Agriculture and rural areas of India. General characteristics of the economy Main branches of Indian agriculture
India is known as a country of ancient agricultural culture. And now about 1/5 of its GDP is created in agriculture, and it provides work for 3/5 of the economically active population. This sector of the Indian economy has a pronounced crop-growing orientation. Crop production - predominantly labour-intensive - accounts for more than 3/4 of the total value of agricultural products, with approximately the same part of the total sown area being occupied by food crops. Livestock farming, despite having the largest livestock population in the world, is much less developed. Commercial livestock farming is quite rare, and cattle are used mainly as draft power in field work. As for the size of the livestock, it is largely explained by the views of Hinduism, which prohibit the killing of “sacred” cows. As a result, the number of completely unproductive and unworkable outbred cattle numbers in the tens of millions of heads.
Natural prerequisites for development agriculture India can be described as generally quite favorable. The structure of its land fund is characterized by an extremely high (56%) level of arable land. In terms of the total size of cultivated land, the country is second only to the United States. Agroclimatic conditions in most of it are favorable (Fig. 137) and allow farming all year round. Most regions of the country are characterized by an abundance of heat (the sum of active temperatures is 4000–8000°C per year). Limits only the lack of moisture. That is why 1/3 of all cultivated areas in the country are irrigated, and India ranks first in the world in terms of the total area of irrigated land.
Rice. 137. Agro-natural conditions of India and neighboring countries (according to S. B. Rostotsky)
Unlike natural socio-economic prerequisites for agricultural development for a long time were much less favorable. Primarily due to the persistence of remnants of the semi-feudal agrarian structure, the system of intermediary land leases and the enormous concentration of both land and production in the hands of a few.
Once upon a time in India, communal land tenure prevailed with subsistence farming and a combination of it with household crafts. During the Mughal Empire, it was replaced by peasant land tenure and landlord (zamindari system) land tenure. The British colonial authorities maintained this system, thereby strengthening the landlord system. Complemented by a multi-level predatory land lease (from 1/2 to 2/3 of the harvest had to be paid for rent), and even with the persistence of mass landlessness, such a system placed a heavy burden on the shoulders of the bulk of the peasantry.
Rice. 138. Main agricultural regions of India and neighboring countries
After gaining independence, the country underwent major agrarian transformations. Was started agrarian reform, aimed at eliminating large landownership and allocating land to peasants. But it was not carried out consistently enough and led to the strengthening of the kulak elite, which primarily took advantage of the fruits of the revolution that began in the 1960s. "green revolution", thereby increasing the social stratification of society. But agricultural production cooperation, despite the efforts new government, has not received much distribution. Agricultural mechanization is still extremely insufficient. In the Indian village, natural and semi-natural lifestyles are still very strong.
Nevertheless, both the agrarian reforms carried out and the “green revolution” that began contributed to significant growth agricultural production. Over the past decades, the use of tractors has increased several times, and rural electrification has expanded. Of particular importance was the use of high-yielding seeds, fertilizers, and an increase in the area of irrigated land.
As a result, grain yields increased from 5 c/ha in the early 1950s. to 15–25 c/ha in the late 1990s, which led to an increase in total grain production. This allowed India not only to get rid of food imports, but also to begin exporting grain. Nowadays, in terms of gross grain harvest (230 million tons), it ranks third in the world after China and the United States; in terms of total consumption of wheat and rice, it is second only to China (although in terms of per capita consumption indicators it lags behind many countries). India also has a leading place in the world in the collection of tea, fruits, and sugar cane. Interestingly, it has recently become one of the world leaders in milk production: the rapid increase in milk production here is sometimes called the “white revolution”.
Against such a general background, individual agricultural areas India differs quite a lot from each other. First of all, this applies to natural conditions. Figure 137 shows that from the point of view of agro-natural conditions, the Indo-Gangetic lowland is most favorable for agriculture, the plains and lowlands in the east and north-east of the country are relatively favorable, and the areas located in the central and southern parts of Hindustan are less favorable. But large differences between regions exist both in the level of marketability and in the characteristics of the agricultural production structure. Based on the main specialization of the main industry - agriculture, in the most general, generalized terms, three large agricultural regions can be distinguished in India.
