Crops in India - Know About Kharif, Rabi & Zaid Crops in India!
Agriculture plays a vital role in the Indian economy. Agriculture is the backbone of our country. It includes farming of crops, animal husbandry, pisciculture, agro-forestry etc. Nearly 60% of Indian Population primarily depend on agriculture. Agriculture along with fisheries, forestry and other allied sectors contribute around 15.87% to the overall GDP of our country. The particular weather and soil conditions allow for crops in India uniquely suited to it. Let us take a look at the major crops in India.
Crop Seasons in India
India is the top producer of many crops in the world. There can be many ways to divide the types of crops (based on area, season, economic value etc.). Based on seasons, the crops in India are divided into three types: Rabi, Kharif and Zaid.
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Kharif Crops
- Sown in June-July when rains first begin (Monsoon crop).
- Harvested in September-October.
- Requires lot of water and hot weather to grow.
- Example: Rice, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Jute, Sugarcane, Turmeric, Pulses (like Urad Dal) etc.
Rabi Crops
- Sown in October-November
- Harvested in April-May.
- Requires warm climate for germination of seeds and maturation and cold climate for the growth.
- Example: Wheat, Oat, Gram, Pea, Barley, Potato, Tomato, Onion, Oil seeds (like Rapeseed, Sunflower, Sesame, Mustard) etc.
Read about Types of Soil in India
Zaid Crops
- Grown between March-June between Rabi and Kharif crop seasons.
- Early maturing crops.
- Example: Cucumber, Bitter Gourd, Pumpkin, Watermelon, Muskmelon, Moong Dal etc.
Categories of Crops in India
The major crops can all be divided into four main categories depending on their usage.
- Food Crops (Wheat, Maize, Rice, Millets and Pulses etc.)
- Cash Crops (Sugarcane, Tobacco, Cotton, Jute and Oilseeds etc.)
- Plantation Crops (Coffee, Coconut, Tea, and Rubber etc.)
- Horticulture crops (Fruits and Vegetables)
Major Types of Crops in India
Now let us look at the major crops in India in detail.
Rice
- Rice is a tropical crop that can be grown almost throughout the year.
- It depends on atmospheric moisture and rainfall for irrigation.
- India is the 2nd largest producer of rice in the world.
- India has largest area in world under rice cultivation.
- Productivity is low compared to wheat because Green Revolution primarily boosted wheat production in India.
- The traditional rice fields are known as paddy fields and require to be flooded with 10-12 cm deep water in the early stages.
Wheat
- It is the 2nd most important food crop in India. It is a Rabi crop.
- India stands second in production of wheat worldwide.
- It is more flexible in terms of climactic and other conditions of growth.
Cotton
- Cotton is a tropical and subtropical Kharif crop.
- It is a fiber crop and is known as ‘White gold’.
- India ranks 3rd in the production of cotton worldwide.
- It is a dry crop but roots need timely supply of water at maturity.
Jute
- Jute is a tropical plant that requires hot and humid climate.
- It is one of the most important natural fibres in terms of cultivation and usage.
- Almost 85% of the world’s jute is cultivated in the Ganges Delta.
Sugarcane
- Sugarcane is an important cash crop. India stands at 2nd position among all countries in the world in its production.
- Sugarcane crop requires long rainy season of at least 7-8 months.
- Traditional Sugarcane Production was in North India but it has also shifted to South India.
- North India Sugarcane are of sub-tropical variety and so have low sugar content.
- Also sugar factories have to remain shut in winter seasons in North India.
- South India- Tropical Variety and coastal areas hence have high sugar content and high yield.
Check Out Our Video On Top Crop producers of India – Watch Here!
Tea
- Tea is an evergreen plant that mainly grows in tropical and subtropical climates.
- Tea is a labour intensive crop and 50% of the labourers are women.
- It grows faster under light shade. Commercial cultivation of tea started in India from British era.
- India is the 2nd largest producer and the largest consumer of tea in the world.
- Tea plants require high rainfall but its roots cannot tolerate water logging. Hence, it requires sloppy areas.
Coffee
- Coffees are grown in shade and commonly with two tiers of shade.
- Growing altitudes of coffee range between 1,000 to 1,500 m above sea level for Arabica (premier coffee), and 500 to 1,000 m for Robusta (lower quality).
- Both varieties are planted in well-drained soil conditions that favour rich organic matter.
- Coffee plantation is done along hilly slope.
- Slopes of Arabica tend to be gentle to moderate, while Robusta slopes are gentle to fairly level.
Spices
India has been known for its spices since ancient times.
Cardamom (Queen of Aromatic Spices) – Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu
Pepper (King of Spices) – Kerala
Chillies – Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan
Turmeric – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
Nutmeg – Kerala
Arecanut – Kerala, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam
Coconut – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
Cinnamon – Kerala
Clove – Kerala
Ginger – Kerala, Meghalaya, Sikkim
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