Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 5 (Land resources and agriculture) – India - People and Economy Book

Detailed Notes with MCQs of Chapter 5, 'Land Resources and Agriculture' from your 'India - People and Economy' book. This is a crucial chapter, not just for your board exams but extensively for various government competitive exams, as agriculture and land use form the backbone of India's economy and society. Pay close attention to the details.

Chapter 5: Land Resources and Agriculture - Detailed Notes

1. Introduction: Importance of Land Resources

• Land is a finite resource, fundamental to human life and economic activities, especially agriculture, forestry, mining, transport, and settlement.
• India's landmass accounts for about 2.4% of the world's total geographical area, but it supports approximately 17.7% (and growing) of the world's population and a significant share of livestock.
• This puts immense pressure on the land, necessitating careful planning and management.

2. Land Use Categories in India

The Land Revenue Department maintains land use records. The reporting area differs slightly from the total geographical area as some areas (like parts of POK or Aksai Chin) are not surveyed or reported. Key categories include:

• (a) Forests: Area legally classified as forest or administered as forest. Note: This area may not always have actual tree cover.
• (b) Land put to Non-agricultural Uses: Settlements (rural/urban), infrastructure (roads, railways, canals), industries, shops, etc. Trend: Increasing due to industrialization and urbanization.
• (c) Barren and Wastelands: Land which cannot be brought under cultivation with available technology (e.g., barren hilly terrains, desert lands, ravines). Trend: Decreasing slightly due to technological advancements.
• (d) Area under Permanent Pastures and Grazing Lands: Mostly owned by village 'Panchayat' or the Government (Common Property Resources - CPRs). Trend: Decreasing due to encroachment for agriculture.
• (e) Area under Miscellaneous Tree Crops and Groves (Not included in Net Sown Area): Land under orchards and fruit trees, often privately owned. Trend: Relatively stable or slightly decreasing.
• (f) Culturable Waste Land: Land left uncultivated for more than 5 agricultural years. Can be brought under cultivation after improvement. Trend: Decreasing as it's brought under cultivation.
• (g) Current Fallow: Land left without cultivation for one or less than one agricultural year to regain fertility naturally.
• (h) Fallow other than Current Fallow: Land left uncultivated for the past 1 to 5 agricultural years.
• (i) Net Sown Area (NSA): The physical extent of land on which crops are sown and harvested. Represents the actual cultivated area. Trend: Relatively stagnant or slightly fluctuating around 46-47% of the reporting area.

3. Changes in India's Land Use Pattern

• Overall: The rate of increase in some categories (like non-agricultural use, current fallow) has slowed down, while NSA has shown stagnation or slight decline recently.
• Key Drivers: Economic growth (demand for land for infrastructure, industry, housing), population pressure, agricultural technology, land degradation, government policies.
• Concerns:
  • Decline in pastures impacts livestock rearing.
  • Stagnation/decline in NSA despite population growth puts pressure on existing farmland.
  • Increase in fallow lands might indicate distress (lack of inputs, water scarcity, market issues).
  • Conversion of prime agricultural land to non-agricultural uses.

4. Common Property Resources (CPRs)

• Resources accessible to the community, not owned individually (e.g., community forests, pastures, village water bodies).
• Crucial for poorer sections for fodder, fuel, and minor forest products.
• Declining due to privatization, encroachment, and degradation.

5. Agricultural Land Use in India

• Agriculture is heavily dependent on land quality, climate (especially rainfall), and water availability (irrigation).
• Cropping Intensity (CI): Indicates the number of times a particular piece of land is cultivated in an agricultural year.
  • Formula: CI = (Gross Cropped Area / Net Sown Area) x 100
  • Gross Cropped Area (GCA): Total area sown once or more than once in a year. (NSA + Area Sown More Than Once).
  • Higher CI indicates better utilization of land, often linked to irrigation, fertilizers, HYV seeds, and mechanization. Varies significantly across states (high in Punjab, Haryana, WB; low in Rajasthan, Gujarat, parts of Deccan).

