Cropping scheme, Cropping system & cropping pattern: Types, objectives, Regional distribution of India Crops

Cropping scheme, Cropping system & Cropping pattern: Cropping scheme, Cropping system & Cropping pattern vary in India due to the physical diversities and plurality of cultures in the country. Read the article to get more information about the aim of the Cropping Scheme, Indian Cropping Pattern, and cropping system in detail.

by Shalini K

Updated Dec 30, 2020

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Cropping scheme, Cropping system & cropping pattern: Types, objectives, Regional distribution of India Crops

Cropping System

The cropping systems concept is as old as agriculture. Mixed cropping was preferred by the farmers, especially under dryland conditions. This type of cropping is to minimize the risk of total crop failure. Vedas mention first and second crops, indicating the existence of sequential cropping.

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What is the main objective of Cropping Scheme?

The Farmers choose the crops for cultivation on the basis of various parameters like Physical, Social, and Economic. Sometimes, a number of crops are cultivated at their farms and rotate a particular crop combination over a period. Cropping scheme provides ideas about the following:

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  1. What crop should be cultivated in a farm

  2. What amount of area should be allotted for a particular crop

  3. It provides a relative claim for acreage of the competitive crop

  4. Crops are selected as per the facilities available for power, irrigation, inputs, labour transport, etc

  5. Utilization of inputs and other resources available on the farm without wastage.

  6. To prepare a budget for each crop

What are the types of cropping System:

Different types of cropping systems are adopted on farms depending on the resources and technology available. The different & basic types of cropping System is explained below:

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Mono-cropping: If only one crop is grown in the land season after season, it is referred to as Monocropping. Example: Wheat will be planted year after year in the same field. 

Crop Rotation: In this method, the type of crops grown in the field is changed each season or each year. farmers also change from crops to fallow. Example: Maize will be planted in the first year and beans in the second year. This Crop rotation system is a key principle of agriculture conservation as it improves the soil structure and fertility. It also helps to control weeds, pests, and diseases.

Sequential Cropping: This system involves growing two crops in the same field, one after the other in the same year. Example: Planting maize during long rains, then beans during the short rains. 

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Inter-cropping: Growing two or more crops in the same field at the same time is called Intercropping. Examples: Planting alternating rows of maize and beans, or growing a cover crop in between the rows. 

Mixed Intercropping: In this method, seeds of two crops are distributed or dibbling the seeds without any row arrangement. This method is called mixed intercropping. This method is easy to sow but makes weeding, fertilization, and harvesting difficult. 

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Multiple-Cropping: In this cropping system, farmers grow two or more crops on farmland in one year with intensive input management practices. It includes inter-cropping, mixed-cropping, and sequence cropping.

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Row Intercropping: In this method, both the main crop and the intercrop in rows are planted. The row intercropping makes weeding and harvesting easier than with mixed intercropping.

Stir Cropping: This type of cropping involves planting broad strips of several crops in the field. Each strip will be 3–9 m wide. On slopes, the strips are laid out along the contour to prevent erosion. The farmer can rotate crops by planting each strip with a different crop in the next year. Example: Alternating strips of maize, soybean, and finger millet are planted. 

Relay Cropping: In this method, one crop is planted and another crop, usually a cover crop, is planted in the same field before harvesting the first. It avoids competition between the main crop and the intercrop. Relay cropping uses the field for a long time since the cover crop usually continues to grow after the main crop is harvested.

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In Indian agriculture, three types of Cropping System is used. They are:

  • Mono-Cropping

  • Inter-cropping

  • Multiple-Cropping

Cropping System in India

Agriculture is decided by the soil types and climatic parameters in India. These two major parameters determine the overall agro-ecological setting for nourishment and appropriateness of the crops for cultivation. The three distinct crop seasons in India are:

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Kharif
The Kharif season generally begins with the Southwest Monsoon under which the cultivation of tropical crops such as rice, cotton, jute, jowar, bajra, and tur are cultivated. 

Rabi
The Rabi season starts with the onset of winter in October-November and ends in March-April. 

Zaid
Zaid is the short duration summer cropping season beginning after harvesting of Rabi crops. 

In India, there are four cropping systems which are discussed below:

  1. Mixed Cropping is a cropping system where pulses and some oilseeds are grown with maize, sorghum, and pearl millet.

  2. The second one is Plantation and other commercial crops. In this cropping system, Sugarcane, Tobacco, Potato, Jute, Tea, Coffee, Coconut, Rubber, Spices, and condiments are important crops that are grown.

  3. The third one is the rainy Season Cropping Systems. In this system ice, Sorghum, Pearl Millet (Bajra), Maize, Groundnut, and Cotton are grown.

  4. The fourth type is Winter Cropping Systems. In this system barley, wheat, and oats, sorghum and chickpea are grown.

What is Cropping pattern?

Cropping pattern is the yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops & fallow on a given area. Cropping system comprises all cropping patterns that are grown on the farm and their interaction with farm resources, other household enterprises, and the physical, biological, technological, and sociological factors or environments. 

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Indian agriculture still lacks by intensive planning because India has diversified agro-climatic zone, which is unfortunately not giving sufficient production. If Indian farming system relies on modern cropping pattern and cropping system, then there will be a predominance of food grain crops, then Indian farming will also be inclined towards commercial crops. In India, the Cropping pattern is determined mainly by climate, temperature, rainfall, type of soil and technology. 

The major factors that determine Cropping Pattern in India are:

  • Natural Factors: Rainfall, Soil, Climate, etc.

  • Historical Factors: Land Type. Type of ownership, Land Tenure System.

  • Social Factors: Customs, Traditions, Social Environment

  • Economic Factors: prices, Incomes, Input Prices, Size of holdings.

  • Government Policies: Taxes Subsidies MSP, Export Policy

The cropping pattern in India include:

  • Food Crops: Cereals, millets, pulses, vegetables, and fruits covers 3/40 of total cropped

  • Rice is the most important food crop in India and it is grown on more than of area under food production.

  • The second most important food crop is Wheat. It is grown in 25% Of the area under food produc€on

  • The combined area under Coarse Cereals, Jowar, Bajara, Maize, and Raei is 22 Million Hectares.

  • The major commercial crops in India are Sugarune, Cotton, and Jute.

What are the Regional distribution of crops in India?

The regional distribution of crops in India are listed below:

Cereals

Wheat: Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Haryana
Rice: West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Tamil Nadu
Gram: Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu
Barley: Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan
Bajra: Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan

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Cash Crops:

Sugarcane: Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra
Poppy: Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh

Oil Seeds:

Coconut: Kerala and Tamil Nadu
Linseed: Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh
Groundnut: Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu
Rape & Mustard: Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh
Sesame: Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan
Sunflower: Maharashtra and Karnataka

Fibre Crops:

Cotton: Maharashtra and Gujarat
Jute: West Bengal and Bihar
Silk: Karnataka and Kerala
Hemp: Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh

Plantations:

Coffee: Karnataka and Kerala
Rubber: Kerala and Karnataka
Tea: Assam and Kerala
Tobacco: Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

Spices:

Pepper: Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Cashew Nuts: Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh
Ginger: Kerala and Uttar Pradesh
Turmeric: Andhra Pradesh & Odisha
 

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Cropping scheme, Cropping system & Cropping pattern - FAQs

1. How is the Cropping pattern determined in India?

Cropping pattern can be defined as the proportion of area under various crops at a point of time. In India, the cropping pattern determined by rainfall, climate, temperature, soil type, and technology.

2. What is cropping pattern?

Cropping pattern is the yearly sequence and spatial arrangement of crops & fallow on a given area- Kharif, Rabi, Zaid

3. How is cropping system in India determined?

Agriculture is decided by the soil types and climatic parameters in India. These two major parameters determine the overall agro-ecological setting for nourishment and appropriateness of the crops for cultivation.

4. What are the crop seasons in India?

The three distinct crop seasons in India are:Rabi, Kharif and Zaid

5. What is Cropping System?

The cropping systems concept is as old as agriculture. Mixed cropping was preferred by the farmers, especially under dryland conditions. This type of cropping is to minimize the risk of total crop failure. Vedas mention first and second crops, indicating the existence of sequential cropping.

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