes, oranges, bananas, lichi, guava, pineapples, grapes, apples, pears, apricots, walnuts, and various vegetables.
Non-Food Crops
Rubber
Primarily an equatorial crop, rubber is also cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Meghalaya are major producers.
Cotton
India is the third-largest cotton producer, thriving in dry black cotton soil. Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are key producers.
Jute
Requiring well-drained fertile soil, West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Orissa, and Meghalaya are major jute-producing states.
Land Reforms and Agricultural Revolution
Bhoodan-Gramdan and Land Reforms
Vinoba Bhave’s Bhoodan Andolan encouraged land donations to landless farmers. Land reforms aimed to consolidate land holdings, achieving success in some states but facing challenges nationwide.
Green Revolution
The Green Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s focused on improving farm output through new technology and HYV seeds, significantly impacting Punjab and Haryana.
White Revolution
The White Revolution (Operation Flood) aimed to enhance milk production.
Government Initiatives and Current Scenario
Comprehensive land development programs, crop insurance, rural banking, Kisan Credit Card (KCC), Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS), and Minimum Support Price (MSP) are among the government’s initiatives to support farmers. However, the agricultural sector faces challenges like declining growth, competition from international markets, and reduced employment opportunities. Government efforts continue to modernize agriculture through research, infrastructure development, and food security programs like buffer stock maintenance and the Public Distribution System (PDS).
Impact of Globalization on Agriculture
Globalization’s impact on Indian agriculture includes historical shifts in trade patterns and modern challenges from international competition and the overuse of synthetic inputs. Experts suggest organic farming as a potential solution.