This MCQ module is based on: Major Crops of India Class 10 NCERT Geography Ch 4 Part 2
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Major Crops of India Class 10 NCERT Geography Ch 4 Part 2
🎓 Class 10
Social Science
CBSE
Theory
Ch 4 — Agriculture
⏱ ~15 min
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Major Crops of India
NCERT Contemporary India-II | Chapter 4: Agriculture
What Are the Major Food Grain Crops of India?
India cultivates a tremendous variety of food and non-food crops, shaped by regional differences in soil, climate, and farming practices. Let us examine the most important crops of India.
Rice
Rice? is the staple food crop for a majority of Indians. India ranks as the second largest rice producer in the world, after China. It is a kharif crop requiring high temperatures (above 25°C) and high humidity, with annual rainfall exceeding 100 cm. In regions with lower rainfall, rice cultivation depends on irrigation.
Distribution
Rice grows across the plains of northern and north-eastern India, coastal areas, and deltaic regions. The development of canal irrigation and tubewells has enabled rice cultivation even in drier states like Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan.
Wheat
Wheat? is India's second most important cereal. It is the primary food crop in the north and north-western parts of the country. As a rabi crop, wheat needs a cool growing season and bright sunshine during ripening. It requires 50 to 75 cm of evenly distributed annual rainfall.
India has two major wheat-growing zones: the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west, and the black soil region of the Deccan plateau. The leading wheat-producing states are Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan.
Millets
The major millets? grown in India are jowar, bajra, and ragi. Although they are sometimes called coarse grains, millets possess exceptionally high nutritional value. Ragi, for example, is extremely rich in iron, calcium, micro-nutrients, and dietary roughage.
| Millet | Soil & Conditions | Major Producing States |
|---|---|---|
| Jowar | Rain-fed crop; moist areas; hardly needs irrigation | Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh |
| Bajra | Sandy soils and shallow black soil | Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana |
| Ragi | Dry regions; red, black, sandy, loamy soils | Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh |
Maize
Maize serves both as a food grain and as animal fodder. It is primarily a kharif crop that requires temperatures between 21°C and 27°C and grows well in old alluvial soil. In some states like Bihar, maize is also grown during the rabi season. The use of HYV seeds, fertilisers, and irrigation has substantially increased maize output. Major maize-producing states include Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Pulses
India is the largest producer as well as consumer of pulses? in the world. They are the primary source of protein for India's large vegetarian population. Major pulses include tur (arhar), urad, moong, masur, peas, and gram.
Science Connection
Pulses (except arhar) are leguminous crops — they have nitrogen-fixing bacteria in their root nodules that restore soil fertility. This is why pulses are commonly grown in rotation with other crops, naturally replenishing the nitrogen content of the soil.
Pulses require relatively less moisture and can survive even in dry conditions. Major pulse-producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.
Which Food Crops Other Than Grains Are Important in India?
Sugarcane
Sugarcane? is a tropical and subtropical crop that thrives in hot, humid conditions with temperatures of 21°C to 27°C and annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm. It grows on a variety of soils and needs extensive manual labour from sowing to harvesting. India ranks as the second largest sugarcane producer globally, after Brazil.
Sugarcane is the principal source of sugar, gur (jaggery), khandsari, and molasses. The major sugarcane-producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana.
Oil Seeds
India was the second largest producer of groundnut in the world after China (as of 2020). Oil seed crops cover about 12 per cent of the total cropped area. Major oil seeds? include groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soyabean, castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed, and sunflower. Most are edible and used for cooking; some serve as raw materials for soap, cosmetics, and ointments.
Seasonal Classification of Oil Seeds
- Groundnut — Kharif crop; accounts for about half of India's total oilseed production. Gujarat is the largest producer, followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.
- Linseed & Mustard — Rabi crops
- Sesamum — Kharif in northern India, rabi in southern India
- Castor seed — Grown as both rabi and kharif crop
Where Are Tea and Coffee Grown in India?
Tea
Tea? cultivation is a classic example of plantation agriculture. Originally introduced by the British, most tea plantations are now owned by Indians. The tea plant thrives in tropical and sub-tropical climates with deep, fertile, well-drained soil rich in humus and organic matter. It requires a warm, moist, frost-free climate throughout the year, with frequent and evenly distributed showers ensuring continuous growth of tender leaves.
