🌱 Agriculture — Basic Facts
45.3%
Net Area Sown / reported area (2023–24)
State Subject
7th Schedule of Constitution
15
Agro-Climatic Zones (Planning Commission)
Sikkim
First fully organic state
📊 Types of Agriculture
- Primitive Subsistence
- Intensive Subsistence
-
Shifting Agriculture
- Nomadic Agriculture
- Eastern India → Jhum Agriculture
-
Mixed Farming (Agri + Animal Husbandry)
-
Plantation / Horticulture
- Single crop, large area
- Tea, Coffee, Rubber, Coconut
| Name |
State/Region |
Name |
State/Region |
| Bewar / Dahiya |
Madhya Pradesh |
Kumma / Kurva |
Jharkhand |
| Pormadabi |
Odisha |
Valre / Valtare |
Rajasthan |
| Khil |
Himalayan Region |
Deepa |
Chhattisgarh |
| Penda / Poddu |
Andhra Pradesh |
Kumari |
Western Ghats |
| Jhum |
Eastern India (NE) |
— |
— |
| Method |
Related To |
Method |
Related To |
| Sericulture |
Silkworm Rearing |
Olericulture |
Vegetable Production |
| Apiculture |
Beekeeping |
Horticulture |
Fruits, vegetables, flowers and other garden crops |
| Pisciculture |
Fish Rearing |
Aeroponics |
Roots suspended in air; nutrient mist |
| Vermiculture |
Earthworm Rearing |
Hydroponics |
Soilless cultivation in nutrient solution |
| Pomiculture |
Fruit Production |
Silviculture |
Establishment, growth and management of forest stands |
| Floriculture |
Flower Production |
Viticulture |
Grape Production |
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Agriculture = State Subject (7th Schedule) — NOT Central
- Jhum = Eastern India shifting agriculture | Bewar/Dahiya = MP
- First fully organic state = Sikkim
- Hydroponics = soilless farming (in water) | Aeroponics = plants in air
- Sericulture = silk (worm) | Apiculture = bee | Pisciculture = fish
🌾 Three Crop Seasons
| Season |
Main Crops |
Sowing |
Harvesting |
|
Rabi (Winter) |
Wheat, Barley, Chickpea, Peas, Mustard, Potato, Lentil |
Oct–Nov |
Apr–May |
|
Kharif (Summer/Monsoon) |
Rice, Jowar, Bajra, Maize, Sesame, Groundnut, Cotton, Soybean |
Jun–Jul |
Sep–Oct |
|
Zaid (Between seasons) |
Watermelon, Muskmelon, Cucumber, Lady Finger |
Mar–Apr |
Jun–Jul |
🌾 Major Food Crops — Key Facts
- Origin: South and East Asia
- Climate: Tropical Humid
- Temp: About 20–27°C
- Rainfall: About 100–200 cm, or adequate irrigation
- Soil: Loamy + Alluvial
- Varieties: Aus, Aman, Boro
- Origin: Fertile Crescent / Southwest Asia
- Climate: Temperate
- Temp: 15–25°C
- Rainfall: 50–75 cm
- Soil: Loamy / Alluvial
- Origin: Africa
- Climate: Sub-tropical
- Temp: 30–35°C
- Rainfall: 50–75 cm
- Soil: Sandy soil
- Jowar — origin: Northeastern Africa
- Climate: Sub-tropical
- Temp: 27–32°C
- Rainfall: 30–100 cm
- Soil: Loamy
- Barley — origin: Fertile Crescent / Southwest Asia
- Climate: Temperate
- Temp: 10–18°C
- Rainfall: 50–75 cm
- Soil: Sandy
- Origin: Mexico / Mesoamerica
- Climate: Sub-tropical
- Temp: 21–27°C
- Rainfall: 60–120 cm
- Soil: Loamy
🫘 Major Pulses
| Pulse |
Origin |
Climate |
Temp |
Rainfall |
Soil |
| Arhar / Pigeon Pea |
India |
Tropical+Sub-trop |
30–35°C |
75–100 cm |
Sandy |
| Urad / Black Gram |
India |
Hot & Humid |
20–35°C |
75–100 cm |
Sandy+Black |
| Chickpea / Chana |
Fertile Crescent / West Asia |
Sub-tropical |
15–30°C |
60–100 cm |
Loamy |
| Pea (Matar) |
Mediterranean |
Temperate |
15–25°C |
60–75 cm |
Sandy |
| Moong / Green Gram |
India |
Humid |
25–35°C |
60–75 cm |
Loamy |
| Lentil / Masoor |
Fertile Crescent / Near East |
Temperate |
18–30°C |
About 35–60 cm |
Loamy |
| Crop |
Disease |
| Rice |
Khaira (Zinc Deficiency), Blast |
| Wheat |
Rust (Ratuwa) |
| Sugarcane |
Red Rot (Hal Viglan) |
| Chickpea |
Wilting (Uktha) |
| Pigeon Pea |
Fusarium wilt; sterility mosaic also important |
| Maize |
White Bud |
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Rice origin = South and East Asia | Wheat origin = Fertile Crescent / Southwest Asia
- Rabi = sown Oct-Nov, harvest Apr-May → winter crops (wheat, barley)
- Kharif = sown Jun-Jul → monsoon crops (rice, cotton)
