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Crops in India
Context:
The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has released the Third Advance Estimates of Major Agricultural Crops for the year 2023-24.
More on news:
- From the last agricultural year, the summer season has been segregated from the Rabi season and incorporated in the Third Advance Estimates.
- These estimates include Kharif, Rabi, and Summer seasons.
Third Advance Estimates of Major Agricultural Crops for 2023-24:
- Total Foodgrain Production estimated at 3288.52 LMT, which is slightly lower than the foodgrain production of 2022-23.
- Higher by 211.00 LMT compared to the average foodgrain production of the last 5 years (2018-19 to 2022-23) which was 3077.52 LMT.
- Total Rice Production estimated at 1367.00 LMT, showing an increase of 9.45 LMT from the 2022-23 production of 1357.55 LMT.
- Total Wheat Production estimated at 1129.25 LMT, which is higher by 23.71 LMT compared to the previous year’s wheat production.
- Shree Anna Production: Estimated at 174.08 LMT, showing a marginal increase of 0.87 LMT from the 2022-23 production.
- Nutri/Coarse Cereals Production: Estimated at 547.34 LMT, higher by 46.24 LMT compared to the average Nutri/Coarse Cereals production.
- Sugarcane Production: Estimated at 4425.22 LMT.
Kharif Crop:
- “Kharif” is an Arabic word meaning “Autumn.”
- Season: Cultivated and harvested during the monsoon season.
- Seeds are sown at the beginning of the monsoon season.
- Harvested at the end of the monsoon season (September-October).
- Growth Requirements: Require a lot of water and hot weather.
- Examples: Rice, Maize, Millet, Soybean, Arhar, Cotton.
- Additional Information:
- India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world after China, contributing approx.
- Rice grows in high rainfall areas, needs average temperatures of 25°C, and a minimum of 100 cm of rainfall, typically in waterlogged rice paddy fields.
- Major rice-producing areas include the northeast plains and coastal regions.
Rabi Crop:
- “Rabi” means spring in Arabic.
- Season: Grown in the winter season (October-December) and harvested in the spring season (April-May).
- Growth Requirements: Require a warm climate for germination and maturation, and a cold environment for growth.
- Winter rain can spoil Rabi crops but benefits Kharif crops.
- Examples: Wheat, Gram, Barley, Peas, Oats, Chickpea, Linseed, Mustard.
- Additional Information:
- India is the second-largest producer of wheat in the world, after China.
- Wheat is a staple food in northern India.
- Wheat requires a cool growing season (14°C to 18°C), rainfall (50 cm to 90 cm), and bright sunshine with warm weather for harvesting.
- Uttar Pradesh is the largest wheat-growing state.
Zaid Crop:
- Season: Grown between Kharif and Rabi seasons (March to June).
- Also known as summer season crops.
- Growth Requirements: Require warm, dry weather and longer day length for flowering.
- Significance: Provide quick cash to farmers and act as a gap-filler between Kharif and Rabi crops.
- Examples: Cucumber, Pumpkin, Bitter gourd, Watermelon, Muskmelon, Sugarcane, Groundnut, Pulses.