Agriculture and Major Crops

In Rajasthan Geography, agriculture in Rajasthan, despite its arid climate, thrives through crops like bajra, wheat, and mustard, particularly in regions like Jaipur and Jodhpur. These major crops, adapted to the state’s desert and semi-arid zones, sustain livelihoods and shape economic patterns.

Previous Year Question

Introduction

• Agriculture in Rajasthan is mainly dependent on rainfall. Since the state receives insufficient and adequate rainfall due to very less spurn of monsoon therefore agriculture production is also affected
• Contribution of Agriculture in GSVA (Gross State Value Added) – Rajasthan
  • At Constant Prices (2011-12): 26.54%
  • At Current Prices: 26.92% (Higher than the all-India contribution of 17.77% in this sector)

Key Observation:

• The agricultural sector’s value has increased from ₹1.19 lakh crore in 2011-12 to ₹2.18 lakh crore in 2024-25.
• This reflects a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.76% at constant (2011-12) prices.
• 62% of working population depends on agriculture
• Rajasthan stands first in production of Bajra, mustard oil, seeds and Gwargum
• Agriculture provides with raw material for Industries light sugar industry textile industry and provides a base for animal husbandry

Characteristic features of Agriculture in Rajasthan

•  Majorly based on monsoon rains
• Three types of crops are are produced in Rajasthan- Kharif, Rabi and Zayed
  • Major Kharif crops are groundnut Bajra, Maize, Cotton, Sugarcane, sesame, Which are sown between June – July and harvested around September – October
  • Major Rabi crops are wheat barley, mustard, chickpea, fenugreek, cumin, which are shown from October – November and Harvested around march – April
  • Major Zaid crops are muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables etc, cultivated between March and June
• Average landholding size is 2.73 hectares
• Per hectare productivity of every crop is very low as compared to India
• Total 11% of India’s cultivable land is in Rajasthan
• Poor surface water, groundwater and irrigation facilities make it difficult to encash the potential

Types of Agriculture

• Mixed Agriculture – Animal Husbandry along with Agriculture.
• Rainfed Agriculture/Baarani agriculture – Agriculture done in unirrigated area, completely dependent on rain, it is of two types- 1.Dry Agriculture – Jaisalmer, Bikaner. 2.Irrigation Agriculture – Baran, Jhalawar, Kota 
• MonoCulture – Getting one crop in a year in a particular area. 
• Duo Culture – Getting two crops in a year in a particular area.
• Oligo Culture – Getting three crops in a year in a particular area. 
• Relay Culture – Getting four crops in a year in a particular area. 
• Shifting Agriculture – This agriculture is called VAALRA in Rajasthan,most commonly done by tribes in Udaipur.
  • Dajia –Shifting agriculture done in the plains
  • Chimata –Shifting agriculture done over mountains

Scientific names of various agricultural practises

Oliviculture	Olive farming
Horticulture	Ornamental Plants, Spices
Silviculture	Tree farming
Seri culture	Silk cultivation
pomology	Fruit production
Apiculture	Honey production
pisciculture	Honey production And honey bee rearing
Viticulture	Grape cultivation
Floriculture	Flowers production
Vermiculture	Rearing earthworm for vermi compose
Oligoculture	Cultivation of creeping crops

Kharif Crops

• Require high temperature and humidity.
• Among Kharif, 60-65% food grains and 10-15% oilseeds, 4% cotton and sugarcane are sown.
• 80% of rainfed crops are sown(rainy season crop)
• Being a, it is completely dependent on South-West monsoon rain.
• Sowing time – during months of June & July
• Harvesting time – September October
• Also called as- Rainy crops, Siyalu, Savani crop.
• Example – Paddy, soybean, sesame, green gram(moong), gram, cowpea, sorghum, millet (ragi, bajra), groundnut, cotton, castor, maize, moth.

 Rabi Crops

• Sowing – October November and Harvesting March April 
• Also called as Winter or Unalu Crop 
• Rainfall from the Western Disturbance is beneficial for Rabi crops(MAAVATH/GOLDEN DROPS)
• These require low temperature During sowing and maximum temperature for ripening.
• Example – Wheat, Barley, Gram, Peas, Mustard, Potato, Lentils, Linseed, Rye, Coriander, Fennel, Fenugreek , Isabgol, Opium, Taramira etc.

Zaid Crops

• This is an intermediate crop between Rabi and Kharif, which is sown in summer.
• Sowing  in March and harvesting  by end of June
• Example – Cucumber, watermelon, bitter gourd, brinjal, ridge gourd, bottle gourd, etc.

