CLASS-X GEOGRAPHY

CH-4 AGRICULTURE
S.NO CROP CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH AREAS KEY FACTS
1. Rice (Kharif) • High temperature (25°C) • It is grown in plains of North & • It is a staple food crop of
• High humidity with annual rainfall North East India, coastal areas the majority of the people
above 100cm. and deltaic region. in India.
• Requires irrigation in the areas of • Development of dense network • India is the second
less rainfall. of canal irrigation and tube largest producer of rice in
wells have made it possible to the world after China.
grow rice in areas of less
rainfall such as Punjab,
Haryana and western Uttar
Pradesh and parts of
Rajasthan.
2. Wheat (Rabi) • Cool growing season and bright • 2 important zones Ganga- • Second most important
sunshine at the time if ripening. Satluj Plains in the NW and crop in the country.
• Rainfall – 50 to 70 cm, evenly black soil region of Deccan. • Major food crop of north
distributed over the growing season. • Major states: Punjab, Haryana, and north west parts of
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, India.
Rajasthan, & Madhya Pradesh.
3. Millets (Kharif) – • Jowar – Rain-fed crop grown in • Jowar – Maharashtra, • Millets are also known as
Jowar, Bajra, Ragi moist areas which hardly need Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, & coarse grain.
irrigation. Madhya Pradesh • They have high nutritional
• Bajra – Grows on sandy soil and • Bajra – Rajasthan, value (e.g., Ragi is rich in
shallow black soil. Maharashtra, Haryana, Gujarat, iron and other micro
• Ragi – a dry land crop and grows & Uttar Pradesh nutrients & roughage).
well on red, sandy, loamy and • Ragi – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, • Jowar is the third most
shallow black soils. Himachal Pradesh, important food crop with
Uttarakhand, Sikkim, respect to area and
Jharkhand, & Arunachal production.
Pradesh.
4. Maize (Kharif) • Temperature between 21-27°C. • Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, • Used as both food and
• Grows well in old alluvial soil. Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, fodder.
• In some states, grown in Rabi Telangana, Madhya Pradesh • Grown in both the
season also (Bihar) seasons Rabi (Bihar) &
Kharif.
S.NO CROP CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH AREAS KEY FACTS
4. Maize (Kharif) • Production has increased
(Continued) due to use of modern
imputes like HYV seeds,
fertilizers and irrigation.
5. Pulses (Rabi & • Needs less moisture, survives even • Major pulse producing states • India is largest producer
Kharif) in dry conditions. are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar as well as consumer of
• Moderate rainfall: 25-75cm Pradesh, Rajasthan, pulses in the world.
• Temperature: 15-20°C Maharashtra & Karnataka • These are major sources
of protein in a vegetarian
diet.
• Major pulses grown in
India – Tur (Arhar),
moong, masoor, peas,
and gram.
• 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.
Food Crops Other than Grains
6. Sugarcane • A tropical as well as sub-tropical • Major sugarcane producing • India is the second
crop. states are Maharashtra, largest producer after
• Grows well in hot and humid Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Brazil.
climate. Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, • It is main source of sugar,
• Temperature: 21-27°C Punjab & Haryana. Gur (Jaggery), Khandsari,
• Annual Rainfall between 75-100cm. Molasses, etc.
• Irrigation is required in the regions
of low rainfall. It can be grown on a
variety of soils and needs manual
labour from sowing to harvesting.
S.NO CROP CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH AREAS KEY FACTS
7. Oil Seeds • Varying Conditions • Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil • Different oil seeds are
Nadu, & Kerala grown covering
approximately 12% of the
total cropped area of the
country.
• Main oil-seeds:
groundnuts, mustard,
coconut, sesamum,
soyabean, castor seeds,
cotton seeds, linseeds,
and sunflower.
• Most of the oilseeds are
edible and are used in
cooking and some are
used as raw materials for
the production of
ointments, soaps, and
cosmetics.
• Groundnut (a Kharif crop)
accounts for about half of
the major oilseeds
produced.
• Gujarat is the largest
producer of Linseed and
mustard (a Rabi crop).
• Sesamum is a Kharif crop
in north and Rabi in the
south.
• Castor seed is grown as
both Rabi & Kharif crop.
Linseed and mustard Rabi
crops.
8. Tea (Plantation) • Grows well in tropical and sub- • Assam, West Bengal, Tamil • It is a labor-intensive
Beverage crop tropical area. Nadur, Kerala, Himachal industry and requires
introduced by • Requires deep, well-drained, and Pradesh, Uttarakhand, abundant cheap skilled
British fertile soil rich in humus and organic Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, & labour.
matter. Tripura
S.NO CROP CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH AREAS KEY FACTS
8. Tea (Plantation) • Tea bushes require warm and moist • Tea is processed within
(Continued) frost-free climate throughout the tea gardens to restore its
year. freshness.
• Frequent showers evenly distributed • India is the 2nd largest
over the years for growth of tender producer of the tea after
leaves. China.
9. Coffee • Temperature: 23-27°C • Baba Budan Hills (Karnataka) & • Indian coffee is known in
(Plantation) • Rainfall: 150-200cm followed by a Nilgiri (Kerala & Tamil Nadu) the world for its good
dry spell of 2-3 months quality.
• Arabica variety is
produced in the country,
initially brought from
Yemen.
10. Horticulture Crops • Varying conditions • Mangoes of Maharashtra, • After China, India is the
(Fruits & Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, second largest producer
Vegetables) Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. of fruits and vegetables in
• Oranges of Nagpur and the world.
Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya). • India produces tropical as
• Bananas of Kerala, Mizoram, well as temperate fruits.
Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. • India produces about
• Lichi and Guava of Uttar 13% of the world’s
Pradesh and Bihar. vegetables.
• Pineapples of Meghalaya.
• Grapes of Andhra Pradesh,
Telangana and Maharashtra.
• Apples, pears, apricots and
walnuts of Jammu & Kashmir
and Himachal Pradesh are in
great demand the world over.
Non-Food Crops
11. Rubber • An equatorial crop but under special • Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, • It is an important
conditions, it can be grown in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, industrial raw material.
tropical and sub-tropical areas. and Garo Hulls of Meghalaya • India is world’s 4th biggest
• Moist humid climate with rainfall of largest natural rubber
more than 200cm. producer.
• Temperature: Above 25°C •
S.NO CROP CONDITIONS FOR GROWTH AREAS KEY FACTS
11. Rubber • Most of the rubber
(Continued) produced is used in auto
tires and tubes.
12. Fiber crops • There are 3 fibre crops
grown in India: Cotton,
Jute, Hemp and natural
silk.
• First three are derived
from the crops grown.
• Silk is obtained from the
cocoon of the silkworm
fed on green leaves
(especially mulberry)
• Rearing of silkworm for
the production of silk
fiber is known as
Sericulture
12(a) Cotton (Kharif) • Grows well in drier parts of the black • Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, • It is one of the main raw
cotton soil of the Deccan. Maharashtra, Karnataka, materials for textile
• High temperature and light irrigation Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, & industries.
• 210 frost-free days and bright Tamil Nadu • After China, India is the
sunshine for growth. second largest producer
• Requires 6-8 months to mature. of cotton.
12(b) Jute • Grows on well-drained fertile soils in • West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, • It is known as ‘The
the flood plains where soils are Assam, & Meghalaya Golden Fiber’
renewed every year. • It is used for making
• High temperature is required during gunny bags, mats, ropes,
the time of growth. yarn, carpet and other
artifacts.
• Due to its high cost, it’s
losing market to synthetic
fiber and packing
material, particularly
nylon.