Cropping Patterns in India | Geography for UPSC 2024 (Pre & Mains) PDF Download

 Page 1


 
CROPPING PATTERNS IN INDIA: 
INTRODUCTION 
In the words of Prof. Schultz, “By cropping pattern is meant the proportion 
of area at a point of time. A change in cropping pattern implies a change 
in the proportion of area under different crops.” 
At one time, many believed that cropping patterns in an under developed 
country could not be changed. Prof. S.N. Sinha, for instance gave expression 
to such an opinion when he wrote: “In a tradition-ridden country with a very 
low level of knowledge, the peasants are unwilling to make experiments. 
They accept everything with a spirit of resignation and a sense of 
fatalism. “For them, agriculture is a way of life rather than a commercial 
proposition. In an agricultural community where the members- are 
illiterate and, tradition ridden, there is hardly any possibility of crop 
shifts,”  
This opinion has been challenged. 
 
It is widely agreed that the crop pattern of an underdeveloped country can 
be changed and should be changed. It is, therefore, necessary to find out 
the factors on which the cropping pattern of a country or region depends 
1. The Kharif Season: 
Sowing Season: May to July. 
Harvesting Season : September to October. 
Important Crops: Jowar, Bajra, Rice, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Jute, Hemp, 
Tobacco etc. 
 
2. The Rabi Season: 
Sowing Season: October to December  
Harvesting Season: February to April  
Important Crops: Wheat, Barley, Gram, Linseed, Mustard, Masoor & Peas. 
  
Page 2


 
CROPPING PATTERNS IN INDIA: 
INTRODUCTION 
In the words of Prof. Schultz, “By cropping pattern is meant the proportion 
of area at a point of time. A change in cropping pattern implies a change 
in the proportion of area under different crops.” 
At one time, many believed that cropping patterns in an under developed 
country could not be changed. Prof. S.N. Sinha, for instance gave expression 
to such an opinion when he wrote: “In a tradition-ridden country with a very 
low level of knowledge, the peasants are unwilling to make experiments. 
They accept everything with a spirit of resignation and a sense of 
fatalism. “For them, agriculture is a way of life rather than a commercial 
proposition. In an agricultural community where the members- are 
illiterate and, tradition ridden, there is hardly any possibility of crop 
shifts,”  
This opinion has been challenged. 
 
It is widely agreed that the crop pattern of an underdeveloped country can 
be changed and should be changed. It is, therefore, necessary to find out 
the factors on which the cropping pattern of a country or region depends 
1. The Kharif Season: 
Sowing Season: May to July. 
Harvesting Season : September to October. 
Important Crops: Jowar, Bajra, Rice, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Jute, Hemp, 
Tobacco etc. 
 
2. The Rabi Season: 
Sowing Season: October to December  
Harvesting Season: February to April  
Important Crops: Wheat, Barley, Gram, Linseed, Mustard, Masoor & Peas. 
  
 
3. The Zaid Season: 
These Crops are raised throughout the year due to artificial irrigation. 
FACTORS: 
The cropping pattern is dependent on various factors viz. agro- climatic 
condition of the region, availability of resources like land & water, market 
forces, socio-economic condition of the farmers and change as per the 
available resources.  
HISTORICAL FACTORS :  
Plantations introduced by British:  For eg. Tea Plantations 
Type of Ownership  :Under the crop sharing system, the landlord has a 
dominant voice in the choice of the cropping pattern and this helped in the 
adoption of income maximising crop adjustments. 
 
GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS: 
Cropping pattern of any particular region of the country is depending on its 
soil content, weather, climate, rainfall etc.  
 
Type of soil e.g. black soil in Deccan plateau is good for cotton 
Type of climate – In the summers where temperature is high tropical crops 
like- Gaur, Bajara while in winter temperate crops like mustard, wheat is 
grown. 
Type of rainfall e.g. In the dry regions where the rainfall is scanty 
and/uncertain, more dependence on rain fed crops like coarse cereals. Water 
logging areas cultivate rice. 
Type of topography e.g. tea is grown on gentle slopes 
 
 
 
Page 3


 
CROPPING PATTERNS IN INDIA: 
INTRODUCTION 
In the words of Prof. Schultz, “By cropping pattern is meant the proportion 
of area at a point of time. A change in cropping pattern implies a change 
in the proportion of area under different crops.” 
At one time, many believed that cropping patterns in an under developed 
country could not be changed. Prof. S.N. Sinha, for instance gave expression 
to such an opinion when he wrote: “In a tradition-ridden country with a very 
low level of knowledge, the peasants are unwilling to make experiments. 
They accept everything with a spirit of resignation and a sense of 
fatalism. “For them, agriculture is a way of life rather than a commercial 
proposition. In an agricultural community where the members- are 
illiterate and, tradition ridden, there is hardly any possibility of crop 
shifts,”  
This opinion has been challenged. 
 
