Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 Notes with Easy concept

Two-thirds of India’s population is engaged in agricultural activities. Agriculture is a primary activity that produces most of the food raw materials for various industries. In this post Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 notes– Agriculture, you will study the different types of farming, cropping patterns and major crops grown in India. You will learn how much agriculture contributes to the national economy, employment and production.

Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 Notes

Agriculture has been an important part of India’s economy for thousands of years. It is known as an agriculturist country as two-thirds of the population is engaged in agricultural activities.

Types of Farming:

There are main three types of farming practised in different parts of India:

1. Primitive Subsistence Farming

It is a type of agricultural practice that is done on small patches of land with the help of primitive tools like hoe, dao, dogging sticks, and traditional manual methods to produce crops and livestock for the sole purpose of sustaining a family. It is a ‘slash and burn agriculture’.

2. Intensive Subsistence Farming

It is a type of agricultural practice that involves the cultivation of a small plot of land using high levels of labour and inputs to produce a maximum amount of food. Farmers use modern technology, such as irrigation systems and hybrid crop varieties to obtain higher production.

3. Commercial Farming

It is a type of agricultural practice involving large-scale crop and livestock production for sale in markets. use modern technology and techniques, such as mechanized farming equipment, irrigation systems, and high-yielding crop varieties, to maximize their output and profits. It is commonly found in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Maharashtra.
The plantation is a type of commercial farming in which a single crop is grown in a large area. 
In India, important plantation crops include tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and bananas. Assam and North Bengal are known for their tea plantations, while Karnataka is a major producer of coffee.

Cropping Pattern

There are three main crop seasons in India: Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid.

Crop Type	Sowing Time	Harvesting Time	Examples of Crops
Kharif Crops	June to July	September to October	Rice, maize, millet, cotton, sugarcane
Rabi Crops	October to December	March to May	Wheat, barley, mustard, peas, gram
Zaid Crops	March to April	May to June	Watermelon, cucumber, muskmelon, bitter gourd

What are the Major Crops in India?

India is home to a wide range of crops, including food grains, cash crops, and horticultural crops.
Food grains-Rice, wheat, millets, maize, pulses
Cash crops-tea, coffee, sugarcane, cotton, jute.oil seed
Horticulture crops-vegetables, fruits & flowers

Food grains

Crops are primarily grown for human consumption and provide the bulk of the world’s food supply. It plays a crucial role in ensuring food security and nutrition for the world’s population.

Rice

• It is the most important staple food in many parts of India.
• India is ranked as the second-largest producer of rice in the world.
• It is sown during the monsoon season and harvested in the winter.
• It is typically grown in areas with high temperatures and high humidity and requires an annual rainfall of at least 100 cm for proper cultivation.
• It is grown in almost all states of India, such as West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu.

Wheat

• Wheat is one of the most important crops in India.
• India is ranked as the second-largest producer of wheat after China.
• It is a rabi crop that requires a cool and dry climate during the growing season.
• It is grown in several states across India, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar.

Millets

• Millets are highly nutritious and rich in protein, fibre, and minerals.
• These are known as coarse grains.
• India is the largest producer and consumer of millets in the world, with several varieties of millets such as ragi, bajra, and Jowar.

Characteristics	Ragi	Bajra	Jowar
Nutritional value	Rich in calcium, protein, and iron	Rich in protein, fibre,	Suitable for cultivation in hilly regions with an altitude of up to 2,000 meters
Culinary uses	Porridges, rotis, and snacks such as ladoos and biscuits	Rotis, khichdi, and porridge	Rotis, porridge, and traditional alcoholic beverages
Cultivation requirements	Suitable for cultivation in hilly regions with an altitude of up to 2000 meters	A hardy crop that can withstand drought and heat stress	Suitable for cultivation in dry and semi-arid regi
States	Grown in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh	Grown in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra	Grown in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh

Maize

• Maize, also known as corn, is an important cereal crop in India.
• It is used for human consumption, animal feed, and industrial purposes.
• It is a Kharif crop.
• it requires warm weather, moderate rainfall, and fertile soil with good drainage.
• The major maize-growing states in India are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.

Pulses

• Pulses are an important source of protein and nutrients for the Indian population.
• India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world.
• Pulses are mainly grown during the rabi and Kharif seasons, depending on the type of pulse.
• Pulses are grown in India Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
• Major pulses grown in India are Tur (Arhar), Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas, and Gram.

