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Rice


Rice is a tropical crop that can be grown almost throughout the year. It depends on atmospheric moisture and rainfall for irrigation. India is the 2nd largest producer of rice in the world. India has largest area in world under rice cultivation. Productivity is low compared to wheat because Green Revolution primarily boosted wheat production in India. The traditional rice fields are known as paddy fields and require to be flooded with 10-12 cm deep water in the early stages.

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  • Type of Crop: Kharif, Rabi

  • Techniques Used: Transplantation technique, Japanese Transplantation technique,

  • new SRI technique Varieties: Aman, Sali, Afghani, Aus, Boro, Palua

  • Temperature: ∼ 24 0C

  • Rainfall: ∼ 150 cm

  • Soil type: Clay/ Loamy

  • Major Producers: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Haryana Highest Producer: West Bengal Highest per Hectare Yield: Punjab Research Centres: Cuttack, Odisha Highest Producing Country: China

Wheat


It is the 2nd most important food crop in India. It is a Rabi crop. India stands second in production of wheat worldwide. It is more flexible in terms of climactic and other conditions of growth.
Type of Crop: Rabi Varieties: Kalyan Sona, Sonalika, Heera

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  • Temperature: 17-20 °C

  • Rainfall: 20-100 cm (ideal ~75 cm)

  • Soil Type: Clay loam, Sandy loam Major Producers: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Uttarakhand

  • Highest Producing State: Uttar Pradesh

  • Highest per Hectare Yield: Punjab

  • Research Centres: Karnal, Haryana

  • Highest Producing Country: China

Cotton
Cotton is a tropical and subtropical Kharif crop. It is a fibre crop and is known as ‘White gold’. India ranks 3rd in the production of cotton worldwide. It is a dry crop but roots need timely supply of water at maturity.
Type of Crop: Kharif Varieties: Long Staple, Medium Staple, Short Staple

 

  • Temperature: 21-30 °

  • Rainfall: 50-100 cm

  • Soil Type: Black soil (Highly water retentive soil)

  • Major Producers: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa Leading Producer: Maharashtra Research Centres: Nagpur, Maharashtra

  • Highest Producing Country: China

Jute


Jute is a tropical plant that requires hot and humid climate. It is one of the most important natural fibres in terms of cultivation and usage. Almost 85% of the world's jute is cultivated in the Ganges Delta.

 

  • Type of Crop: Zaid Varieties: White Jute, Tossa Jute

  • Temperature: 24-35 °C.

  • Annual Rainfall: 125-200 cm.

  • Soil Type: Sandy and Clay Loam Major Producers: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh

  • Largest Producer: West Bengal

  • Highest per Hectare Yield: West Bengal

  • Research Centres: Kolkata & Nilgunj, West Bengal

  • Highest Producing Country: India (but highest exporter is Bangladesh)

Sugarcane


Sugarcane is an important cash crop. India stands at 2nd position among all countries in the world in its production. Sugarcane crop requires long rainy season of at least 7-8 months. Traditional Sugarcane Production was in North India but it has also shifted to South India. North India Sugarcane are of sub-tropical variety and so have low sugar content. Also sugar factories have to remain shut in winter seasons in North India. South India- Tropical Variety and coastal areas hence have high sugar content and high yield.

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  • Type of Crop: Kharif, Rabi Temperature: 20-26 °C

  • Rainfall: 75-150 cm

  • Soil type: Clayey Loamy Soil/ Black Cotton Soil/ Red Loamy Soil/ Brown Loamy Soil

  • Major Producers: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Punjab Largest Producer: Uttar Pradesh

  • Highest per Hectare Yield: Tamil Nadu

  • Research Centre: Lucknow Highest Producing Country: Brazil

Tea


Tea is an evergreen plant that mainly grows in tropical and subtropical climates. Tea is a labour intensive crop and 50% of the labourers are women. It grows faster under light shade. Commercial cultivation of tea started in India from British era. India is the 2nd largest producer and the largest consumer of tea in the world. Tea plants require high rainfall but its roots cannot tolerate water logging. Hence, it requires sloppy areas.

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  • Temperature: 20-30 °C

  • Rainfall: 150-300 cm

  • Soil type: Loamy soil which is acidic in nature and rich in organic matter.

  • Major Producers: Assam, Darjeeling (West Bengal), Meghalaya, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Highest Producer: Assam

  • Research Centres: Tocklai, Assam

  • Highest Producing Country: China

Spices


India has been known for its spices since ancient times.


Cardamom (Queen of Aromatic Spices) – Assam, Kerala, Tamil Nadu

Pepper (King of Spices) – Kerala

Chillies – Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan

Turmeric – Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Nutmeg – Kerala

Arecanut – Kerala, Karnataka, Tripura, Assam

Coconut – Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh

Cinnamon – Kerala Clove – Kerala Ginger – Kerala, Meghalaya, Sikkim

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  • Temperature: 10-30 °C

  • Rainfall: 200-300 cm

  • Soil type: Loamy soil/ Lateritic soil

  • Location: 1000-2000m altitude of Western Ghats and other hilly areas

  • Major Producers: Kerala, Karnataka, Highest Producer: Kerala

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