It is widely agreed that the crop pattern of an underdeveloped country can 
be changed and should be changed. It is, therefore, necessary to find out 
the factors on which the cropping pattern of a country or region depends 
1. The Kharif Season: 
Sowing Season: May to July. 
Harvesting Season : September to October. 
Important Crops: Jowar, Bajra, Rice, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Jute, Hemp, 
Tobacco etc. 
 
2. The Rabi Season: 
Sowing Season: October to December  
Harvesting Season: February to April  
Important Crops: Wheat, Barley, Gram, Linseed, Mustard, Masoor & Peas. 
  
 
3. The Zaid Season: 
These Crops are raised throughout the year due to artificial irrigation. 
FACTORS: 
The cropping pattern is dependent on various factors viz. agro- climatic 
condition of the region, availability of resources like land & water, market 
forces, socio-economic condition of the farmers and change as per the 
available resources.  
HISTORICAL FACTORS :  
Plantations introduced by British:  For eg. Tea Plantations 
Type of Ownership  :Under the crop sharing system, the landlord has a 
dominant voice in the choice of the cropping pattern and this helped in the 
adoption of income maximising crop adjustments. 
 
GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS: 
Cropping pattern of any particular region of the country is depending on its 
soil content, weather, climate, rainfall etc.  
 
Type of soil e.g. black soil in Deccan plateau is good for cotton 
Type of climate – In the summers where temperature is high tropical crops 
like- Gaur, Bajara while in winter temperate crops like mustard, wheat is 
grown. 
Type of rainfall e.g. In the dry regions where the rainfall is scanty 
and/uncertain, more dependence on rain fed crops like coarse cereals. Water 
logging areas cultivate rice. 
Type of topography e.g. tea is grown on gentle slopes 
 
 
 
 
TECHNICAL FACTORS 
The cropping pattern also depend upon the technical factors such as nature 
and capacity of irrigation facilities available in a region, availability of 
improved seeds, chemical fertiliser etc. 
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS:  
Price and income aspect: 
A remunerative and steady price of a particular crop will provide a better 
incentive to the producer to produce that crop and un-remunerative price 
will induce the farmer to change the cropping pattern. 
 
Farm Size: 
There is a relationship between the farm size and the cropping pattert6n. 
The small farmers are first interested in producing food grain for their 
requirements. On the other hand, in a big farm farmers like to follow that 
cropping pattern which maximise their income. 
 
Insurance against Risk: 
The need to minimise the risk of crop failures not only explains 
diversification but also some specific features of crop patterns. 
 
Availability of Inputs: 
Cropping pattern is also depending upon the farm inputs available viz., 
seeds, fertiliser, controlled and assured water supply through irrigation 
etc. and among these irrigation is the most important.  
 
Market opportunities:  
Eg : Truck Farming 
Page 4


 
CROPPING PATTERNS IN INDIA: 
INTRODUCTION 
In the words of Prof. Schultz, “By cropping pattern is meant the proportion 
of area at a point of time. A change in cropping pattern implies a change 
in the proportion of area under different crops.” 
At one time, many believed that cropping patterns in an under developed 
country could not be changed. Prof. S.N. Sinha, for instance gave expression 
to such an opinion when he wrote: “In a tradition-ridden country with a very 
low level of knowledge, the peasants are unwilling to make experiments. 
They accept everything with a spirit of resignation and a sense of 
fatalism. “For them, agriculture is a way of life rather than a commercial 
proposition. In an agricultural community where the members- are 
illiterate and, tradition ridden, there is hardly any possibility of crop 
shifts,”  
This opinion has been challenged. 
 
It is widely agreed that the crop pattern of an underdeveloped country can 
be changed and should be changed. It is, therefore, necessary to find out 
the factors on which the cropping pattern of a country or region depends 
1. The Kharif Season: 
Sowing Season: May to July. 
Harvesting Season : September to October. 
Important Crops: Jowar, Bajra, Rice, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Jute, Hemp, 
Tobacco etc. 
 
