Agriculture for Prelims 2024

(UPSC “HUNT” Series)

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Features of Indian Agriculture
1. Primary Sector + census 2011, around 54% of India’s population engaged in agriculture (2011 Census) + 18% of India's GVA in FY24

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2. Subsistence + Mixed Agriculture + Monsoon Dependent + Lack Mechanization + Food Crop Dominant + Intensive Farming + Low Productivity + Disguised
Unemployment.

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Agricultural Productivity
Total output or production from a given piece of land. (Kitne Input per Kitna Output milega)

India is the world's largest producer of spices, pulses, milk and jute, and the second largest producer of rice (China but India is the biggest exporter of rice in

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the world), wheat (China), sugarcane (Brazil), tea (China), groundnut (China), cashew (Vietnam). However, despite these impressive figures, agricultural productivity
in India is not uniform and exhibits considerable variation across crops and regions.

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Crop yield - measures the amount of agricultural production per unit of land area.
Cropping intensity - raising of a number of crops from the same field during one agricultural year (Cropping Intensity = Gross Cropped Area / Net Sown Area x 100)

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Kendall's Regional Classification (based on Agricultural productivity)

1. Very High Productivity Region: Punjab, Haryana, deltaic parts of Eastern Coastal plains.
2. High Productivity regions: Ganga plain, Assam plain, Peninsular river valley (Reason: Fertile land,
High cropping intensity)
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3. Medium Productivity region: Malwa plateau, Gujarat plateau, and Tamil Nadu plateau.
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4. Low Productivity regions: Bundelkhand, Bakhelkhand, Chotanagpur plateau, North Eastern Hills
(Reasons: No assured irrigation / Shifting cultivation)
5. Very low productivity regions: Rain Shadow zone of western Ghats, Rajasthan (Reasons: Infertile
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land, low rainfall, No irrigation facilities)
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Types of Cropping systems practised in India

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Factors - Topography, Terrain, Slop, Altitude, Climate, Soil, Land holding, Irrigation, Electricity, Credit, HYV seeds, fertilisers, Marketing etc

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Mono cropping Growing only one crop on a piece of land year after year

Multiple cropping (Intensive cropping) Growing more than two crops in a piece of land in a year

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Mixed Cropping Two or more crops grown in the same field within a given year without a definite row arrangement.

Intercropping Growing two or more crops simultaneously with definite row arrangement on the same field with an objective of higher
productivity per unit

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Sequence Cropping Growing two crops in the same field, one after the other in the same year (Next crop is planted after previous crop
harvested )

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Relay Cropping Growing one crop, then planting another crop (usually a cover crop) in the same field before harvesting the first (Planting
maize, then sowing beans)

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Alley cropping (Agroforestry) Planting rows of trees with growing agricultural crops.

Ratoon Cropping (Stubble Cropping) Raising a crop with regrowth coming out of roots or stocks of the harvested crop. (Sugarcane, Pineapple, Banana, Cotton,

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sorghum)
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SOILS IN INDIA

Soil formation process

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1. Lateralization - occurs in warmer, wetter climates and leads to the formation of lateritic soils + rainwater dissolves minerals like silica, calcium, and magnesium +
brick-red colour and a high content of iron and aluminium oxides.
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2. Podzolization - occurs in cold, wet climates, particularly in boreal and subarctic regions + leaching of iron and aluminium oxide + upper layer have silica
(ash-grey). The inverse of calcification is podzolization (podzolization leaches calcium carbonates).
3. ​Gleization - occurs as a result of poor drainage (lack of oxygen) and waterlogged conditions.
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 Major Crops in India

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(IAS PCS Pathshala)

Types of Soils Rich Poor

Soil in India
Crops Areas where found

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Alluvial Potassium, Lime, Humus Nitrogen, Phosphorus Wheat, rice, maize, pulses, sugarcane 1. 40% of the country’s total area (Khadar – new, fine;
Bhangar – old, coarse.)