IN first district Wheat crops predominate, although rice, millet, cotton, oilseeds, and sugar cane are also cultivated here. It is located in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttaranchal and Uttar Pradesh. Although less than in other parts of India, it also has two main agricultural seasons: summer (kharif) and winter (rabi). In the summer season, the main source of moisture is monsoon rains, which dictate all the main timing of field work, and in the winter, dry season, the fields need artificial irrigation.
The role of the main breadbasket of the country is played by the relatively small state of Punjab, translated as Pyatirechye. Indeed, before the separation of Pakistan in 1947, its territory covered the basins of the five main tributaries of the Indus: Sutlej, Beas, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum. The largest irrigation systems in the country were created here. But after the partition of former British India, most of them ended up within Pakistan. Therefore, in Punjab, much attention was paid to hydraulic engineering from the very beginning. In 1948–1970 here on the river Sutlej, the country's largest hydroelectric complex, Bhakra-Nangal, was built, which includes a hydroelectric power station with a capacity of 1.2 million kW and a system of irrigation canals with a total length of 4.5 thousand km; with their help, 1.5 million hectares of land were irrigated in Punjab and neighboring states. Then other waterworks and irrigation systems were built.
Rice. 139. Agricultural and peasant calendar in the Delhi region
Irrigation contributed to the fact that it was in Punjab that the “green revolution” began and manifested itself to the greatest extent (in Indian conditions). It primarily covered the predominant farms of kulaks and wealthy peasants - mainly Sikhs, who also widely used agricultural machinery and mineral fertilizers. As a result, Punjab's share of India's total rabi wheat crop has risen to 40%. The harvest of rice, long-fiber cotton, and other crops has also increased significantly.
The state of Haryana can be called a kind of smaller copy of Punjab. The largest state in terms of population, Uttar Pradesh, also resembles it - the largest producer of not only wheat, but also legumes and oilseeds, sugar cane, potatoes and vegetables, which lies entirely within the Indo-Gangetic lowland. Figure 139 gives an idea of the agricultural calendar of the peasants of the wheat region, which, as can easily be seen, continues throughout the year.
In second district Rice crops predominate, although sugar cane, jute, millet and oilseeds, and wheat are also cultivated here. It takes up significantly large area, than the wheat region, covering the main part of the Gangetic and Brahmaputra lowlands, the eastern part of the Deccan Plateau, as well as the Coromandel and Malabar coasts of Hindustan. But its core is located within the states of Western Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and partly also Chhattis Garh and Uttar Pradesh.
Rice has been cultivated here for thousands of years. It is usually planted at the beginning of the kharif season, when the weather is dry and hot with May temperatures reaching 42–44 °C. With the onset of monsoon rains in early June, the rice fields are covered with water, and harvesting takes place in the fall. But with artificial irrigation, which is provided through both large irrigation systems and wells, rice is successfully grown during the rabi season.
Third agricultural region India occupies the main part of the Deccan Plateau. It does not have such a clear specialization. The cereal crops grown here are mainly jowar and other millet crops, but also rice, wheat, corn, and industrial short-staple cotton. The general level of agriculture, its productivity and marketability are much lower here; only 1/7 of the sown areas are irrigated. Even cotton is not grown on irrigated lands, although the most fertile dark-colored clay soils on basalt covers - regurs - are used for its crops. Therefore, the cotton yield in India is 26 c/ha, which is significantly less than the world average (55 c/ha), not to mention the USA or Uzbekistan. India accounts for 1/4 of all cotton plantings in the world, and in terms of cotton fiber harvest (4.6 million tons) it ranks third after China and the USA.
In addition to these three main areas, India can be divided into several more highly specialized areas of agriculture. This is, for example, the lower reaches of the Ganges in West Bengal, where jute is actually a monoculture. Or the Assam Valley in the northeast, which at the end of the 19th century. has become one of the largest tea-producing areas in the world. Or the Malabar coast is the largest supplier of coconuts, as well as black pepper and other spices. Most of these areas are dominated by plantation farming.
Modern India is one of the top developing countries in the world. Industry and agriculture play a significant role in the country's economy - the former accounts for slightly less than 1/3, and the latter accounts for slightly more than 1/3 of GDP.
Industry
India's manufacturing industry is diversified. The vast majority of industrial workers are employed in millions of small craft enterprises. These are mainly households engaged in spinning, weaving, pottery, metalworking and woodworking and largely providing for the local needs of the villages in which they are located.
