NCERT Geography Class 10 | Cropping Pattern

Topic & sub-topics covered: Cropping Pattern and MCQs Questions: Agriculture (All single detail notes are exam-oriented).

We have discussed in-depth and exam-oriented pointers that can be asked in the board exam of class 10th about “Cropping Pattern” from the NCERT Geography notes for class 10th chapter 4th “Agriculture“.

Download the NCERT Geography for Class 10th Chapter 4 Agriculture PDF Notes

Are you here to download your free PDF notes for NCERT Geography for class 10th chapter 4th Agriculture then you are at the right place. You can download your free Agriculture PDF Notes by clicking the link below. This chapter covers major topics like types of farming, cropping patterns, and major crops grown in India that are exam-oriented with MCQ-type questions and answers. These free notes are specially made for class 10 students preparing for their board exam, these notes simplify complex concepts and provide clear explanations to enhance your understanding.

NCERT Geography Class 10th Chapter 4 Agriculture PDF Notes

These notes are perfect for exam preparation in a short time because in these notes we cover the concepts in a pointer that are exam-oriented with MCQ, they include key points, diagrams, explanations, and MCQ questions that make you learn faster. Whether revising for tests, preparing for board/CBSE exams or building your knowledge, this PDF is a must-have resource to score high in Geography exams or tests.

Cropping Pattern

1. General Overview:

• Its physical diversity and cultural plurality influence agricultural practices and cropping patterns in India.
• India produces various crops, including food crops, fibre crops, vegetables, fruits, spices, and condiments.
• India has three major cropping seasons: Rabi, Kharif, and Zaid.

Rabi Cropping Season

1. Timeframe:

• Sown: October to December (winter).
• Harvested: April to June (summer).

2. Important Rabi Crops:

• Wheat, barley, peas, gram, and mustard.

3. Key States:

• Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh.

4. Factors Supporting Rabi Crops:

• Precipitation during winter from western temperate cyclones.
• Green Revolution in Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan significantly boosted production.

Kharif Cropping Season

1. Timeframe:

• Sown: With the onset of monsoon.
• Harvested: September to October.

2. Important Kharif Crops:

• Paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, tur (arhar), moong, urad, cotton, jute, groundnut, soybean.

3. Key Rice-Growing Regions:

• Assam, West Bengal, Odisha (coastal areas), Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra (Konkan coast), Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
• Paddy is also an important crop in Punjab and Haryana.

4. Multiple Paddy Crops in a Year:

• States: Assam, West Bengal, Odisha.
• Varieties: Aus, Aman, Boro.

Zaid Cropping Season

1. Timeframe:

• Between Rabi and Kharif seasons, during the summer months.

2. Crops Grown During Zaid Season:

• Watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, fodder crops.

3. Special Case:

• Sugarcane takes almost a year to grow.

4. Key Insights:

• Significance of Rabi Crops: Availability of winter precipitation (western temperate cyclones) and Green Revolution technologies.
• Impact of Monsoon: Kharif crops depend heavily on the onset and distribution of monsoon rains.
• Regional Variations: Some regions (e.g., Assam, West Bengal, Odisha) grow three paddy crops annually.
• Zaid Season Importance: Fills the gap between the major cropping seasons and provides quick-growing crops like watermelons and cucumbers.

Major Crops

1. Overview of Crops in India:

• India grows a variety of food and non-food crops based on soil, climate, and cultivation practices.
• Major crops include rice, wheat, millet, pulses, tea, coffee, sugarcane, oilseeds, cotton, and jute.

2. Rice:

• Staple Food Crop: The majority of Indians consume rice as their staple food.
• Global Ranking: India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world, after China.
• Type of Crop: It is a kharif crop.
• Climatic Conditions:
  a. High temperature (above 25°C).
  b. High humidity.
  c. Annual rainfall above 100 cm.
  d. In low-rainfall areas, rice is grown with the help of irrigation.
• Regions of Cultivation:
  a. Plains of north and northeastern India.
  b. Coastal areas and deltaic regions.
  c. Low-rainfall areas (Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan) with the aid of canal irrigation and tubewells.

3. Wheat:

• Second Most Important Cereal Crop: The main food crop in north and northwest India.
• Type of Crop: It is a rabi crop.
• Climatic Conditions:
  a. Cool growing season.
  b. Bright sunshine during ripening.
  c. Annual rainfall is 50-75 cm, evenly distributed.
• Wheat-Growing Zones:
  a. Ganga-Satluj plains in the northwest.
  b. Black soil region of the Deccan.
• Major Producing States: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan.