6. Cropping Seasons in India

India has three distinct cropping seasons based primarily on the monsoon:

• (a) Kharif (Monsoon Season):
  • Sown: June-July (onset of Southwest Monsoon)
  • Harvested: September-October
  • Water Source: Primarily rainfall.
  • Key Crops: Rice, Maize, Jowar, Bajra, Tur (Arhar), Moong, Urad, Cotton, Jute, Groundnut, Soybean. (Think tropical crops needing warmth and moisture).
• (b) Rabi (Winter Season):
  • Sown: October-December (after monsoon retreat)
  • Harvested: April-June
  • Water Source: Stored soil moisture, irrigation (crucial).
  • Key Crops: Wheat, Barley, Peas, Gram, Mustard. (Think temperate crops needing cooler growing season but warm ripening).
• (c) Zaid (Summer Season):
  • A short season between Rabi harvest and Kharif sowing (March to June).
  • Water Source: Primarily irrigation.
  • Key Crops: Watermelon, Muskmelon, Cucumber, Vegetables, Fodder crops.

7. Types of Farming

Classification based on moisture availability and farming goals:

• Based on Moisture:
  • Irrigated Farming: Water supplied through artificial means (canals, wells, tanks). Protects against drought, stabilizes yields, allows multiple cropping. Essential for water-intensive crops like sugarcane, rice (in some areas), and crucial for Rabi crops.
  • Rainfed Farming (Barani): Depends solely on rainfall. Further divided into:
    • Dryland Farming: In regions with <75 cm annual rainfall. Focus on drought-resistant crops (Ragi, Bajra, Moong, Gram, Guar), moisture conservation techniques. High risk, low yields. (e.g., Rajasthan, parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka).
    • Wetland Farming: In regions with excess rainfall. Focus on water-surplus resistant crops (Rice, Jute, Sugarcane). Deals with issues like flooding and soil erosion. (e.g., NE India, West Coast, parts of Gangetic plains).
• Based on Farming Goal: (Though NCERT focuses less on this, it's relevant)
  • Subsistence Farming: Production mainly for family consumption. Small landholdings, traditional methods. (Includes Primitive Subsistence - shifting cultivation, and Intensive Subsistence - high population density areas).
  • Commercial Farming: Production primarily for sale in the market. Larger holdings, modern inputs (HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, machinery). (Includes Plantation agriculture).