However, in terms of total volume and value added, mechanized factory production dominates. Many industrial plants, especially those producing high-value products such as machinery, fertilizers, rolled metal, etc., are government owned and operated by the central or state governments. There are also thousands of private manufacturers, including a number of large and diversified industrial conglomerates. For example, the privately held Tata Iron and Steel Company (Tata Steel) in Jamshedpur is one of the largest and most successful manufacturers in the steel industry.
Foreign corporations have been hesitant to invest in Indian industries due to excessive regulation and rules limiting foreign ownership of controlling shares.
Workers in the textile industry, especially cotton, jute, wool and silk, make up the bulk of the manufacturing workforce. Few large cities do not have at least one cotton mill. Jute manufacturing, unlike cotton, is concentrated in “Googlyside,” a series of towns along the Googly (Hooghly) River north of Calcutta.
Even more common than textile factories are plants for the primary processing of agricultural and mining products. Typically these are small seasonal enterprises located near places of primary production. These include plants for oil pressing, peanut shelling, sugar processing, drying and storage. food products in the refrigerator, as well as grinding and initial smelting of ores.
The consumer goods industries are widely dispersed and largely concentrated in large cities. To spread the benefits of development regionally and reduce urban congestion, state governments sponsor numerous industrial parks that offer incentives to entrepreneurs, including cheap land and reduced taxes.
Heavy industrial enterprises, such as metallurgical plants, are located near either a raw material base or coal deposits, depending on the ratio of required materials and transportation costs. India is fortunate to have several deposits, especially the Chhota Nagpur plateau, where abundant coal reserves are located in close proximity to high-quality iron ore. Located near Kolkata, the Chhota Nagpur plateau has become a major region of heavy industry and interconnected chemical and engineering industries. The production of heavy transport equipment such as locomotives and trucks is also concentrated here.
Agriculture
About half of all Indians still rely directly on agriculture for their livelihood, and only relatively recently has this share begun to decline compared to 20th century levels. Nevertheless, the area of cultivated land is growing steadily and already covers more than half of the total area of the country. In fertile regions such as the Indo-Gangetic plain or the eastern coastal deltas, the proportion of cultivable land to the total area exceeds nine-tenths.
Water availability is highly dependent on climate. In all but a small part of the country, water supplies for agriculture depend on the erratic southwest monsoon. As a result, farmers grow only one crop per year in regions where there is no irrigation, and the risk of crop failure in many areas is quite high.
The prospects and actual development of irrigation also differ greatly in different parts countries. Conditions are particularly favorable on the Indo-Gangetic Plain, partly due to the relatively uniform flow of rivers flowing from the Himalayas, and partly due to the enormous reserves of groundwater in the thousand-meter-high alluvial deposits that underlie the region. However, in the Indian subcontinent, the availability of surface water depends on the seasonal rainfall patterns of the region, and in many areas the formation of hard rocks makes drilling difficult and seriously limits access to groundwater.
For such a predominantly agricultural country, cultivable soil resources and water volumes are critical. Although India has vast areas of fertile alluvial soils, especially on the Indo-Gangetic Plain, there are also other significant areas of relatively productive soils, such as the soils of the Deccan Plateau, formed by the crushing of volcanic rocks, the red-yellow lateritic soils that dominate much of the rest countries have low fertility.
Overall, per capita availability of cultivable area is low, and less than half of the cultivable land is of high quality. In addition, many areas have lost significant fertility due to erosion, alkalization (caused by over-watering without proper drainage), and prolonged cultivation without restoring depleted nutrients.
The average Indian farm size is only about 5 acres (2 hectares), but even this figure masks a markedly skewed distribution of land holdings. More than half of the holdings are smaller than 3 acres (1.2 ha), while the remainder are controlled by a small number of relatively wealthy landowners.
Most peasants own farms that provide little more than food for their families. Given the fluctuations in the agricultural market and the fickle nature of the annual monsoon, the rate of abandonment of farming is quite high, especially among smallholder farmers. In addition, almost a third of households have no land at all. Many tenants are forced to work for large landowners or supplement their income with income from some ancillary activity, often one that is traditionally associated with their caste.
Modern technologies
Agricultural technology in India has undergone rapid changes. Large-scale government-sponsored irrigation canal projects, begun by the British in the mid-19th century, were greatly expanded after independence. The emphasis then shifted to deep wells (called tube wells), often privately owned, from which water was raised by either electric or diesel pumps.
