Improvement in Food Resources
A growing population requires more food, but land for cultivation is limited. Therefore, it is necessary to increase production efficiency for both crops and livestock to meet the rising demand.
India's large and growing population requires more food production. Since land for cultivation is limited, it is necessary to increase the efficiency of crop and livestock production to meet this demand.
The Green Revolution significantly increased food-grain production, while the White Revolution improved the availability and efficient use of milk. Both were crucial for India's food security.
Kharif crops are grown during the rainy season from June to October, such as paddy and soyabean. Rabi crops are grown in the winter season from November to April, such as wheat and gram.
The major activities for improving crop yields can be classified into three main stages. These are crop variety improvement, crop production improvement, and crop protection management.
Sustainable agriculture aims to increase food production without degrading the environment. It involves practices that maintain soil fertility and ecological balance for long-term productivity.
Kharif crops are grown during the monsoon season (June to October), such as paddy and maize. Rabi crops are grown in the winter season (November to April), such as wheat and gram.
Crop varieties are improved by incorporating desirable characteristics through methods like hybridization, which involves crossing genetically dissimilar plants. Another method is introducing a specific gene to create genetically modified crops.
The primary goals are to achieve higher yield, improved quality, and resistance to biotic stresses like diseases and abiotic stresses like drought. Other goals include shorter maturity duration and wider adaptability to different climates.
Crop varieties are improved through techniques like hybridisation, which is crossing genetically dissimilar plants, and by creating genetically modified crops (GMCs) to introduce desired traits.
Plants require essential nutrients for growth. Macronutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are needed in large quantities, while micronutrients like iron and manganese are required in small quantities.
Crop variety improvement aims for higher yield, improved quality, biotic and abiotic resistance, shorter maturity duration, and wider adaptability to different climatic conditions.
Plants require nutrients for growth. Macronutrients like Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) are needed in large quantities. Micronutrients like Iron (Fe) and Manganese (Mn) are needed in small quantities.
Manure is organic matter from decomposed animal and plant waste that improves soil structure and fertility. Fertilizers are commercially produced chemicals that supply specific nutrients but can degrade soil health with long-term use.
Manure is organic matter that improves soil fertility and structure. Fertilizers are commercially produced chemicals that provide specific nutrients but can degrade soil health with long-term use.
Irrigation is the artificial supply of water to crops. Common systems in India include wells (dug wells and tube wells), canals, river lift systems, and tanks, which are used to ensure crops get water at the right stages.
To maximize benefit, farmers use different patterns like mixed cropping (growing two or more crops simultaneously), intercropping (growing crops in a definite row pattern), and crop rotation (growing different crops in succession).
Organic farming is a system that uses minimal or no chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or pesticides. It relies on organic manures, recycled farm waste, and bio-agents to maintain soil fertility and crop health.
Mixed cropping, intercropping, and crop rotation are methods to maximize yield. They help in better nutrient utilization, suppress weeds, prevent pests and diseases, and reduce the risk of crop failure.
This involves controlling weeds, insect pests, and diseases that can damage crops. Methods include using pesticides, mechanical removal, and preventive measures like crop rotation and using resistant varieties.
Crops are protected from weeds, insect pests, and diseases. Control methods include using pesticides and more sustainable approaches like mechanical removal, using resistant varieties, and crop rotation.
Losses of stored grains occur due to biotic factors like insects and rodents, and abiotic factors like inappropriate moisture and temperature. Proper cleaning, drying, and fumigation can prevent these losses.
Grain losses during storage are caused by biotic factors like insects and rodents, and abiotic factors like moisture and temperature. Prevention includes proper cleaning, drying, and fumigation.
Animal husbandry is the scientific management of livestock, which includes proper feeding, breeding, shelter, and disease control. It encompasses cattle farming, poultry farming, fish production, and bee-keeping.
Animal husbandry is the scientific management of animal livestock. It includes proper feeding, breeding, shelter, and disease control to enhance the production of milk, meat, eggs, and other animal products.
Cattle are farmed for two main purposes: milk production from milch animals and draught labour for agricultural work. Cross-breeding exotic breeds (for long lactation) with local breeds (for disease resistance) is a common improvement method.
Poultry farming is undertaken to raise domestic fowl for egg production and chicken meat. Layers are birds farmed for producing eggs, while broilers are farmed for meat.
Cattle farming is done for milk production (milch animals) and farm labour (draught animals). Cross-breeding exotic breeds (e.g., Jersey) with local breeds (e.g., Sahiwal) produces animals with both high yield and disease resistance.
In poultry farming, layers are raised for egg production, while broilers are raised for meat. Their management, housing, and nutritional requirements differ based on their purpose.
Fish are obtained in two ways: capture fishing from natural sources (marine or inland) and culture fishery (aquaculture), which is fish farming. Mariculture is the term for marine fish farming.
This is a method of intensive fish farming where five or six species of fish are cultured together in a single pond. The species are selected so they have different food habits and do not compete, leading to higher yields.
Fish are obtained by capture fishing from natural water bodies or by culture fishery (aquaculture), which is fish farming. Mariculture is the specific term for farming marine fish.
Composite fish culture involves raising 5-6 different fish species in a single pond. The species are selected so they do not compete for food, which increases the overall fish yield from the pond.
Bee-keeping is the practice of maintaining bee colonies for the production of honey and wax. The quality and taste of honey depend on the pasturage, which refers to the flowers available to the bees for nectar collection.
Bee-keeping is practiced to obtain honey and wax. The Italian bee, Apis mellifera, is commonly used for commercial honey production due to its high collection capacity and gentle nature.