Agriculture, with its allied sectors, is unquestionably the largest livelihood provider in India,
more so in the vast rural areas. It also contributes a significant figure to the Gross Domestic
Product (GDP).
In India, around 70% of the population earns its livelihood from agriculture.
Seasonal patterns : India has three distint agricultural/cropping seasons.
In India , there are specific crops grown in the three seasons which are as follows :
Rabi Crops :
The crops sown at the beginning of cold season October to December are known as
rabi crops. These crops are harvested at the beginning of the warm season that is March-April.
The rabi crops include wheat, gram, barley, potato and some oil seeds like linseed, rapeseed and
mustard, etc.
Kharif Crops :
the crops sown at the beginning of the South-west monsoon, that is June-July
every year are called kharif crops. These crops are harvested at the end of the same sason, that
is September, October. The major crops grown in kharif season include rice, jowar, bajra,
groundnut, jute, cotton and pulses like moong, etc.
Zaid Crops :
In India, the crops grown on irrigated lands which do not have to wait for
monsoons, in the short duration between Rabi and Kharif crop season, mainly from March to
June , are called Zaid crops. Examples – Musk-melon, water-melon, ground, etc.
Agriculture Revolutions in India
Green Revolution :
It stands for a major technological breakthrough in India based on
(i) improved seeds of high yielding varieties,
(ii)adequate and assured supply of
water for irrigation, and
(iii) increased and appropriate application of chemical fertilizers for increasing agricultural production.
White Revolution :
It stands for remarkable increase in milk production and establishment of a national milk grid, removing regional and seasonal imbalances.
Amoung the technological inputs are
(i) crossbreeding of indigenous cows with high milk yielding European breed;
(ii) pasteurization of milk for keeping it for a longer duration;
(iii) collection of quality milk from members in rural areas; and (iv)
refrigerated transport system which helps sending milk to far-off metropolitan
centres both by road and rail.
Blue Revolution :
It refers to big rise in catching of freshwater and marine fish.
Yellow Revolution :
It refers to a remarkably steady and assured supply of poultry products.
Pink Revolution :
it refers to a considerable rise in the production of quantity of apples particulary in the states of Himachal Pradesh and J&K.
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