Cash crops

The crops that are cultivated for sale in the market. It is classified into two types:
i) Non-food crops
ii) Food crops other than grains

Non-food crops

Rubber	Fibre	Cotton	Jute
It is an equatorial crop.	Cotton, Jute, Hemp, and Natural Silk are the four major fiber crops.	It is a Kharif crop.	Cotton, Jute, Hemp, and Natural Silk are the four major fibre crops.
It requires a moist and humid climate with rainfall of more than 200cm and temperature above 25°C.	Cotton, Jute, and Hemp are grown in the soil.	It requires high temperature, light rainfall, 210 frost-free days, and bright sunshine for its growth.	It grows well in the flood plains. A High temperature is required for its growth.
It is an important industrial raw material	It is used to make gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, and carpets.	Cotton grows well in the black cotton soil of the Deccan plateau.	It is known as the golden fibre.
It is used to make Tires, seals, footwear, etc.	It is used to make cloth, ropes, paper, etc.	It is used to make Clothing, bedding, paper, etc.	Major cotton-producing states are Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Food crops other than grains

Sugarcane

• Sugarcane is an important crop in India, for its economic significance.
• India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane in the world after Brazil.
• It is cultivated in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat.
• It requires hot and humid conditions with an annual rainfall of 100 cm for optimal growth.
• It is used to make sugar, Gur (Jaggery), Khansari, and molasses.

Oil Seeds

• A group of crops that are grown to extract oil from their seeds.
• These seeds are rich in oil content and are an important source of edible and non-edible oils. For Example:- soyabean oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, cottonseed oil, palm oil, mustard oil, and coconut oil

Tea

• Tea is a popular beverage consumed around the world.
• India is one of the largest tea producers in the world
• It is made from the leaves of the tea plant.
• It requires a warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year.
• Tea is grown in Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Karnataka. Assam is the largest tea-growing region in India.
• It employs thousands of people

Coffee

• Coffee is a popular beverage consumed worldwide.
• India is the sixth-largest coffee producer in the world,
• The major coffee-growing regions in India are Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Indian Yemen coffee is known for its unique flavour and aroma.
• Some of the major coffee varieties grown in India include Arabica and Robusta.

Horticulture crops

Horticulture crops in India mean cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, spices, and plantation crops.
Some of the major horticulture crops in India are-

• Mangoes-Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal 
• Banana-Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
• Apples, pears, apricots & walnuts-Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh
• Grapes- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra
• Pineapple- Meghalaya

Technological and Institutional Reforms

In India, agriculture has been a crucial sector for the country’s economic growth and development. More than 60% of its population is dependent on it for its livelihood. So some technological and institutional reforms were introduced in the agriculture sector in India.

Green Revolution: It was a significant technological and institutional reform in India’s agriculture sector during the 1960s and 1970s. It involved the introduction of high-yielding varieties of seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and modern farming techniques. This initiative helped increase agricultural production and reduce food shortages.

National Agricultural Technology Project: This project was launched in 1998 and it aimed to promote the development of new agricultural technologies for farmers.

National Agriculture Policy: It was introduced in 2000. It aimed to promote the development of agro-processing industries.

National Food Security Mission: It was launched in 2007 to increase food grain production in India.
Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana: It is a crop insurance scheme launched in 2016 to provide financial help to farmers in case of crop failure due to natural calamities, pests, and diseases.

There are some other schemes introduced by the Government for the benefit of farmers such as the Kisan Credit Card (KCC), and the Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS).

Special weather bulletins and agricultural programs were introduced on radio and television to provide farmers with information.

To prevent the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen, the government announces minimum support prices, remunerative prices, and procurement prices for important crops.

What is the Contribution of Agriculture to the National Economy, Employment, and Output?

In India, agriculture contributes to the economy, employment, and output in the following ways:

• It is one of the largest contributors to India’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), accounting for around 16% of the total GDP.
• It provides food and raw materials for the manufacturing sector.
• It provides employment opportunities to a large percentage of India’s population.
• It produces a range of crops, including food grains, fruits, vegetables, and cash crops.

What is Food Security?

It means that every person in the country should have access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and preferences.
The government has implemented several policies and programs to improve food security in the country, such as
the Public Distribution System (PDS),
the National Food Security Act (NFSA), and
the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS).

What is the Impact of Globalization on Agriculture?

Some of the effects of globalization on agriculture are:

• It has created new opportunities for farmers to increase exports and income.
• It has brought new technologies to increase productivity and efficiency.
• It has led to increased demand for agricultural products.
• It has increased the vulnerability of small-scale farmers to market fluctuations and global economic forces.
• It has led to increased competition for farmers.
• It has created opportunities for large-scale commercial farming.

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