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2. North plains + Rajasthan Gujarat & Mahanadi, Godavari,
Krishna deltas
Black (Regur Soil) Lime, Iron, Magnesia, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Organic matter Cotton, cereals, oilseeds 1. High moisture retention
Alumina & Potash

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(formed due to 2. Most of Deccan Plat. – Maharashtra, Malwa, MP,
fissure volcanic Chattisgarh

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rock )
3. Black cotton soils are known as self ploughed soils
Red Iron and Potash Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Humus wheat, rice, pulses, millets, tobacco, oil 1. Red due to Iron, low water retention
seeds, potatoes

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2. Found in low rainfall in eastern and southern parts of
deccan plateau -Odisha, Chattisgarh, Ganga plain
Laterite Iron oxide and Potash Organic matter, Nitrogen, Phosphate Cashew nuts, tea, coffee, rubber 1. Mainly used for Plantation Crop; Intense leaching – lime
and Calcium and silica are leached ; Bricks in house construction

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2. High temp & Rainfall tropical highlands – CG & MP &
hilly areas of Odisha, Assam, Meghalaya, Eastern Ghats,
Western Ghats.

3. Red laterites of TN, Andhra, Kerala –cashew nuts are

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grown here
Arid & Desert Phosphorus Nitrogen, Humus drought resistant and salt tolerant 1. Saline, low moisture
crops such as barley, rape, millets
maize. 2. Arid, semi-arid regions Western Rajasthan, Kutch

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Saline- Alkaline / Salts- Sodium, Potassium, Nitrogen, Calcium Unfit for agriculture 1. Capillary action; Infertile [saline] – gypsum added
Usara soils Magnesium
2. Arid and semi-arid Punjab, Haryana, UP –Over irrigation

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3. Gujarat, West Bengal Deltas – Seawater intrusion
Peaty Humus Phosphorus, Potassium 1. Black, Acidic

2. Gleization [high rainfall + humidity] Northern Bihar,

Uttarakhand, Coastal West Bengal, Odisha, Tamil Nadu

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Forest & Mountain Humus (due to cold Phosphorus, Potassium, Lime Plantation, temperate fruits Forest areas with sufficient rainfall – J&K, HP, Uttarakhand,
weather) North East, West Bengal, Sikkim

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MAJOR CROPS OF INDIA
Crop Temperature Rainfall Soil Season Other Information Regions Map

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Rice High Temp > 25 C Well distributed – 100 cm Alluvial - Fertile Delta and valley Kharif 1. India 2nd largest producer after China. 1. Humid areas in Eastern India
soils; High clay content preferred (But Largest Exported)
2. Irrigated areas of Punjab, Haryana,
2. Water Intensive Crop (Methane Pollution) Western UP & Northern Rajasthan – grown
as kharif crop

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3. The eastern coast of India produces more
rice 3. WB - Largest Producer. (West Bengal >
than the western coast. Uttar Pradesh >Punjab )

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4. International Rice Research Institute 4. ¼ of country’s total cropped area.
(IRRI) in Philippines.
5. Aus, Aman and Boro are type of rice grow
5. Myanmar is known as the Rice bowl of in Assam, WB.
Far East. Thailand is known as the 'Rice

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Bowl of South-East Asia'.
Wheat Cool growing season and 50-75 mm, medium rainfall Well drained loam & clayey soils Rabi 1. 2nd most imp Cereal crop 1. UP, Punjab, Haryana, MP, Rajasthan –
bright sunshine at time of Top 5 states (Uttar Pradesh > MP >

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ripening 2. 2nd largest producer in world. Punjab)

Temp - 15-20 C (Crop of 3. India accounts for less than 1% of the 2. Can be grown in dry areas through
Temperate Zone) global wheat trade. irrigation

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Jowar (Millets) 20-32 C 30-100 cm Well drained light soils; Black Soil Kharif 1. Jowar - 3rd most important crop after rice 1. Maharashtra - half of the country’s
& production
Shree Anna wheat
2. Total Course Grain Ranking:
International Year of 2. 5.3% of the total cropped area (Karnataka > Rajasthan > Maharastra)

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Millet
3. Fodder crop; Drought Prone; Less Water 3. Others: Karnataka, MP, Andhra Pradesh,
(Rained Crop) Uttarakhand, Telangana

