Agriculture — II: Food Crops

The three cropping seasons in India are-

1. Kharif
2. Rabi
3. Zaid

Japanese method of rice cultivation is highly adapted in India because the method includes the use of high yielding varieties of seeds called Japonica. Initial raising of the seedling is done in the nursery and is protected from initial infections and then transferred to fields and planted in rows to make weeding easy.

This method ensures higher yield.

In Punjab and West Bengal, the farmers cultivate rice as a cash or commercial crop. Rice is grown in almost all states of India except Gujarat and Rajasthan. Rice can feed more people compared to same amount of any other food grains.

Cereals are referred to as 'staff of life' because of their simple form of cultivation and their high nutritional value. They have formed the basic diet of mankind.

Two geographical conditions suitable for the cultivation of rice are-

1. Rice grows best in warm and humid areas. The critical mean temperature for flowering and fertilisation ranges from 16°C to 20°C whereas during ripening, the range is from 18°C to 32°C.
2. Rice requires good rainfall in the range of 150 to 300 cm.

(i) Wheat cultivation is confined to the northern parts of the country because it grows best in cool, moist climate and ripens in warm, dry climate. Also, the winter rain occurring in northern India is beneficial for the crop.

(ii) Punjab is the leading producer of wheat in India because the climate of Punjab is well suited for the cultivation of wheat. During winters, the temperature of the region remains between 10°C to 25°C. Punjab also receives light showers during the winter months from the western disturbances. Such a climate is suited for wheat cultivation.

(iii) Government of India is encouraging cultivation of pulses because pulses being leguminous crops, fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and increase the natural fertility of soil. Also, pulses form an important part of the Indian diet, especially for those who consume starchy vegetation.

(i) West Bengal produces the highest quantity of rice in India.

(ii) Two advantages of growing rice on lowlands are-

1. It is easy to irrigate rice crop and water can be easily accumulated on low lands.
2. Soil in the lowlands is more fertile as compared to uplands.

Wheat grows best in well drained loams and clay loams.

Two geographical conditions necessary for the growth of wheat in India are-

1. For the cultivation of wheat, temperature in the range of 10-15°C is suitable for sowing and 20-25°C during harvest.
2. About 80 cm of annual rainfall is ideal for wheat cultivation.

(i) Punjab and Uttar Pradesh grow wheat extensively.

(ii) Climatic features that have helped these states in this respect are-

1. Cool and moist climate for sowing and warm, dry climate for ripening. Ideal temperature ranges from 10-15°C at the time of sowing and 20-25°C during harvesting.
2. Annual rainfall of about 80 cm. Winter rain caused due to western disturbances are beneficial for the crop.

Transplantation is a method of rice cultivation common in deltaic and flood plain regions. The seedlings are first grown in nurseries and after four to five weeks when saplings attain 25-30 cm of height, they are transplanted into prepared rice fields in groups of four to six at a distance of 30-45 cm. In the beginning, the field is flooded with a 2-3 cm deep water. Subsequently, the depth of water level is increased to 4-6 cm till the crop matures.

Two advantages of transplantation method are-

1. Only the healthy plants are picked for resowing in the field and unhealthy plants are discarded.
2. Weeds are removed while resowing.

Pulses being leguminous crops, fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and increase the natural fertility of soil. Hence, pulses are usually rotated with other crops to maintain or restore soil fertility.

(i) Pulses are grown as rotational crops as pulses being leguminous crops, fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and increase the natural fertility of soil.

(ii) India is the largest consumer of pulses because pulses form a very important part of the Indian diet, especially for those who consume starchy vegetarian diet. This is because pulses provide vegetable protein.

Three methods of growing rice are-

1. The dry method of cultivation
2. The puddled or wet method
3. Transplanting method

The term 'millets' refers to a number of inferior grains like jowar, bajra and ragi, which serve as food grains for the poorer sections of the society.

Millets are known as 'food grains of the poor' because these are coarse grains. Further, these do not require adequate water and can be grown in infertile soil owing to its rocky or sandy character.

Millets are known as dry crops because they have a very short growing season and they can be grown under dry and high temperature conditions. Also, millets do not need rain or water and can survive in drought and other extreme conditions.

Rice requires high temperature with adequate water for irrigation while millets can be grown on infertile soil and does not require much water for growth.

Millets have a higher nutritional value than rice.

Karnataka is the leading producer of ragi in the country followed by Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand, Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Ragi is grown in these states as the red, light black and sandy loams in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and the well drained alluvial loams of Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Gujarat are suitable for the cultivation of ragi. Also, the climatic conditions favour the cultivation of this crop.

