Agricultural Geography
Agricultural geography of India for UPSC: cropping seasons, climate and soil needs of major crops, farming types, land use and irrigation.
SyllabusGS I · Economic geography of India; major crops and cropping patterns in various parts of the country, types of irrigation and irrigation systems (GS III)
Why is rice grown in the Bengal delta but bajra in western Rajasthan, cotton on the black soils of the Deccan and tea on the hill slopes of Assam? Agricultural geography answers the “where” and “why” of Indian farming — how climate, soil, relief and water decide the crop map.
What UPSC asks
- Prelims: the season of a crop (kharif, rabi, zaid), its temperature, rainfall and soil needs, the regions where it grows, types of farming (shifting cultivation and its local names), the nine-fold land-use classification and the meaning of terms such as cropping intensity.
- Mains (GS I and GS III): cropping patterns and their regional variation, the ecological costs of the Green Revolution, crop diversification, irrigation systems and climate-resilient farming.
Key sub-topics
| Sub-topic | Core idea |
|---|---|
| Cropping seasons | Kharif, rabi, zaid |
| Crop requirements | Climate and soil conditions of cereals, pulses, fibres, beverages and plantation crops |
| Types of farming | Primitive subsistence, intensive subsistence, commercial, plantation |
| Land use | Nine-fold classification; net sown area; cropping intensity |
| Irrigation | Wells and tube wells, canals, tanks; micro-irrigation |
| Regions | Agro-climatic regions (Planning Commission, 15) |
The economic side — MSP, procurement, subsidies and food security — is covered in Agriculture and Food Security. Begin with Cropping Patterns and Major Crops.