4. Millets are called Nutri-Cereals. 4.Indian Institute of Millet Research,

Hyderabad
5. Initiative for Nutritional Security through

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Intensive Millets Promotion
Bajra 25-30 C 45 cm Poor soils; Sandy looms with good Kharif Resists dry spells and drought (Rained Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, Karnataka
drainage are ideal Crop)
Ragi Red, shallow Black, Sandy, Loamy Kharif Rained Crop Karnataka, TN, HP, UK, Sikkim, Jharkhand,

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soils Arunachal Pradesh
Maize 20- 27C 75 cm Inferior soils – Red soil with Sub Tropical Crop. (Grown in 1. Food and fodder crop 1. All over India except North East and
good drainage; Old Alluvial soil Varied Condition) Eastern regions
(Queen of cereals) Alternate spells of rains 2. Used m making ethanol (alcohol) and

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and sunny weather are Mainly Kharif but Rabi(Bihar) other biofuels. 2. Leading ones – MP, Andhra Pradesh,
ideal Telangana, Karnataka, Rajasthan, UP
3. Yield level is higher compared to other (Karnataka > MP > Maharastra)
coarse grains

4. Rained Crop

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Crop Temperature Rainfall Soil Season Other Information Regions Map
Pulses Dry conditions or less Kharif (Tur, Urad, Moong, 1. Largest producer and consumer in the MP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, UP, Karnataka
moisture Masur) & Rabi(gram, peas) world; Main Source of Protein
Tur (Arhar) - Maharashtra – 1/3rd of total

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2. About 90% of the area under pulses in production
India is
rainfed. Tur: (Maharastra > Karnataka > UP)

3. Gram and Tur are most cultivated (Almost Gram: Maharastra > MP > Rajasthan

2/3rd)
4. Fix Nitrogen (Rhizobium Bacteria).
Therefore, these are mostly grown in
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Total Pulses: (MP > Maharastra > RJ)
Total Foodgrains: (MP > Maharastra > RJ)

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rotation with other crops.

5. 11% of the total sown area in India

6. Rabi pulses contribute more than 60

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percent
of the total production.

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7. The production of pulses for both Rabi
and
Kharif seasons has increased in the last
three

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Decades.

8. Gross Cropped Area almost stagnant.

Oilseeds 1. Groundnut - Kharif 1. Groundnut, rapeseed, mustard, 1. Drylands of Malwa Plateau, Marthawada,
soyabean, sunflower – main Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Rayalseema

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2. Sesamum - Kharif in North and oilseeds
Rabi in South
2. Rapeseed and Mustard - Frost sensitive.
3. Castor seed - Kharif & Rabi Rajasthan– 1/3rd of total production
4. Linseed & Mustard - Rabi 3. Groundnut - 2nd largest producer;
Rapeseed - 3rd largest producer
(Andhra) and Karnataka Plateau
2. Soyabean – mostly grown in MP and
Maharashtra – both contribute to around
90% of production
Groundnut: (GJ > RJ > TN)

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Oil palm trees - are native to Africa but were
brought to South-East Asia just over 100
years
ago as an ornamental tree crop.
Rapeseed and Mustard: (RJ > MP >
Haryana)
Sunflower: (UP > Maharastra >

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Karnataka)
Palm oil is found in lipstick, soaps,
detergents Total Oilseeds: (RJ > MP > GJ)
and even ice cream.
Cotton 1. Clear sky during 50-80 cm Black soil (Regur Soil) of Malwa Kharif 1. India is the country to grow all four Deccan plateau, Maharashtra, Gujarat

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flowering 20-35 C and Deccan is ideal species of cultivated cotton G.arboreum and (leading), MP, Karnataka, AP, Telangana,
(White-Gold) Herbaceum (Asian cotton), G.barbadense TN, Punjab, Haryana, UP
2. 180-210 frost-free (Egyptian cotton) and G. hirsutum
days (American Upland cotton) GJ > Maharastra > Telangana

2. 2nd largest producer and largest TN - largest producer of mill made cotton
consumer yarns.

