Agriculture, It's Various Types And Crops

Agriculture / Farming

Agriculture is that action, in which food items or other useful substances are produced and income is earned by using land through various agricultural activities and practices. For this work, along with human labor, mechanical labor is also required.

As we know, India is a country full of diversities and this diversity is not only in our culture, speaking, but also from the geographical point of view, different types of topographies and systems can be seen. We will know about agriculture or farming on the basis of various sources in this article, but before that it is necessary to know about the crops in India.

Ramosi And Moppila Rebellion - Farmer's Movement In British India

Types of Crops

We call the material produced by agriculture / farming as a crop. By the way, we can divide the crops into many categories, but on the basis of season, they are mainly of three types.

1. Kharif Crop
2. Rabi Crop
3. Zaid Crop

1. Kharif Crop

These are crops sown in the rainy season, which are mainly sown from June to October. Sufficient amount of water is required for this crop. Such as – rice, maize, millet, cotton, jute, pigeon pea, groundnut, Soybean, sunflower, flax, jowar, urad, moong, spleen etc.

2. Rabi Crop

These are generally the crops sown in winter, which are sown from October to March. Such as – gram, pea, lentil, tobacco, linseed, sugarcane, wheat, barley, barseem, garlic, onion, mustard etc.

3. Jaid Crop

These crops are sown for a very short time, usually between April and June. We can also call these crops as summer crops. Vegetables and fruits mainly come in these crops.

Right to Constitutional Remedies : Articles 32 – 35

Types of Agriculture / Farming

Agriculture / farming can be divided into different types on different grounds. Along with this, various systems of farming are also available, through which agricultural work is done smoothly and systematically. First of all, we will know the different types of agriculture / farming here, then we will know other related points.

• On the Basis of Availability of Land and Income
1. Extensive Farming
2. Subsistence Farming
3. Intensive Farming
4. Specialized Farming
5. Diversified Farming
6. Multiple Cropping
1. Inter Cropping
2. Sequence Cropping 
3. Relay Cropping
4. Mixed Cropping
7. Mixed Farming
8. Ranching Farming 
9. Contour Farming
10. Terrace Farming 
11. Strip Farming
12. Organic Farming
13. Ley Farming 
14. Placement Agriculture
15. Shifting Cultivation
16. Mulch Farming
17. Recession Farming
18. Inter Cropping System / Agriculture
• Commercial Agriculture
1. Commercial plantation Agriculture
2. Truck Farming 
3. Various types of farming found under Specialised Farming
• Depending on The Availability of Water
1. Wet Farming
2. Humid Farming
3. Irrigation Farming
4. Dry Farming 

Champaran Satyagraha - 1917

A. On the Basis of Availability of Land and Income

On the basis of availability of land and income, the following types of agriculture / farming are found –

1. Extensive Farming 

Extensive agriculture is generally done in a large area, where the population is very less and the land for agriculture is more. In this type of agriculture, less labor is required along with less capital, less cost and less labor. In this, the use of labor is less, but the amount of production per person is more. Therefore, the production per hectare is less, but the total production is very high.

2. Subsistence Farming 

As it is clear from the name, Subsistence means to produce crops only for one's own consumption. The main objective of the production of this type of agriculture is limited to the personal needs of the farmer (producer) and his family. Due to the limitation of production only to the family, it is called subsistence agriculture.

3. Intensive Farming

This type of agriculture is done in areas with high population and less land availability. In this, labor, capital, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, advanced seeds, etc. are used more to get maximum production from less land area.

4. Specialized Farming 

This type of agriculture is done for commercial production and income. In this, more than 50% of the income is obtained from only one crop. Tea, coffee, dairy, fish farming etc. come under specialized agriculture.

5. Diversified Farming Or General Farm 

In this type of agriculture, different types of crops are grown on the same farm and less than 50% of the total income is received from each enterprise or crop. Due to the production of various enterprises or crops on the same farm, it is also called diversified farm .

