Area Coverage of Major Crops in India

Agriculture plays a central role in India’s economy, contributing significantly to employment, food security, and rural livelihoods. The area coverage of major crops in India reflects the country’s diverse agro-climatic zones and cropping patterns shaped by soil type, rainfall, irrigation facilities, and socio-economic factors. India’s cropping system is dominated by food grains, pulses, oilseeds, commercial crops, and horticultural produce, with distinct regional variations across states.

Overview of Agricultural Land Use

India has a total geographical area of about 328 million hectares, out of which approximately 141 million hectares are net sown area. The gross cropped area, including multiple cropping, is around 198 million hectares, reflecting a cropping intensity of nearly 140%. The cropping intensity varies widely, being highest in states with well-developed irrigation networks such as Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, and relatively lower in rain-fed regions like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.
The distribution of area under different crops depends on several factors:

• Monsoon dependence for kharif crops.
• Irrigation availability for rabi crops.
• Soil fertility and market accessibility for high-value crops.
• Government policies on minimum support prices (MSP) and procurement.

Food Grains

Food grains constitute the backbone of Indian agriculture, occupying around 65% of the gross cropped area. They include cereals such as rice, wheat, coarse grains (millets and maize), and pulses.

• Rice (Paddy): Rice is the largest crop in terms of area coverage, occupying nearly 44 million hectares. Major rice-growing states are West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. It is primarily a kharif crop, dependent on monsoon rainfall, though irrigated rice is also cultivated during the rabi season in southern states.
• Wheat: The second most important cereal, wheat covers about 30 million hectares, largely concentrated in the Indo-Gangetic plains. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan are leading producers. Wheat is mainly a rabi crop, sown in November–December and harvested in March–April.
• Coarse Cereals (Millets and Maize): These include jowar, bajra, maize, ragi, and barley, covering about 24 million hectares. Millets are grown predominantly in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, while maize is cultivated in Karnataka, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh. The renewed focus on millets, declared as ‘Shree Anna’ by the Indian government, has increased their importance in sustainable agriculture.
• Pulses: India is the largest producer and consumer of pulses, with about 29 million hectares under cultivation. Major pulses include gram (chickpea), pigeon pea (tur), lentil, urad, and moong. Leading states are Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka. Pulses are crucial for soil fertility as they fix atmospheric nitrogen.

Oilseeds

Oilseed crops occupy around 28 million hectares, contributing significantly to edible oil production. India grows both rabi and kharif oilseeds, with regional specialisation.

• Groundnut: Grown mainly in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, it accounts for the largest share in area among oilseeds.
• Rapeseed and Mustard: Primarily a rabi crop, cultivated in Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, it covers about 6 million hectares.
• Soybean: A key kharif crop in Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, covering around 12 million hectares.
• Sunflower and Sesame: Cultivated in smaller pockets of Karnataka, West Bengal, and Odisha.

Commercial and Cash Crops

Commercial crops contribute significantly to the rural economy and export earnings. Their area coverage, though smaller compared to cereals, is vital for India’s industrial and foreign trade sectors.

• Sugarcane: Occupies around 5 million hectares, concentrated in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. It is both a cash and industrial crop, feeding the sugar and ethanol industries.
• Cotton: Grown on approximately 12 million hectares, mainly in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, and Punjab. India is one of the largest cotton-producing nations globally.
• Jute and Mesta: Cultivated on about 0.8 million hectares, primarily in West Bengal, Bihar, and Assam.
• Tea, Coffee, and Rubber: Plantation crops grown mainly in the southern and northeastern states, with Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu being dominant producers.

Horticultural and Plantation Crops

Horticulture has gained prominence in recent decades, with increasing area under fruits, vegetables, spices, and floriculture. India’s horticultural output has surpassed food grain production in volume.

• Fruits: Major fruit-growing regions include Maharashtra (grapes, mangoes), Andhra Pradesh (bananas), and Himachal Pradesh (apples).
• Vegetables: Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Bihar lead in vegetable cultivation, especially potatoes, onions, and tomatoes.
• Spices: Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Rajasthan dominate spice production such as black pepper, cardamom, chillies, and cumin.

Regional Cropping Patterns

India’s diverse climate and topography lead to region-specific cropping systems:

• Northern India: Wheat–rice system dominates due to assured irrigation and fertile alluvial soil.
• Western India: Cotton, oilseeds, and coarse cereals are prevalent under semi-arid conditions.
• Southern India: Multiple cropping with rice, millets, sugarcane, and plantation crops.
• Eastern India: Predominantly rice-based systems with increasing area under pulses and oilseeds.
• Central India: A mix of soybean, pulses, and coarse grains.

Factors Influencing Area Coverage

Several interlinked factors determine crop area coverage in India:

• Climatic Conditions: Rainfall pattern and temperature influence kharif and rabi crop distribution.
• Irrigation Infrastructure: Availability of canal and groundwater irrigation enhances double cropping.
• Soil Fertility: Black cotton soil supports cotton and soybean, while alluvial soil favours rice and wheat.
• Government Policy: Minimum Support Price (MSP) and procurement affect farmers’ crop choices.
• Market Access and Input Availability: Proximity to mandis, fertilisers, and technology impacts diversification.
• Technological Advances: High-yielding varieties, drip irrigation, and mechanisation improve productivity and influence crop spread.

Recent Trends and Challenges

Recent years have witnessed notable shifts in cropping patterns due to climate change, water scarcity, and market fluctuations. Farmers in water-stressed regions are moving from water-intensive crops like rice and sugarcane towards millets, pulses, and oilseeds. Additionally, the government’s promotion of nutri-cereals and organic farming aims to diversify agriculture while ensuring sustainability.