CHAPTER 4: AGRICULTURE

Important Terms

• Agriculture: Cultivation of crops and domestication of animals is called agriculture.
• Cash Crops: The crops which are cultivated for trade and commerce and selling them in the market to earn money, like tobacco, spices, fruits, sugarcane etc.
• Animal Husbandry: Domesticating animals for production of milk and meat is called animal husbandry.
• Green Revolution: Sudden rise in the production of crops by using HYV seeds, irrigation water, chemical fertilizers etc. is called green revolution. It took place during 1960s in our country.
• Horticulture: Cultivation of fruits and vegetables is called as horticulture.
• Sericulture: Rearing of silk worm and producing silk is called sericulture.
• Jhumming: Shifting agricultural in the north east is called as jhumming. It is also called slash and burn agriculture because tree are cut and burnt to clear the land for agriculture.
• PDS: It means Public Distribution System. It is a program which provides foodgrains and other essential items [Rice, Wheat, Sugar, Kerosene Oil etc.] to rural people at subsidized rate [low price].
• Minimum Support Price [MSP]: It is a lowest price announced by the Govt. at which foodgrains are procured by FCI [Food Corporation of India].
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• Genetic Engineering: It means developing new and hybrid seed by using modifying the gene of the crops.
• Shifting Agriculture: It is also called as slash and burn agriculture. In this agriculture forest land is cleared and they are burnt. Agriculture is done using very old tools on very small scale. After one or two year new land is selected and same process is followed. This method of agriculture is very old; and gives very low production; and also it degrade forest. In the north-east this agriculture is called as jhumming or jhum cultivation.
• Important Crops in India:
• Cereal Crops: Rice, Wheat, Bajra
• Millets: Jowar, Bajra and Ragi
• Pulses: Tur [Arhar], Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas, Gram
• Oilseeds: Mustard, Coconut, Groundnut, Coconut, Sunflower, Soyabean
• Beverage: Tea, Coffee
• Fiber Crops: Cotton, Jute, Hemp and Natural Silk
• Cash Crops: Sugarcane, Rubber, Tobacco, Spices
• Operation Flood: It means sharp rise in the production of milk. It is also called as White Revolution.

Important Features and Characteristics of Indian Agriculture

a)    Indian agriculture is subsistence in nature. It means produce is consumed by the farmer itself.

b)    Agriculture is dependent on monsoon rain. Only 1/3^rd net sown is under irrigation.

c)     Consumption of chemical fertilizer, HYV seeds, pesticide etc is very low.

d)    Size of agriculture fields is very small.

e)    Machines and modern farm implements are used only in small area.

f)     Food crops [rice, wheat] are more important than commercial crops.

g)    There are poor banking and insurance facility available to the farmers.

Agricultural Seasons [Cropping Pattern]

Agricultural Seasons	Period	Important Crops
Kharif	Rainy [Jun – Oct]	Rice, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Moong
Rabi	Winter [Nov – Apr]	Wheat, Barley, Gram, Oilseeds
Zaid	Summer [May – Jun]	Watermelon, Cucumbers, Vegetables

Difference between Subsistence Farming and Commercial Farming

Subsistence Farming		Commercial Farming
1.     Subsistence farming is done for self consumption not for market. 2.     It is done where population pressure on the land is very high. 3.     Size of agricultural fields is very small. 4.     Consumption of chemical fertilizers, HYV seeds, insecticide etc is low. 5.     Use of machines and modern farm implements are less. 6.     Important crops are rice, jowar, bajra etc.		1.      Commercial farming is done for market, trade and commerce. 2.      It is done where population pressure on the land is low. 3.      Agricultural fields are bigger in size. 4.      Consumption of chemical fertilizers, HYV seeds, pesticides etc is high. 5.      Modern machines e.g. tractors, harvesters, combine etc. are used. 6.      Wheat, cotton, sugarcane, tea, coffee are important crops.

Plantation Agriculture

§  It is a type of commercial agriculture which need huge investment of money.

§  It is single crop farming practiced on large land.

§  Plantation agriculture was started by British in India.

§  Generally it is done in hilly and sloppy area where rainfall is high and water can drain easily.

§  Heavy dose of fertilizers, pesticides etc are required.

§  Efficient and fast transport and communication help this farming to connect with market.

§  Important crops are tea, coffee, banana, spices, rubber etc.

Technological and Institutional Reforms

Agricultural in India is thousands of year old. It is subsistence in nature because farmers consume most of the produce by themselves. But because of use of modern technology and institutional reform Indian agriculture is becoming commercial. Green Revolution [Crops] and White Revolution [Milk – Operation Flood] is the result of these two reforms.