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3. Cotton plants have relatively shallow root
systems, and their fields are often tilled
between
planting seasons, leaving the soil vulnerable
Mumbai (not Ahmedabad) is the largest
cotton textile centre in the country.
Ahmedabad is located in major cotton

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to erosion growing region of India
Jute and Cotton
4. Frost is enemy number one of the cotton India accounts for around 25% of the total
plant global cotton production

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5. Around 67% of India's cotton is grown on
rain-fed areas and 33% on irrigated area.

6. India is the original home of cotton. Indus

valley civilization were the first to grow
cotton.

7. Bollgard I and Bollgard II are GM cotton

crops developed by Bayer AG

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Crop Temperature Rainfall Soil Season Other Information Regions Map
Jute Warm & humid(wet) 100 - 200 cm 1. Rich delta alluvial soil that Kharif West Bengal (50% Production), Assam, 1. Largest Producer (Bangladesh is the
climate receives silt regularly (Well Orissa, Bihar , Uttar Pradesh, Tripura and world's largest exporter of jute.)
25 to 30 C drained fertile soils) Meghalaya

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2. Fibre crop (golden fiber)
2. Jute is grown widely in sandy 2. The lower Gangetic plain is characterized
looms and clay loams. by WB > Assam > Bihar
humid climate with high temperature
throughout the year. Hence Paddy and Jute

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is suitable crop.
Sugarcane Warm climate; Frost is 100 - 150 cm Variety of Soils (from sandy loam Year round, tropical & sub 1. UP (2/5th of total production), 1. Tall, perennial grass
fatal to clay loam) tropical crop Maharashtra(2nd),Tamil Nadu (3rd), Andhra

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25 C Pradesh(4th), Karnataka, Bihar, Punjab etc 2. India has largest area under sugarcane in
Well mannered medium and the world
heavy soils with irrigation facilities 2. Yield is lower in North India than South
India (Tropical Climate) 3. 2nd largest producer after Brazil (India is
the world's largest consumer)

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3. The crushing season is very short in the
northern parts 4. Water Intensive

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4. Sugarcane is grown in tropical regions
and
often on slopes. The steep terrain and
shallow root system can make it prone to
soil erosion.
5. Bagasse is the fibrous residue left after
sugarcane is crushed - used as a biofuel
for the production of heat, energy, and
elechicity

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6. Molasses from sugar cane is used for
alcohol
production and livestock feeding
Tea 25-35 C >150 cm Well drained, Soil or forest soils, Year round, tropical & sub 1. Plantation crop and labour intensive Assam, WB, TN, Kerala, HP, UK,

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rich tropical crop industry. Meghalaya, AP, Tripura
(Warm, moist, frost free, Standing water is harmful. in organic water (Humus)
frequent evenly 2. 2nd largest producer Assam > West Bengal > Tamil Nadu.
distributed High humidity and heavy
showers) rainfall 3. Rich content of caffeine and tannin. Tea is a major crop in Kenya.

4. Cultivated through terrace farming

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Coffee 15-28 C 150-200 cm Rich, well drained loam soil Hot and humid climate of 1. Almost same conditions like tea 1. Cultivated 900-1800m above sea level
tropical areas Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Andhra
Requires protection from 2. 3 varieties in India – Arabica, Robusta, (Karnataka > Kerala > Tamil Nadu)
direct sun rays Liberica
2. Chikmagalur in Karnataka is famous.

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3. Arabica, Robusta are famous in India.
3. Coffee is predominantly cultivated in Ivory
4. Arabica type was first type of coffee coast, which is the Africa largest coffee
imported from Yemen and introduced in producer.
Baba Budan Hill, Chikmagalur,

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Karnataka. 4. Santos (Brazil) is Known as the "Coffee
port" of the world. (Brazil(1st) >
Vietnam(2nd) > India (6th rank))

Tobacco 15-40 C 50 -100 cm or irrigation Fertile with good drainage - ideal 1. 2 popular varieties – Nicotiana Tabacum Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil
& Nicotiana Rustica Nadu and Bihar

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Tobacco cannot stand if
rainfall is more than 2. Virgiana tobacco – used for making
100cm. cigarettes – mostly prodced in Andhra
Pradesh

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Rubber Around 35 C Moist and Humid > 200 Equatorial, tropical, sub tropical 1. India is currently the 3rd largest producer Kerala – largest – accounts for 78% of
cm crop of Natural Rubber. (Also one of largest production, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, A&N,
warm and humid. consumer) Meghalaya Garo hills (Kerala > Tamil Nadu
> Karnataka.)

