Food crops play a vital role in ensuring the sustenance of the growing population in India. These crops, including staples like rice and wheat, as well as nutritious millets and maize, are cultivated in different seasons and regions of the country.
Food crops will be helpful for UPSC IAS Exam preparation. GS Paper-3 Indian Economy.
Table of Content
- Cropping Seasons in India
- Food Crops
- Food Crops in India
- Rice
- Wheat
- Maize
- Millets (Nutri-Cereals)
- Difference between food crops and cash crops
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Cropping Seasons in India
In India, three types of crops are cultivated: Rabi, Kharif and Zaid.
Rabi crops
- Rabi crops are sown inwinter from October to December.
- Rabi crops are harvested in summer from April to June.
- Examples: wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard.
- These crops are grown in north and northwestern parts of India in the states such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
- The western temperate cyclones help in the success of these crops.
Kharif Crops
- Kharif crops are grown with the onset of monsoon in different parts of the country.
- Kharif crops are harvested in September-October.
- Examples: paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soybean.
Zaid Crops
- Zaid season is a short season during the summer months between the rabi and the kharif seasons.
- Examples: watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables and fodder crops.
- Sugarcane takes almost a year to grow.
Food Crops
- Definition: Food crops are essential crops intended for human consumption.
- They encompass a variety of items such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and tubers, like potatoes.
Food Crops in India
- A large variety of food crops are grown in India to meet the requirement of the growing population.
- Examples: wheat, rice, maize and millets (Nutri-Cereals).
Rice
- Rice is a Kharif Crop and a staple food crop for a majority of the people in India.
- India is the second largest rice producer country in the world.
- China is the largest rice producer country in the world.
- Top Rice Producing States in India: West Bengal > Punjab > Uttar Pradesh > Andhra Pradesh > Bihar.
- Rice is the main food crop of Kharif season.
Climatic Requirements:
- Temperature: between 21 to 37º C.
- Rainfall: Rice crop needs heavy rains (125 mm) during the vegetative phase and 200 mm monthly rain for low land and 100 mm for upland.
- Soil Type: Deep clayey and loamy soil.
Wheat
- Wheat is a rabi crop and also the second most important cereal crop.
- Wheat is the main food crop, in the north and north-western part of the country.
- Wheat
- Two Wheat-Growing Zones in India: Ganga-Satluj plains in the northwest and the black soil region of the Deccan.
- Top Wheat Producing States in India: Uttar Pradesh > Punjab > Madhya Pradesh > Haryana > Rajasthan.
Climatic Requirements:
- Temperature: Wheat requires a 10-15°C temperature at sowing time and 21-26°C with bright sunshine at the time of Ripening & Harvesting.
- Rainfall: Around50 to 75 cm.
- Soil Type: Well-drained fertile loamy and clayey loamy.
Maize
- Maize is a Kharif crop.
- In Bihar, maize is grown in the rabi season.
- Maize is used both as food and fodder.
- Use of modern inputs such as HYV seeds, fertilisers and irrigation has contributed to the increasing production of maize.
- Top Maize Producing States in India: Karnataka > Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Tamil Nadu > Telangana
Climatic Requirements:
- Temperature: 21°C to 27°C.
- Rainfall: 50 cm to 100 cm (Heavy Rainfall)
- Soil Type: old alluvial soil.
Millets (Nutri-Cereals)
- Jowar, bajra and ragi are important millets grown in India.
- These are known as coarse grains.
- Millets have very high nutritional value.
- Top Millets Producing States in India: Rajasthan > Karnataka > Maharashtra > Madhya Pradesh > Uttar Pradesh.
- Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production.
- Jowar is a rain-fed crop mostly grown in moist areas which hardly needs irrigation.
- Top Jowar Producing States: Maharashtra > Karnataka > Madhya Pradesh > Tamil Nadu > Andhra Pradesh.
- Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow black soil.
- Top Bajra Producing States: Rajasthan > Uttar Pradesh > Gujarat > Madhya Pradesh > Haryana.
- Ragi is a crop of dry regions and grows well on red, black, sandy, loamy and shallow black soils.
- Ragi is very rich in iron, calcium, other micronutrients and roughage.
- Major Ragi producing states: Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra
- Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh.
Difference between food crops and cash crops
Food Crops | Cash Crops | |
Definition | Essential crops for human consumption. | Crops were grown for profit. |
Examples | Fruits, vegetables, grains, tubers (e.g., potatoes). | Sugarcane, cotton, jute, oilseeds, tobacco, etc. |
Contribution | Nourish and sustain human consumption. | Occupy 15% of cropped area but contribute over 40% of agricultural production by value. |
Refer to the linked articles to know more about Cash crops and Plantation crops.
Conclusion
India’s diverse food crop cultivation encompasses a wide range of essential crops such as rice, wheat, millets, and maize. These crops are grown in specific seasons and regions, with each having unique climatic and soil requirements. Food crops form the backbone of sustenance, nourishing the population while contributing significantly to India’s agricultural production.
Ref: Source-1
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FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are food crops?
Food crops refer to crops that are grown primarily for human consumption, ensuring subsistence. They encompass a wide variety of essential food items, such as fruits, vegetables, grains, and tubers like potatoes.
Which crops are examples of kharif food crops?
The major kharif food crops are paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut and soybean.
Which are important non-food crops of India?
The important non-food crops of our country are cotton and jute.
Give 10 examples of food crops.
Rice, wheat, millets, pulses, coffee, tea, sugarcane, oil seeds, cotton and jute.
What are the two staple food crops of India?
Rice and Wheat are the two staple food crops of India.