Agriculture Geography UPSC Notes: Crops & Cropping Patterns

Controlled Environmental Agriculture (CEA)

It is a technology of farming system in which temperature, humidity, light, carbon dioxide, water and nutrient precisely regulated. CEA includes greenhouses, hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics, vertical farming and indoor farming

Dryland Farming

Dryland farming refers to cultivation of crops in regions receiving annual rainfall between 75 to 115 cm per annum, where irrigation is limited or absent and crop production depends mainly on conserved soil moisture.

In India, dryland farming forms a part of rainfed agriculture which is generally classified as

1. Dry Farming: Rainfall less than 75 cm per annum.
2. Dryland Farming: Rainfall between 75 to 115 cm per annum.
3. Rainfed Farming: Rainfall is more than 115 cm per annum.

Importance of Dryland Farming in India

India's agriculture remains highly depend on rainfall despite significant irrigation expansion.

• Large Geographical Coverage
  • Nearly 52% of India's net sown area is rainfed. Around 60% of cultivated land depends on rainfall.
  • Thus majority of farmers rely on dryland agriculture.
• Food Security
  • Approximately 80% of coarse cereals, 85% of pulses and 70% of oil seeds, significant production of cotton comes from dryland.
• Climate Change Adaptation
  • Drought resilient crops
  • Diversified cropping
  • Water conservation
  • Resilient farming system
• Livelihood Security
  • It supports millions of small and marginal farmers as it generates employment in crop production, livestock, agroforestry and allied sectors.
• Water Conservation
  • India poses only 4% of world fresh water resources while supporting around 18% of global population.
  • Dryland farming techniques minimizes groundwater extraction and optimum use of moisture.
• Promotion of Nutrients
  • Millets, promoted as Shri Anna, thrive under dry conditions. They provide high nutrients, lower water requirement and better climate resilient.
• Biodiversity Conservation
  • Through mixed cropping, intercropping and agroforestry.
• Sustainable Agriculture
  • As it promotes lower chemical input, improve soil health and promote carbon sequestration, sustainable land management.

Dryland Farming Technique

1. Moisture Conservation
   • Contour Bunding
   • Mulching
   • Ratooning
2. Rainwater harvesting
3. Conservative Agriculture
   • Minimum Tillage
   • No Tillage
   • Crop Rotation
   • Intercropping
4. Crop diversification
   • Through mixed farming
5. Intercropping like pigeon pea + soyabean, cotton + black gram, sorghum + pigeon pea.
6. Agroforestry i.e. trees + crops/livestock
7. Drought tolerant varieties
8. Watershed development
9. Precision agriculture

Initiatives taken by Government of India

1. Integrated Watershed Management Program now it is under PMKSY- watershed component.
2. Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) with objectives
   1. Har Khet Ko Pani
   2. More crop per drop
   3. Micro irrigation expansion
3. National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture focuses on
   1. Climate resilient agriculture
   2. Rainfed area development
   3. Soil moisture conservation
4. Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY)
5. Soil Health Card Scheme
6. National Food Security Mission
7. Millet Promotion

Sustainable Farming

Sustainable farming is a system of agriculture that present food and nutritional needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It aims to balance three pillars:-

1. Environmental Sustainability: Conserving soil, water, biodiversity and reducing pollution.
2. Economic Sustainability: Ensuring sustainable farm income and profitability.
3. Social Sustainability: Improving farmers livelihood, food security, equity and resilience.

It often describe as three bottom line i.e. planet, profit and people.

Sustainable farming is relatively a new idea in agriculture hardly two to three decades old. It is actually an umbrella concept. Various agriculture practices such as regenerative agriculture, conservation agriculture, zero budget natural farming, organic farming, precision farming, agroforestry, hydroponics, integrated farming, etc are all approaches that contribute to sustainable agriculture. They are not separate alternative to sustainability, rather they are different pathways to achieve it.

Components of Sustainable Farming

• Soil health,
• Water sustainability,
• Biodiversity conservation,
• Climate resilience,
• Nutrient management,
• Energy efficient,
• Farmers livelihood

Types of Agriculture under Sustainable Farming

Regenerative Agriculture

It focuses on restoring degraded agricultural ecosystem by

• Building soil organic carbon
• Improving biodiversity
• Enhancing water infiltration
• Manging Soil nutrients

Conservative

It is to protect/conserve soil health by

• Minimum soil disturbance like zero tillage
• Permanent soil cover
• Crop diversification

Zero tillage

• No ploughing before sowing
• seeds are place directly place into residue or soil
• it saves fuel and labour
• Reduces erosion

Zero Budget Natural Farming and Organic Farming

Zero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) and Organic Farming both aim to reduce dependence on synthetic chemicals but they differ significantly in philosophy, input cost and farming practices

Bheej Amrit is this seed treatment is done using cow dung and cow urine.

Jeev Amrit is microbial culture to improve soil biological activity.

Waphasa is maintaining a balance of air and moisture in the soil.

Precision Agriculture

Precision agriculture is also known as smart farming. It is technology driven approach to form management in which input water, fertilizers, pesticides, seeds, labour and machinery are applied at the right ways, at the right time, in the right quantity and in right manner based on field specific conditions.

Instead of treating farm uniformly, precision agriculture recognizes that soil fertility, moisture, pest incidence, crop health vary within the same field.

According to FAO, precision agriculture is a management strategy that collects processes and analysis temporal, spatial and individual data to improve resource use efficiency, productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Objectives of Precision Agriculture

• Increased crop productivity.
• Reduced production cost.
• Optimize use of inputs
• Soil health improvement
• Save water
• Reduce greenhouse gas emission
• Promote climate resilient agriculture
• Increase farmers income

Pillars of Precision Agriculture

• Remote Sensing
• GIS (Geographic Information System)
• GPS (Global Positioning System)
• Satellite
• Drones
• IoT
• AI

Technology Components of Precision Agriculture

Satellite

Satellite technology forms the backbone of precision agriculture by repeatedly observing agriculture field from space.

How Satellite Works?

• Satellite orbit earth
• They carry optical infrared and radar sensors
• Sensor detect reflected electromagnetic radiation
• Images are processed to estimate crop health, soil moisture, vegetation density, water stress, pest attack, yield estimates, etc.