However, in many places these wells have depleted local groundwater supplies, after which efforts have turned to recharging aquifers and harnessing rainwater. Reservoir irrigation, a method by which water is drawn from small reservoirs created along the course of small drains, is used in some parts of the country, especially in the southeast.
Since the late 1960s, new high-yielding hybrid seed varieties - mainly wheat and rice - have emerged, leading to a sharp increase in production, especially in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. The demand for chemical fertilizers is steadily growing.
The success of the so-called Green Revolution was so significant that it was able to create buffer stocks of grain sufficient for the country to withstand several years of disastrously bad monsoons with virtually no imports or famines, and even became a modest net exporter of food in some years.
Agricultural crops
Most Indian farms grow little beyond food crops and account for more than three-fifths of the crop area. The leading grain crop in both acreage and total yield is rice, the crop of choice in nearly all areas with average annual rainfall greater than 40 inches (1,000 mm) and in some irrigated areas.
Wheat ranks second in terms of sown area and yield. Thanks to the use of hybrid technologies, it is ahead of all grains in terms of yield per hectare. Wheat is grown primarily in the fertile soils of northern and northwestern India in areas with average annual rainfall of 15 to 40 inches (380 to 1,000 mm), often with supplemental irrigation.
Other important cereal crops, in descending order of acreage, are sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), maize and millet (ragi). These are generally grown on relatively barren soils unsuitable for rice or wheat, while maize is preferred in hilly and mountainous areas.
Legumes, of which chickpeas are the most common, are the main source of protein for most Indians, as eating animal products is either a luxury or forbidden for religious reasons for many.
Crops consumed in small quantities include potatoes, onions, various vegetables, eggplant, okra, zucchini and other vegetables, as well as fruits - mangoes, bananas, tangerines, papaya and melons. Sugarcane is widely cultivated, especially in areas close to processing plants. Sugar is also obtained from the trunks of palm trees, which are abundant in southern India, but much of this syrup is fermented, often illegally, to make an alcoholic drink.
Sources of vegetable oil include a variety of crops - mainly peanuts, coconuts, mustard, cotton seeds and canola. Spices are widely grown and are in great demand among Indians - the ubiquitous chili pepper, turmeric and ginger are used as seasonings in the national cuisine. Tea is grown mainly for export in Assam, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, while coffee is produced almost exclusively in southern India, mainly in Karnataka. Tobacco is cultivated mainly in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
Among commercial industrial crops, cotton is the main one. Maharashtra, Gujarat and Punjab are the major cotton-growing states. Jute, found mainly in West Bengal, Assam and Bihar, is the second most abundant natural fiber. Most of it is exported in processed form, mainly in the form of burlap. An even coarser fiber comes from coir, the outer shell of the coconut, the processing of which forms the basis of a cottage industry in Kerala. Coconuts and oilseeds are also important for the extraction of industrial oils.
Cattle breeding
Although Indians eat little meat, livestock farming plays an important role in the agricultural economy. Today, India has the largest cow population in the world. Cattle and buffalo serve many purposes - to provide milk, as sources of meat (including Muslims, Christians and some castes for whom eating beef is not taboo), and as sources of fertilizer, cooking fuel (from dried cow dung cakes) and leather.
Milk yield from Indian cows is quite low, while buffalo milk is somewhat better and more nutritious. Because cow slaughter is illegal in many states, cattle are not bred specifically to provide meat, and most beef consumed comes from animals that have died of natural causes.
Instead of going to slaughter, aged cows, no longer able to benefit humans, are sent to goshalas (homes for elderly livestock, supported by donations from devout Hindus) or are simply turned out onto the streets as strays. In any case, they compete with humans for scarce plant resources.
Agriculture in India
India is an agricultural country. Its agriculture is an industry that employs more than two-thirds of the working population, 43% of the land is involved in it. Just like in colonial times, today Indian agriculture plays a large role in the country's economy. It has a pronounced crop-growing focus, despite the fact that this country has perhaps the largest livestock population in the world (120 million goats and sheep, 230 million cattle). But it is mainly used as draft power.
Productivity of the livestock complex
The most commonly consumed types of meat are lamb, chicken, and goat. Per person per year there is only about 40 liters of milk, one and a half kilograms of meat and only three eggs. This diet is available only to wealthy people. The low productivity of the livestock complex is explained by the lack of feed. Animals are fed straw.