Technological Reforms:

a)    Wooden plough was replaced with tractors and tillers.

b)    Drip irrigation and sprinklers are now used for irrigation which irrigates more area in less water.

c)     Use of chemical and bio fertilizers have increase manifold. HYV Seeds, pesticide, insecticides are also used more.

d)    Biotechnology has developed much genetically improved variety of seed which are resistant to drought and pest. They give more production also.

e)    Farmers are now using TV, Radio, Newspapers and Cell Phone to know about weather condition and according they plan agricultural activities.

Institutional Reforms:

a)    Zamindari system was abolished by the Government of India.

b)    Small fields were consolidated to make large fields.

c)     Agriculture was the main focus in the first Five Years Plan.

d)    Kissan Credit Card [KCC], Personal Accident Insurance Scheme [PAIS] was started by Govt. to help the Indian farmers.

e)    Govt. also announces Minimum Support Price and has abolished the role of middleman in the market.

Difference between Dryland and Wetland Farming

Dryland Farming		Wetland Farming
1.     It is practiced in low rainfall area where irrigation facilities are not available. 2.     More emphasis is done on conservation of soil moisture. 3.     This agriculture faces the problem of drought. 4.     Jowar, Bajra and Pulses are grown in this agriculture.		1.      It is practiced in high rainfall and well irrigated area. 2.      It is practiced in north, north-east and some part of Western Ghat. 3.      This agriculture faces the problems of flood. 4.      Important crops of this farming are rice, jute and sugarcane.

Difference between Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture

Subsistence Agriculture		Commercial Agriculture
1.     Agriculture is done only for self consumption. 2.     More importance is given to food crops like rice, wheat, maize, Jowar and Bajra. 3.     Most of the works are done manually. Human labour is used more. 4.     Size of the field is very small and they are scattered. 5.     Investment of capital for HYV seeds, fertilizers, insecticides etc. is very low.		1.     Agriculture is done for trade and commerce. 2.     More importance is given to cash crops like tea, coffee, spices, sugarcane and cotton. 3.     Modern machines are used in various activities of agriculture. 4.     It is done on large size fields. 5.     There is huge capital investment on machinery, fertilizers, labours etc.

Contribution of Agriculture to National Economy

a)     Agriculture is the backbone of Indian Economy. About 63% people are directly dependent on agriculture for their livelihood.

b)     About 40% of national income comes for agricultural sector alone.

c)     Agriculture also provides raw materials to many industries e.g. sugar, textile, food and beverage industries.

d)     It also has ensured food security. FCI procure crops at minimum support price to stock. It also distribute among people under PDS [Public Distribution System].

e)     India export wheat, sugar, fruits, tea to foreign countries and earn foreign exchange.

f)      Agriculture also brings happy, prosperity and development in rural economy.

Food Security and Methods of Ensuring Food Security

Food Security: Food is the basic requirement of all the people in the country. But many people are not able to get sufficient meals at least two times in a day. During natural disaster like earthquake, flood, drought there is shortage of food all over the country. Food security is a method to ensure at least minimum quantity of food for all the people round the year. Food Corporation of India [FCI] procure foodgrains at Minimum Support Price and maintain food security by two ways: a) Buffer Stock and b) Public Distribution System [PDS].

Methods of Ensuring Food Security in India

a)    More area should be brought under cultivation of foodgrains like rice, wheat, pulses and oil seeds.

b)    HYV Seeds should be used which gives more production per hectare of land.

c)     Biotechnology can be used to modify genetics of seed so that it can resist drought, flood and diseases and give more production.

d)    More multipurpose projects should be undertaken to improve agriculture.

e)    Modern machines and tools should be used in agriculture like tractor, harvester, sprinklers etc.

f)     Farmer should be given banking and insurance facilities.

g)    All forms of soil erosion should be checked and soil should be conserved.

Globalization and Its impact on Indian Agriculture

Meaning: Integrating the national economy with the economy of other countries of the world is called globalization. It has made cross-border flow of money, technology and people very easy.

Positive Impact of Globalization

a)    Indian farmers will have access to internal market. They can sell their produce at international prices.

b)    Capital investment from foreign countries will develop the Indian agriculture.

c)     Globalization will bring competitiveness among farmers which will lead to commercialization of Indian agriculture.

d)    Indian farmers can also use modern technology and machineries which are now used only in foreign countries.

e)    Globalization will also help in biotechnology and genetic engineering in India.

Negative Impact of Globalization

a)    Multinational Companies [MNCs] of developed countries will exploit our farmers as Indian farmers are poor and illiterate.

b)    Small farmers of India cannot compete with farmers of developed nations.

c)     Indian farmers may not get the international buyers as quality of our crops is not as per the international standard.

d)    Due to globalization, Indian farmers will try to grow more cash crops and there will be shortage of food in our country.