4. Millets:

• Nutritional Value: Known as coarse grains, but highly nutritious.
  Ragi: Rich in iron, calcium, micronutrients, and roughage.
• Types and Regions:
  1. Jowar:
  a. Rain-fed crop grown in moist areas.
  b. Requires minimal irrigation.
  c. Major producers: Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh.
  2. Bajra:
  a. Grows in sandy soils and shallow black soils.
  b. Major producers: Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Haryana.
  3. Ragi:
  a. Grows in dry regions with red, black, sandy, loamy, and shallow black soils.
  b. Major producers: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Jharkhand, and  Arunachal Pradesh.

5. Maize:

• Uses: Consumed as both food and fodder.
• Type of Crop:
  a. Primarily a kharif crop, though also grown in the rabi season in Bihar.
• Climatic Conditions:
  a. Temperature: 21°C to 27°C.
  b. Soil: Grows well in old alluvial soil.
• Modern Inputs: The use of HYV seeds, fertilizers, and irrigation boost production.
• Major Producing States: Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.

6. Pulses:

• India’s Position: Largest producer and consumer of pulses in the world.
• Nutritional Value: A major source of protein in a vegetarian diet.
• Types of Pulses: Tur (arhar), urad, moong, Masur, peas, gram.
  a. Grown in both kharif and rabi seasons.
• Climatic Requirements:
  a. Require less moisture.
  b. Survive in dry conditions.
• Soil Fertility Role:
  a. Leguminous crops (except arhar) fix nitrogen in the soil, improving fertility.
  b. Usually grown in rotation with other crops.
• Major Producing States: Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Food Crops Other than Grains

1. Sugarcane:

• Crop Type: Tropical and subtropical crops.
• Climatic Conditions:
  a. Temperature: 21°C to 27°C.
  b. Annual rainfall: 75 cm to 100 cm (requires irrigation in low-rainfall regions).
  c. Thrives in hot and humid climates.
• Soil: Grows on a variety of soils.
• Labour Requirement: Requires manual labour from sowing to harvesting.
• Global Rank: India is the second-largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil.
• Uses: Produces sugar, gur (jaggery), khandsari, and molasses.
• Major Producing States: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana.

2. Oilseeds:

• Cropped Area: Covers 12% of the total cropped area in India.
• Global Ranking (2018):
  a. Groundnut: 2nd largest producer (after China).
  b. Rapeseed: 3rd largest producer (after Canada and China).
• Types: Groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum (til), soybean, castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed, sunflower.
• Uses:
  a. Most are edible oils used in cooking.
  b. Some are used as raw materials in the soap, cosmetics, and ointment industries.
• Crop Classification:
  a. Groundnut: Kharif crop; Gujarat is the largest producer (followed by Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu).
  b. Linseed and Mustard: Rabi crops.
  c. Sesamum: Kharif crop in the north and rabi crop in the south.
  d. Castor Seed: Grown in both kharif and rabi seasons.

3. Tea:

• Crop Type: Plantation agriculture and an important beverage crop.
• History: Introduced by the British; now mostly Indian-owned plantations.
• Climatic Conditions:
  a. Tropical and subtropical climates.
  b. Deep, fertile, well-drained soil rich in humus.
  c. Warm, moist, frost-free climate with frequent and evenly distributed rainfall.
• Labour Requirement: Labour-intensive industry requires abundant, cheap, and skilled labour.
• Processing: Tea is processed within the gardens to maintain freshness.
• Global Rank (2018): Second-largest producer of tea (after China).
• Major Producing States: Assam, hills of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura.

4. Coffee:

• Speciality: Indian coffee is known globally for its high quality.
• Variety: Arabica variety, originally brought from Yemen, is in great demand worldwide.
• Initial Cultivation: Introduced in the Baba Budan Hills (Karnataka).
• Regions: Confined to the Nilgiri Hills of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.

5. Horticulture Crops:

• Global Rank (2018): Second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables (after China).
• Types: Includes tropical and temperate fruits.
• Examples:
  a. Mangoes: Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.
  b. Oranges: Nagpur (Maharashtra), Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya).
  c. Bananas: Kerala, Mizoram, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu.
  d. Lichi and Guava: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar.
  e. Pineapples: Meghalaya.
  f. Grapes: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra.
  g. Apples, Pears, Apricots, Walnuts: Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh.
• Vegetables: Includes peas, cauliflower, onion, cabbage, tomato, brinjal, and potato.

