Agriculture and Allied Sectors (Part – I)

(i) During the agricultural year July, 2012-June, 2013, rural India had an estimated total of 90.2 million agricultural households which were about 57.8 percent of total estimated rural households. )

(ii)Among the major States, Rajasthan had highest percent- age of agricultural households (78.4%) among its rural households followed by Uttar Pradesh (74.8%) and Madhya Pradesh (70.8%).

(iii) Kerala had the least percentage share of agricultural households (27.3%) in its rural households.

(iv) About 45 percent of the total agricultural households ( belonged to OBCs while about 16 percent were from SCs and 13 percent were from STs.

(v) Agricultural activity (cultivation, livestock and other related activities ) was reported to be the principal source of income from majority of the households in all major States, except Kerala where 61 percent of the agricultural households reported to have earned maximum income from source other than agricultural activities.

National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted 'Situation Assesment of Agricultural Households and Land and Holdings of Households in Rural India, 2019' 77th round during January-December, 2019. According to this report:

• During the agricultural year July, 2018-June, 2019, rural India had an estimated total of 93.1 million agricultural households which were about 54.8 percent of total estimated rural households.

• Among all States, Nagaland had highest percentage of agricultural households (79.9%) among its rural house- holds followed by Jammu & Kashmir (74.4%) and Mizoram(74.2%).

• Tamil Nadu had the least percentage share of agricultural households (26.4%) in its rural households.

• About 45.8 percent of the total agricultural households belonged to OBCs while about 15.9 percent were from SCs and 14.2 percent were from STs.

(i) During the agricultural year July, 2012-June, 2013, rural India had an estimated total of 90.2 million agricultural households which were about 57.8 percent of total estimated rural households. )

(ii)Among the major States, Rajasthan had highest percent- age of agricultural households (78.4%) among its rural households followed by Uttar Pradesh (74.8%) and Madhya Pradesh (70.8%).

(iii) Kerala had the least percentage share of agricultural households (27.3%) in its rural households.

(iv) About 45 percent of the total agricultural households ( belonged to OBCs while about 16 percent were from SCs and 13 percent were from STs.

(v) Agricultural activity (cultivation, livestock and other related activities ) was reported to be the principal source of income from majority of the households in all major States, except Kerala where 61 percent of the agricultural households reported to have earned maximum income from source other than agricultural activities.

National Statistical Office (NSO) conducted 'Situation Assesment of Agricultural Households and Land and Holdings of Households in Rural India, 2019' 77th round during January-December, 2019. According to this report:

• During the agricultural year July, 2018-June, 2019, rural India had an estimated total of 93.1 million agricultural households which were about 54.8 percent of total estimated rural households.

• Among all States, Nagaland had highest percentage of agricultural households (79.9%) among its rural house- holds followed by Jammu & Kashmir (74.4%) and Mizoram(74.2%).

• Tamil Nadu had the least percentage share of agricultural households (26.4%) in its rural households.

• About 45.8 percent of the total agricultural households belonged to OBCs while about 15.9 percent were from SCs and 14.2 percent were from STs.

1. Madya Pradesh (5.21 million hectares ) 2. Maharashtra (4.56 million hectares ) and 3. Rajasthan (1.09 million hectares ). Three states with largest production (estimated) are as follows : Madhya Pradesh (5.25 million tonnes ), Maharashtra (4.69 million tonnes ), and Rajasthan (1.01 million tonnes ).

• Among all the countries in the world, India has the largest area under cotton cultivation.
• India constitutes 37% of the world's total area under cotton cultivation.
  In India, cotton cultivation is in the range of 10.5 million hectares to 12.20 million hectares.
• Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan Plateau.
• Cotton requires very light irrigation or rainfall.
• Cotton requires a high temperature.
• It requires 6 to 8 months for the cotton to mature.
• Cotton is a Kharif crop.
• 20% of the world's cotton is consumed in India.
• India is the second-largest consumer of cotton in the world.
• China is the world's largest consumer of cotton.
• The worldwide consumption of cotton is 26.91 MT, and in India alone, 5.40 MT of cotton is consumed.

• Among all the countries in the world, India has the largest area under cotton cultivation.
• India constitutes 37% of the world's total area under cotton cultivation.
  In India, cotton cultivation is in the range of 10.5 million hectares to 12.20 million hectares.
• Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan Plateau.
• Cotton requires very light irrigation or rainfall.
• Cotton requires a high temperature.
• It requires 6 to 8 months for the cotton to mature.
• Cotton is a Kharif crop.
• 20% of the world's cotton is consumed in India.
• India is the second-largest consumer of cotton in the world.
• China is the world's largest consumer of cotton.
• The worldwide consumption of cotton is 26.91 MT, and in India alone, 5.40 MT of cotton is consumed.

• India is the second-largest wheat producer in the world after China. Wheat cultivation accounts for 13 per cent of the country's cropped area.
• The highest production of wheat in India comes from the states of Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana, with Uttar Pradesh leading as the top producer due to its fertile alluvial soil and extensive irrigation network.
• India has done better in wheat cultivation by achieving yields closer to the global average.

It has recorded an average yield of 3.37 tonnes per hectare.                                However, it is still far from countries like France (6.84 tonne),                         Germany (6.67 tonne) and China (5.42 tonne). Production of                             wheat can be increased by the following measures:

• Area-specific technology has to be used, e.g., micro-irrigation in dry areas of the Deccan Region.
  Improved supply of better seeds.
  Better supply of fertilisers.
  Control of weeds, pests and diseases.

• Most people in India eat rice as a staple food. India is the second-largest producer of rice in the world after China and the largest rice exporter globally.
• Rice is a Kharif crop that requires high temperatures above 25°C and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm.
• Rice grows with irrigation in areas with less rainfall. It is preferred as a staple food in Southernand North-Eastern India and makes quick inroads into the North-Western Plain.
• The rice-growing areas are well suited for Mixed farming (Crops + Livestock).

Unpolished rice has high nutritional value. It is rich in Vitamins                        A, B, and Calcium, while Polished rice lacks these vitamins.
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