Food grains are crucial to India’s agricultural economy, occupying about two-thirds of the total cropped area. These grains are divided into cereals and pulses based on their structure.

Cereals

Cereals dominate the cropped area, accounting for approximately 54% of India’s total cropped area. India produces about 11% of the world’s cereals, ranking third globally after China and the U.S.A. Cereals are classified into fine grains and coarse grains:

• Fine Grains: Rice and wheat.
• Coarse Grains: Jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, etc.

Rice

• Importance: Staple food for the majority of the population.
• Varieties: Approximately 3,000 varieties grown across various agro-climatic regions from sea level to 2,000 meters altitude.
• Cultivation:
  • In southern states and West Bengal, rice can be grown two to three times a year.
  • In West Bengal, the three varieties grown are ‘aus’, ‘aman’, and ‘boro’.
  • In the Himalayas and North-Western India, it is grown as a kharif crop during the southwest monsoon.
• Production: India contributes 21.6% of global rice production, ranking second after China. Major producing states include West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab.
• Yield: Highest in Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, and Kerala. Punjab and Haryana’s high yields are attributed to irrigation and advanced agricultural practices introduced during the Green Revolution.

Wheat

• Importance: Second most important cereal crop.
• Cultivation:
  • Primarily grown during the rabi season (winter).
  • Concentrated in the north and central regions: Indo-Gangetic Plain, Malwa Plateau, and parts of the Himalayas up to 2,700 meters altitude.
• Production: India has the largest area under wheat cultivation globally, covering about 14% of the total cropped area. Leading states include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan.
• Yield: Highest in Punjab and Haryana. Moderate in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Bihar. Rainfed areas in Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh typically experience lower crop yields.

Jowar (Sorghum)

• Cultivation:
  • Main crop in semi-arid regions of central and southern India.
  • Sown in both kharif and rabi seasons in southern states, and as a kharif crop in northern India, mainly as fodder.
• Production: Maharashtra produces more than half of India’s jowar, with other major producers being Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
• Yield: Generally low in the south due to rainfed conditions.

Bajra (Pearl Millet)

• Cultivation:
• Cultivated in hot and dry conditions, particularly in northwestern and western India.
• Resilient to drought and frequently used in mixed cropping.
• Production: Major producers include Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana.
• Yield: Increased in Haryana and Gujarat due to drought-resistant varieties and irrigation; lower and variable in Rajasthan.

Maize

• Cultivation:
  • Grown under semi-arid conditions and on inferior soils, covering about 3.6% of cropped area.
  • Not concentrated in specific regions but widespread across India except Punjab and some northeastern areas.
• Production: Major producers are Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• Yield: Generally high in southern states.

Pulses

Pulses are important for their high protein content and soil fertility enhancement through nitrogen fixation. They cover about 11% of the total cropped area in India. Major pulses include gram and tur (arhar).

Gram

• Cultivation:
• Cultivated in subtropical regions during the rabi season.
• Requires minimal water and is mostly rainfed.
• Production: Major producing states are Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Rajasthan.
• Yield: Generally low and fluctuates even in irrigated areas.

Tur (Arhar or Pigeon Pea)

• Cultivation: Grown in dry areas under rainfed conditions.
• Production: Maharashtra is a major producer, contributing about one-third of India’s total production. Other producers include Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Yield: Low and inconsistent.

Oilseeds

Oilseeds are cultivated for extracting edible oils. They account for approximately 14% of the total cropped area. Major oilseeds include groundnut, rapeseed and mustard, soybean, and sunflower. Major oilseeds include groundnut, rapeseed and mustard, soybean, and sunflower.

Groundnut

• Cultivation:
• Primarily a rainfed kharif crop but also grown during rabi season in southern India.
• Production: Leading producers are Gujarat, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra.
• Yield: Higher in Tamil Nadu (irrigated) and lower in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.

Rapeseed and Mustard

• Cultivation:
  • Subtropical crops grown during the rabi season.
  • Frost sensitive and yields fluctuate.
• Production: Rajasthan, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh are leading producers.
• Yield: Higher in Haryana and Rajasthan, with about two-thirds of the area under irrigation.

Soybean

• Cultivation:Majorly grown in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.
• Production: These states account for about 90% of India’s soybean output.

Sunflower

• Cultivation: Concentrated in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Maharashtra.
• Production: A minor crop in northern India, with high yields in irrigated areas.

Fiber Crops

Fiber crops such as cotton and jute are essential for textile production.

Cotton

• Cultivation:
  • Grown in semi-arid regions during the kharif season.
  • India cultivates both short-staple (Indian) and long-staple (American) cotton varieties.
• Production: The major cotton-producing states are Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Telangana.
• Yield: High in irrigated areas of northwestern India, low in rainfed Maharashtra.

Jute

• Cultivation: Grown in humid conditions.
• Production: West Bengal is the leading producer, with Bihar and Assam also contributing.
• Yield: Accounts for about 0.5% of total cropped area.

Other Crops

Sugarcane:

• Tropical crop cultivated in sub-humid and humid climates, with major production in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

Tea:

• Grn in the hilly areas of Assam, West Bengal, and the Nilgiris. India is a leading producer, with Assam being the major contributor.
• Coffee:
• Cultivated in the highlands of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka is the dominant producer.