Plains And Straits 

6. Multiple Cropping

In this, several crops are grown in a short-term sequence on the same field or field. Due to the difference in maturity of these crops, one crop is harvested earlier, while the other crop is harvested later. There are many methods, whose brief description is as follows –

1.  Inter Cropping -  In this, two or more crops are sown together in a fixed proportion or at a standard distance on the same field. Its main objective is to get more production. Like – sowing wheat and mustard together.
2. Sequence Cropping - Growing two or more crops in quick succession in a field in a year is called continuous cropping. In this, immediately after cutting one crop, the second crop is sown and immediately after cutting the second crop, the third crop is sown.
3. Relay Cropping - In this, the second crop is sown even before the cutting of one crop, but care is taken that there is no disturbance in the maturity of the planted crop. Similarly, the third crop is sown before the cutting of the second crop. |
4. Mixed Cropping - In this, two or more crops are planted together in a field without any proportion or fixed distance.

7. Mixed Farming 

In this, along with agriculture, other enterprises related to agriculture are also done simultaneously, such as animal husbandry along with agriculture. Apart from agricultural produce, the farmer gets milk, ghee etc. through animal husbandry and animals are also used in plowing the fields.

8. Ranching Farming 

In this, animals are grazed only on naturally present vegetation and food items are obtained. Plowing, sowing, weeding and weeding etc. are not done in this.

9. Contour Farming 

This type of agriculture is done on the hills, where the contour line opposite to the slope, the line joining the two points of the slope, is cultivated by different activities. Agriculture on the contour line secures moisture in areas with low rainfall, while preventing soil erosion in areas with high rainfall, equal distribution of rainfall is ensured.

10. Terrace Farming 

This type of agriculture is also done on the mountains with high slope, in which the slope is converted into a terraced field-like structure. In this, more amount of water flows in its lower slope, so that water does not accumulate in the roots of the plants. Leaves and good crops are obtained. Tea cultivation is an example of this type of agriculture.

Albinism : Genetic Mendelian Abnormality

11. Strip Farming 

Through this type of farming, efforts are made to control water erosion. In this, barrier crops are grown in the opposite direction of the slope at the place of erosion and in the middle of them, the barrier crop is grown in alternate order.

12. Organic Farming 

Due to this type of agriculture being eco-friendly, it is also called ecological agriculture. No chemicals, pesticides, chemical fertilizers etc. are used in this, instead organic fertilizers are used instead.

13. Ley Farming 

In Le agriculture, to increase the fertility of the agricultural land and the amount of nitrogen element in the land, the land is left for pasture for one or two years or in alternate order without sowing crops or pulses are sown in alternate order. Increase in the fertility of the land leads to higher crop yields.

14. Placement Agriculture 

As it is clear from the name that it is localized, that is, in this, the farmer does farming related work only by living in one place. To preserve the fertility of the land, he sows the crops in different sequences, along with this he also uses organic manure, chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

15. Shifting Cultivation 

Shifting agriculture means that agriculture in which the place of cultivation is changed. This type of agriculture is also called jhuming agriculture. After doing this, when the fertility of the land ends, leaving that place, agriculture is done at a new place. Because of clearing the forest and doing agriculture, it is also called 'slashing and burning' or 'bush fellow agriculture'.

16. Mulch Farming 

Mulch refers to covering the surface of the land. In this type of agriculture, the surface of the land is covered with a barrier for the growth, development and good harvest of plants. You must have seen that at some places, after sowing the seeds, they cover them with plastic or any other layer, due to which the moisture of the soil is also maintained, as well as the necessary conditions are provided for the growth of the plant and it is also protected from insects. In this, the organism is spread on the surface of the land and left, it is not mixed with the land by plowing the field.

17. Recession Farming

This is the technique of agriculture done in flood-affected areas, in which the area is cultivated after the flood water recedes or recedes. It is also called riverine agriculture. After the flood water recedes from the fields located on the banks of the rivers, agriculture is done in them.

18. Inter Cropping System / Agriculture 

Co-cropping means sowing of crops together means in this, two or more crops are sown together on the agricultural land. This technique increases the per hectare fertility of the land.