Tea is a labour-intensive industry requiring abundant, cheap, and skilled labour. The leaves are processed within the tea garden itself to preserve freshness. Major tea-producing states are Assam, the hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. Other producing states include Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, and Tripura. India was the second largest tea producer in the world (after China) as of 2020.
Coffee
Indian coffee is internationally reputed for its quality. The Arabica variety, originally brought from Yemen, is the main type produced. Coffee cultivation was initially introduced on the Baba Budan Hills and remains confined mainly to the Nilgiri hills region covering Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
What Are the Major Horticulture Crops of India?
India was the second largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world (after China) as of 2020, growing both tropical and temperate varieties.
Mangoes
Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Oranges
Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Cherrapunji (Meghalaya)
Bananas
Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu
Apples & Walnuts
Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh
Other important horticultural products include lichi and guava from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, pineapples from Meghalaya, and grapes from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. India is also a major producer of vegetables such as peas, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal, and potato.
What Are India's Important Non-Food Crops?
Rubber
Rubber is an equatorial crop that can also grow under special conditions in tropical and sub-tropical areas. It requires a moist, humid climate with rainfall exceeding 200 cm and temperatures above 25°C. Rubber is a vital industrial raw material, mainly grown in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and the Garo hills of Meghalaya.
Fibre Crops — Cotton and Jute
Definition
Sericulture: The rearing of silkworms for the production of silk fibre. Silkworms are fed on green leaves, especially mulberry. Silk is one of India's four major fibre products alongside cotton, jute, and hemp.
Cotton is believed to have originated in India. It is one of the primary raw materials for the cotton textile industry. India is the second largest cotton producer after China. Cotton thrives in the drier parts of the black cotton soil? of the Deccan plateau, requiring high temperatures, light rainfall or irrigation, 210 frost-free days, and bright sunshine. It is a kharif crop taking 6 to 8 months to mature. Major cotton-producing states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Jute, known as the golden fibre?, grows well on well-drained fertile soils in flood plains where soils are renewed annually. It requires high temperatures during the growing period. The major jute-producing states are West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, and Meghalaya. Jute is used for manufacturing gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets, and various handicrafts.
India's Major Crops — Growing Conditions Comparison
L4 AnalyseFigure: Minimum rainfall requirements (cm) and ideal temperature ranges for major Indian crops
THINK ABOUT IT — Commercial vs Subsistence
L4 Analyse
The textbook mentions that rice is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab but a subsistence crop in Odisha. Can you think of other crops that may be commercial in one region and subsistence in another? What factors determine whether the same crop is "commercial" or "subsistence"?
Guidance
Factors include: (1) Scale of production — large farms produce surplus for market; (2) Use of modern inputs like HYV seeds and fertilisers; (3) Access to irrigation; (4) Market connectivity and transport infrastructure; (5) Whether the farmer consumes most of the output or sells it. For example, wheat is commercial in Punjab but may be subsistence in rain-fed parts of eastern UP. Similarly, coconut is a commercial plantation crop in Kerala but subsistence in many coastal village homesteads.
LET'S EXPLORE — Rubber Products Around You
L3 Apply
The textbook asks: List items made of rubber that you use in daily life.
Answer
Common rubber products include: tyres and tubes (vehicles and bicycles), erasers, rubber bands, footwear (soles and slippers), gloves, hoses, conveyor belts, waterproof coats, rubber seals and gaskets, balloons, and sports equipment (balls, mats).
DISCUSS — Pulses and Soil Fertility
L5 Evaluate
Why are pulses recommended to be grown in rotation with other crops? Which pulses are kharif and which are rabi? Why is arhar different from other pulses?
Guidance
Pulses (except arhar) are leguminous — they fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil through root nodule bacteria, restoring soil fertility naturally. This makes crop rotation with pulses extremely beneficial. Kharif pulses: tur (arhar), moong, urad. Rabi pulses: gram, masur, peas. Arhar is the exception because, unlike other pulses, it does not fix nitrogen from the air, so it does not contribute to soil fertility restoration.