Development of Indian crops
In the valleys of the Ganges and Brahmatura there are fields of the country's main crop - rice. In Bengal, it is harvested in up to three harvests a year. In the northwest of the country is the country's wheat zone. This valuable crop is grown on artificially irrigated lands in the winter season. Recently, Indian agriculture has been focused on expanding wheat fields. In inland poorly irrigated areas, Indian agriculture specializes in growing millet crops, sorghum, peas and beans. Oilseed crops - peanuts and cashews - are almost ubiquitous and are almost the only source of fat. In some areas of the country, castor oil, sesame, rapeseed, mustard, flax and coconut palm are grown to produce vegetable oil.
Crop production in India
It is impossible to imagine Indian agriculture without the cultivation of cotton and sugar cane, which is grown in the valleys of the Ganges, and cotton is grown on the plantations of Western India. Valuable long-staple cotton is grown in the lands of Punjab. The country ranks honorably third in the world in the cultivation and export of tobacco, plantations of which are located in the Godowari and Krishna deltas. Particularly valuable export varieties of Virginia tobacco grow there. The country also firmly holds first place in the production and export of tea - up to 35% of the world harvest. The largest plantations are located in the Brahmaputra Valley. In addition, tea is grown on the slopes of the Himalayas and in South India, although here it alternates with coffee and hevea plantations. An important export item of the country is spices, and primarily black pepper. South India is famous for the cultivation of ginger, cardamom, cloves, turmeric, and chili pepper. The country's gross agricultural output does not meet the needs of the population, so a significant part of the grain has to be imported.
Indonesian Agricultural Development
Agriculture in Indonesia, despite the favorable monsoon climate, is poorly developed. Only a tenth of the land in the country is cultivated. Plant growing is practiced only on the islands of Bali, Java, Lombok and in several areas of Sumatra. Rice is grown on most of the arable land. In the dry areas of Java, the main land is occupied by corn, spicy potatoes, soybeans and peanuts. Coffee and tobacco are grown on small plantations.
A significant territory of South Asia is occupied by the Federal Republic of India, which is the seventh largest in the world in terms of area and second in terms of population.
It is a country that is characterized by a great diversity of nationalities, as well as rapid growth and industrial development.
Population
India can rightfully be considered a favorable haven for representatives of all kinds of nationalities. In support of this, it can be clarified that despite the fact that Hindi is considered the state language, the country has approved 14 more constitutional languages, including English, Sanskrit, Marathi, Assami and others.
Eighty years ago, during the colonies, the mortality rate exceeded the birth rate, and the average life expectancy barely reached 30 years. Two decades later, the country's demographic situation improved dramatically, as healthcare began to actively develop, and each family was encouraged to produce at least two children. Today, population growth is so rapid that in 5 years India will surpass China in terms of the number of inhabitants. That is why in the country last decade One of the significant problems is unemployment - more than 20% of able-bodied residents do not have a permanent job or are part-time employed.
Although India cannot be called an urbanized state, the urban population still exceeds the rural one several times. According to this indicator, India also ranks second in the world. The majority of city residents work in trade and the service sector. It is worth pointing out that the largest cities in India are not very comfortable, on the contrary - there are many basti slums, lack of water supply and sewerage, problems with transportation, regular traffic jams during rush hour, poor conditions for the urban population. The life of the rural population can be called more comfortable.
Industry of India
The service sector accounts for the bulk of India's gross domestic product. The country's most developed industries include energy, ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering, chemical and light industry, since these areas are state property and make a huge contribution to India's GDP.
Energy
(North Chennai Thermal Power Plant, India)
Despite the fact that the energy sector in the country is at the stage of rapid development, the majority of the population meets their household fuel needs through agricultural waste and firewood. Coal is mined mainly in the northeast, and the costs of its transportation are quite high and economically unjustified. Processing of oil deposits is practically undeveloped, so mainly imported raw materials are processed. Therefore, the center of the energy industry is hydroelectric power stations and nuclear power plants. Nevertheless, India's nuclear energy program has developed rapidly.
