Agriculture
Geography · कृषि · 22 facts
Zaid Season: March to June (between Rabi & Kharif)
Zaid Crops: Watermelon, Muskmelon, Cucumber, Moong, Urad
Zaid crops are short-duration and need warm-dry weather
Started in India in 1966-67 during Third Five Year Plan
Father of Green Revolution in India: Dr. M.S. Swaminathan
Father of Green Revolution (World): Norman Borlaug (Nobel Peace Prize 1970)
Main crops benefited: Wheat and Rice
Major states benefited: Punjab, Haryana, Western UP
Used HYV (High Yielding Variety) seeds, chemical fertilizers, irrigation
Negative effects: soil degradation, water table decline, loss of biodiversity
Wells & Tube Wells: Most widely used in India (accounts for ~62% of irrigated area)
Canals: Second most used, mainly in Punjab, Haryana, UP
Tanks: Common in peninsular India (Tamil Nadu, AP, Karnataka)
Drip Irrigation: Most water-efficient method, pioneered by Israel
Sprinkler: Suited for sandy soil, used in Rajasthan
Abolition of Zamindari System — ended intermediaries between state and farmers
Land Ceiling Acts — fixed maximum limit of land ownership
Consolidation of Holdings — scattered land plots merged into one
Cooperative Farming — small farmers pool resources for better output
India has 3 crop seasons: Rabi (winter), Kharif (monsoon), Zaid (summer)
Rabi: Oct-Mar → Wheat, Mustard, Barley, Gram
Kharif: Jun-Oct → Rice, Cotton, Jute, Sugarcane