Important Indian satellite which are used for this purpose

1. ISRO’s RESOURCESAT series Its purpose is to read crop acreage estimation, agricultural monitoring, land use mapping.
2. Cartosat series Its purpose is high resolution mapping. It helps in maintaining land records.
3. EOS-04 It is radar imaging satellite. It use Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR). Its advantage is that it can efficiently work during cloudy weather, at night and during monsoon. It is very useful in making flood assessment, soil moisture, crop monitoring.
4. INSAT series Its role in weather forecasting, cyclone warning and rainfall prediction.
5. Bhuvan Geo Portal It is ISRO indigenous GIS platform. It provide satellite imaginary of water bodies, soil, crops, land use, etc.

Remote Sensing

Remote sensing means collecting information without touching object. It is of two types:

1. Passive Remote Sensing

   It is done under sunlight

2. Active Remote Sensing

   It is done by using RADAR and LiDAR. It is used for vegetation index, drought monitoring, disease detection, soil moisture, etc.

NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index)

NDVI value differs depending upon healthy crop and stressed crop. Healthy crop reflect more near infrared radiation and absorb more red light whereas a stressed crop absorb more near infrared radiation and released more red light.

Drones (UVAs)

Drones collect very high resolution field information. Drones fly over the field and camera mounted upon it take RGB images, thermal images and multi spectral images and farmer receives pest map, disease map, nutrient deficiency map, water stress map.

Government Support for Drones

• Drone manufacturing is supported through promotion under SMAM (Sub-Mission on Agriculture Mechanization)
• Drone demonstration through ICAR and Krishi Vigyan Kendras.
• Support for start-ups under the Drones Rules, 2021 and the Production Linked Incentive scheme for drones and drone components.

IoT

IoT means interconnected smart devices exchanging real time information. Its component are sensors ➡️ internet ➡️ cloud ➡️ farmers mobile app.

IoT is used in smart irrigation and make water saving up to 30 to 50%. It is used in fertigation, livestock monitoring through reading of body temperature, diseases and feeding behaviour.

AI

AI enables compute to learn patterns and support decision making.

How does AI work?

• It requires input which comes from satellite images, drone images, data on weather.
• This data with input is linked with IoT.
• AI reads the pattern and makes prediction and that influences farmers decision.

AI is very effective in disease detection like blast, rust, leaf spot, pest prediction by reading weather, humidity, temperature and the crop stage. It also makes forecast on yield, weed and market intelligence.

Government Initiatives

1. Digital Agriculture Mission 2021-25 is to promote AI, blockchain, drones, remote sensing, digital database for agriculture.
2. Agri Stack to create a digital ecosystem with farmer centric services.
3. National e-Governance Plan in agriculture for digital delivery of agricultural services.
4. Sub-mission for Agriculture Mechanization
5. National Mission on Agriculture Sustainable

Conclusion

Precision agriculture represents the transition from input intensive farming to intelligence intensive farming by integrating satellite, drones, IoT, AI. India can achieve the goal of higher productivity, resource use efficiency, climate resilience and enhance farmers income.

Tropical Season and Crops

India has three cropping seasons

1. Kharif Crop

   It is sown and harvested during summer and rainy season

2. Rabi Crop

   It is cultivated during winter season

3. Zaid Crop

   It is cultivated between rabi and kharif (February to April)

Kharif Crops

Rice

• It is called paddy.
• It requires 25° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 150 to 300 cm.
• Major producers are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra, Punjab.

Types of Paddy Cultivation

1. Traditional/ Transplantation Method

   • This is most popular method in India. In this there are three stages
   1. Preparation of Nursery. In this stage seeds are sown in nursery for 20 to 25 days.
   2. During this period field is prepared by two to three ploughing and water logging up to knee or ankle deep.
   3. After field is prepared saplings are taken out from nursery and transplanted at field at a distance of 15 to 20 cm.

   Its advantage is that productivity in high and it also help in controlling weeds but disadvantage of this technique are

   1. Highly water intensive
   2. Labour intensive
   3. Contributes to global warming

2. Direct Seeding

   • In this method seeds are directly sown in the field either in dry or wet field
   • Its advantages are that it is less labour-intensive and less water-intensive.
   • Its challenges is high growth of weeds.

3. System of Rice Intensification

   • It is considered as most modern technique.
   • It was first used in South Africa and in India first used in Andhra Pradesh.
   • It has two stages
   1. Seeds are shown in the nursery but the saplings are taken only after 8 to 12 days.
   2. Saplings are shown or transplanted at distance of 25 * 25 cm. In this there are alternate phase of dry and wet field.
   • Its advantage is about 50% less use of water and about 20 to 50% higher production. However, it is high labour intensive.

Maize

• It requires 20° to 27° C temperature, rainfall 50 to 100 cm.
• Major producers are Karnataka (largest), Madhya Pradesh and Bihar.

Millets

Major millets are

1. Bajra
   • It requires 25° to 35° C temperature, rainfall 40 to 60 cm.
   • Major producers are Rajasthan (largest), Gujrat and Haryana.
   • It is most popular millet of country.
2. Jawar
   • It requires 25° to 35° C temperature, rainfall 40 to 80 cm.
   • Major producers are Maharashtra (largest), Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
3. Ragi
   • It requires 20° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 50 to 120 cm.
   • Major producers are Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana.

Millets and food Security in India

Food security means ensuring availability, accessibility, affordability and nutritional utilization of a food for every citizen. Millets also called Shree Anna contributes to all four pillars of food security.

1. Climate Resilient Crops

   Ensure food availability

   • Requires 70 to 80% less water than rice
   • Tolerate high temperature and erratic rainfall
   • Suitable for climate change adaptation
   • Rajasthan, Karnataka, Maharashtra and dry regions of Central India continue producing millets even during drought years.

2. Nutritional Security (Hidden Hunger)

   Millets are called nutri-cereals because they are rich in protein, dietary fibre iron, calcium, zinc, magnesium and vitamin B complex.

   Compare to polished rice millets have

   • Lower glycaemic index (beneficial for diabetes)
   • Higher micro nutrients
   • Gluten free thus it helps in reducing anaemia, malnutrition, lifestyle diseases and micro-nutrient deficiencies.

3. Diversification of India's food basket

   India number one staple food is rice followed by wheat. Millet production reduces such dependency on these two crops by diversifying food options

4. Better livelihood for dryland farmers

   Around 55% of India's net sown area is rainfed where productivity of rice and wheat remains low e.g. in rainfed area wheat productivity is about 2 ton/hac only. Millets needs less water, lower cultivation cost and have lower production risk.

5. Water Security

   Producing 1 kg of rice requires much more water than most millets. Weed also require high amount of water than the millet. Therefore production of millet reduces irrigation demand and conserves groundwater.

6. Climate Change Mitigation

   Millet could be grown areas where rainfall is above 40 cm. This is the limit below to which a region is declared as aired. Thus if the climate change make the rainfall more erratic or reduces average rainfall in the country, millet could be the most suitable crop while maintaining sustainability.

7. Strengthening Public Food Distribution

   Millet are now promoted under Mid-Day Meal i.e. now called PM-POSHAN, Public Distribution System, Aaganwadi Nutrition Program.

Why Government of India is emphasizing on millet production?

• Food security
• Nutritional security
• Climate resilient agriculture
• Doubling farmers income
• Crop diversification
• Sustainable development goals
• Water conservation
• Export promotion

India is the largest millet producer in the world contributing about 34.8% of global production.

Millet production in 2024-25 was 180.15 lac tons. It is up by 4.3 lac tons over the year 2023-24.

Major millet producing states are Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Gujrat.

Major millet crops are bajra i.e. largest share, jawar, ragi.

Small millets that includes foxtail millet, kodo millet, little millet, bornyard millet, proso millet.

Government Initiatives to promote Millets

1. National Food Security and Nutritional Mission
2. Minimum Support Price and Procurement
3. PM formalization of micro-food processing enterprises.
4. Production Linked Incentives for millet based products.
5. ICAR's Indian Institute of Millet Research
6. International year of Millet - 2023

Groundnut

• It requires 25° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 50 to 75 cm.
• Major producers are Gujrat, Andhra and Tamil Naidu.

Soyabean

• It requires 20° to 20° C temperature, rainfall 60 to 100 cm.
• Major producers are Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

Cotton

• It requires 20° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 50 to 100 cm and at least 200 to 210 days frost free.
• Major producers are Gujrat, Maharashtra, Telangana.

Pulses

Major Pulses are

1. Arhar or Tur
   • It requires 20° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 60 to 80 cm.
   • Major producers are Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
2. Urad/ Black Pulse
   • It requires 20° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 60 to 80 cm.
   • Major producers are Andhra, Maharashtra and Tamil Naidu.
3. Moong
   • It requires 20° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 60 to 80 cm.
   • Major producers are Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
4. Horse gram
   • It requires 20° to 35° C temperature, rainfall 60 to 80 cm.
   • Major producers are Maharashtra, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

Why Government emphasizing upon Pulses?

Pulses are known as protein basket of India. They are indispensable for ensuring food security, nutritional security, soil health, sustainable agriculture and reducing import dependency. As income rises and dietary pattern improve, demand for pulses is increasing rapidly making their production a strategic priority.

Importance of pulses lies in

1. Nutritional food security or hidden food security

   India has large vegetarian population for whom pulses are primary source of protein. Pulses are rich in protein (18-25%), iron, zinc, folate, calcium and dietary fibre. The regular consumption of pulses helps in combating

   • Protein energy malnutrition
   • Anaemia
   • Hidden hunger
   • Miro-nutrients deficiencies

2. Affordable source of protein

   Compare to milk and meat, pulses are relatively inexpensive source of protein, specially for economically weaker section thus it support the affordability pillar of food security.

3. Soil fertility enhancement through nitrogen fixation (Rhizobium).

4. Sustainable agriculture

5. Crop diversification (rice-wheat monoculture cause environmental issues)

6. Climate resilience

7. Farmers income

In 2024-25 pulses production in the country was 252.4 lac tons. It is one of the highest production achieved in India. It increased over previous year.

India is largest producer, consumer and importer of pulses globally as domestic demand still exceeds the production.

Major pulses producing states are Madhya Pradesh (largest), Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh.

Distribution is done by government through PDS, PM-POSHAN, Aanganwadi

Government Initiatives to promote pulses

1. National Food Security and Nutrition Mission (NFSNM)
2. MSP
3. Procurement through Central Nodal Agencies that includes NAFED and NCCF.
4. PM-AASHA to strengthens MSP implementation through procurement and price deficiency support mechanism.
5. ICAR develops high yielding, disease resistant and climate resilient pulse variety.
6. International year of pulses - 2016

Rabi Crops

Wheat

• It requires 15° to 20° C temperature during sowing and 20° to 25° C during growing and harvest, rainfall 50 to 75 cm.
• Major producers are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh

Mustard

• It requires 15° to 25° C temperature, rainfall 40 to 60 cm.
• Major producers are Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Oil Seeds

Oil seeds are India's second most important agricultural commodity after cereals. They are essential for food security, nutritional security and farmers income and reducing import dependence. Despite being one of the world largest producer of oil seeds India import a significant share of its edible oil requirement making self reliance in edible oils a national priority.

Its importance lies in

1. Nutritional Security

   Edible oil provide essential fatty acids like omega 3, omega 6. It provides Vitamin E. It provides energy 9 kilo calorie per gram. Fat soluble vitamins i.e. Vitamin A, D, E and K.

   Adequate edible oil intake is necessary for balanced nutrition.

2. Affordable Cooking Medium

3. Reducing Import dependence

   India imports nearly 55 to 60% of its edible oil requirement.

4. Doubling farmers income

5. Crop diversification

6. Agro-industrial development.

In 2024-25 India produce about 4 to 6 lac tons of oil seeds.

Major oil seeds in India are soyabean (largest producer is Madhya Pradesh), mustard (largest producer is Rajasthan), groundnut (largest producer is Gujrat), sunflower (Maharashtra, Karnataka) other are caster seeds and niger seeds.

India is one of the world's largest edible oil importers which includes palm oil, soyabean oil, sunflower oil. Major suppliers are Indonesia, Malaysia, Brazil, Argentina

Government Initiatives for Oil Seeds

1. National Mission on Edible Oils - Oil Seeds
2. National Mission on Edible Oils- Oil Palm mainly focused in South India and Northeast.
3. National Food Security and Nutritional Mission (Oil Seeds)
4. Minimum Support Price

Potato

• It requires 15° to 20° C temperature, rainfall 50 to 75 cm.
• Major producers are Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar.

Rye and Oats

• It requires 10° to 20° C temperature, rainfall 30 to 50 cm.
• Major producers are Uttarakhand, Himachal and Punjab.

Sunflower

• It requires 15° to 25° C temperature, rainfall 50 to 75 cm.
• Major producers are Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra.

Saffron

• It requires 10° to 20° C temperature, rainfall 30 to 40 cm.
• Major producers is Jammu and Kashmir (Pampure district).

Zaid Crops

It includes Cucumber, watermelon, muskmelon

Plantation Crops

Tea

• It requires 20° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 150 to 300 cm.
• Major Tea Producing States
  • Assam (About 50% of Indian tea production)
    • Major districts are
      • Dibrugarh
      • Tinsukia
      • Sivasagar
      • Jorhat
      • Golaghat
    • Assam Tea is famous for its taste.
  • West Bengal (About 25%)
    • Darjeeling Tea
      • Grown at an altitude of 600 to 2000 m.
    • Major districts:
      • Jalpaiguri
      • Alipurduar
  • Tamil Nadu (About 25%)
    • Nilgiri Tea
      • Udhagamandalam (Ooty)
      • Coonoor
      • Anamali Tea
        • Valpara district
  • Kerala (About 8%)
    • Munnar
    • Wayanad
  • Other Tea Producing States
    • Himachal Pradesh – Kangra Valley
    • Uttarakhand – Almora, Pithoragarh
    • Sikkim – Temi Tea Estate (It is the highest tea plantation in India.)
    • Arunachal Pradesh – Lohit region

British introduced tea cultivation in both Eastern and Western Himalayas but it become highly successful only in the Eastern Himalayas primarily. The reasons are as follows

1. Climatic Suitability
   • Eastern Himalayas
     • Receives rainfall 200 to 400 cm
     • High humidity i.e. above 80%
     • Warm temperature 20° to 30° C
     • Frequent cloud covers protect tea leaves from excessive sunlight
   • Western Himalayas
     • Rainfall is much lower it is only 80 to 150 cm.
     • Long dry spells requires irrigation
     • Lower humidity reduces leaf quality and yield
2. Monsoon Characteristics
   • It is Bay of Bengal branch of southwest monsoon which rains over Eastern Himalaya. Eastern Himalaya is fully covered by monsoon rain by 5^thJune.
   • Whereas, Western Himalaya receives primarily from Arabian Sea branch and only after first week of July or June end.
3. Length of growing season
   • Eastern Himalayas have long frost free period i.e. 8 to 10 months. It supports multiple tea flushes.
   • Western Himalayas experiences colder winter and more frost, reducing the growing seasons to about 5 to 7 months.
4. Soil Conditions
   • In Eastern Himalayas it is deep, rich in organic substances and acidic on pH scale.
   • Whereas, in Western Himalayas it is shallow, less acidic at many places.
5. Scale and Plantation Economy
   • Eastern Himalayas, specially Assam has large, vast plains and gentle sloping foothills suitable for large commercial estates.
   • Whereas, Western Himalayas have fragmented valleys and step terrain, limiting large scale plantation.
6. Labour Availability
   • Eastern Himalayas has abundant labour from Assam, West Bengal, Bihar who are cheap and skilled.
   • Western Himalayas has shortage of such labours.

Coffee

• It requires 15° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 150 to 250 cm.
• Major producers are
  • Karnataka (largest producer) 70%
    • Kodagu
    • Chikmagalur
    • Hassan
    • Baba Budan Hills
  • Kerala (20%)
    • Wayanad
    • Palakkad
  • Tamil Naidu
    • In Nilgiri and Shivrai Hills
  • Other states includes
    • Andhra Pradesh - Vishakhapatnam
    • Odisha - Koraput and Raigarh
    • Assam - Karbi Anglong
• World's largest producer of coffee is Brazil and it is largest exporter also.
• Cantos is coffee port of Brazil
• There are there varieties of Coffea arabica (Arabica), Coffea canephora (Robusta), and Coffea liberica (Liberica).
• It was introduced in India by Baba Budan in Karnataka in 17^th Century in the Baba Budan Hills.
• Coffee was originally found of Ethiopian island and from there it was taken to Arabia and from Arabia it spreads across the world including India.

Rubber

• It requires 25° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 200 to 300 cm.
• Major producing states are
  • Kerala (80%)
    • Kottayam
    • Kollam
    • Pathanamthitta
  • Tamil Naidu
    • Kanniyakumari
    • Coimbatore
  • Other states
    • Tripura
    • Assam
    • Mizoram

Cashew

• It requires 20° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 100 to 200 cm.
• Major producing states are Maharashtra, Kerala and Andhra.

Cardamom

• It requires 10° to 35° C temperature, rainfall 150 to 300 cm.
• Major producing states are Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Naidu.

Oil Palm

• It requires 20° to 30° C temperature, rainfall 200 to 300 cm.
• Major producing states are Andhra, Telangana and Kerala.

Irrigation

Irrigation is the artificial supply of water to crops to supplement rainfall. In India agriculture is highly depend on monsoon and nearly 52% of net sown area area is still rainfed, irrigation is the backbone of agriculture productivity, food security and rural livelihood.

Importance of Irrigation

• Ensures food security
  • Irrigated land constitute about 48% of net sown area but contributes nearly 60 to 65% of India's total food grain production.
  • India produces over 350 million tons of food grain in 2024-25, largely due to the expansion of irrigation.

Punjab and Haryana despite having limited geographical area contributed nearly 50% of wheat procurement because of assured irrigation.

• Increases agricultural productivity
  • Crop yield on irrigated farms are generally 2 to 3 times higher than on rainfed farm. e.g. wheat yield in irrigated area exceeds 4.5 to 5 tons per hac while rainfed wheat often remains below 2 tons per hac.
  • Eastern India like Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh have lower productivity and the Western India like Western Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana have higher productivity. The main difference creator is irrigation.
• Reduces dependence on monsoon
  • Nearly 75% of India's annual rainfall occurs within just 4 months (June to September), making agriculture highly vulnerable.
  • Irrigation stabilizes production during delayed, deficient or erratic monsoon e.g. during El-Nino years food production fluctuates everywhere but is 2 to 3 times more in rainfed area than the irrigated area.
• Enable multiple cropping
  • Assured irrigation increases cropping intensity.
  • India's cropping intensity has increased to around 150% mainly because irrigation enables cultivation of 2 or 3 crops annually.
• Promote cultivation of high value crops
  • Crops like floriculture, sugarcane, vegetable, fruits, etc.
  • These crops provide much higher income than the traditional agriculture.
• Increases Farmers Income
  • Reliable irrigation reduces crop failure and increases productivity.
  • According to ICAR's studies micro-irrigation can increases farmers income by 20 to 50% depending on crop.
  • Efficient use of modern inputs hybrid seeds, fertilizers, mechanization, precision agriculture.
• Climate change adaption
  • Irrigation helps farmers cope with drought, heatwaves, erratic rainfall, long dry spells, etc.
• Boost rural economy
  • By supporting dairy, fisheries, hydroponics, aquaponics, horticulture, etc.
• Support agriculture economy
  • Agriculture contributes around 16 to 18% of India Gross Value Addition (GVA).
  • Nearly 45% of India's workforce depends on agriculture.

Groundwater provides nearly 62% of irrigation. About 17% of assessment units/blocks areas are over exploited for groundwater. There is a huge regional disparity in terms of water resources and irrigation. Eastern India has abundant water but low irrigation whereas Western India has less water but more irrigation.

Types of Irrigation

1. Canal Irrigation
2. Well and Tube Well Irrigation
3. Tank Irrigation
4. Precision or micro-irrigation / Drip and Sprinkler Irrigation.

Canal Irrigation

It is the best method to channelize water for a long distance i.e. from water surplus area or region like Perineal rivers, multipurpose dams, reservoirs to water deficit area for irrigation purposes.

Canal irrigation irrigates about 23-25% of India's total irrigated area making it the second most important source after groundwater. It is concentrated mainly in the fertile alluvial plain of North India, coastal plains and in the river valleys of South India. Important states are Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh.

Advantages of Canal Irrigation

• Assured irrigation for water intensive crops like cotton, sugarcane.
• Increases crop intensity and agricultural productivity.
• Helps recharge groundwater and supports rural livelihood.
• It reduces dependence on erratic monsoon rain.

Challenges of Canal Irrigation

• Its water use efficiency is very low i.e. only 35-40%.
• Water lobbing and soil salinity in fields located close to canals.
• Unequal water distribution to tail end farmers.
• High maintenance cost, high construction cost, high desiltation cost.

Command Area Development Program (CADP)

It is launched by government of India in 1974-75 to improve utilization of irrigation potential created by major and medium irrigation projects. It amin to bridge the gap between irrigation potential created and irrigation potential utilized i.e. IPU/PCU * 100.

Objectives of CADP

• Improve water utilization efficiency through scientific distribution.
• Complete field channels and drainage network.
• Promote equitable water distribution, specially to tail end farmers.
• Increases agricultural productivity and cropping intensity.

Major Component of CADP

• Construction of field channels.
• Land levelling
• Participation irrigation management
• Warabandi
• Conjunctive use of surface and groundwater resources.

Well and Tube Well Irrigation

Well and Tube Well irrigation is largest irrigation in India, accounting for nearly 60-65% of the total irrigated areas. It depends on groundwater extracted through wells and tube wells or deep borewells. It is concerted in the region which extensive alluvial aquafers and reliable electricity. Important state are Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Rajasthan, etc.

Advantages

• Very useful for small farmers having fragmented partial of land.
• Water alluvial demand increases crop intensity.
• High water utilization efficiency with drip and sprinkler system.
• It is very useful financially also to the farmers because the average invest cost is 25-50K. However, in Western India it goes up to few lakhs.

Challenges

• Excessive groundwater extraction causes decline in groundwater table.
• Decline in groundwater decline causes increases in fluoride in Rajasthan and arsenic in Bihar and West Bengal.
• Over exploitation threatens long term water security and ecosystem sustainability.

Initiatives by Government of India

• Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)
  • Community led groundwater management in water stress area.
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
  • To support per drop more crop
  • Micro irrigation and precision irrigation
• Groundwater regulation by Central Groundwater Authority
  • Controls over extraction and critical blocks.
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA)
  • Catch the rain
  • Promotes rainwater harvesting
• PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan)
  • Free subsidized electricity and solar pumps.

Tank Irrigation

Tank irrigation is most popular method of irrigation in peninsular India specially plateau part. It depends upon rainwater as a source. Tanks are actually natural or manmade depression developed on the surface which are filled with rainwater.

Advantages

• A natural method of rainwater harvesting.
• Creates alternative source of income like aquaculture.
• Reliable source of irrigation for a season or two.
• It is heavily used in Tamil Naidu, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.

Challenges

• Huge loss of water through evaporation.
• Not a good and reliable source of irrigation at least as good as well and canal irrigation.
• Sometimes create community disputes.

Watershed Management

Watershed management is the integrated conservation and development of land, water and vegetation within a drainage basin to improve water availability, soil health, agriculture productivity and ecological sustainability.

Objectives of Watershed Management

• Conserve soil and water
• Recharge groundwater and improve water utilization efficiency.
• Reduce soil erosion and land degradation.
• Enhance productivity and farmers income
• Build climate resilience in rainfed and drought prone regions.

Government Initiatives

• Integrated Watershed Management Program which is now merged with PMKSY-WSDC
• VB-GRAMG (Viksit Bharat–Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025)
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan
  • Catch the rain
  • Promote rainwater harvesting

Micro-Irrigation

Micro-Irrigation is a precision irrigation technique in which water directly to the root notes of crop in small and controlled quantities through drip or sprinkler system. It minimizes water loss due to evaporation, runoff and deep percolation.

Importance

• Agriculture consume nearly 80-85% of India's fresh water whereas water use efficiency is only 35-40%.
• Nearly 52% of India's net shown area is rainfed making efficient irrigation essential.
• It improves water use efficiency up to 50%.
• Reduce weed growth, soil erosion, and labour cost.
• Suitable for horticulture, sugarcane, cotton, pulses, vegetables and plantation crops, etc.
• Helps in addressing groundwater depletion and climate change.

Challenges

• High initial cost.
• Limited awareness among farmers
• Maintenance issue
• Fragmented land holdings.
• Lack of reliable electricity.

