TYPES OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA

THE MAIN TYPES OF AGRICULTURE IN INDIA SHIFTING AGRICULTURE / SLASH & BURN / JHUMMING SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURE INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE PLANTATION AGRICULTURE MIXED FARMING COMMERCIAL FARMING

SHIFTING AGRICULTURE A PATCH OF LAND IS CLEARED CROPS ARE GROWN THE PATCH IS DESERTED UNTIL THE SOIL REGAINS ITS FERTILITY THE OLDEST TYPE OF AGRICULTURE. PRACTISED IN SOME HILLY REGIONS OF NORTH-EAST INDIA WITH PLENTY OF RAINFALL AND THICK FORESTS.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SHIFTING AGRICULTURE #LAND CLEARANCE BY CUTTING AND BURNING TREES. #NO PLOUGHING #AFTER 2-3YEARS LAND IS BANDONED DUE TO DECREASING YIELD – LOSS OF FERTILITY/ WEEDS/SOIL EROSION. #FRESH CLEARING MADE- MIGRATION TO THE AREA. # WASTEFUL METHOD – DEFORESTATION / ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION.

SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURE #VERY SMALL FIELDS # HIGH PRESSURE OF POPULATION – INTENSIVE USE OF LAND #DOMINATION OF FOOD CROPS. # 3 TO 4 CROPS HARVESTED IN A YEAR. # LARGE SCALE USE OF HUMAN LABOUR. # TRADITIONAL FARMING METHODS # LACK OF MACHINES. # CROPS GROWN ARE CONSUMED BY FARMER AND HIS FAMILY. # ANIMAL MANURE USED AS FERTILIZER.

INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE PRACTISED IN REGIONS WITH LIMITED CULTIVABLE LAND AND HIGH DENSITY OF POPULATION. PER HECTARE YIELD IS HIGH. MODERN INPUTS LIKE FERTILIZERS/ PESTICIDES/ HYV SEEDS TO OBTAIN HIGH YIELDS. SMALL LAND HOLDINGS MORE THAN ONE CROP GROWN IN SAME FIELD PRACTISED IN INDIA[PUNJAB/HARYANA…], CHINA , BANGLADESH

EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURE PRACTISED IN REGIONS WITH ABUNDANT LAND AND SPARSE POPULATION. LARGE LAND HOLDINGS. MODERN MACHINERY USED. PER HECTARE PRODUCTION MAY BE LESS BUT TOTAL PRODUCTION IS HIGH. PRACTISED IN RUSSIA/ USA….. SUGAR BELTS OF INDIA IN UTTAR PRADESH.

PLANTATION AGRICULTURE #GENERALLY MONOCULTURE. #TROPICAL CROPS LIKE TEA/ COFFEE/ RUBBER… #FARMS GENERALLY LARGE [ 5 TO 40 HECTARES] #LARGE SCALE LABOUR EMPLOYED. #HUGE CAPITAL REQUIRED. #CROPS GROWN MAINLY FOR TRADE. # PRACTISED IN HILLS OF SOUTH INDIA/ NORTH-EAST INDIA….[ TEA/ COFFEE/ RUBBER PLANTATIONS…]

MIXED FARMING #EQUAL IMPORTANCE GIVEN TO CULTIVATION OF CROPS AND LIVESTOCK. # PRACTISED IN USA / RUSSIA… # FARMS MAY BE LARGE OR SMALL # PROPORTION OF LAND DEVOTED FOR CROPS AND FOR REARING VARIES ACCORDING TO THE LOCATION OF THE FARMS, SOIL FERTILITY, MARKET DEMAND, PRICES OF CROPS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS.

COMMERCIAL FARMING IN SOME PARTS OF INDIA SUBSISTENCE FARMING IS BEING REPLACED WITH COMMERCIAL FARMING. UNDER THIS FARMERS GROW CROPS FOR SALE IN THE MARKET. PRACTISED IN PUNJAB/ HARYANA/ UTTAR PRADESH…

CAUSES FOR LOW PRODUCTIVITY IN INDIA LOW YIELD PER HECTARE 3 FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOW YIELD PER HECTARE –GENERAL FACTORS - INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS - TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS

GENERAL FACTORS TOO MANY PEOPLE DEPEND ON AGRICULTURE – PRESSURE OF POPULATION ON LAND[ GROWTH OF RURAL POPULATION SHOULD BE CHECKED = PRESSURE OF POPULATION ON LAND SHOULD BE REDUCED] SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CONDITION OF FARMERS [ POOR/ ILLITERATE/ CONSERVATIVE/ SUPERSTITIOUS/ CASTE SYSTEM/ PRIMITIVE SYSTEM OF CULTIVATION…] PROBLEM OF FINANCE AND OTHER INPUTS [THOUGH GOVERNMENT HAS OPENED BANKS TO LEND LOANS TO FARMERS, FAILED TO FULFIL THEIR DEMANDS]

INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS AVERAGE SIZE OF LAND HOLDINGS VERY LOW [ LESS THAN 2 HECTARES] FRAGEMENTED AGRICULTURAL LAND HOLDINGS. WASTE OF TIME/ LABOUR/ CATTLE POWER] ABSENCE OF INCENTIVES [ HIGH RENTS OF LAND / NO SECURITY OF TENANCY]

TECHNOLOGICAL FACTORS POOR TECHNIQUES OF PRODUCTION [ SHORTAGE OF INPUTS LIKE HYV SEEDS/ FERTILIZERS/ PESTICIDES…] INADEQUATE IRRIGATION FACILITIES [ DEPENDENCY ON MONSOON RAINFALL / UNCERTAINITY OF RAINS]

STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNEMT TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION LAND REFORMS [ ABOLITION OF ZAMINDARI SYSTEM / CONSOLIDATION OF FIELDS / LANDS TO LANDLESS FARMERS] LAUNCHING IRRIGATION SCHEMES [ MULTIPURPOSE PROJECTS TO PROVIDE POWER AND IRRIGATION] SUBSIDIES [MAXIMUM ON FERTILIZERS] FREE POWER [TO ENHANCE PRODUCTION] HYV SEEDS & AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITIES To be continued……….

GOVERNMENT STEPS TO IMPROVE AGRICULTURE Agriculture price commission – declares price of agri products in advance [so that farmers know what they will get for their produce] CROP INSURANCE / AGRICULTURAL FINANCE – Special banks like NABARD to provide agricultural loans to farmers [NATIONAL BANK FOR AGRICULTURAL AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT = NABARD]

AGRICULTURAL SEASONS OF INDIA 3 MAJOR CROP SEASONS – KHARIF – WITH ONSET OF MONSSON [JUNE] CROPS ARE READY TO HARVEST IN OCT OR NOV. EXAMPLES OF KHARIF CROPS – RICE/COTTON/JUTE/SUGARCANE RABI – WITH BEGINNING OF WINTER[ NOV TO MAY] EXAMPLES OF RABI CROPS – WHEAT/OILSEEDS ZAYAD –JUST AFTER THE RABI CROPS HAVE BEEN HARVESTED. MAINLY BFRUITS AND VEGETABLES ARE GROWN