Chapter 13: The Story of Indian Farming
Farming feeds India and has done so for over 8,000 years. In this chapter we see how important agriculture is today and how old it is, how climate and seasons decide what grows, how soil, water and seeds shape a harvest, how traditional wisdom and modern science have changed farming, and how the government supports farmers facing hard challenges.
In this chapter you will
- explain the importance and long history of farming in India
- classify crops into kharif, rabi and zaid
- describe soils, water systems and seeds
- compare traditional and modern farming and the government's role
Topics
- India's Farming Landscape and Its Long Past NCERT 13.1
Agriculture and allied activities give about 18% of GDP but employ about 46% of workers.
- Climate, Seasons and Crops NCERT 13.2
India has 15 agroclimatic zones; the southwest and northeast monsoons shape farming.
- Soil, the Foundation of Cultivation NCERT 13.3
India's main soils are alluvial, black, red, laterite, desert and mountain.
- Water and Seeds NCERT 13.4
India has old water systems like kuhl, kund, ahar, khadin, eri, phad and the Kallanai; drip and sprinklers save water today.
- Traditional Wisdom and Modern Innovations NCERT 13.5
Traditional practices like terrace farming and mixed gardens are often scientifically sound.
- The Government's Role and Challenges NCERT 13.6
The government helps with inputs, information, insurance, fair prices and storage.
Key words
- Agriculture
- growing crops and raising animals
- Kharif / Rabi / Zaid
- monsoon / winter / summer crop seasons
- Humus
- dark organic matter in soil
- Intercropping
- growing two crops together in one field
- Irrigation
- supplying water to crops by artificial means
- Green Revolution
- 1960s–70s push with high-yielding seeds, irrigation and chemicals
- Organic farming
- farming without chemical fertilisers and pesticides
- Landholding
- the area of land a farmer cultivates
Summary
- Agriculture employs about 46% of workers and is over 8,000 years old in India.
- Kharif, rabi and zaid crops follow the seasons across 15 agroclimatic zones.
- Soil, water and seeds are the foundations; India has rich traditions of conserving them.
- The Green Revolution fed India but strained soil and water; sustainable farming and government support aim to help farmers.