Government Initiatives

• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)
  • It was launched in 2015.
  • It has four major components
    • Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Program (AIBP)
      • It was launched in 1996-97 to expediate the completion of ongoing major and medium irrigation projects suffering from financial constraints
      • Since 2025, AIBP has been implemented as a component of PMKSY.
    • Har Keth ko Panni
    • CADP and Water Management
      • Also known as CADWN
    • Per drop more crop
• Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)
• Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA)
• PM-KUSUM (Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthan Mahabhiyan)

Fertilizers

Soil requires regular nutrient replenishment, which is achieved by applying fertilizers that release essential minerals, which are categorized primarily into two

1. Major Minerals

   These minerals are required by the plant in high quantity. It includes

   • Nitrogen
     • It is vital for leaf growth, protein synthesis and chlorophyll formation
   • Phosphorus
     • It supports flower and food production of plant.
   • Potassium
     • Require for overall plant growth.
   • Calcium
     • It strengthens cell wall and neutralizes soil pH or acidity.
   • Magnesium
     • It strengthens photosynthesis and its central component is chlorophyll
   • Sulfur
     • Essential for protein synthesis, photosynthesis and chlorophyll formation.

2. Minor Minerals

   These are need in small quantity by plants

   • Iron
     • Necessary for chlorophyll
   • Manganese
     • Supports nitrogen metabolism
   • Zinc
     • Support growth hormones
   • Copper
     • Photosynthesis and respiration
   • Boron
     • Supports flowering and food development
   • Molybdenum
     • Supports nitrogen fixation
   • Chlorine
     • Disease resistance
   • Nickle
     • Seed Germination

Importance of Fertilizers in Indian Agriculture

• Soil Nutrient Depletion
  • HYB are highly mineral intensive thus the faster replenishment of minerals is essential to increase crop intensity and productivity
• High population pressure
• Low organic matter in soil
• Imbalance nutrient use
  • About 40% of Indian soil has imbalance ratio of minerals.
• Declining soil fertility
  • Due to salinization, increasing alakanity, wrong agriculture practices
• Limited availability of organic inputs like cow dungs, compost, etc.

Types of Fertilizers

Chemical Synthetic Fertilizers

• Nitrogen Fertilizers
  • Urea
    • It contains 46% nitrogen and most widely use fertilizer
  • Nano Urea
    • It is liquid fertilizer with nano size nitrogen particles.
    • It is very useful in precision farming.
    • It avoids wastage, overuse of fertilizers.
  • Neem Coated Urea
    • It is urea coated with neem oil.
    • It helps in delayed (slow) dissolution of urea in soil.
    • Neem helps in repealing insects and diseases.
    • It helps in boosting yield by 15-30%.
    • It improves soil health.
    • It reduces input cost.
    • It reduces burden of subsidy thus supports Indian economy.
• Potassic Fertilizers
  • Muriate of potash and sulphate of potash are important form of fertilizers
• Phosphatic Fertilizers
  • It includes DAP. It is most common followed by SSP.

Organic Fertilizers

These are derived from natural sources. It includes farm yard manure like

• Cow dung
  • It has 1% nitrogen, 0.2% phosphorous and 0.5% potassium.
• Vermicompost
  • It was earthworm processed organic matter.
• Green manure
  • In this crop like dhaincha and cowpea plowed into soil to add organic matter and nitrogen.
• Biochar
  • It is carbon rich organic substances added into to soil to enhance soil fertility.

Biofertilizers

These are microbial waste fertilizers that enhance nutrient availability. It includes

• Rhizobium
  • It fixes nitrogen in leguminous plant
• Azotobacter and Azospirillum
  • These are free living nitrogen fixing bacteria.
• Phosphate Soluble bacteria
  • It makes phosphorous available to plants.
• Blue Green Alage
  • It is used in rice field for nitrogen fixation.

Fertigation

Fertigation is the application of fertilizers dissolved in irrigation water through drip and sprinkler irrigation. However, insoluble phosphorus based minerals are avoided in fertigation because it develops hard module and blocks hole of sprinkler and drip irrigation.

Disadvantages of Use of Synthetic Fertilizers

Environmental Pollution

• Water Contamination
  • Surface water eutrophication and groundwater became nitrate rich which cause Blue body syndrome disease.
• Greenhouse gas emission
  • Indian agriculture sector release 4.2 million tons carbon dioxide equivalent annually with fertilizers contributing 15-20%.
• Air pollution
  • Ammonia volatilization adds PM 2.5 particles in the air and that worsens air quality.

Soil Degradation

• Nutrient Imbalance
  • As per ICAR 2024 report, 59% of Indian soil are deficit in zinc, 36% in boron due to imbalance fertilizer use.
• Soil pH
  • Ammonia based fertilizers cause imbalance in soil pH
• Declining Organic Matter
  • Overuse of fertilizers kills organic substances.
• Low Nutrient Use Efficiency
  • Nitrogen use efficiency in India is 30-35% only (ICAR, 2024).

Economic Burden

• High subsidy of fertilizers
• High input cost for the farmers

Health Impact

• Various types of disease like cancer, diabetes, lung diseases, blue body syndrome.

Biodiversity Loss

• It includes aquatic ecosystem loss, soil biodiversity loss.

Seeds

Seeds are most primary factor of agriculture. These are categorize into three mainly

Traditional Seeds

These are indigenous open pollinated seeds saved and selected by farmers over generations, adapted to local climates and soil.

Characteristics

• These have high genetic diversity, suited to low input, rainfed farming e.g. kala namak and navara variety of rice, kodo and ragi of millets.
• These seeds are reuseable.

Benefits

• These crops are resilient to local pest, diseases and droughts that's why it give 5-20% higher yield in adverse conditions.
• Supports biodiversity
  • India has 50,000+ rice varieties and 1,000+ millet varieties.
• It has very low input cost.
• It is highly prefered in organic farming.

Challenges

• Low yield compare to HYB
  • It gives only 1-2 tons rice per hac whereas, HYB gives 4-6 tons rice per hac.
• It has limited market
• Loss of varieties due to HYB e.g. about 70% of rice varieties have been lost.

HYBs

These seeds are develop through convectional breeding or cross breed for higher productivity, it was introduced in India during Green Revolution in 1960s.

Characteristics

• High response to inputs like fertilizers, irrigation and pesticides.
• These have shorter growth cycle, enabling multiple cropping seasons e.g. IR8 for rice, Kalyan Sona for wheat.