8. Major Crops of India

• (a) Food Grains: Staple food. Dominate cropped area.
  • Rice: Kharif crop (Aus, Aman, Boro in WB/Assam). Needs high temp (>25°C), high humidity, >100 cm rainfall/irrigation. Alluvial clayey soil ideal. Major Producers: West Bengal, Punjab, UP, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu. India is the 2nd largest producer globally.
  • Wheat: Rabi crop. Needs cool growing season (10-15°C) and bright sunshine at ripening (20-25°C). Rainfall 50-75 cm or irrigation. Well-drained fertile loamy/clay loamy soil. Major Producers: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan. India is the 2nd largest producer globally.
  • Millets (Coarse Grains): High nutritional value, grown in rainfed areas.
    • Jowar: Rainfed, needs <100 cm rainfall. Hardy crop. Major Producers: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, MP. 3rd most important food crop (area/production).
    • Bajra: Sandy soils, shallow black soil. Very hardy, drought resistant. Major Producers: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana.
    • Ragi: Crop of dry regions. Red, black, sandy, loamy soils. Rich in iron, calcium. Major Producers: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim.
  • Maize: Both food and fodder. Kharif crop (though Rabi in some southern states). Needs 21-27°C temp, 50-100 cm rainfall. Old alluvial soil is good. Use of HYV seeds, fertilizers increased yield. Major Producers: Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana.
  • Pulses: Major source of protein (vegetarian diet). Leguminous crops (fix nitrogen, enhance soil fertility). Mostly rainfed. Need less moisture. Major Pulses: Tur (Arhar), Urad, Moong, Masur, Peas, Gram. Major Producers: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka. India is the largest producer and consumer. Challenges: Low yield, grown on marginal lands.
• (b) Oilseeds: Edible oils, raw material for industries. India is a major producer.
  • Groundnut: Kharif crop. Needs 50-75 cm rainfall. Tropical crop. Major Producers: Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh. Accounts for about half of major oilseed production.
  • Mustard (Rapeseed & Mustard): Rabi crop. Needs cool climate, 35-40 cm rainfall/irrigation. Major Producers: Rajasthan, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, UP.
  • Soybean: Kharif crop. Major Producers: Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra.
  • Sunflower: Both Kharif & Rabi. Major Producers: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra.
  • Others: Castor seed (Rabi/Kharif), Linseed (Rabi), Sesamum (Til - Kharif in North, Rabi in South).
• (c) Fibre Crops:
  • Cotton: Kharif crop. Needs high temp, light rainfall/irrigation (210 frost-free days, bright sunshine). Grows well in drier parts of black cotton soil (Deccan). Major Producers: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana. India is a leading producer.
  • Jute ('Golden Fibre'): Kharif crop. Needs high temp, heavy rainfall (>150 cm), high humidity. Well-drained fertile alluvial soils (flood plains). Used for ropes, bags, carpets. Major Producers: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Meghalaya. Losing market to synthetic fibres.
• (d) Other Crops (Beverages & Cash Crops):
  • Sugarcane: Tropical/Subtropical crop. Needs hot, humid climate (21-27°C), 75-100 cm rainfall/irrigation. Can grow on variety of soils. Labour intensive. Main source of sugar, gur, khandsari, molasses. Major Producers: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh. India 2nd largest producer.
  • Tea: Plantation crop, beverage. Grows well in tropical/subtropical climates, deep fertile well-drained soil (rich in humus). Needs warm, moist, frost-free climate, frequent showers throughout the year. Labour intensive. Major Producers: Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri), Tamil Nadu, Kerala. India is a leading producer and exporter.
  • Coffee: Plantation crop. Needs warm, wet climate, well-drained loamy soil. Hill slopes are ideal. Indian Arabica variety is famous. Major Producers: Karnataka (dominant, Baba Budan Hills), Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Nilgiris).
• (e) Horticulture: Fruits and Vegetables. India is a large producer (2nd globally for fruits/veg).
  • Tropical and Temperate fruits (Mangoes - Maharashtra, AP, Telangana, UP, WB; Oranges - Nagpur, Cherrapunjee; Bananas - Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, TN; Lichi/Guava - UP, Bihar; Pineapple - Meghalaya; Grapes - AP, Telangana, Maharashtra; Apples/Pears/Apricots/Walnuts - J&K, HP).
  • Vegetables: Pea, Cauliflower, Onion, Cabbage, Tomato, Brinjal, Potato.
  • Golden Revolution: Refers to the period of high growth in horticulture and honey production.

9. Agricultural Development in India

• Pre-Independence: Stagnation due to exploitative colonial policies (land tenure systems like Zamindari, Mahalwari, Ryotwari), focus on cash crops for export, lack of investment. Frequent famines.
• Post-Independence Strategy:
  • Phase 1 (Institutional Reforms): Abolition of Zamindari, land consolidation, land ceiling acts (limited success). Community Development Programme.
  • Phase 2 (Technological Reforms - Mid 1960s onwards):
    • Green Revolution: Focused on increasing food grain production (especially Wheat and Rice). Key components:
      • High Yielding Variety (HYV) seeds.
      • Increased use of chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides.
      • Expansion of Irrigation.
      • Mechanization.
      • Credit facilities, Minimum Support Price (MSP).
    • Impact: Significant increase in food grain production (self-sufficiency achieved), increased regional disparities (benefited irrigated areas like Punjab, Haryana, W-UP more), increased income inequality, environmental concerns (soil degradation, water depletion, pollution).
    • White Revolution (Operation Flood): Focused on increasing milk production. Led by NDDB. Cooperative model (Amul). Made India the largest milk producer.
    • Blue Revolution: Focused on increasing fish production.
• Recent Trends: Focus on diversification (high-value crops, horticulture, animal husbandry), organic farming, sustainable practices, improving market access (e-NAM), crop insurance (PMFBY), income support (PM-KISAN).