6. Non-Food Crops:

• Rubber:
  a. Crop Type: Equatorial; grows in tropical and subtropical areas.
  b. Climatic Conditions: Moist, humid climate; rainfall above 200 cm; temperature above 25°C.
  c. Uses: Industrial raw material.
  d. Regions: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Garo Hills (Meghalaya).
• Fibre Crops:
  a. Types: Cotton, jute, hemp, natural silk.
  b. Silk Production: Sericulture (rearing silkworms on mulberry leaves).

7. Cotton:

• History: Believed to be the original home of cotton.
• Crop Type: Kharif crop; requires 6-8 months to mature.
• Climatic Conditions:
  a. Grows in drier parts of black cotton soil (Deccan Plateau).
  b. High temperature, light rainfall, or irrigation.
  c. Requires 210 frost-free days and bright sunshine.
• Global Rank (2017): Second-largest producer (after China).
• Major Producing States: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh.

8. Jute:

• Nickname: Known as the golden fibre.
• Climatic Conditions:
  a. Grows in flood plains with well-drained fertile soils.
  b. High temperature required for growth.
• Uses: Making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets, artefacts.
• Regions: West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Odisha, Meghalaya.
• Challenges: Losing the market to synthetic fibres like nylon due to high cost.

Technological and Institutional Reforms

1. Overview of Agriculture in India:

• Historical Significance: Agriculture has been practiced in India for thousands of years.
• Challenges:
  a. Lack of compatible techno-institutional changes hindered agricultural development.
  b. Heavy dependence on monsoons and natural soil fertility, despite irrigation development.
• Population Pressure: Agriculture, which provides livelihood to more than 60% of the population, faces challenges in sustaining the growing population.

2. Institutional Reforms Post-Independence:

• Key Reforms:
  a. Collectivisation.
  b. Consolidation of land holdings.
  c. Cooperation.
  d. Abolition of the Zamindari system.
• Focus of the First Five-Year Plan: Land reforms were the central focus to address land fragmentation caused by inheritance laws.
• Implementation Issues: Land reform laws were enacted but poorly implemented.

3. Technological and Agricultural Reforms:

• Green Revolution (1960s-1970s):
  a. Based on package technology.
  b. Led to agricultural development but concentrated in selected areas.
• White Revolution (Operation Flood): Enhanced milk production and rural economy.
• Comprehensive Land Development Programme (1980s-1990s):
  a. Institutional and technical reforms.
  b. Provision for crop insurance against natural calamities.
  c. Establishment of Grameen Banks, cooperative societies, and low-interest loans for farmers.

4. Government Initiatives:

• Schemes Introduced:
  a. Kissan Credit Card (KCC): Provides easy access to credit.
  b. Personal Accident Insurance Scheme (PAIS): Covers farmers against accidents.
• Agricultural Awareness:
  a. Special weather bulletins and agricultural programs for farmers on radio and TV.
• Price Support:
  a. Announcement of minimum support prices (MSP), remunerative and procurement prices to prevent exploitation by speculators and middlemen.

5. Bhoodan-Gramdan Movement:

• Leader: Initiated by Vinoba Bhave, Gandhi’s spiritual heir.
• Origin:
  a. During a lecture in Pochampalli, Andhra Pradesh, poor landless villagers demanded land.
  b. Shri Ram Chandra Reddy donated 80 acres of land for distribution among 80 villagers. This act was termed Bhoodan.
• Expansion:
  a. Some zamindars donated entire villages, termed as Gramdan.
  b. Landowners often donated land due to fear of the Land Ceiling Act.
• Significance: Known as the Bloodless Revolution, spreading Gandhiji’s message of economic and social equality.

Key Takeaways for Exams

1. Institutional Reforms: Understand the focus and shortcomings of land reforms and their impact.
2. Technological Reforms: Memorize the key features and outcomes of the Green Revolution and White Revolution.
3. Government Schemes: Highlight initiatives like KCC, PAIS, MSP, and their role in supporting farmers.
4. Bhoodan-Gramdan: Learn the contributions of Vinoba Bhave and the significance of this movement in achieving social justice.

Next & Previous Topics of NCERT/CBSE Geography Class 10 Chapter 4: Agriculture

Topics No.	Topics Name
1	Types Of Farming
2	Cropping Pattern

MCQ Questions on NCERT Geography Class 10 Chapter 4 | Types Of Farming

Question 1. What type of farming is known as ‘slash and burn’ agriculture?

A) Commercial farming
B) Primitive subsistence farming
C) Intensive subsistence farming
D) Plantation farming

Answer: B) Primitive subsistence farming

Question 2. In which Indian state is ‘jhumming’ practiced?

