Agriculture — III: Cash Crops (1)

In North India, sugarcane is grown extensively in Uttar Pradesh and in South India, sugarcane is grown extensively in Tamil Nadu.

Sugarcane production is increasing in Maharashtra because Maharashtra has a longer harvesting season and better quality of crop owing to the favourable maritime climate free from the effects of summer loo and winter frost, sufficient irrigation and new farming techniques.

In Sett method, new canes are usually planted by taking cuttings from the old plants. These cuttings, known as setts, quickly become established and after a few days buds sprout to form new stalks. Four to five stalks grow from each cutting. The sugarcane takes anything from 8 months to a year to mature.

Ratooning is a method of cultivation of sugarcane. In this method, during the first harvest, the sugarcane is cut leaving a little bit of the stalk in the soil with the roots. The stalk soon puts out new shoots or ratoons. The second or any other successive crop obtained from the roots of the leftover crop is called ratoon.

Two advantages of ratooning are-

1. Crop need not be planted again, it saves labour.
2. The ratoon matures early.

Heavy rainfall affects the quality of sugarcane adversely as the sucrose content decreases if heavy rains continue for long.

The cultivation of sugarcane requires plenty of cheap labour as most of the work is done by hand. The crop is cut by hand using a long curved knife.

The stalks of sugarcane need to be cut as near as possible to the ground because the greatest accumulation of sucrose is in the base of the stem.

Three problems faced by sugarcane cultivators are-

1. Sugarcane is a soil exhausting crop and therefore, the cost of fertilizers increases the cost of production.
2. It requires high input of irrigation means.
3. The cost of transport increases the cost of production.

Extra care needs to be taken for soil health when sugarcane is cultivated because sugarcane exhausts the fertility of the soil. Hence, the soil is supplemented with manures and nitrogenous fertilizers.

The climate that is suitable for sugarcane cultivation is as follows-

1. Temperature — Sugarcane grows best in areas with 20°C to 26°C temperature. Frost is fatal for the crop. Short cool dry winter season during ripening and harvesting is ideal.
2. Rainfall — Sugarcane grows well in tropical regions with 100-150 cm of rainfall well distributed throughout the year. Irrigation is necessary in areas with lower rainfall or even in areas of higher rainfall during the long dry spells.

South India has a higher yield per hectare of sugarcane because of a longer harvesting season and better quality of crop owing to the favourable maritime climate free from the effects of summer loo and winter frost, sufficient irrigation and new farming techniques.

Two different ways in which sugarcane is propagated are-

1. Sett method
2. Ratooning

The climatic conditions that favour the growth of groundnut are-

1. Temperature — Groundnut requires about 20°C to 25°C temperature. Dry weather is needed during the time of ripening.
2. Rainfall — It requires light to moderate rainfall between 50 to 100 cm. Rainfall should be well distributed.

Gujarat and Tamil Nadu in India are the leading producers of groundnut.

Groundnut is mostly grown in Peninsular India because the red, yellow and black cotton soils of Peninsular India suit it well. Such light soils are essential as the nut ripens in the soil.

Three uses of groundnut are-

1. It is used for the manufacture of hydrogenated oil.
2. It is used for making margarine, medical emulsions and soap.
3. Groundnut oil is used as a cooking medium and the nuts are eaten raw, roasted, salted or sweetened.

The residue after crushing oilseeds is called oilcake.

Oilcake is used as a fodder for animals and also serves a good manure in the fields.

Two oilseeds grown in India are groundnut and linseed.

Groundnut is grown as a rainfed crop.

The climatic conditions necessary for the growth of mustard are-

1. Temperature — Mustard grows best in cool climate. Ideal temperature ranges from 10°C to 20°C.
2. Rainfall — The crop requires rainfall varying between 25 to 40 cm.

(i) Mustard can be grown on loams but slightly heavier soils are preferred.

Mustard is widely grown in the Sutlej-Ganga plain.

(ii) Two uses of mustard are-

1. Its seeds are crushed for edible oil.
2. The oilcake of mustard is an important cattle feed.

The climatic conditions necessary to grow soya bean are-

1. Temperature — Soyabean requires temperature in the range of 13°C to 24°C. Temperature above 13°C is necessary for the normal growth of soyabean.
2. Rainfall — It grows in regions with 40 cm to 60 cm rainfall. The rainfall should be well distributed throughout the growing season.

Two uses of Soyabean are-

1. It is eaten as vegetable or made into soya sauce.
2. Due to its high protein content, it is consumed as soya milk or tofu (cheese) as a substitute for animal protein.

The floods in Maharashtra in August–September 2019 had a severe impact on sugarcane farmers.

1. Crop Destruction: Sugarcane fields submerged for over 20 days led to waterlogging, which caused rotting of roots and crop damage, especially since sugarcane cannot withstand prolonged standing water.
2. Loss of Income: Sugarcane is a high-investment, long-duration crop (typically 10-12 months). Its destruction meant that farmers lost both their money and time invested over many months.
3. Delayed Harvest and Processing Issues: Flooded fields delayed harvest and reduced sucrose content, affecting both yield quality and recovery rate during sugar processing.
4. Soil Health Deterioration: Prolonged flooding led to soil nutrient loss and soil compaction, affecting future crops too.
5. Debt Burden: Many farmers took loans for fertilizers, irrigation, and labour. Crop loss increased their financial distress and indebtedness.

