Agriculture in India: Miscellaneous Topics Notes With PDF

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I. Seed Certification & Classification

II. Major Crops: Production, Area & Leading States

A. Food Grains: Overview

• Total Production:
  • 2011-12: 259.29 million tonnes
  • 2020-21: 308.6 million tonnes
• Production Ranking (2020-21): Rice > Wheat > Coarse Cereals > Pulses
• Leading State in Total Food Grain Production: Uttar Pradesh (18.89%)
• Area under Cultivation (1980-81 to 2019-20):
  • Net Increase: Wheat, Rice, Pulses
  • Net Decrease: Coarse Cereals

B. State-wise Leading Producers

C. Correct Crop-State Matches

• Groundnut: Andhra Pradesh (Note: Gujarat is also a major producer)
• Mustard: Rajasthan
• Soybean: Madhya Pradesh (Note: Maharashtra is now a major producer)
• Coconut: Kerala
• Jute: West Bengal
• Tea: Assam
• Rubber: Kerala
• Sugarcane: Uttar Pradesh
• Cotton: Maharashtra
• Maize: Uttar Pradesh
• Incorrect Match: Soybean is not primarily produced in Andhra Pradesh.

III. Crop Diseases

IV. Climatic Requirements & Crop Types

A. Climatic Conditions for Cultivation

B. Crop Seasons & Types

• Kharif Crops: Cotton, Jute
• Rabi Crops: Linseed
• Zaid Crops: Muskmelon
• All Seasons: Sunflower
• Rainfed Crops: Groundnut, Sesame, Pearl millet
• Subsistence Crops: Coarse cereals, Rice
• Multi-Purpose Legumes (Pulse, Fodder, Green Manure): Cowpea, Green gram, Pigeon pea

V. Specific Crop Profiles

A. Jute

• Nickname: “Golden Fiber”
• Climate: Humid with high temperature (24°C – 35°C); heavy rainfall (125-200 cm).
• Region: Thrives in the Lower Gangetic plain.
• Season: Kharif crop.
• Major Producing States: West Bengal (largest producer, >76% of area), Bihar, Assam, Odisha.
• Industry Concentration: Mainly in West Bengal.

B. Maize (Corn)

• Versatility: Grown throughout the year; known as the ‘Queen of Cereals’.
• Maturity Period: 90 to 150 days.
• Uses: Starch production, biodiesel feedstock, alcoholic beverages (e.g., corn whisky).
• Scientific Classification: C4 plant.
• GM Varieties in India: Shaktiman-I, Shaktiman-II.
• Major Producing States (2020-21): Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra.

C. Spices

• Black Pepper & Cardamom: Kerala is a major producer.
• Saffron:
  • Primary production in Jammu & Kashmir (Kashmir valley is largest).
  • Global largest producers: Spain and Iran (>80% of world supply).

D. Horticulture: Fruit Varieties

• Mango:
  • Sindhu: Seedless variety.
  • Amrapali: Hybrid (Dasheri x Neelam) developed by IARI (1971).
  • Regular Bearing Varieties: Dasheri-51, Bengaluru (Totapuri), Neelam, Amrapali.
• Guava:
  • Lalit: Improved variety by IIHR, Lucknow, for northern plains.
• Indian Gooseberry (Aonla):
  • Improved Varieties: Kanchan, Krishna, Banarasi.
  • Rich source of Vitamin C.
• Banana:
  • Leading States (2017-18): Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu.
• Potato:
  • Processing Variety: Kufri Chipsona-2 (for chips).
  • Versatile Variety: Kufri Himsona (for plains and hills).
• Grapes:
  • Important Varieties in India: Sultana, Gulabi, Kali Champa.

E. Other Notable Crops

• Cluster Bean (Guar): Traditionally a vegetable/feed; now significant for guar gum used in shale gas extraction. India and Pakistan are leading producers.
• Cotton Quality: Based on staple length (Long-staple: >5cm, Medium: 3.75-5cm, Short-staple: <2.5cm).
• Linseed: A Rabi crop (sown Oct-Dec, harvested Apr-May).

VI. Agricultural Institutions, Schemes & Awards

A. Research Institutions

• National Research Centre for Banana: Located in Trichy, Tamil Nadu.
• Agricultural Boards:
  • Coffee Board: Bengaluru
  • Rubber Board: Kottayam
  • Tea Board: Kolkata
  • Tobacco Board: Guntur

B. Schemes & Awards

• National Food Security Mission (NFSM): Aims for sustainable growth in land and productivity for Rice, Wheat, and Pulses.
• Borlaug Award: Given for contributions in Agricultural Science, named after Norman E. Borlaug.
• National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP):
  • Started in 2001.
  • Under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
  • APEDA is the secretariat.

VII. Regional Specifics & Miscellaneous

A. Regional Highlights

• Gujarat:
  • The northern part is arid/semi-arid.
  • The central region dominates in cotton cultivation.
  • Cash crops are more predominant than food crops.
  • Historically, the leading producer of cotton, groundnut, salt, and milk.
  • Leading producer of marine fish.
• Sikkim: India’s first fully organic state (2016).
• North Bihar: Known for the Sugar Industry (districts: Saran, Champaran, etc.).
• Uttarakhand: Exports Mandua (Koda) grain mostly to Japan.
• Jharkhand: Largest producer of Lac (>50% of India’s production).
• Fisheries:
  • Largest Overall Producer: Andhra Pradesh
  • Leading Inland Producer: West Bengal
  • Leading Marine Producer: Gujarat

B. Historical & Botanical Notes

• Historical Initiative: Fredrick Wilson (‘Pahari Wilson’) initiated cultivation of Rajma (Kidney beans) and Potato in the Bhagirathi Valley (1900s).
• Ancient Text: Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st-3rd century CE); author unknown.
• Botanical Terms:
  • Rhizome: Underground stem (e.g., Ginger).
  • Edible part of Apple: Mesocarp. Calcium deficiency reduces storage quality.
• Geomorphology (Landform Creation):
  • Canyon: River erosion.
  • Moraine: Glaciers.
  • Inselberg & Zeugen: Wind erosion.

C. Fertilizers, Pesticides & Weeds

• Plant Nutrients: Boron is a micronutrient.
• Fertilizer Dose for Pusa Basmati Rice: N(120), P(60), K(60) kg/hectare.
• Pesticides: Third-generation pesticides were first proposed by C.M. Williams.
• Common Weeds:
  • Wheat: Phalaris minor, Bathua
  • Pea & Mustard: Bathua
  • Pea: Piyazi
  • Berseem: Kasni
• Herbicides: 2,4-D was the first herbicide produced.

D. India’s Global Agricultural Rankings (FAO)

• Rank 1: Fruit Production
• Rank 2: Sugarcane Production, Tobacco Production
• Rank 5: Exporter of unprocessed tobacco.

Know More About Agriculture in India: Miscellaneous Topics:

• Agriculture in India: Miscellaneous Topics – Old Year Questions
• Agriculture in India: Miscellaneous Topics One Liner Questions & Answers