🌾 Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 – Agriculture

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In this post, we provide detailed and structured notes for Class 10 Geography Chapter 4 – Agriculture. This chapter covers the types of farming in India, major crops, farming challenges, and modern reforms.

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🌱 I. Importance of Agriculture in India

• Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy.

• It employs more than 50% of the Indian population.

• Provides raw materials to agro-based industries.

• Ensures food security and contributes to export earnings.

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🚜 II. Types of Farming in India

1️⃣ Primitive Subsistence Farming

• Done on small patches using traditional tools like hoe, dao, and digging sticks.

• Depends on monsoon and natural fertility of soil.

• Involves slash-and-burn method (also called Jhumming in NE India).

2️⃣ Intensive Subsistence Farming

• Practiced in areas of high population density.

• Uses high labour input and small landholdings.

• Mainly grows food crops (rice, wheat, etc.).

3️⃣ Commercial Farming

• Uses modern inputs like HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, machinery.

• Crops grown for commercial use/export.

• Includes plantation farming (tea, coffee, rubber).

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🌾 III. Major Crops in India

A. Food Crops

1. Rice

• Main food crop; requires high temp (25°C+) and rainfall.

• Grown in eastern and southern India (WB, Odisha, AP, TN, Assam).

2. Wheat

• Requires cool growing season and moderate rainfall.

• Grown in Punjab, Haryana, UP, MP, Bihar.

3. Millets

• Coarse grains like jowar, bajra, ragi; require less water.

• Grown in dry and less fertile areas.

4. Maize

• Kharif crop; used as food and fodder.

• Major producers: Karnataka, MP, UP, Bihar, AP.

5. Pulses

• Rich in proteins; improve soil fertility by nitrogen-fixation.

• Grown in MP, UP, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka.

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B. Food Crops Other than Grains

1. Sugarcane

• Tropical crop; requires hot climate and long growing season.

• India is 2nd largest producer (after Brazil).

• States: UP, Maharashtra, Karnataka, TN, Punjab.

2. Oilseeds

• Include groundnut, mustard, soyabean, sunflower.

• India is a major producer of oilseeds.

3. Tea

• Plantation crop; needs cool climate and well-drained soil.

• States: Assam, WB, TN, Kerala, HP.

4. Coffee

• India is famous for Arabica variety.

• States: Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.

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C. Non-Food Crops

1. Cotton

• Requires high temp and 210 frost-free days.

• Grown in black soil (regur) of Maharashtra, Gujarat, MP, Karnataka, AP.

2. Jute

• Called the Golden Fibre.

• Grown in WB, Assam, Bihar, Odisha.

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📊 IV. Cropping Pattern in India

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⚠️ V. Problems Faced by Indian Farmers

• Fragmented landholdings

• Dependency on monsoon

• Use of outdated methods in some areas

• Lack of proper irrigation facilities

• Rising cost of fertilizers and inputs

• Inadequate storage and marketing systems

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🔄 VI. Modern Reforms in Indian Agriculture

✅ Government Initiatives:

• Green Revolution: Introduced HYV seeds and improved irrigation (mainly wheat & rice).

• White Revolution: Boosted milk production.

• Kisan Credit Card (KCC): Easy loans for farmers.

• Minimum Support Price (MSP): To ensure fair prices.

• PM-KISAN Scheme: Direct cash transfer to farmers.

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📝 VII. Important Terms

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📌 Summary

• Agriculture in India is diverse and vital for economic growth.

• India grows a variety of food and non-food crops across different seasons.

• Farmers face many challenges that are being addressed through reforms and schemes.

• The future of agriculture lies in modern techniques and sustainable practices.