📌 Topic 01 of 6 · Chapter 06 · Agriculture in India
Types of Farming & Cropping Seasons in India
Kharif, Rabi, Zaid crops, subsistence, commercial, plantation farming — complete notes for UPSC & PSC exams.
🌾 Cropping Seasons of India
| Season | Period | Sown | Harvested | Major Crops |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kharif | June–November | June–July (SW monsoon) | Sept–Oct | Rice, maize, cotton, sugarcane, jute, groundnut, soybean, bajra, jowar |
| Rabi | November–April | Oct–Nov (after monsoon) | March–April | Wheat, barley, mustard, gram (chickpea), peas, linseed |
| Zaid | March–June | March (summer) | June | Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, fodder crops |
🌾 Types of Farming in India
| Type | Description | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Subsistence Farming | Farming for own consumption; small holdings; traditional methods | Most of India; small farmers |
| Intensive Subsistence | High labour input; small plots; multiple crops per year; rice-based | Indo-Gangetic Plain, Kerala, WB |
| Commercial Farming | Farming for market; large scale; mechanised; cash crops | Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra |
| Plantation Farming | Single crop on large estates; export-oriented; high capital | Tea (Assam), Coffee (Karnataka), Rubber (Kerala) |
| Mixed Farming | Crops + livestock together; diversified income | Punjab, Haryana, UP |
| Shifting Cultivation (Jhum) | Clear forest, cultivate for 2-3 years, move on; slash and burn | NE India (Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland) |
| Dry Farming | Farming without irrigation in low rainfall areas; drought-resistant crops | Rajasthan, Deccan Plateau |
⭐ Key Facts — Cropping Seasons:
• Kharif = monsoon crops = sown with onset of SW monsoon = rice, cotton, jute
• Rabi = winter crops = sown after monsoon = wheat, mustard, gram
• Zaid = summer crops = short duration = watermelon, cucumber
• Jhum cultivation = shifting cultivation = NE India = causes deforestation
• India = 2nd largest agricultural country in world by area under cultivation
• Kharif = monsoon crops = sown with onset of SW monsoon = rice, cotton, jute
• Rabi = winter crops = sown after monsoon = wheat, mustard, gram
• Zaid = summer crops = short duration = watermelon, cucumber
• Jhum cultivation = shifting cultivation = NE India = causes deforestation
• India = 2nd largest agricultural country in world by area under cultivation