- Jowar + Bajra + Ragi = Coarse grains / Millets; Ragi = Finger Millet
- Wheat disease = Rust (Ratuwa) | Rice disease = Blast + Khaira
☕ Major Cash Crops
- Soil: Black Soil
- Requires: 210 frost-free days
- India: 1st in cotton area; 2nd in production
- Called: White Gold (white cotton)
- Called: Golden Fibre
- Grows in: alluvial soil + humid climate
- India = major producer (WB, Bihar, Assam)
- Soil: Acidic soil
- World #1: China
- India #1: Assam
- Special type: Oolong tea
- Soil: Laterite soil
- World #1: Brazil
- India #1: Karnataka
- Varieties: Arabica, Liberica, Robusta
🌱 Leguminous Crops & Coarse Grains
- Nitrogen fixation through roots (Rhizobium)
- Nitrogen-fixing root nodules: Rhizobium
- Naturally enrich soil nitrogen
- Jowar, Bajra, Ragi = millets / coarse grains; Ragi = finger millet
- ASEAN India Millets Summit → Indonesia
- Most productive state: Rajasthan
💧 Irrigation in India
| Project Type |
Cultivable Land |
| Major Irrigation |
>10,000 hectares |
| Medium Irrigation |
2,000–10,000 ha |
| Minor Irrigation |
<2,000 ha |
Net Irrigated Area by Source — 2022–23:
| Source |
% Area |
| Well & Tubewells |
62.80% (Major source) |
| Canals |
22.85% |
| Ponds |
2.82% |
| Other |
11.53% |
- India has one of the world's largest irrigated areas; 56.37% of Net Area Sown was net irrigated in 2022–23
- Most irrigation by pond → Tamil Nadu
- Drip irrigation delivers water near plant roots through pipes and emitters
- Longest irrigation canal → Indira Gandhi Canal (Satluj River)
- National Water Resource Council (1983) → Chairman: Prime Minister
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Cotton = White Gold; Jute = Golden Fibre.
- Tea world #1 = China | Coffee world #1 = Brazil
- Tea soil = Acidic | Coffee soil = Laterite
- Major irrigation source = Well & Tubewells (62.80%) — NOT canals
- Most pond irrigation = Tamil Nadu
⚡ Agricultural Revolutions
| Revolution |
Related To |
| Green Revolution |
Food Grain Production |
|
White Revolution (1970–96) |
Milk Production (Operation Flood) |
| Blue Revolution |
Fish Production |
| Grey Revolution |
Fertilizer Production |
| Silver Revolution |
Egg Production |
| Yellow Revolution |
Oilseed Production |
| Black Revolution |
Petroleum Production |
| Red Revolution |
Tomato / Meat Production |
| Pink Revolution |
Shrimp Production |
| Brown Revolution |
Spice Production |
| Golden Revolution |
Flower Production / Horticulture |
| Round Revolution |
Potato Production |
| Khaki Kranti |
Leather Production |
| Inter-Linking of Rivers (ILR) Programme |
Proposed inter-basin water-transfer links |
🌿 Green Revolution — Details
| Key Point |
Details |
| Term used by |
William Gaud |
| Father (World) |
Norman Borlaug |
| Father (India) |
M.S. Swaminathan |
| PL-480 |
First import from USA
|
| HYV seeds |
High Yielding Variety — First from Mexico
|
| India: initial major phase |
Mid-1960s, especially 1966–67; wider expansion in 1970s–1980s |
| Most Impact |
Wheat, Rice |
| MSP body |
CACP |
| Side Effects |
Drop in groundwater, Increase in soil salinity |
| Wider technology expansion |
1970s–1980s: more crops and regions beyond the initial wheat areas |
- Father: Dr. Verghese Kurien
- Period: 1970–96
- Operation: Operation Flood
- Related to: Milk Production
⚡ COLOUR REVOLUTION MEMORY TRICK
-
Green = Food grain | White = Milk | Blue = Fish | Yellow = Oilseed
-
Silver = Egg | Red = Tomato/Meat | Pink = Shrimp
-
Golden = Flower | Round = Potato | Brown = Spice
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- Green Rev Father India = M.S. Swaminathan | World = Norman Borlaug
- White Rev Father = Dr. Verghese Kurien (NOT Swaminathan)
- HYV seeds = from Mexico (NOT USA directly)
- Silver Rev = Egg (NOT milk — milk = White) | Golden Rev = Flower/Horticulture
- APEDA: Act passed in 1985; Authority came into effect in 1986 — agriculture and processed-food exports
🏛️ Agriculture Research Institutions
| Institution |
Headquarter |
| Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) |
New Delhi |
| ICAR–National Rice Research Institute (NRRI) |
Cuttack (Odisha) |
| Central Potato Research Institute |
Shimla (HP) |
| Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute |
Mysore (KA) |
| ICAR–National Institute for Research on Commercial Agriculture (formerly CTRI) |
Rajahmundry (AP) |
| ICAR–Central Plantation Crops Research Institute (CPCRI) |
Kasaragod (Kerala) |
| ICAR–National Institute of Natural Fibre Engineering & Technology (NINFET) |
Kolkata (WB) |
| Indian Pulses Research Institute |
Kanpur (UP) |
| National Dairy Research Institute |
Karnal (Haryana) |
| Indian Sugarcane Research Institute |
Lucknow (UP) |
| CSIR–National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) |
Lucknow (UP) |
| Central Arid Horticulture Institute |
Bikaner (RJ) |
| Central Soil & Water Conservation Research |
Dehradun (UK) |
| Agricultural Meteorology Division, IMD |
Pune (MH) |
| Tocklai Tea Research Institute |
Jorhat (Assam) |
| Central Coffee Research Institute (CCRI) |
Chikmagalur (KA) |
| Rubber Research Institute of India (RRII) |
Kottayam (Kerala) |
| ICAR–Central Research Institute for Jute & Allied Fibres (CRIJAF) |
Barrackpore (WB) |
| ICAR–Indian Institute of Oilseeds Research (IIOR) |
Hyderabad (TG) |
| National Fisheries Development Board |
Hyderabad (TG) |
| ICAR–Sugarcane Breeding Institute |
Coimbatore (TN) |
| National Farmers Commission |
New Delhi — Est. 2004 | Chair: M.S. Swaminathan |
🏛️ Agriculture Boards
| Board |
Headquarter |
| Spices Board |
Kochi (Kerala) |
| Tea Board |
Kolkata (WB) |
| Coffee Board |
Bengaluru (KA) |
| Tobacco Board |
Guntur (AP) |
| Rubber Board |
Kottayam (Kerala) |
| Indian Grape Processing Board |
Pune (MH) |
| ICAR–National Meat Research Institute (NMRI) |
Hyderabad (Telangana) |
🚨 EXAM TRAP — Institutions
- Rice Research = Cuttack (Odisha) — NOT WB or Bihar
- The Tea Board of India is headquartered in Kolkata, while the Tocklai Tea Research Institute is located at Jorhat in Assam.
- Coffee Board = Bengaluru | Coffee Research = Balehonnur, Chikkamagaluru district
- Rubber Board = Kottayam | Rubber Research = also Kottayam
- Sugar institute = Lucknow (UP) | Sugar Breeding = Coimbatore (TN)
- National Dairy = Karnal, Haryana — NOT Anand (AMUL is Anand, Gujarat)
🐄 20th Livestock Census — 2019
536.76 mn
Total Livestock Population (final)
851.8 mn
Total Poultry (+16.81%)
512.06 mn
19th Census 2012 (Livestock)
- Initial results released: 16th October, 2019
- Countries with largest cattle: India, Brazil
| Animal |
% |
Animal |
% |
| Cattle |
36.04% |
Sheep |
13.83% |
| Goat |
27.74% |
Pigs |
1.69% |
| Buffalo |
20.47% |
Other |
0.23% |
247.87 mn T
Total Production
485 gm/day
Per Capita Availability
1st (~25%)
India's Global Position
Top Milk Producing States:
1. Uttar Pradesh
2. Rajasthan
3. Madhya Pradesh
1. Andhra Pradesh
2. West Bengal
3. Karnataka
4. Odisha
5. Kerala
| Animal |
Days |
| Buffalo |
310 days |
| Cow |
280 days |
| Goat |
151 days |
| Sheep |
150 days |
| Pig |
114 days |
| Rank |
State |
Growth % |
| 1st |
West Bengal |
23.32% |
| 2nd |
Telangana |
22.21% |
| 3rd |
Andhra Pradesh |
15.79% |
| 4th |
Madhya Pradesh |
11.81% |
| 5th |
Bihar ★ |
10.67% |
| 6th |
Karnataka |
4.7% |
⚡ BPSC RECALL — Bihar Animal Husbandry
- Bihar = 10.67% livestock growth (5th among the selected major positive-growth states (2012–2019))
- Bihar = major cattle + buffalo state in Ganga plains
- Jute also grown in Bihar (along with WB and Assam)
- Milk: UP → RJ → MP (Bihar not in top 3 but significant)
- Bihar = good for fish (rivers: Ganga, Kosi, Gandak)
🚨 EXAM TRAP
- India = 1st in milk production (~25% world share, 2024–25)
- Top milk state = UP (NOT RJ or Punjab)
- Top fish state = Andhra Pradesh (NOT Kerala or WB)
- Buffalo gestation = 310 days (longest) | Pig = 114 days (shortest)
- Livestock largest % = Cattle (36.04%) then Goat (27.74%) then Buffalo (20.47%)