Metallurgy
(Steel plant in Bhilai, India)
Ferrous metallurgy is one of the main industries of India, because on the territory of the country there is large number ore and coal deposits. The city of Kolkata has the richest sources. The seat of the largest metallurgical plants is located in the eastern part of the country. Basically, the work of the factories is aimed at meeting government needs. However, India exports some minerals, including mica, manganese and iron ore. It should be noted that the metallurgical industry is distinguished by aluminum smelting, since the country has its own fairly large reserves of the necessary raw materials. India obtains all other non-ferrous metals through imports.
Mechanical engineering
(Conveyor assembly of cars by hand)
Over the last decade, the engineering industry in India has reached its zenith. The aviation, ship, carriage and automobile industries began to develop rapidly, producing almost all types of necessary transport equipment. About forty different enterprises, which are located mainly in large cities, are a hotbed of mechanical engineering and produce the necessary parts thanks to their own mechanical engineering complex.
Textile and chemical industries
(Textile industry)
About two tens of millions of Indians work in the textile industry. Today, many foreign representatives of the textile business are investing in it. Thanks to this industry, the state's economy has significantly strengthened. The country's treasury receives huge profits (more than $30 billion) from the sale of chemical industry products: mineral fertilizers, plastics, chemical fibers, rubber. Now most factories have directed their efforts towards organic synthesis.
Agriculture in India
(Collection of traditional Indian tea)
Agriculture in India is mainly focused on farming and growing a variety of food crops (rice, wheat). Tea, cotton and tobacco exported from India are valued throughout the world. The country's climate makes it possible to grow these crops and distribute quality goods far abroad. The development of livestock farming is hampered by the widespread Hinduism in the state, which promotes vegetarianism and even considers the processing of hides to be a low and sinful craft. But agriculture does not suffer from this, since Indian residents can engage in crop production all year round, which gives them a constant, stable income.
Gradually it became more and more an agricultural country. In the post-independence period, Indian agriculture also continues to play vital role in the country's economy. The share of the agricultural population is more than 70%. Of these, more than 40% are land-poor and landless peasants, and besides them, agricultural workers. India is mainly crop-growing, despite the fact that the country has the largest livestock population in the world. 230 million heads, sheep and goats 120 million.
But the role of livestock farming in India is quite unusual. First of all, it is used in the country as the main labor force in production. Cows and buffaloes are used for arable and harvesting work, transporting goods and irrigating fields. Draft animals here are the main asset of the peasant; they are fed and carefully looked after. After the cattle are old, they are not slaughtered, so the fields and roads of the country are filled, making it difficult traffic, while remaining inviolable and “sacred” animals. Very little meat and milk are consumed in India. Meat is due to the fact that the majority of the population are vegetarians, and milk is consumed only by adding it to tea. Animal products are consumed in very small quantities in the country. There are only 42 liters of milk, 1.5 kilograms of meat and 3 eggs per capita per year. These products are consumed only by the wealthy population, which in India is a thin layer of the bulk. Just like in India, agriculture in Indonesia and other countries pays very little attention to animal husbandry.
Among livestock products, India exports only leather, bones, skins and bristles. In addition, the country widely uses manure, which is not only the main type of fertilizer for farms, but also the main type of fuel. Despite the fact that the country's climate allows farming all year round, it is almost rare that more than one crop is harvested. More than 85% of the cultivated area is occupied by food crops. The Ganges and Brahmaputra valleys, as well as the coastal lowlands, form part of the world's great rice belt, which further extends into China and Southeast Asia. In the North-West zone, Indian agriculture is represented by the wheat zone of the country.
Wheat is grown on irrigated fields during the winter season. In poorly irrigated and arid areas, drought-resistant crops are grown: sorghum, ragi, bajra and various small millets. Also widely distributed various types peas, beans and other legumes. But despite this, the country's gross agricultural output does not fully provide the population with food and therefore it is often necessary to import large quantities of grain. For the majority of the country's residents, oilseeds are the main and only source of fat. They are cultivated everywhere in India, but the need for them is much greater and India has to purchase vegetable oil abroad.
Indian agriculture is the world's largest producer of sugarcane. The main belt of the country is the Ganga. In addition, India is one of the world's leading cotton growing countries. The country is also the largest tea producer in the world. It grows about one third of the world's tea harvest. A traditionally important item of Indian export is the export of various herbs and spices. The most important of them is black pepper. India ranks second in the world in banana harvesting. Among other fruits, mango plays an important role - it is the Indian “queen” of fruits.