In the method of Ratooning, during the first harvest, sugarcane is cut leaving a little bit of the stalk in the soil with roots. The stalk soon puts out new shoots or ratoons. The second or any other successive crop obtained from the roots of the leftover crop is called Ratoon. Sugarcane is a perennial crop and, in theory, the same plants could continue to produce canes for many years. However, the yield from each successive ratoon crop is lesser than the previous one. After two or three ratoons, the old roots are no longer economical and new setts must be planted.

(i) Frost is fatal for the sugarcane crop. This is because Sugarcane is a tropical crop. It grows well in warm climate, and being exposed to excessive cold temperatures or frost can lead to degradation in its sucrose content.

(ii) A 40-45 cm distance between two saplings of sugarcane is maintained to facilitate hoeing, weeding, irrigation and harvesting.

(iii) This is because of the fertile alluvium which is renewed every year by numerous mountain streams flowing in this area, sufficiently high temperatures and rainfall, and availability of high water level enabling easy irrigation.

(i) Sugarcane is harvested before winter to avoid frost damage and ensure optimal sugar content, as frost can significantly reduce both yield and sugar recovery

(ii) The stalks must be cut as near as possible to the ground because the greatest accumulation of sucrose is in the base of the stem.

stem

Setts

Ratoon

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

Explanation — Sugarcane grows well in tropical regions with rainfall well distributed throughout the year. This is because the sucrose content decreases if heavy rains continue for long and a rainfall deficiency produces a fibrous crop.

lesser

Kerala

Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.

Explanation — Sugarcane exhausts the fertility of the soil because of its high nutrient demand, not because its a perennial crop. Hence, Reason (R) does not correctly explain Assertion (A).

roots

Gujarat

Linseed

Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.

Explanation — The groundnut is a rabi crop in Odisha and in southern states as it thrives well in the tropical and subtropical climates there, not just because of moderate rainfall. Hence, Reason (R) does not correctly explain Assertion (A).

Rabi

Madhya Pradesh

Heavy rainfall has adverse effects on seed germination.

All of the above.

Mustard and Wheat

Sugarcane

Groundnut

As a farmer living in Bihar, if I were to choose a cash crop for my farm, I would select mustard because of the following reasons:

1. Agro-climatic Suitability — Mustard is well-suited to the agro-climatic conditions of Bihar, including its diverse climate with hot summers and cold winters.
2. Market Demand — Mustard oil extracted from mustard seeds is widely used for cooking purposes, ensuring a consistent market demand and potential profitability.
3. Crop Rotation Benefits — Mustard fits well into crop rotation systems, helping suppress weeds, pests, and diseases.
4. Diversification — Cultivating mustard allows for diversification of income sources on the farm, reducing dependence on a single crop and mitigating risks associated with market fluctuations.

As a resident of Uttar Pradesh, one of the significant oilseeds grown in the state is mustard. Mustard cultivation offers several benefits:

1. Multiple Uses — Mustard oil extracted from mustard seeds is commonly used for cooking purposes in many households. Additionally, mustard seeds are used in pickles, condiments, and spice blends, adding flavour to various dishes.
2. Nutritional Value — Mustard seeds are rich in essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which contribute to a healthy diet.
3. Adaptability — Mustard is a versatile crop that can be grown in various agro-climatic conditions.
4. Crop Rotation Benefits — Mustard is an excellent choice for crop rotation due to its ability to suppress weeds and diseases.
5. Income Generation — Mustard farming can generate income for farmers due to consistent market demand.

In Karnataka, one extensively grown oilseed is Groundnut. Some of the important information regarding Groundnut cultivation include:

1. Climate conditions — Groundnut is a tropical crop. It thrives well in the tropical and subtropical climates and is highly susceptible to frost.
2. Temperature — Groundnut requires about 20°C to 25°C temperature. Dry weather is needed during the time of ripening.
3. Rainfall — Groundnuts require well-distributed, light to moderate rainfall between 50 to 100 cm. Prolonged drought, continuous rains, stagnant water and frost harm the crop adversely.
4. Soil type — Sandy loams, loams and well-drained black soils, which allow enough of aeration, are considered suitable for groundnut cultivation. The red, yellow and black cotton soils of Peninsular India suit it well. Such light soils are essential as the nut ripens in the soil.
5. Multiple Uses — It is used in making hydrogenated oil, margarine, medical emulsions and soap. Groundnut oil is used as a cooking medium, its oil cake is used as cattle feed. The nuts are eaten raw, roasted, salted or sweetened.

Dia should consider cultivating Soyabean as her oilseed crop in Madhya Pradesh.

Feasibility Report for Soyabean Cultivation in Madhya Pradesh

1. Climate and Temperature: Madhya Pradesh has a tropical to subtropical climate with a warm growing season. Soyabean thrives in such conditions, as it requires a warm environment with temperatures ranging from 13°C to 24°C.
2. Rainfall Pattern: Soyabean grows in regions with 40cm to 60cm of rainfall. Madhya Pradesh receives a moderate and well-distributed monsoon, which is ideal for soyabean crop.
3. Soil Type: Soyabean grows well in a variety of soils, including the alluvial and black soils found in Madhya Pradesh. These soils have good drainage and sufficient fertility, which support the healthy growth of soyabean plants.
4. Market Demand: Soyabean is a major oilseed crop in India and contributes significantly to the edible oil and animal feed industries. There is a robust domestic and export market for soyabean oil.
5. Profitability: With established cultivation practices and improved seed varieties, soyabean offers a favorable yield-to-investment ratio, contributing to better farm incomes.
6. Alternative to water-intensive crops: As an oilseed crop, soyabean provides farmers with an alternative to water-intensive crops like rice, reducing the pressure on groundwater resources, a significant concern in central India.