Agriculture – all around the year, all around the country
There are many different types of farming. Every farmer has to decide for himself which method is most sustainable, most economical and gets him the best returns. In India, the method of agriculture is mostly decided by the season. In the local parlance, the summer season is known as the Kharif season while the winter season is known as the Rabi season. During the summer time, the crops which are planted require a lot of water. Thus, the farmers plant rice, sugarcane, jute, cotton and maize. The crops that are sown in the winter time are those that do not need much water. So the farmers plant wheat, barley, gram and mustard. Just like the researcher is required to do data interpretation for initiating their research work, the farmer is also required to first analyse the available resources for farming.
However, thanks to the wonders of artificial irrigation it is now possible to plant some crops throughout the year. Thus, we find that rice; maize and some leafy vegetables are grown all year round. But water is a luxury that some parts of the country do not have. However, the nation’s large population ensures that there are people who survive in these parts of the country as well. These dry conditions can normally be found in the North-West areas of the country. In these parts they follow a system known as dry farming. In the absence of rain for any considerable period of time, it is essential that the farmers sow crops that can withstand the arid conditions of these areas. Sorghum and millet are grown in these parts in accordance with the surrounding geography. In fact, cuisine from these areas often contains dishes that have a high percentage of these pulses.
The diverse geography of India has ensured that agriculture is practised all year round in some part of the country or the other. It has also ensured a rich variety of crops that add colour to the life of the country.
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