Benefits

• Increased yield
  • Rice yield is only 1.5 ton per hac in 1960s which has become 4.5 ton per hac in 2024.
  • Wheat yield has increased from 0.8 ton per hac to 3.5 ton per hac.
• Food Security
  • India's food grain production grew form 82 million ton in 1960 to 330 million tons in 2023-24.
  • About 80% of India's cultivated area uses HYBs

Challenges

• High input cost
  • Fertilizer use increase from 2kg per hac in 1960 to 130kg per hac (FCCI report 2024).
• Soil Degradation
  • About 40% of Indian soil shows deficiency in micro-nutrients due to intensive use of HYBs (ICAR report 2024).
• Water intensive
  • About 60-70% fresh water resources are consumed by agriculture sector only.

GM Seeds

These are engineered using biotechnology to introduced traits like pest resistant or herbicide tolerance e.g. BT crops with bacillus thuringiensis. In India BT cotton is only commercially approved and cultivated crop, BT brinjal is approved but not cultivated. BT cotton resist bollworms.

Green Revolution

Green Revolution was a major initiative which transform Indian agriculture from traditional to modern agriculture.

In 1950s 60s India faced severe food shortages with grain production at 82 million tons in 1960-61, which was insufficient for population of 440 million. Famine risk an dependence on food imports e.g. PL480 from US, prompted urgent action.

It was launched in 1965 under the leadership of agricultural minister C. Subramaniam, Prime Ministers Lal Bahadur Shastri and agricultural scientist M.S. Swaminathan.

Intensive Agriculture Development Program (IADP) of 1960 and Intensive Agriculture are program of 1964 provided the groundwork. Its objective were to achieve food self sufficiency through agricultural practices, focusing on wheat and rice in irrigated regions.

Components of Green Revolution

• High Yielding Varieties (HYBs)
  • e.g. Sonora 64 and Kalyan Sona of wheat and IR8 and Jaya of rice.
  • The source of wheat HYB was Mexico and rice was Philippines.
• Irrigation Expansion
  • In 1960 irrigated area was only 24 million hac which become 38 million hac by 1980.
• Use of Synthetic Fertilizers
  • Fertilizer consumption rose from 2kg/hac in 1960 to 40 kg/hac in 1980.
• Pesticides and Mechanization
  • Tractor usage grew from 8000 unit in 1962 to 1.8 lakh unit in 1980.
• Institutional Supports
  • In the form of subsidy on seeds, fertilizers, irrigation and credit.

Impacts of Green Revolution

Positive Impact

• Food Security
  • Food grain production rose from 82 million tons in 1962 to 130 million tons in 1980 and 330 million tons in 2023.
• Yield Increased
  • Wheat yield rose from 0.8 ton/hac to 2.3 ton/hac, rice from 1.5 ton/hac to 2.8 ton/hac.
• Economic Growth
  • It increases farmers income by 50-70% in Punjab, Haryana and Western UP states.
• Rural Development
  • Rural infrastructure like roads, irrigation and electrification.

Negative Impact

• Environmental Degradation
  • Soil Degradation
    • Due to overuse of fertilizers and other chemical compounds.
  • Water Depletion
    • 70% decline in water table in Punjab between 1960 to 2020.
  • Pollution
    • Water and Air Pollution.
• Regional Disparities
  • Punjab per capita income rose 3 times faster than Bihar between 1965 to 1980.
• Economic Burden
  • Farmer input cost increased.
  • Government burden due to subsidy increased.
• Loss of Biodiversity
  • About 70% of native rice varieties were lost.
• Health Impact
  • Due to water contamination, deficiency of micro nutrients in soil and air pollution, overuse of fertilizers.

Green Revolution 2.0

It is sustainable agricultural transformation. It is needed much due to climate change, stagnant agricultural growth i.e. 2.4% annually between 2010 to 2020, rising demand for food because population is estimated to grow up to 400 million by 2040 and need for sustainable agricultural development as well as inclusive growth.

Objective

• Food and Nutritional Security
• Climate Resilience
• Environmental Sustainability
• Increasing Farmers Income
• Inclusivity
  • Supporting agriculture in rainfed area and helping farmers who have less than 2 acer of land.

Key Components

• Climate Resilience Crops
  • ICAR released 200+ climate resilient varieties between 2014-2023 e.g. HD-3226 of wheat and CR Dhan 801 of rice.
• Sustainable Practices
  • Promotion of organic farming , zero budget farming, intercropping, etc.
  • Andhra Pradesh led Biological Nitrogen Fixation (BNF) initiatives, increased paddy yield by 9% and ragi by 40% between 2019 to 2023.
• Precision Agriculture
  • Use of drones, IoT and AI for efficient water, fertilizes and pesticides.
• Water Efficient Technology
  • Like micro-irrigation and system of rice intensification to reduce water use.
  • In 2023-24 micro-irrigation covers 12 million hac.
• Digital Technology and Expansion Services
  • Mobile app like Kisan Suvidha App and digital platform for market access and advisory.

Recent Development by GOI between 2017-25

• Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI)
  • It target rice productivity in Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Eastern UP.
  • It started in 2011.
• Krishonnati Yojana
  • It started in 2017.
  • It is to promote sustainable practices and farmers income by integrated development of agriculture and allied sectors.
• National Project on Organic Farming
  • Sikkim became the first organic state in 2017.
• Nanotechnology and Biotechnology Promotion
  • Nanotechnology in fertilizers use and biotechnology in HYBs.
• Climate Resilient Agriculture

White Revolution

In 1950-60s India faced sever milk shortage with per capita availability at 142g/day per person in 1960 that was far below nutritional requirement. Besides this dependency on milk powder import was very high e.g. from New Zealand it was crossing around 40 crore annually. Thus, White Revolution was launched in 1970 as operation flood by National Dairy Development Board under Dr. Verghese Kurien, inspired by the success of Kaira Dairy Cooperative Produce Union in Anand, Gujrat.

Its objective were to increase milk production, augment rural income and ensure affordable milk supply through a cooperative based dairy system.

Phases of White Revolution

Phase I (1970-80)

• It was funded by European Economic Community (EEC) Food Aid Program.
• It provided 126660 tons of skimmed milk powder, 42,000 tons of butter oil.
• It estimated 18 milk sheds, 10,000 village cooperatives and linked 4 major metro cities, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.
• Milk Production rose from 21.2 million tons in 1968-69 to 31.6 million tons in 1980-81.

Phase II (1981-85)

• Expanded number of milk sheds to 136, established 34,500 cooperatives and covered 290 towns.
• It focused on dairy infrastructure, crossbreeding and veterinary services.
• Milk cooperatives increased to 42,000 by the end and the milk production also doubled.