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2. 40% of India’s total natural rubber
consumption is currently met Rubber is mainly grown in Malaysia, which
through imports is the
world's largest producer and exporter of
natural rubber.

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Current Pointer for Prelims

1. Agri Exports - India’s agricultural exports in the world agriculture trade in 2021 were 2.4% (India's agriculture exports, which stood at over USD 50 billion)

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2. Fertiliser Subsidies
● Subsidy on Urea - Urea is being provided to the farmers at a statutorily notified Maximum Retail Price (MRP) (difference between the cost of

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production/import of a fertiliser and the actual amount paid by farmers is the subsidy portion )
● Subsidy on Non-Urea Fertilisers (Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) & Muriate of Potash (MOP)) - Government is implementing Nutrient Based
Subsidy (NBS) Scheme-> subsidy provided on each grade of subsidised Phosphatic and Potassic (P&K) fertilisers depending upon its nutrient content
● Urea accounted for 65% of the total fertiliser subsidy. Urea is an organic compound that contains four elements: carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen.

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Urea is also known as carbamide.
● Neem Coating of Urea
● Ideal NPK use ratio of 4:2:1
● India is 2nd largest fertiliser consuming country after China + India is 3rd largest producer of fertilisers. It is one of the eight core industries.

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3. PHOSPHORUS SECTOR - India is the world’s largest importer of Phosphorus + Phosphate rocks are majorly produced only from two States in India, namely
Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh + Phosphorus coexists with Cadmium

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4. MINOR IRRIGATION - 94.8% of the Minor Irrigation schemes are groundwater-based, and the rest, 5.2%, are surface-water schemes + 96.6% are privately owned
whereas 3.4% are under public ownership.

5. Minimum Support Price - 1st MSP announcement was made in 1967 + Commission for Agricultural

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Costs and Prices fix MSP for crops(statutory body) + Cabinet committee of Economic affairs (CCEA)
announces MSP for various crops at beginning of each sowing season based on recommendation of
Commission for Agricultural costs and prices (CACP) + 22 mandated crops + For Sugarcane Fair and

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Remunerative Prices (FRP) is announced which has to be paid by sugar mill owner. + CACP
considers both A2+FL and C2 costs while recommending MSP + MSP is fixed twice a year (Rabi and
Kharif) + Open ended procurement by FCI for wheat and paddy + Coarse grains
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A2 - costs directly incurred by the farmer in cash and kind on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, hired
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labour etc.
A2+FL : Includes A2 plus an imputed value of unpaid family labour.
C2 - comprehensive cost that factors in rentals and interest forgone on owned land and fixed capital
assets, on top of A2+FL.
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As per the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, MSP should be fixed at 1.5 times the cost
(commonly known now as ‘C2+50%’).
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 6. Food Corporation of India = Statutory body set up in 1965 under the Food Corporation Act, 1964 + Under Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public
Distribution. Open market sale scheme

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7. Fisheries Sector: India is the 3rd largest fish producing country (Inland aquaculture: Presently contributes ~70 % of total fish production )
8. BHARTIYA BEEJ SAHKARI SAMITI LTD (BBSSL) - established under the Multi-State Cooperative Societies (MSCS) Act, of 2002 + traditional seed conservation,

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promotion and research.
9. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched the first-ever Credit Guarantee
scheme for the livestock sector + DAHD has established a Credit Guarantee Fund Trust of ₹ 750 crores, which will provide credit guarantee coverage of up to 25%
of the credit facilities extended to the MSMEs.