A) Punjab
B) Assam
C) Rajasthan
D) Gujarat

Answer: B) Assam

Question 3. Which tool is NOT typically used in primitive subsistence farming?

A) Hoe
B) Tractor
C) Digging stick
D) Dao

Answer: B) Tractor

Question 4. What is the main characteristic of commercial farming?

A) Use of primitive tools
B) Slash and burn methods
C) High use of modern inputs like HYV seeds and fertilisers
D) Dependence on monsoon

Answer: C) High use of modern inputs like HYV seeds and fertilisers

Question 5. Which crop is commercial in Punjab but subsistence in Odisha?

A) Wheat
B) Rice
C) Maize
D) Sugarcane

Answer: B) Rice

Question 6. Which crops are grown in the rabi season?

A) Paddy, Maize
B) Wheat, Mustard
C) Jowar, Bajra
D) Watermelon, Muskmelon

Answer: B) Wheat, Mustard

Question 7. What is the major cropping season between rabi and Kharif?

A) Summer
B) Zaid
C) Monsoon
D) Spring

Answer: B) Zaid

Question 8. Which crops are grown during the zaid season?

A) Wheat and Barley
B) Paddy and Jowar
C) Watermelon and Muskmelon
D) Sugarcane and Cotton

Answer: C) Watermelon and Muskmelon

Question 9. Which crop is India the second-largest producer after China?

A) Wheat
B) Rice
C) Tea
D) Cotton

Answer: B) Rice

Question 10. Which soil type is ideal for growing cotton?

A) Red soil
B) Black soil
C) Sandy soil
D) Alluvial soil

Answer: B) Black soil

Question 11. Which pulse helps in restoring soil fertility by fixing nitrogen?

A) Arhar
B) Moong
C) Gram
D) Masur

Answer: B) Moong

Question 12. Which state is the largest producer of sugarcane in India?

A) Uttar Pradesh
B) Maharashtra
C) Karnataka
D) Tamil Nadu

Answer: A) Uttar Pradesh

Question 13. What is ‘sericulture’?

A) Cultivation of tea
B) Production of sugarcane
C) Rearing of silkworms for silk fibre
D) Cultivation of rubber

Answer: C) Rearing of silkworms for silk fibre

Question 14. Which fibre crop is known as the ‘golden fibre’?

A) Cotton
B) Jute
C) Hemp
D) Silk

Answer: B) Jute

Question 15. What was the main focus of India’s First Five-Year Plan in agriculture?

A) Green Revolution
B) Land Reforms
C) White Revolution
D) Kissan Credit Card Scheme

Answer: B) Land Reforms

Question 16. Which revolution is associated with milk production in India?

A) Green Revolution
B) Blue Revolution
C) White Revolution
D) Yellow Revolution

Answer: C) White Revolution

Question 17. What is the purpose of the Kissan Credit Card (KCC) scheme?

A) Provide high-yielding seeds
B) Offer credit to farmers at low interest rates
C) Ensure minimum support price for crops
D) Train farmers in modern farming techniques

Answer: B) Offer credit to farmers at low interest rates

Question 18. Who started the Bhoodan movement?

A) Mahatma Gandhi
B) Vinoba Bhave
C) Jawaharlal Nehru
D) Sardar Patel

Answer: B) Vinoba Bhave

Question 19. What is the Bhoodan-Gramdan movement also known as?

A) Green Revolution
B) Blood-less Revolution
C) Operation Flood
D) Land Redistribution Revolution

Answer: B) Blood-less Revolution

Question 20. Which region is known for the production of ‘Boro’ paddy?

A) Punjab
B) West Bengal
C) Maharashtra
D) Tamil Nadu

Answer: B) West Bengal

Question 21. Which type of farming uses a single crop grown in a large area, like tea or coffee?

A) Primitive farming
B) Plantation farming
C) Intensive farming
D) Subsistence farming

Answer: B) Plantation farming

Question 22. Which crop requires an annual rainfall above 200 cm and a temperature above 25°C?

A) Cotton
B) Rubber
C) Wheat
D) Bajra

Answer: B) Rubber

Question 23. Which crop is grown both as a rabi and a Kharif crop in India?

A) Cotton
B) Groundnut
C) Maize
D) Sesamum

Answer: D) Sesamum

Question 24. In which states is tea primarily grown?

A) Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
B) Assam and West Bengal
C) Maharashtra and Gujarat
D) Kerala and Karnataka

Answer: B) Assam and West Bengal