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Competency-Based Questions
Case Study: State P is a leading producer of cotton and sugarcane. It has black soil in the eastern part and alluvial soil in the western coastal regions. The state also grows mangoes and grapes for export. Recently, farmers have been complaining about declining groundwater levels and soil fertility due to repeated cultivation of the same cash crops.
Q1. Based on the description, which Indian state does State P most likely represent?
L3 Apply
Q2. Analyse why cotton grows well in the eastern (black soil) part of State P but not in the coastal (alluvial soil) region.
L4 Analyse
Q3. Evaluate what sustainable farming strategies farmers in State P could adopt to address declining soil fertility and falling groundwater levels.
L5 Evaluate
HOT Q. Create a diversified crop calendar for a farmer in State P who owns 5 hectares of black soil land. Plan crops for all three seasons (rabi, kharif, zaid) to ensure both income and soil health.
L6 Create
⚖ Assertion–Reason Questions
Options:
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.
(A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is true, but R is false.
(D) A is false, but R is true.
Assertion (A): Pulses are often grown in rotation with other crops like wheat and rice.
Reason (R): Most pulses are leguminous crops that fix atmospheric nitrogen into the soil, thereby restoring fertility.
Assertion (A): Tea leaves must be processed within the tea garden itself.
Reason (R): Tea is a labour-intensive plantation crop that requires abundant, cheap, and skilled workers.
Assertion (A): Cotton grows well in the black soil regions of the Deccan plateau.
Reason (R): Black soil (regur) has high moisture-retaining capacity, which is ideal for the cotton crop that grows in relatively drier conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the major food grain crops of India?
India's major food grain crops include rice (the most important food crop, grown in plains of north and northeast India requiring high temperature and humidity), wheat (second most important, grown mainly in north India during rabi season), millets (jowar, bajra, ragi — grown in dry regions as they need less water), maize (a kharif crop grown in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar), and pulses (tur/arhar, urad, moong, gram — India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses globally). These crops form the staple diet of the Indian population.
What conditions are required for growing rice in India?
Rice requires high temperature (above 25 degrees Celsius), high humidity, and annual rainfall above 100 cm. It is a kharif crop grown mainly in the plains of north and northeast India. Major rice-producing states include West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu. In areas with less rainfall, rice is grown with irrigation support. India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world after China. The crop needs alluvial soil or deltaic soil with water-retaining capacity.
Where is tea grown in India?
Tea is grown in India primarily in Assam, the hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri in West Bengal, and the Nilgiris in Tamil Nadu. Kerala, Karnataka, and Himachal Pradesh are also significant tea-producing states. Tea requires deep, well-drained fertile soil, warm and moist climate with frequent showers distributed throughout the year, and cheap and skilled labour. Assam produces the largest quantity of tea in India. India is among the world's leading tea producers and exporters.
What is the difference between cash crops and food crops?
Food crops are cultivated primarily for domestic consumption as food, such as rice, wheat, millets, and pulses. Cash crops are grown primarily for sale in the market rather than personal consumption, including sugarcane, cotton, jute, tea, coffee, and rubber. However, the distinction is not always clear-cut — for example, sugarcane is both a food product (sugar) and an industrial raw material. In NCERT Class 10 Geography, crops are also classified as food grains, oil seeds, fibre crops, and beverage crops.
Which are the major fibre crops of India?
The major fibre crops of India are cotton and jute. Cotton is the most important fibre crop, grown mainly in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab. It requires black soil, warm climate with 210 frost-free days, and moderate rainfall. Jute is called the golden fibre and is mainly grown in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and Odisha. Jute requires high temperature, heavy rainfall, and alluvial soil. India is the world's largest producer of jute and second-largest producer of cotton.
What are the important horticulture crops of India?
India is the largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. Important horticulture crops include mangoes (produced mainly in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh), bananas (Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu), apples (Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh), oranges (Nagpur in Maharashtra, Darjeeling), grapes (Maharashtra), and a wide variety of vegetables. India also leads in spice production including pepper, cardamom, turmeric, and ginger. Horticulture has emerged as a major revenue-generating sector for Indian agriculture.
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