Crop Production and Managemen

Paheli and Boojho went to their uncle’s house during the summer vacation. Their uncle is a farmer. One day they saw some tools like khurpi, sickle, shovel, plough, etc., in the field.

You have learned that all living organisms require food. Plants can make their food themselves. Can you recall how green plants synthesize their own food? Animals including humans cannot make their own food. So, where do animals get their food from? But, first of all, why do we have to eat food? You already know that energy from the food is utilized by organisms for carrying out their various body functions, such as digestion, respiration, and excretion. We get our food from plants, or animals, or both.

In order to provide food for a large population— regular production, proper management, and distribution of food are necessary

Agricultural Practices

Till 10,000 B.C. people were nomadic. They were wandering in groups from place to place in search of food and
shelter. They ate raw fruits and vegetables and started hunting for animals for food. Later, they could cultivate the land and produce rice, wheat, and other food crops. Thus, was born Agriculture’.
When plants of the same kind are grown and cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. For example, the crop of wheat means that all the plants grown in a field are that of wheat. You already know that crops are of different types like cereals, vegetables, and fruits. These can be classified on the basis of the season in which they grow. India is a vast country. The climatic conditions like temperature, humidity, and rainfall vary from one region to another. Accordingly, there is a rich variety of crops grown in different parts
of the country. Despite this diversity, two broad cropping patterns can be identified. These are:

(i) Kharif Crops:

The crops which are sown in the rainy season are called kharif crops. The rainy season in India is generally from June to September. Paddy, maize, soyabean, groundnut, cotton, etc., are kharif crops.

(ii) Rabi Crops:

The crops grown in the winter season are called rabi crops. Their time period is generally from October to March. Examples of rabi crops are wheat, gram, pea, mustard and linseed.
Besides these, pulses and vegetables are grown during summer at many places.