Fundamental Duties : Article - 51A

B. Commercial Agriculture

Commercial agriculture is large-scale agriculture, which is done keeping in mind the income. Along with this, business objectives are also fulfilled. This type of agriculture is done near industrial areas or near big cities.

1. Commercial Plantation Agriculture

In this, only one cash crop is cultivated by setting up large farms for agriculture. This type of agriculture requires more labor and more capital. Agriculture of rubber, coffee, tea, coconut, cotton, pineapple, banana etc. are examples of commercial agriculture.

2. Truck Farming

Truck farming refers to such agriculture, where trucks are used in large quantities to transport agricultural products. At present, trucks are being used in large quantities to transport fruits and vegetables or other products from commercial gardens.

3. Various Types of Farming Found Under Specialized Farming 

In this, different types can be taken under specific agriculture, the details of which are as follows –

• Pisi Culture or Aquaculture - Fish farming done on a commercial scale.
• Viticulture – Cultivation of grapes on a commercial scale.
• Dairy Industry – Production of milk obtained from cow and buffalo and other products made from milk.
• Horticulture - Cultivation of fruits and vegetables on a commercial scale.
• Silviculture – Agriculture related to conservation and promotion of forests.
• Nomoriculture - Collecting fruits, flowers, vegetables and herbs from forests and mountains without farming.
• Sericulture – silkworm rearing on a commercial scale.
• Moriculture – Cultivation of mulberry for silkworm.
• Apiculture - Beekeeping at the commercial level, from which honey and wax are obtained.
• Floriculture – production of flowers on a commercial scale.
• Olericulture – related to the production of vegetables.
• Aeropartic - growing plants in the air.
• Hydroponics – Growing plants in water.
• Vermiculture - Earthworm rearing for organic fertilizer.
• Oliveculture - Olive cultivation on a commercial scale.
• Vegiculture – Early primitive agriculture done by early humans in South-East Asia.
• Arbiculture – Cultivation of specific types of trees and shrubs, including their cultivation.
• Mariculture - the process of producing marine organisms for commercial purposes.

Agriculture Committee

Along with this, here it is necessary to know the Agricultural Revolutions related to the field of agriculture, which are as follows –

• Green Revolution – Related to food grain production (Father – Dr. M. S. Swaminathan, in India)
• White revolution – related to milk production.
• Blue Revolution – related to fisheries.
• Yellow Revolution – Related to the production of oilseed crops.
• Silver revolution – related to egg production.
• Brown revolution – related to fertilizer production.
• Red revolution – related to tomato and meat production.
• Pink Revolution – related to production of lobster.
• Badami revolution – related to the production of spices.
• Golden Revolution – Related to the production of fruits.
• Krishna Kranti – related to the production of biodiesel based crops.
• Amrit Revolution – River Interlinking Projects.
• Gol Kranti – related to potato production.

Botanical Name and Family of the Plant with Local Name

C. Depending on The Availability of Water

The climate of India is a monsoon climate, so there is more rainfall here, while somewhere there is less rainfall than the average. Thus, depending on the availability of water, there are the following types of agriculture –

1. Wet Farming 

Water agriculture is done in those areas, where the average annual rainfall is more than 200 cm. In India, this type of agriculture is done in the states of Northeast India, West Bengal etc.

2. Humid Farming 

Wet agriculture is done in those areas, where the average amount of rainfall is 100 – 200 cm. In India, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, Brahmaputra valley etc. come under the plain of Ganges in India.

3. Irrigation Farming 

In those areas where the average annual rainfall is found between 50 – 100 cm, this type of agriculture is done. Due to the low amount of rainfall in these areas, irrigation is required. In India, this type of agriculture comes in Punjab, Haryana, Northern Tamil Nadu, Southern Tamil Nadu and Western Uttar Pradesh etc.

4. Dry Farming 

Areas where annual rainfall is minimal and crops are produced without any irrigation. In such areas, agricultural work is done by traditional method. For proper and safe use of water in such areas, more emphasis is laid on drip irrigation, water harvesting, sprinkle irrigation.

Soil And Soil Water Present In It