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10. Open Sea Cage Culture: Open sea cage farming is eco-friendly and done in open sea.
11. Pomegranate - tropical and subtropical + semi-arid conditions + Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh + India ranks 7th
12. Hunger Hotspot Outlook; Food Price Index (FPI) & State of Food and Agriculture 2023 = Released by Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
13. State Of Food Security And Nutrition In The World (SOFI) Report, 2023 = Jointly by Food and Agriculture Organization, International Fund for Agricultural

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Development, UNICEF, UN World Food Programme and WHO
14. Global Food Policy Report 2023 = Released by IFPRI

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15. Bio-insecticide by ICRISAT - Bio-insecticide develop from leaves of Ramphal (Custard Apple)
16. Plant Based Meat - made from vegetarian or vegan ingredients such as soy, wheat gluten, pea protein or myco-protein
17. DBW187 and DBW222 = Heat resistant variety of wheat
18. PUSA Soft = It is India’s first soft wheat variety

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19. Rht13 - drought-resilient semi dwarf wheat gene
20. DSR Technique - ‘Direct Seeding of Rice’ (DSR) technique (no nursery preparation or transplantation. The seeds are instead directly drilled into the field + saving
irrigation water
21. Saguna Rice Technique (SRT) - cultivation of rice and related rotation crops without ploughing, puddling and transplanting (rice) + zero till
22. PR23 - Rice Variety (by China)
23. Pusa-44 - paddy variety S
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24. Mustard - self-pollinating crop
25. GM Mustard - developed by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants (CGMCP) of Delhi University
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26. Glyphosate - herbicide and crop desiccant
27. World’s First Liquid Nano Urea Plant =.Opened at Kalol (Gujarat)
28. Biofloc Technology - method of high-density fish farming in a controlled environment
29. Athelia Rolfsii - fungal disease in jackfruit
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30. Dieback Disease - affects neem trees.

31. Introduction of sulphur-coated Urea (Urea Gold), for the first time, to address the sulphur deficiency of soil and save input costs for the farmers.
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 32. Millets - In India, bajra (3.67%), jowar (2.13%), and ragi (0.48%) accounted for about 7% of the gross cropped area in the country. + Ministry of Agriculture
declared millets such as jowar, bajra, ragi/ mandua, some minor millets such as kangani/ kakun, cheena, etc, and the two pseudo millets [buckwheat (kuttu) and
amaranth (chaulai)] - as ‘Nutri Cereals’ for their “high nutritive value” + FAO) has endorsed India’s call for declaring 2023 as the “International Year of Millets” +

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India is the world's largest producer and second-largest exporter of millets
33. Protection of Plant varieties and Farmers right act, 2001: It was enacted by India in 2001 to grant IPRs to plant breeders, researchers and farmers who developed

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any new or extant plant species
34. Essential Commodities Act, 1955 - Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution + There is no specific definition of essential commodities in the
Essential Commodities Act, 1955. Section 2(A) states that an “essential commodity” means a commodity specified in the Schedule of the Act.
● Commodities included under the act: Drugs; Fertilizer, inorganic, organic or mixed; Foodstuffs, edible oilseeds and oils; Hank yarn made wholly from

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cotton; Petroleum and petroleum products; Raw jute and jute textile; seeds of food-crops and seeds of fruits and vegetables, cattle fodder, jute, cotton.

35. Commodity Boards (Ministry of Commerce and Industry)

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● Coffee Board - statutory + (HQ - Bangalore.)
● Rubber Board - statutory + (HQ - Kerala)
● Tea Board - statutory + (HQ - Kolkata.)

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● Tobacco Board - statutory + (HQ - Andhra Pradesh)
● Spices Board - statutory + (HQ - Kerala)
● National Turmeric Board - Government of India has notified the establishment of a National Turmeric Board in the state of Telangana.

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Coconut Development Board - Statutory + Ministry of Agriculture + (HQ - Kerala)

Agriculture Keywords

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1. Zero Tillage (No Tillage): Soil is left undisturbed + absorb and infiltrate water + decreases erosion and runoff + better efficiency of irrigation + Problem - Higher
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amount of N2 has to be applied for mineralization + Growing of Weeds
2. Crop Rotation: Different crops are grown on the same land in pre-planned succession. + Ex- Planting maize one year, and beans the next + Legumes are included in
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the crop rotation programme to increase soil fertility + Legumes have the ability of fixing nitrogen to the soil
3. Dryland Farming: Growing crops without irrigation in areas which receive an annual rainfall of 750 mm – 500 mm or even less
4. Rainfed Farming: It relies on rainfall + Rainfed agriculture occupies largest part of country's net sown area
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5. Mixed Farming: Farming on a particular farm which includes crop production, raising live stock, poultry, fisheries, bee keeping etc
6. Terrace Cultivation: Hill and mountain slopes are cut to form terraces + soil erosion is also checked
7. Intensive Farming: In areas where irrigation has been possible, the farmers use fertilisers and pesticides on large scale + HYVs Seeds +
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 8. Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) - chemical-free agriculture + aims to bring down the cost of production to nearly zero + “Four wheels”of ZBN Fare ‘Jiwamrita’
,‘Bijamrita’, ‘Mulching’ and ‘Waaphasa’.
9. Permaculture: Bill Mollison (Australian ecologist), coined the word “permaculture” in 1978 + system for creating sustainable human environments