Major Crops- Production & Distribution

Millet

• It is a Kharif crop and is most sown food grain in Rajasthan
• Requirements
  • Temperature – 35-40 degrees
  • Climate – Dry
  • Soil – Sandy
• Most sown area – Barmer
• Rajasthan ranks first in the country, contributes 38.98% to the total production of the country.
• First – Alwar, Second – Jaipur
• Institutes
  • Millet Research Centre-Barmer
  • Millet Excellence Center – Jodhpur
  • Varieties – Raj 171, Moti, RCB-2, HB-3, Pusa, Composite 383, RHB-30, RCB-911

Cotton

• It is Kharif commercial crop
• Requirements
  • Temperature – 20-30 degrees
  • Climate – Tropical climate
  • Soil – Light black soil
• Rajasthan ranks FOURTH in production of Cotton in India(7.95% Contribution in Total produce)
• production: – First Hanumangarh, Second Sri Ganganagar
• Varieties – Vikas, Vikram, Vijay, Narmada, Girnar, Digvijay,Varaha Lakshmi, PST-9, RAJ HH-16, RS-875
• 5 F benefits of bajra : Food, Febric, Fertiliser, Fuel and Fodder
• Union Budget 2023-24 :  Millets → Shree Ann

Sorghum / Johar

• It is a kharif crop Kharif crop
• Requirements
  • Climate Hot climate
  • Temperature 25-30 degrees
• Rajasthan ranks THIRD in India (12.67% Contribution in Total produce)
• Production: First Ajmer, Second- Bhilwara
• Institute
  • Sorghum Research Center – vallabhnagar (Udaipur)
  • Varieties:- SPV-96, SPV-245, Rajasthan Chari.

Rice

• It’s a Kharif crop.
• Requirements
  • Temperature – 20-30 degrees.
  • Climate-Warm moist climate
  • Soil- clay loamy soil.
• production : First – Bundi, Second – Hanumangarh
• Institute
  • Rice Research Center
• Varieties: Karuna, Jaya, Padma, Kanchi, Krishna, Bala, Ratna, Pusa, Mahi-Sugandha(Developed by Agricultural Research Banswara), Basmati
• Golden Rice – A variety of rice rich in Vitamin A.

Maize

• It is a Kharif crop
• Requirements
  • Temperature 20-30 degrees
  • Climate – Dry-semi-arid climate
  • Soil – Red mountain soil
• Silage fodder is made from its leaves.
• Rajasthan stands 9^th position in production of Maize
• Production – First Chittorgarh, Second – Bhilwara
• Varieties- Mahi Kanchan, Mahi Dhawal-Varieties developed by Agricultural Research Center Banswara
• Other varieties are Megha, Navjot, Moti Composite,Ganga 11,W-126 Arun.

Wheat

• It is a Rabii crop
• Requirements
  • Temperature – 10 degrees at the time of sowing and 20-28 degrees at the time of harvesting.
  • Soil – Loamy alluvial
• Rank of Rajasthan in India 5^th in total production of country
• Production – First Ganganagar, second Hanumangarh
• Varieties – Kalyan Sona, Sonalika, Arjun, Karan Vandana, Karan Narendra, Sharbati wheat, Kohinoor, Malvika, (Nabi MG black wheat), Raj-3070, Raj-3077, Raj-911. Raj-811, Chambal-65. Durgapura-65, Kharchia 65

Barley / jou

• It is a Rabi crop of dry and semi-arid region
• Requirements-
  • Temperature 10 ° at the time of sowing and 20-30 ° at the time of harvesting.
  • Rainfall 50cm to 80cm
• production – first-Jaipur , second -Ganganagar
• Varieties: Jyoti, Kiran, RD-2907, RD-2899

Sugarcane

• Requirement
  •  Temperature 20-35 degrees
  •  Climate – Tropical climate
  • Soil- Loamy lava soil
• production First – Ganganagar, second – Chittorgarh
• Varieties: Co-419, Co-449, Co-527

Pulses

• Pulses crops increase fertility in the soil.
• Rhizobium bacteria found in the roots of pulses (legumes)convert atmospheric nitrogen into nitrate and provide nutrients to the plants.
• Rajasthan ranks third in total pulses production.
• First in production – Nagaur, second -Churu.