2. The Rabi Season: 
Sowing Season: October to December  
Harvesting Season: February to April  
Important Crops: Wheat, Barley, Gram, Linseed, Mustard, Masoor & Peas. 
  
 
3. The Zaid Season: 
These Crops are raised throughout the year due to artificial irrigation. 
FACTORS: 
The cropping pattern is dependent on various factors viz. agro- climatic 
condition of the region, availability of resources like land & water, market 
forces, socio-economic condition of the farmers and change as per the 
available resources.  
HISTORICAL FACTORS :  
Plantations introduced by British:  For eg. Tea Plantations 
Type of Ownership  :Under the crop sharing system, the landlord has a 
dominant voice in the choice of the cropping pattern and this helped in the 
adoption of income maximising crop adjustments. 
 
GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS: 
Cropping pattern of any particular region of the country is depending on its 
soil content, weather, climate, rainfall etc.  
 
Type of soil e.g. black soil in Deccan plateau is good for cotton 
Type of climate – In the summers where temperature is high tropical crops 
like- Gaur, Bajara while in winter temperate crops like mustard, wheat is 
grown. 
Type of rainfall e.g. In the dry regions where the rainfall is scanty 
and/uncertain, more dependence on rain fed crops like coarse cereals. Water 
logging areas cultivate rice. 
Type of topography e.g. tea is grown on gentle slopes 
 
 
 
 
TECHNICAL FACTORS 
The cropping pattern also depend upon the technical factors such as nature 
and capacity of irrigation facilities available in a region, availability of 
improved seeds, chemical fertiliser etc. 
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS:  
Price and income aspect: 
A remunerative and steady price of a particular crop will provide a better 
incentive to the producer to produce that crop and un-remunerative price 
will induce the farmer to change the cropping pattern. 
 
Farm Size: 
There is a relationship between the farm size and the cropping pattert6n. 
The small farmers are first interested in producing food grain for their 
requirements. On the other hand, in a big farm farmers like to follow that 
cropping pattern which maximise their income. 
 
Insurance against Risk: 
The need to minimise the risk of crop failures not only explains 
diversification but also some specific features of crop patterns. 
 
Availability of Inputs: 
Cropping pattern is also depending upon the farm inputs available viz., 
seeds, fertiliser, controlled and assured water supply through irrigation 
etc. and among these irrigation is the most important.  
 
Market opportunities:  
Eg : Truck Farming 
 
 
Changing Consumption Pattern: 
There has been a change in the consumption pattern and people have 
moved from coarse cereals to wheat and rice for their main dietary grain. 
This is because of the increase in the income of the people and coarse cereals 
being the inferior goods. 
 
EDUCATION: 
As the courses on Agricultural Themes increase ; the pattern shifts for 
scientific reasons as well.. 
 
GOVERNMENT POLICIES: 
Government can exert influence on crop pattern through legislative and 
administrative measures. Steps may be taken by the State to subsidies the 
supplies of the farm inputs and knowledge. The State may attach the provision 
of some service or facility with a particular crop pattern. 
 
SOCIAL FACTORS: 
Customs, Traditions and Social Environment’s influence the cropping 
pattern in the country. 
 
 
CLIMATE CHANGE 
Climate change affects agriculture production adversely in India. Wide 
fluctuations in monsoon rainfall are becoming vulnerable to agriculture. 
farmers are changing their cropping pattern towards less vulnerable crops. 
 
 
Page 5


 
CROPPING PATTERNS IN INDIA: 
INTRODUCTION 
In the words of Prof. Schultz, “By cropping pattern is meant the proportion 
of area at a point of time. A change in cropping pattern implies a change 
in the proportion of area under different crops.” 
At one time, many believed that cropping patterns in an under developed 
country could not be changed. Prof. S.N. Sinha, for instance gave expression 
to such an opinion when he wrote: “In a tradition-ridden country with a very 
low level of knowledge, the peasants are unwilling to make experiments. 
They accept everything with a spirit of resignation and a sense of 
fatalism. “For them, agriculture is a way of life rather than a commercial 
proposition. In an agricultural community where the members- are 
illiterate and, tradition ridden, there is hardly any possibility of crop 
shifts,”  
This opinion has been challenged. 
 
It is widely agreed that the crop pattern of an underdeveloped country can 
be changed and should be changed. It is, therefore, necessary to find out 
the factors on which the cropping pattern of a country or region depends 
1. The Kharif Season: 
Sowing Season: May to July. 
Harvesting Season : September to October. 
Important Crops: Jowar, Bajra, Rice, Maize, Cotton, Groundnut, Jute, Hemp, 
Tobacco etc. 
 
2. The Rabi Season: 
Sowing Season: October to December  
Harvesting Season: February to April  
Important Crops: Wheat, Barley, Gram, Linseed, Mustard, Masoor & Peas. 
  
 
3. The Zaid Season: 
These Crops are raised throughout the year due to artificial irrigation. 
FACTORS: 
The cropping pattern is dependent on various factors viz. agro- climatic 
condition of the region, availability of resources like land & water, market 
forces, socio-economic condition of the farmers and change as per the 
available resources.  
HISTORICAL FACTORS :  
Plantations introduced by British:  For eg. Tea Plantations 
Type of Ownership  :Under the crop sharing system, the landlord has a 
dominant voice in the choice of the cropping pattern and this helped in the 
adoption of income maximising crop adjustments. 
 
GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS: 
Cropping pattern of any particular region of the country is depending on its 
soil content, weather, climate, rainfall etc.  
 
Type of soil e.g. black soil in Deccan plateau is good for cotton 
Type of climate – In the summers where temperature is high tropical crops 
like- Gaur, Bajara while in winter temperate crops like mustard, wheat is 
grown. 
Type of rainfall e.g. In the dry regions where the rainfall is scanty 
and/uncertain, more dependence on rain fed crops like coarse cereals. Water 
logging areas cultivate rice. 
Type of topography e.g. tea is grown on gentle slopes 
 
 
 
 
TECHNICAL FACTORS 
The cropping pattern also depend upon the technical factors such as nature 
and capacity of irrigation facilities available in a region, availability of 
improved seeds, chemical fertiliser etc. 
 
ECONOMIC FACTORS:  
Price and income aspect: 
A remunerative and steady price of a particular crop will provide a better 
incentive to the producer to produce that crop and un-remunerative price 
will induce the farmer to change the cropping pattern. 
 
Farm Size: 
There is a relationship between the farm size and the cropping pattert6n. 
The small farmers are first interested in producing food grain for their 
requirements. On the other hand, in a big farm farmers like to follow that 
cropping pattern which maximise their income. 
 
Insurance against Risk: 
The need to minimise the risk of crop failures not only explains 
diversification but also some specific features of crop patterns. 
 
Availability of Inputs: 
Cropping pattern is also depending upon the farm inputs available viz., 
seeds, fertiliser, controlled and assured water supply through irrigation 
etc. and among these irrigation is the most important.  
 
Market opportunities:  
Eg : Truck Farming 
 
 
Changing Consumption Pattern: 
There has been a change in the consumption pattern and people have 
moved from coarse cereals to wheat and rice for their main dietary grain. 
This is because of the increase in the income of the people and coarse cereals 
being the inferior goods. 
 
EDUCATION: 
As the courses on Agricultural Themes increase ; the pattern shifts for 
scientific reasons as well.. 
 
GOVERNMENT POLICIES: 
Government can exert influence on crop pattern through legislative and 
administrative measures. Steps may be taken by the State to subsidies the 
supplies of the farm inputs and knowledge. The State may attach the provision 
of some service or facility with a particular crop pattern. 
 
SOCIAL FACTORS: 
Customs, Traditions and Social Environment’s influence the cropping 
pattern in the country. 
 
 
CLIMATE CHANGE 
Climate change affects agriculture production adversely in India. Wide 
fluctuations in monsoon rainfall are becoming vulnerable to agriculture. 
farmers are changing their cropping pattern towards less vulnerable crops. 
 
 
 
FOOD SECURITY: 
Attaining food security is a matter of prime importance for India where more 
than a- third of its population is estimated to be absolutely poor, and as many 
as one half of its children have suffered from malnourishment over the last 
three decades.  
 
CONCLUSION 
To say that crop pattern is given and cannot be altered is not correct. It is 
possible to alter it. The most important consideration affecting crop pattern is 
the economic consideration. Even in a country like India which is dominated 
by farmers steeped in poverty and conservatism and where farmers hold tiny 
bits of land, cropping patterns can be altered through appropriate change in 
economic motives. 
Experience in recent years has been that the farmer does accept the logic for a 
change wherever he is shown a better crop pattern. The real difficulty in 
adopting a better cropping pattern is that the farmer may not have the requisite 
capital to invest now or possess the know-how that may be necessary for 
changing the crops. It is here that the State may come forward to his help.