Indian Agriculture

India has a long agricultural history, which dates back approximately ten thousand years. Today, India has the 2nd highest crop output in
the world. Different types of Farming Systems in India are strategically utilised, according to the locations where they are most suitable.
Regions throughout India differ in types of farming they use based primarily on nature of land, climatic characteristics and available
irrigational facilities, the farmers in India practise different types of farming.

Two-thirds of the population in India is engaged

in agricultural activities. Agriculture is the main activity
in India, which produces most of the food that we consume.
Besides food grains, it also produces raw materials for other
industries. Agriculture is a livelihood for a majority of the
population in India. While its contribution to the GDP
has reduced to less than 20% and the contribution
of other sectors increased at a faster rate, agricultural
production has grown.
 Agricultural Types In India
1. Extensive Farming
Extensive farming is also called extensive cultivation. Extensive farming means
when more land is brought under farming to increase output. Extensive
farming is an agricultural system that uses small inputs of labour, fertilizers.
Extensive farming is done on large patches of land and the production is high
due to the large area.This type of farming is done in temperature area like Punjab,
Uttar Pradesh & Haryana.
2. Intensive Farming
Intensive agriculture is known for high production per unit of land.
It is the cultivator that uses a larger amount of labour and capital in a
relatively small area. This is performed in countries where the population
to land ratio is high which means the population is big, and the land is small.
Annually 2 or 3 types of crops are grown over the land in Intensive farming.
Manual labour is used in this farming. It is practised in many areas like Bihar, Punjab,
Haryana, Gujrat, Maharashtra & Orrisa.
3. Dry Farming
Dryland Agriculture refers to cultivation of crops entirely under natural rainfall
It is a form of subsistence farming in the regions where deficit of the soil moisture retards
the growth of water consuming crops like rice (Oryza sativa), sugarcane etc.
Dryland areas are characterized by low and erratic rainfall and no assured irrigation facilities.
grown on these lands. Dryland areas receive rainfall between 500 and 1200 mm. It is
Practised in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan & parts of Gujarat.