Oilseeds

• Rajasthan ranks first in India in oilseed production and contributes 22.25% of the total oilseed production of the country.
• production:- First – Bikaner, Second-       Ganganagar

Mustard

• Rajasthan ranks first in India(46.63% Contribution in total country’s production)
• production First – Sri Ganganagar, second – Alwar
• National Mustard Research Centre-Sewar-Bharatpur

Sunflower

• producing district – Nagaur

Guar

• Rajasthan ranks first in India,( 87.69% of the country’s total production )
  • Production first – Hanumangarh , Second – Bikaner

Agro – Climatic Zones Of Rajasthan

• According to ICAR India is divided into 126 agro-climatic zones, out of which 10 fall under Rajasthan
• Factors considered are rainfall, temperature, topography, soil characteristics, cropping pattern, irrigation facilities availability

	AGRO-CLIMATIC ZONES	AREA	RAINFALL	SOIL	IRRIGATION	AGRICULTURE AND LIVELIHOOD	AGRICULTURE RESEARCH CENTRE	AGRICULTURE TEST CENTRE
1.	I-A (Arid Western Plain)	Jodhpur, Phalodi, Barmer and Balotara	10-40 cms	Coarse desert soil(CaCO3 and Gypsum) Playa formation	Deep groundwater (saline) few tube wells	Bajra Moth Sesame (Agriculture in packets) livestock hearing	Mandor, Jodhpur	Rampura, jodhpur
2.	I-B (Irrigated n-w plain)	Ganganagar, Hanumangarh	10-40cms	Alluvial snady soil	IGNP Ghaggar basin	Cotton sugar cane wheat gram mustard	Ganga Nagar	Shri Karanpur, Bikaner
3.	I-C(hyper arid -partially irrigated west zone)	Bikaner, Jaisalmer and Part of Churu (Ratangarh, Sardarsahar, Bidasar & Sujangarh Tehsil)	10-35 cms	Loamy coarse desert, calcareous (pebbles & boulders)	Partial irrigation by IGNP	Bajra Moth Gwar,mustard wheat gram	Beechwal, Bikaner	Lunkaransar, bikaner
4.	II-A(transitional plain of inland drainage)	Sikar, Churu (Exclusive of Ratangarh, Sardarsahar, Bidasar & Sujangarh Tehsil), Jhunjhunu, Nagaur and Deedwana- Kuchaman	30-50 cms	Sandy loamy red soil. Sand dunes are found	Inland drainage example Kantali river	Bajrang gwar pulses mustard gram	Fatehpur, Sikar	–
5.	II-B(Transitional Plain of Luni basin)	Jalore, Sirohi (Exclusive of Pindwara, Aburoad Tehsil) and Part of Beawar (Jaitaran & Raipur Tehsil)	40-50cms	red -Jodhpur Jalor, serozem(loamy)- Pali Sirohi,	Ephemeral streams saline water (balotra)	Badra Gwar wheat mustard gram cash crops	Keshwana, Jalor	Sumerpur, Pali
6.	III-A(semi arid eastern plain	Jaipur, Ajmer, Dausa, Tonk, Khairthal, Tijara, Kotputli-Behrore and Beawar (Exclusive of Jaitaran, Raipur Tehsil)	50-70cms	Brown alluvial soil	Banas and its tributaries	Bajrang Gwar Jowar Wheat Mustard gram	Durgapura, Jaipur	Tabiji, Ajmer
7.	III-B(flood prone eastern plain)	Alwar, Deeg, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karoli and Sawai Madhopur	60-70cms	Yellow clayey loam non calcareous	Yamuna and its tributaries	Bajra groundnut wheat mustard gram	Navgaon, Alwar	Mallikpur, Bharadpur
8.	IV-A(Sub-humid Southern Plains)	Udaipur, Chittorgarh (Exclusive of Badi Sadri Tehsil), Rajasamand, Bhilwara and Part of Sirohi (Pindwara & Abu road Tehsil)	70-90cms	Medium fine alluvial soil	Bedach & Banas	Maize groundnut jowar wheat mustard	Udaipur	Chittorgarh
9.	IV-B(humid southern plain)	Banswara, Dungarpur, Pratapgarh, Parts of Salumber (Badi Sadri Tehsil) and Chittorgarh	90-100cms	Red Black Basaltic soil	Mahi,som Jakham	Maze Rice Wheat gram	–	–
10.	V (humid southern plain	Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar	70-100cms	Black clayey vast alluvial plane(ravines)	Chambal and its tributaries	Jowar soybean wheat mustard	Ummedganj Kota	Chhatrapura Bundi

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