The cropping patterns in India can be presented by taking the major crops into consideration as the base crop and all other possible alternative crops. At farmers’ level, potential productivity and monetary benefits act as guiding principles while these decisions with respect to choice of crops and cropping systems narrowed down under influence of several other forces related to infrastructure facilities, socio-economic factors and technological developments, all operating interactively at micro-level.
Recent Developments Provisional Agriculture Census Data Released
Size of Operational Holding
Small and Marginal Holdings
State-wise Data
Realignment of Cropping Pattern
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Cropping pattern is a dynamic concept because it changes over space and time. It can be defined as the proportion of area under various crops at a point of time. A broad picture of the major cropping patterns in India can be presented by taking the major crops into consideration.
Cropping Season |
Major Crops Cultivated |
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Northern States |
Southern States |
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Kharif (June-September) |
Rice, Cotton, Bajra, Maize, Jowar, Tur |
Rice, Maize, Ragi, Jowar, Groundnut |
Rabi (October-March) |
Wheat, Gram, Rapeseeds and Mustard, Barley |
Rice, Maize, Ragi Groundnut, Jowar |
Zaid (April-June) |
Vegetables, Fruits, Fodder |
Rice, Vegetables, Fodder |
Advantages of Cropping Pattern
Disadvantages of Cropping Pattern
Emerging Problems in Cropping Patterns
Over the years the emerging scenario in the cropping pattern points to the following observations: