We’ve all faced the hard times of the pandemic. Not just us, but a lot of business sectors have faced very trying times forcing a lot of organizations to cut costs or shut down altogether. Albeit of these difficulties, some sectors showed positive growth, and among these sectors is Indian agriculture.
In 2020, the agriculture sector contributed 18% to the gross value added (GVA), as reported by IBEF. Not only this, other sectors associated with the agriculture sector also experienced positive growth. These sectors are:
Horticulture
Total food grain
Agricultural exports
Organic food segment, and more.
Now that we know the sub agricultural sectors that experienced growth in the last demi decade, let’s look at different types of agricultural land in India.
Types of Agricultural Land in India
1. Net Sown Area
The net sown area is where farmers plant crops at least once every farming year. It's like the main stage for farming, where all the action happens.
Farmers work really hard on this land, doing things like digging, planting seeds, watering, and harvesting to get the most crops they can.
What they grow depends on things like what kind of soil they have, how much rain they get, and what people want to buy. They usually grow things like grains, beans, vegetables, and fruits.
To keep the land healthy and make sure it keeps giving good crops, farmers have to take good care of it. They do things like switching crops around, stopping the soil from washing away, and keeping bugs from eating everything.
2. Current Fallow Land
Current fallow land refers to fields on farms that are intentionally not used for a little while, usually just for a season or a year.
Farmers do this to give the soil a break and let it regain its strength. It's like giving the land a rest so it can soak up more nutrients, water, and organic matter. This makes the soil healthier and better for growing crops later on.
While the land is resting, plants and trees might start growing on their own. This creates homes and food for helpful insects, birds, and other animals, which is good for the environment.
Farmers also use this time to take care of the soil, using methods like building small walls on slopes, plowing in curved lines, and planting special crops that cover the soil. These tricks help stop the soil from washing away and keep it healthy for future crops.
3. Fallow Lands Other Than Current Fallow
Fallow lands other than current fallow are agricultural fields that have been left unused for a bit longer, usually more than a year but less than five years.
During this time, nature starts to do its thing, and plants slowly start growing on the land again. Depending on the environment, you might see different types of plants growing, like grass or shrubs, turning the land into a mini forest.
These lands become important homes for local plants and animals, helping to keep our environment diverse and strong. Sometimes, farmers choose to let the land rest for a while on purpose. It gives nature a chance to take over and can even help protect things like wildlife habitats or the quality of our water.
4. Culturable Waste Land
Culturable Waste Land: Refers to land capable of supporting vegetation but remains unused due to constraints like erosion, waterlogging, or salinity.
Includes areas suitable for cultivation but haven't been harvested for five years or more, including the current year.
Can be either left fallow or covered with shrubs and jungles not utilized for any purpose.
Culturable Waste Land may exist within cultivated fields or as separate parcels of land.
Availability of such land can vary.
5. Permanent Pastures and Other Grazing Lands
Permanent pastures and other grazing lands are special areas set aside for animals like cows, sheep, and goats to eat grass and other plants.
These lands have lots of different types of plants, like grassy fields, meadows with flowers, and open areas with trees. They give animals tasty food to munch on.
Having places for animals to graze is super important for farmers. It helps them raise healthy livestock and makes sure there's enough food for everyone.
To keep these grazing lands healthy, farmers have to take good care of them. They do things like moving the animals around so they don't eat all the grass in one spot, burning parts of the land to help new plants grow, and making sure there are rules in place to share the land fairly among different farmers.
6. Miscellaneous Tree Crops & Groves
Miscellaneous tree crops and groves are areas where farmers grow trees that give us things like fruits, nuts, and spices. These places are outside the main farming area where crops are usually planted.
These tree farms add variety to farming and help rural areas by giving people more food to eat, materials for making things, and ways to earn money.
Farmers take special care of these tree farms to make sure they grow lots of good stuff. They do things like cutting branches, joining different trees together, watering them, and stopping bugs from eating the crops.
Sometimes, farmers mix these tree farms with regular farms, animals, and other things. This helps keep the land healthy, saves water, and makes sure there are lots of different plants and animals living together.
7. Barren and Wastelands
Barren and wastelands are areas of land where it's really hard for anything to grow. One big reason for this is that the soil has too much salt in it. This salt makes it tough for plants to get the water and nutrients they need to grow.
You can usually tell when land is barren or a wasteland because there's not much growing there. The soil might look white or crusty, and there aren't many plants around.
Fixing these areas so plants can grow again is tricky. It might involve things like adding stuff to the soil to make it better, building systems to drain away extra salt, and planting special plants that can handle salty soil. But it takes a lot of time and effort to turn these places into healthy, green areas again.
Final Thoughts - Types of Agricultural Land
India is a huge country, covering 3,287,263 square kilometers. Given its size, it's no surprise that it has many types of farmland. What's truly impressive is that despite having a massive population, Indian farmers can grow enough food using only 1,414,000 square kilometers of this land.
This shows how skilled and resourceful our farmers are. They make the most of the land they have, ensuring we have enough food to eat, using different types of agricultural land.