Food crops are the crops developed primarily for human consumption. They may be consumed directly as food or indirectly as ingredients in processed foods.
India is an agricultural powerhouse, with a diverse range of crops grown across the country. Some of the major crops in India include rice, wheat, maize, millets, and pulses.
In addition, horticulture crops such as fruits and vegetables play a vital role in India’s agriculture sector. These crops are essential to meeting the dietary needs of the country’s population and provide a significant source of income for farmers.
The following are some of the main food crops grown in India:
Rice:
When they grow:
- Rice is the most important crop in India, and it is grown throughout the year. Rice is grown in various altitudes and climates in India, with growing seasons varying across the country.
- In eastern and southern regions, where the temperature is favourable, two or three crops of rice are grown in a year.
- In northern and western parts, only one crop is grown between May and November.
- There are three seasons for growing rice: pre-kharif or autumn, kharif or winter, and rabi or summer. Autumn rice is grown from May to August and harvested in September-October, with about 7% of the crop grown during this season.
- Kharif or winter rice is grown from June-July to November-December, and about 84% of the country’s rice crop is grown in this season.
- Summer rice or rabi is grown from November to February and harvested from March to June, with only 9% of the area under this season.
Where they grow:
- Rice is grown in many parts of India, but it is particularly important in the states of Bihar, West Bengal, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Output:
- India is the world’s second-largest producer of rice, with an output of approximately 118 million tonnes in 2020-2021, according to the FAO.As per Second Advance Estimates, the estimated production of rice for 2022-23 is 1308.37 Lakh Tonnes.
Initiatives to promote them:
- To enhance rice production, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was established in 2007–2008.
- The effort intends to increase the area used for rice farming, increase output, restore soil fertility and productivity, create jobs, and improve farmers’ economies.
- To encourage farmers to adopt contemporary practises and boost production, the government also offers subsidies on seeds, fertiliser, and pesticides.
- In 2020-21, primary processing units and small storage bins were added to increase farmers’ income.
- The government has also started a number of programmes to give farmers access to loans, insurance, and marketing assistance.
Wheat:
When they grow:
- Wheat is a Rabi crop, which means it is sown in winters and harvested in the spring months.
- The seeds are typically sown between October and December, and the crop takes approximately 7-8 months to mature before it can be harvested from February to May.
Where they grow:
- Wheat is grown in many parts of India, but it is particularly important in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
- Uttar Pradesh is the largest Wheat producing state in India.
Output:
- India is the world’s second-largest producer of wheat, with an output of approximately 107 million tonnes in 2020-2021, according to the FAO.As per Second Advance Estimates, the estimated production of wheat for 2022-23 is 1121.82 Lakh Tonnes.
Initiatives to promote them:
- In an effort to boost wheat output, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was established in 2007–2008.
- The effort intends to increase the area under wheat production, boost output, restore soil fertility and productivity, generate jobs, and improve farmers’ economies.
- Additionally, in order to encourage farmers to use contemporary methods and boost their production, the government offers subsidies on seeds, fertiliser, and pesticides.
- Also the government has introduced a number of programmes to give farmers access to financing, insurance, and marketing assistance.
- In 2020-21, primary processing units and small storage bins were added to increase farmers’ income.
Maize:
When they grow:
- Maize is grown in India during two seasons, namely rainy (kharif) and winter (rabi).
- The majority of maize area, approximately 83%, is dedicated to kharif maize, while rabi maize accounts for 17%.
- More than 70% of kharif maize is cultivated under rainfed conditions, making it vulnerable to various biotic and abiotic stress factors.
- Consequently, the lower productivity of kharif maize (2706 kg/ha) can be attributed to this stress-prone environment, whereas rabi maize (4436 kg/ha), which is predominantly grown in assured ecosystems, exhibits higher productivity.
Where they grow: Maize is grown in many parts of India, but it is particularly important in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.
Output:
- India is the fourth-largest country in terms of maize cultivation area, with around 4% of the world’s maize area and 7th largest in production, with an output of approximately 30 million tonnes in 2020, according to the FAO.
- During the 2018-19 season, maize cultivation in India reached 9.2 million hectares, as reported by DACNET in 2020.
- The country has come a long way since 1950-51 when maize production was just 1.73 million metric tonnes. By 2018-19, it had increased to 27.8 million metric tonnes, representing a nearly 16-fold increase in production.
- During this period, the average productivity increased by 5.42 times from 547 kg/ha to 2965 kg/ha, while the area increased nearly three times.
- Although India’s maize productivity is almost half of the world average, the country’s average daily productivity is at par with many leading maize-producing countries.
- As per Second Advance Estimates, the estimated production of maize for 2022-23 is 346.13 Lakh Tonnes.
Initiatives to promote them:
- The Government of India has launched the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) to increase the production of maize through area expansion and productivity enhancement.
- Under the mission, subsidies are provided on seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, along with training and support for farmers to adopt modern techniques and increase their yield.
- Additionally, the government has launched several schemes to promote the cultivation of hybrid and high-yielding maize varieties.
Pulses:
When they grow:
- Pulses, which include crops such as chickpeas, lentils, and beans, are grown in India during the three seasons of Kharif, Rabi, and Zaid in the agricultural year.
- Rabi crops necessitate a mild cold climate during the sowing period, and during their vegetative to pod development stages, they require cold climate, while warm weather is essential during maturity and harvesting.
- On the other hand, Kharif pulse crops require warm climate throughout their growth stages, from sowing to harvesting.
- Summer pulses, meanwhile, thrive in warm weather conditions. The process of seed production involves several stages, including germination, seedling, vegetative growth, flowering, fruit setting, pod development, and grain maturity or harvesting.
Where they grow:
- Pulses are grown in many parts of India, but they are particularly important in the states of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
Output:
- India is the world’s largest producer of pulses (25 percent of total output approximately 25 million tonnes in 2020-2021, according to the FAO), consumer of pulses (27 percent of total consumption), and importer of pulses (14 percent).
- As per Second Advance Estimates, the estimated production of total pulses for 2022-23 is 278.10 Lakh Tonnes.
Initiatives to promote them:
- In order to improve the production of pulses, the National Food Security Mission (NFSM) was started in 2007–2008.
- The effort intends to increase the amount of land used for pulse farming, increase output, restore soil fertility and productivity, generate job opportunities, and improve farmers’ economies.
- Additionally, in order to encourage farmers to use contemporary methods and boost their production, the government offers subsidies on seeds, fertilizer, and pesticides.
- In addition, the government has introduced a number of programmes to give farmers access to financing, insurance, and marketing assistance.
- The “Pulses Promotion Programme” has also been launched by the government to expand the availability of pulses to consumers at reasonable costs while also increasing their productivity and production.
Sugarcane:
When they grow:
- Sugarcane is a perennial crop that is harvested year-round, but the main crop is usually planted in the winter (October to December) and harvested in the summer (April to June).
- Sugarcane is cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions in India, with five agro-climatic zones identified for varietal development.
- The critical growth stages include germination, tillering, early growth, active growth, and elongation.
- Optimal temperature ranges for these stages vary, with lower temperatures preferred during ripening.
- Sugarcane productivity and juice quality are affected by weather conditions, with dry and sunny weather during the ripening period leading to higher sugar accumulation.
- Insect pests and diseases thrive in warm and humid climates, causing damage to juice quality and yield.
Where they grow:
- Sugarcane is grown in many parts of India, but it is particularly important in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
Output:
- India is the world’s second-largest producer of sugarcane, with an output of approximately 397 million tonnes in 2020, according to the FAO.As per Second Advance Estimates, the estimated production of sugarcane for 2022-23 is 4687.89 Lakh Tonnes.
Initiatives to promote them:
- To promote sugarcane production, the government has launched the Sugarcane Development Scheme, which provides subsidies and support for the development of new sugarcane varieties, irrigation, mechanization, and pest management.
- Additionally, the government has introduced a minimum support price for sugarcane to ensure that farmers receive fair prices for their crops.
- The government has also set up sugar development funds to provide financial assistance to sugar mills for modernization and expansion.
Millets:
Millets are a group of small-seeded grasses that are grown as cereal crops in different parts of the world. They are nutritionally dense, gluten-free, and have a low glycemic index, making them a healthy alternative to other grains.
When they grow:
- Millets are generally grown during the rainy season, as they require a good amount of water for germination and growth.
- The sowing time varies depending on the type of millet and the region in which it is being grown.
- Generally, millets are sown between June and July, and the crop is harvested between October and December.
- Millets are hardy crops that can grow in a variety of soil types and climatic conditions. They can grow in drylands and require low inputs, making them a good option for farmers with limited resources.
- Millets have a unique photosynthetic pathway, known as C4, which allows them to efficiently use water and sunlight to produce energy.
Where they grow:
- Millets are widely grown in different parts of the world, including India, Africa, and China. In India, millets are grown in many states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan.
Output:
- India’s average yield in Millet farming (2021-22) is 1208 kgs per hectare. The production of millets has also increased by 7% (1966-2022) despite the area for millet cultivation in India decreasing consistently since 1971-72.
- India’s Pearl Millet production accounts for 40.51 per cent followed by Sorghum 8.09 per cent in the world production of Millets in 2020.
Initiatives for their production (India):
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in promoting the cultivation of millets in India due to their nutritional and environmental benefits. Several initiatives have been launched to support millet production, including:
- Millet Mission: Launched by the government of Karnataka in 2018, the Millet Mission aims to increase the area under millet cultivation in the state and promote the consumption of millets.
- National Programme for Promotion of Millets: Launched by the government of India in 2018, the programme aims to promote the production and consumption of millets in the country.
- Revival of Millets in Rainfed Agriculture (RMRA) project: Launched by the government of India in collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), the project aims to improve the productivity and profitability of millet-based farming systems in India.
- Millet Network of India (MINI): MINI is a network of organizations and individuals working to promote the production and consumption of millets in India. The network conducts research, advocacy, and outreach activities to support millet farming communities and consumers.