Wheat is a rabi crop and mostly grown during the cold weather season. It is usually sown in October and continues till the mid of November. It is harvested by the end of January in the south, and by March-April in the north.

It is so because wheat grows best in cool moist climate and ripens in warm, dry climate.

Wheat is not grown in the eastern and in the extreme southern parts of India because the temperature required at the time of sowing wheat is 10-15°C which is not possible in these regions.

Also, wheat grows best in well drained loams and clay loam whereas the southern and eastern India have laterite and red soil.

Uttar Pradesh is the largest producer of wheat in India.

The government imposed restrictions on rice exports in 2023-24 due to the following geographical reasons:

1. Low Rainfall in August 2023 – A weak monsoon affected rice production, especially in major rice-growing regions, reducing overall yield.

2. Uncertain Climate Conditions – Fluctuations in monsoon patterns raised concerns about future crop yields, making it necessary to secure available rice stocks.

These measures were taken to safeguard food availability in India.

(a) Rice is being planted. A benefit of this method of plantation is that this method gives higher yield.

(b) Another method of planting the crop is drilling method. It is practised in Peninsular India.

(c)

(i) Rice is not the main crop in the Deccan Plateau because the soil required for rice cultivation is clayey or loamy soil while deccan plateau has black soil. Also, rice requires adequate water for irrigation and this region falls in the rain shadow region of the western ghats.

(ii) Punjab is the largest producer of rice despite deficient rainfall because here, 97% of the rice area is irrigated and due to higher input of High Yielding Variety seeds, fertilisers and mechanisation the per hectare yield is the highest.

(iii) Wheat grows well in loamy soil because loamy soil is a mixture of sand, silt and clay which provides ideal nutrition for wheat. The fertile, well-drained loamy soil allows for rapid absorption of water and air by plant roots, which encourages growth of the wheat plant.

(d) The climatic conditions suitable for the cultivation of rice are-

1. Rice grows best in warm and humid areas. The critical mean temperature for flowering and fertilisation ranges from 16°C to 20°C whereas during ripening, the range is from 18°C to 32°C.
2. Rice requires good rainfall in the range of 150 to 300 cm.

Dry farming is a method of farming practiced in areas with very little rainfall and no irrigation. It relies on conserving moisture in the soil and growing crops that need less water.

One crop that can be grown using dry farming is millets (like jowar or bajra).
Black soil is suitable for dry farming because it can retain moisture for a long time.

(i) For rice cultivation, the soil should be able to retain standing water because rice needs a lot of water to grow. Soils that can hold water, like clayey soils, keep the roots submerged, which helps the rice plants grow well and also controls weeds.

(ii) Rice is the leading crop of West Bengal because the state has favourable climate (tropical with abundant rainfall), fertile alluvial soil, and extensive river network, all of which create ideal conditions for growing a water-intensive crop like rice.

(iii) Wheat is a rabi crop in North India because it grows best in cool, moist climate and ripens in a warm, dry climate. Its sown usually in October and continues till the mid of November. The winter rain occurring in northern India is beneficial for the crop.

The climatic factors that favour rice cultivation in West Bengal are:

1. High Temperature – Rice needs a warm climate. West Bengal has temperatures between 20°C to 32°C during the growing season, which is ideal for rice.
2. Heavy Rainfall – The state receives more than 150 cm of rainfall annually, mostly during the monsoon. This provides the water needed for rice, which grows well in flooded fields.
3. High Humidity – The humid climate of West Bengal supports healthy growth of rice plants.
4. Fertile Alluvial Soil – The soil in the plains of West Bengal is rich, clayey, and able to retain water, which is perfect for rice cultivation.

The cultivation of millets promotes sustainability in several important ways:

1. Low Water Requirement: Millets can grow in dry, arid regions with very little water. This means they help save water — an essential step for sustainable farming, especially in areas facing water shortages.

2. Minimal Use of Chemicals: Millets require fewer chemical fertilizers and pesticides, which helps protect the soil and nearby water bodies from pollution.

3. Climate Resilience: Millets can withstand harsh weather conditions such as droughts and high temperatures. This makes them reliable even when climate change causes extreme weather — supporting stable food production.

4. Improved Soil Health: Millets grow well in poor soils and can help prevent soil erosion. Some millets also add organic matter back into the soil, which improves its quality over time.

5. Support for Local Economies: Since they can be grown with fewer resources, millets are affordable for small farmers and can create local jobs, reducing the need for importing food.

By encouraging millet farming, countries can protect natural resources, ensure food for everyone, and support the environment, making agriculture more sustainable for future generations.

The advantages of cultivation of pulses are as follows:

1. Pulses are a very important source of vegetable protein.
2. Being leguminous crops, pulses fix atmospheric nitrogen in the soil and increase the natural fertility of soil.
3. Pulses are usually rotated with other crops to maintain or restore soil fertility.
4. Pulses serve as an excellent forage and grain concentrates in the feed of cattle.

(i) Sapan is cultivating Rice, specifically a variety known as Japonica.

(ii) Two practices that he would need to follow are-

1. The seedlings are first grown in the nurseries and after four to five weeks when saplings attain 25-30 cm of height they are transplanted into prepared rice fields in groups of four to six.
2. The rows of plants are fixed at a distance of 25cm. Similarly, the distance between the plants is about 15cm. It is easy for the farmer to give proper care to the plants by weeding them.

(i) This action was prompted due to factors like —

1. Ground water depletion
2. Environmental degradation
3. Soil becoming infertile

(ii) Alternate crops being encouraged are less-water intensive ones like Maize, Pulses, Millets and Oilseeds.

Kharif

Wheat

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Categorisation of the cropping season does not exist in southern India as the temperatures are sufficiently high to grow tropical crops during any period in the year provided the soil moisture is available. Hence, Reason (R) correctly explains Assertion (A).

September and October

Rabi

Zaid

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Indian agriculture is largely dominated by food crops which occupy 65% of the total cropped area of the country making India self-sufficient in food grains.

Cereals

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Rice is grown all over the country. In north India, kharif season provides the right climatic conditions for rice cultivation. In south India, due to tropical climatic conditions it can be grown throughout the year if irrigation is available.

warm, humid

alluvial

heavy rainfall

Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

Explanation — Millets are highly nutritious easily digestible food that grows in harsh conditions like infertile soil. They are affordable and grow quick. Hence, millets serve as food grains for the poorer sections of the society.

All of the above.

Indian agriculture is largely dominated by food crops due to the following reasons:

1. Food Security — India has a large population, and ensuring food security is a top priority. Food crops such as wheat, rice, and millets are essential for meeting the country's dietary needs and preventing hunger.
2. Subsistence Agriculture — Many farmers practice subsistence agriculture, where the focus is on growing crops for personal consumption rather than commercial purposes.
3. Demand and Market Stability — There is a consistent and stable demand for food crops in the domestic market as food crops are essential staples in Indian cuisine.
4. Government Policies and Support — The Indian government has historically provided support, subsidies and incentives for food crop cultivation to ensure food self-sufficiency and stabilize prices in the market. This further encourages farmers to focus on growing food crops.

Some examples of cultivation of food crops are as follows:

1. Rice is a major food crop grown extensively in states like West Bengal, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu. It is a staple food for a large part of the Indian population.
2. Wheat is another significant food crop grown in regions like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. It is an important staple in the northern parts of India.
3. Millets, such as bajra and jowar, are widely cultivated in states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka. These crops are drought-resistant and serve as important food sources, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

Rice crop is ideal for growth in my state.

Rice is a kharif crop. It is sown in the month of June-July and harvested in the month of September-October.

The puddled or wet method of cultivation would be used as we have assured supply of water for irrigation. In this method, the land is ploughed thoroughly and filled with three to five centimetres of standing water in the field. This water is maintained in the fields up to a depth of two to three centimetres till the seedlings are well established.

The rising cost of food in India can be attributed to several factors:

1. Increasing Population — The rising population in India leads to increased demand for food, putting pressure on the available supply and driving up prices.
2. Inflation and Economic Factors — Inflationary pressures, rising fuel prices, transportation costs, and input costs for farmers contribute to higher food prices.
3. Weather and Climate Change — Adverse weather events like droughts, floods and extreme temperatures affect crop yields and reduce the overall food supply, leading to price increases.
4. Supply Chain Issues — Inadequate infrastructure, storage facilities and transportation networks result in post-harvest losses and wastage, leading to higher prices.
5. Income Disparities — Income disparities affect food prices, as higher-income groups demand costlier food products, driving up prices.
6. Export and Import Policies — Trade policies and restrictions on agricultural commodities can create imbalances between supply and demand, impacting domestic food prices.
7. Global Market Influences — Global commodity prices, exchange rates, and geopolitical events have a trickle-down effect on domestic food prices in India.