Phase III (1985-1996)

• Consolidated infrastructure, 170 milks sheds were added and 70,000 cooperatives were established.
• Emphasized on women participation and value added products like cheese, butter, ice-creams, chocolates, etc.
• Milk production reached to 60.8 million tons in 1995-96 and per capita availability also rose form 202 g/day per person.

Key Components

• Cooperative Model
  • Village level dairy cooperatives societies linked to district unions and state federations e.g. Gujrat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation.
• High Yielding Breeds
  • Crossbreeding of indigenous cows like Gir and Saiwal by using imported semen of Friesian, Holstein and Jersey to improve breed.
  • In 1970 average cow milk was only 2.5 l/day and in 2025 it is 6 l/day.
• Animal Health and Nutrition
  • Veterinary Services, hygienic artificial insemination and balanced cattle feed e.g. Amul's Dhan Wheat.
• Infrastructure Development
  • Like milk chilling centres, processing plants and cold chains were established.
• Training and Extension
  • Farmer training through Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) and Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA).

Distribution Across India

Major dairy states are:

Other states include Andhra, Telangana, Haryana, Karnataka, Tamil Naidu contributes 22%.

Impacts

Positive Impact

• Milk Production Growth
  • India become largest milk producer in 1998 after overtaking US.
  • The per capita availability of milk was 142 g/day per person and it became 459 g/day per person and more in 2025.
• Rural Livelihood
  • It empowered 18.6 million farmers with 70% small and marginal farmers.
  • Dairy income contributes 20-30% to rural household earning.
• Women Empowerment
  • 30% of cooperative members are women.
• Economic Contribution
  • Dairy sector contributes 4.5% to GDP in 2025.
• Food Security
  • Provides milk ₹60/l and reduce import dependency.

Negative Impacts

• Environmental Concern
  • Livestock contributes 14% to India's methane emission.
• Regional Disparities
  • Eastern and North-eastern states lag.
  • Bihar milk yield is 3 l/day whereas Punjab 6 l/day per cow.
• Small Farmers Challenge
  • 86% of farmers own less than 2 cows, limiting economics of scale. Besides this about 30-40% dairy expenses are of high yield crops.
• Quality Issues
  • As per FSSAI Report 2024, adulteration in milk sample is 10-15%.
• Animal Health
  • Diseases like foot and mouth reduce milk by 10-15%.

White Revolution 2.0

White Revolution 2.0 aims to address modern challenges like low productivity, environmental impact, regional disparities. It was announced in the Union Budget of 2024-25.

Objectives

• Boost Milk Production
  • Increase from 230.6 million tons in 2024 to 300 million tons in 2030.
• Strengthens Cooperatives
  • Expand DCS i.e. Dairy Cooperative Societies from 2.5 lac to 3 lac.
• Enhance farmers Income
• Promote Sustainability
  • Reduce 14% CO₂ equivalent emission by using biogas plant and sustainable practices.
• Modernize Infrastructure
  • Upgrade processing plants, cold chains and digital platform for efficient mil procurement and distribution.

Key Initiatives

• Dairy Processing and Infrastructure Development Fund
  • It aim to modernize 50 processing plants and 1000 chilling centres.
• Rashtriya Gokul Mission
  • To conserve indigenous breeds and to promote artificial insemination.
• GOBARdhan (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources Dhan)
  • It is a national initiative by GOI designed to convert cattle dung, agricultural residue and organic waste into compressed biogas and organic manure.
• Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Fund
  • It is to support dairy processing and value added products like cheese, butter, ice-cream, chocolate.
• Digital Platform
  • e.g. e-GOPALA app for mil procurement, quality testing and farmer payment
• Women Led Cooperatives
  • It target 5,000 women led DCS by 2030.

India produces 24% total share of milk, US 11%, EU 16%, China 4%, New Zealand 2% but largest exporter.

Per capita availability of India is 459 g/day per person. US has 600 g/day per person. EU has 700 g/day per person

Blue Revolution

Blue Revolution was launched during 7^th Year Plan, aimed to transform India's fisheries and aquaculture sector, mirroring Green Revolution impact on crop production. It was initiated under Fish Farmer Development Agencies and supported by the Brackish Water Fish Farm Development Agency. Dr. Hiralal Chaudhuri is considered as father of Blue Revolution.

Objectives of Blue Revolution

• Increase Fish Production
  • Achieve 4.5-5 million tons by 1990 through inland and marine fisheries.
• Livelihood Enhancement
  • Boost income for 1 crore fishers and small farmers via aquaculture.
• Food Security
  • Enhance fish availability as an affordable protein source for 30% of the population.
• Export Growth
  • Increases fisheries export to 10,000 crore by 1990.
• Technology Adoption
  • Introduce scientific breeding and fish farmer techniques.
• Infrastructure Development
  • Establish fishing harbours, seed production units.

Achievements of Blue Revolution

• Production Growth
  • Fish production rose from 60,000 tons in 1950 to 4.7 million tons in 2000.
• Inland Fisheries Growth
  • Inland production grew to 1.96 million tons by 1990, surpassing marine fisheries in 1991.
• Infrastructure Development
  • Established 30 fishing harbours.
• Export Surge
  • Export increase from 700 crore in 1985 to 7,000 crore by year 2000 in which shrimp had major growth.

Challenges of Blue Revolution

• Limited Reach
  • Training facilities could reach only 10% of farmers / fishers.
• Pollution
  • 60% of inland water bodies found contamination affecting fish health e.g. contamination with methyl mercury causes Minamata disease (It was first notice in Japan).
• Over Fishing
  • About 15% of marine starts decline due to unregulated fishing activity.
• Lack of Infrastructure
  • Only 5% of coastal areas have cold storage that's why post harvest loss was 25%.

Blue Revolution 2.0

It was launched under Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) to achieve sustainable fisheries growth. It was started in 2020. It emphasis on modern technology, export growth and inclusivity for women, youth and coastal communities.

Objectives

• Production Target
  • Achieve 22 million tons by 2025 with 70% of inland fisheries.
• Doubling of Farmers Income
  • Through value added products and aquaculture.
• Export Growth
  • Reach 1 lac crore in export by 2025.
• Sustainability
  • Promote eco-friendly practices like Biofloc.
• Infrastructure Development
  • Develop 100 fishing harbours, cold chains and processing units.
• Empower women and youth through training and financial support.