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10. Canal Irrigation - Tube wells account for 46 percent of the irrigation in India. Whereas canals account for 24 percent of the total irrigation in India and tanks account
for only 3 percent of the total irrigation in India.

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11. Nitrogen fixers
1. Symbiotic: - Rhizobium, inoculants for legumes.
2. Non-symbiotic: - For cereals, millets and vegetables.

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a. Bacteria:-
Aerobic:-Azotobacter, Azomonas, Azospirillum.
Anaerobic:- Clostridium, chlorobium
Facultative anaerobes - Bacillus, Eisherichia
b. Blue green algae:- Anabaena, Anabaenopsis, Nostoe

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● Phosphate solubilizing microorganisms.
● Cellulolytic and ligninolytic microorganisms.

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● Azolla
12. Revolution: Green - Food grain Production; Golden - Fruit Production; Grey - Fertilizer Production; Blue - Fish Production; Black - Petroleum Production; Pink - Prawn
Production; Round - Potato Production; Red - Meat/Tomato Production; Silver - Egg/Poultry Production; White - Milk Production; Yellow - Oil seeds Production;

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Purple Revolution - Lavender
13. Bt cotton is the only GM crop that is allowed in India. It has alien genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that allows the crop to develop a protein
toxic to the common pest pink bollworm.

Agriculture Scheme S
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1. PM Kisan Samriddhi Kendra - Department of Fertilisers - convert the existing village, block/sub district/ taluk and district level fertilizer retail shops into Model
Fertilizer Retail Shops that will act as "One Stop Shop" for all the agriculture related inputs
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2. PM Annadata Aay Sanrakshan Abhiyan (PM-AASHA) - Price support scheme (pulses, oilseeds and copra) + Price Deficiency and Payment Scheme
3. Open market sale scheme by FCI (procure food grains)
4. E-Pashu Haat portal - connects breeders and farmers
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5. PM Matsya Sampada Yojana - sustainable development of fisheries sector

6. Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PM-MKSSY) - Central Sector Sub-scheme under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada + supporting
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fisheries micro and small enterprises.

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 7. PM PRANAM (Prime Minister Programme for Restoration, Awareness, Nourishment and Amelioration of Mother Earth): - incentivise states and union
territories to promote alternative fertilisers and the balanced use of chemical fertilisers.
8. SATHI portal - Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare + to deal with the challenges of seed production, quality seed identification and seed certification.

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9. PM-KISAN - Implemented by Ministry of Agriculture; it is a central sector scheme with 100% funding from the Central government + direct income support of Rs
6000 per family per year; in three instalments of Rs 2000 each directly into the bank accounts of all landholding farmers irrespective of the size of their land

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holdings + identification of beneficiary farmer families rests with the State / UT Governments
10. PM KISAN Maandhan Yojana - provide social security to all landholding Small and Marginal Farmers + voluntary and contribution based pension scheme + fixed
pension of Rs.3,000/-
11. Bhartiya Prakritik Krishi Padhati (BPKP)- Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare + promotion of traditional indigenous practices + emphasises on exclusion

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of all synthetic chemical inputs and promotes on-farm biomass recycling
12. Nutrition Smart Villages Initiative = Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare +reach out to 75 villages across India for promoting nutritional awareness,
education and behavioural change
13. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana: Centrally Sponsored Scheme + launched in 2015 + Centre- States will be 75:25 per cent + In the case of the northeastern

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region and hilly states, it will be 90:10.

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