10. Problems of Indian Agriculture

• Dependence on Erratic Monsoon: Over 50% of NSA is still rainfed, making agriculture vulnerable to droughts and floods.
• Low Productivity: Yields per hectare for many crops are lower than international averages due to various factors.
• Small and Fragmented Landholdings: Average farm size is small and declining, hindering mechanization and economies of scale.
• Land Degradation: Soil erosion, waterlogging, salinization/alkalinization due to improper farming practices, deforestation, excessive irrigation.
• Lack of Credit and Indebtedness: Small farmers often rely on informal moneylenders with high interest rates, leading to debt traps.
• Inadequate Storage and Marketing Facilities: Leads to post-harvest losses and distress sales by farmers. Lack of market information.
• Underemployment/Disguised Unemployment: More people engaged in agriculture than required, leading to low per capita productivity.
• Impact of Climate Change: Increased frequency of extreme weather events, changing temperature and rainfall patterns affecting crop suitability and yields.

11. Strategies for Development and Sustainability

• Improving Irrigation Efficiency (drip, sprinkler). Watershed management.
• Developing Drought/Pest Resistant Seeds (Biotechnology).
• Promoting Crop Diversification towards high-value crops, horticulture, floriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries.
• Encouraging Organic and Sustainable Farming practices.
• Strengthening Rural Infrastructure (roads, storage, power).
• Improving Credit Access (formal sources like banks, cooperatives).
• Reforming Agricultural Markets (removing intermediaries, promoting farmer producer organizations - FPOs, e-NAM).
• Effective implementation of MSP and Crop Insurance schemes.
• Land Reforms (consolidation, proper record keeping).
• Focus on Small and Marginal Farmers through targeted schemes.

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Practice:

1. Which land use category in India has shown a significant increase primarily due to urbanization and industrialization?
   (a) Net Sown Area
   (b) Forests
   (c) Land put to Non-agricultural Uses
   (d) Culturable Waste Land

2. The term 'Cropping Intensity' is calculated as:
   (a) (Net Sown Area / Gross Cropped Area) x 100
   (b) (Gross Cropped Area / Net Sown Area) x 100
   (c) (Area Sown More Than Once / Net Sown Area) x 100
   (d) (Net Sown Area / Total Reporting Area) x 100

3. Which of the following crops is predominantly associated with the Kharif cropping season?
   (a) Wheat
   (b) Mustard
   (c) Rice
   (d) Barley

4. Dryland farming practices are most common in regions receiving annual rainfall:
   (a) Above 200 cm
   (b) Between 100 cm and 150 cm
   (c) Between 75 cm and 100 cm
   (d) Less than 75 cm

5. The Green Revolution in India primarily focused on increasing the production of:
   (a) Pulses and Oilseeds
   (b) Wheat and Rice
   (c) Cotton and Jute
   (d) Fruits and Vegetables

6. Which state is the leading producer of Jute in India?
   (a) Assam
   (b) Bihar
   (c) West Bengal
   (d) Odisha

7. 'Operation Flood' is associated with the increase in production of:
   (a) Fish
   (b) Milk
   (c) Food Grains
   (d) Oilseeds

8. Which of the following is a major problem faced by Indian agriculture?
   (a) Large average landholding size
   (b) Over-dependence on irrigation in all regions
   (c) Small and fragmented landholdings
   (d) Extremely high productivity across all crops

9. Which type of soil is considered most suitable for cotton cultivation?
   (a) Alluvial Soil
   (b) Red Soil
   (c) Laterite Soil
   (d) Black Soil (Regur)

10. Land left uncultivated for more than five agricultural years is categorized as:
    (a) Current Fallow
    (b) Fallow other than Current Fallow
    (c) Culturable Waste Land
    (d) Barren and Waste Land

Answer Key for MCQs:

1. (c)
2. (b)
3. (c)
4. (d)
5. (b)
6. (c)
7. (b)
8. (c)
9. (d)
10. (c)

Make sure you revise these points thoroughly. Understand the concepts, trends, key crops, their requirements, distribution, and the challenges facing Indian agriculture. This forms a significant part of your syllabus for competitive exams. Any questions? Feel free to ask.