​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​NATURAL​ ​RESOURCES

Introduction
There​ ​are​ ​three​ ​distinct​ ​cropping​ ​seasons​ ​in​ ​the​ ​northern​ ​and​ ​interior​ ​parts​ ​of
India,​ ​namely​ ​kharif,​ ​rabi,​ ​and​ ​zaid.

Kharif
(June-September)
Rice,​ ​Cotton,​ ​Bajra,​ ​Maize,
Jowar,​ ​Toor
Rice,​ ​Maize,​ ​Ragi,​ ​Jowar,
Groundnut

Rabi
(October​ ​–​ ​March)
Wheat,​ ​Gram,​ ​Rapeseeds,
and​ ​Mustard,​ ​Barley
Rice,​ ​Maize,​ ​Ragi,
Groundnut,​ ​Jowar

Zaid
(April–June)
Vegetables,​ ​Fruits,​ ​Fodder​ ​Rice,​ ​Vegetables,​ ​Fodder

Dryland​ ​farming​ ​is​ ​largely​ ​restricted​ ​to​ ​the​ ​regions​ ​having​ ​annual​ ​rainfall​ ​less
than​ ​75​ ​cm.​ ​Major​ ​crops​ ​are​ ​ragi,​ ​bajra,​ ​moong,​ ​gram,​ ​and​ ​guar​ ​(fodder​ ​crops).

The​ ​regions,​ ​which​ ​have​ ​rainfall​ ​in​ ​excess​ ​of​ ​soil​ ​moisture​ ​requirement​ ​of​ ​plants​ ​during​ ​the​ ​rainy
season​ ​is​ ​known​ ​as​ ​wetland​ ​farming.​ ​Major​ ​crops​ ​are​ ​rice,​ ​jute,​ ​and​ ​sugarcane.

The​ ​cereals​ ​occupy​ ​about​ ​54%​ ​of​ ​total​ ​cropped​ ​area​ ​in​ ​India.

India​ ​produces​ ​about​ ​11%​ ​cereals​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world​ ​and​ ​ranks​ ​3rd​ ​in​ ​production​ ​after
China​ ​and​ ​U.S.A.

Indian​ ​cereals​ ​are​ ​classified​ ​as​ ​fine​ ​grains​ ​(e.g.​ ​rice,​ ​wheat,​ ​etc.)​ ​and​ ​coarse
grains​ ​(e.g.​ ​jowar,​ ​bajra,​ ​maize,​ ​ragi,​ ​etc.)

Types​ ​of​ ​Farming

Cereals.​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​States.
Wheat​ ​-​ ​Uttar​ ​Pradesh,​ ​Punjab​ ​and​ ​Madhya​ ​Pradesh
Rice​ ​–​ ​West​ ​Bengal​ ​and​ ​Uttar​ ​Pradesh
Gram​ ​–​ ​Madhya​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Tamil​ ​Nadu
Barley​ ​–​ ​Maharashtra,​ ​Uttar​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Rajasthan
Bajra​ ​–​ ​Maharashtra,​ ​Gujarat​ ​and​ ​Rajasthan
Cash​ ​Crops
Sugarcane​ ​-​ ​Uttar​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Maharashtra
Poppy​ ​–​ ​Uttar​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Himachal​ ​Pradesh

Oil​ ​Seeds
Coconut​ ​–​ ​Kerala​ ​and​ ​Tamil​ ​Nadu
Linseed​ ​–​ ​Rajasthan,​ ​Madhya​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Haryana
Groundnut​ ​–​ ​Gujarat,​ ​Andhra​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Tamil​ ​Nadu
Rape​ ​seed​ ​and​ ​mustard​ ​–​ ​Rajasthan,​ ​Madhya​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Haryana
Sesame​ ​–​ ​Uttar​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Rajasthan
Sunflower​ ​–​ ​Karnataka,​ ​Andhra​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Maharashtra

Fibre​ ​Crops
Cotton​ ​–​ ​Maharashtra​ ​and​ ​Gujarat
Jute​ ​–​ ​West​ ​Bengal​ ​and​ ​Bihar
Silk​ ​–​ ​Karnataka​ ​and​ ​Kerala

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
Cashewnuts​ ​–​ ​Kerala,​ ​Tamil​ ​Nadu​ ​and​ ​Andhra​ ​Pradesh
Ginger​ ​–​ ​Kerala​ ​and​ ​Uttar​ ​Pradesh
Turmeric​ ​–​ ​Andhra​ ​Pradesh​ ​and​ ​Odisha

Agricultural​ ​Problems
​ ​About​ ​57%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​land​ ​is​ ​covered​ ​by​ ​crop​ ​cultivation​ ​in​ ​India;​ ​however,​ ​in​ ​the
world,​ ​the​ ​corresponding​ ​share​ ​is​ ​only​ ​about​ ​12%.
​ ​On​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand,​ ​the​ ​land-human​ ​ratio​ ​in​ ​the​ ​country​ ​is​ ​only​ ​0.31​ ​ha,​ ​which
is​ ​almost​ ​half​ ​of​ ​that​ ​of​ ​the​ ​world​ ​as​ ​a​ ​whole​ ​i.e.​ ​0.59​ ​ha.
​ ​However,​ ​major​ ​problems​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Indian​ ​agriculture​ ​system​ ​are:
o​ ​Dependence​ ​on​ ​erratic​ ​monsoon;
o​ ​Low​ ​productivity;
o​ ​Constraints​ ​of​ ​financial​ ​resources​ ​and​ ​indebtedness;
o​ ​Lack​ ​of​ ​proper​ ​land​ ​reforms;
o​ ​Small​ ​farm​ ​size​ ​and​ ​fragmentation​ ​of​ ​landholdings;
o​ ​Lack​ ​of​ ​commercialization;​ ​under-employment;​ ​and
o​ ​Degradation​ ​of​ ​cultivable​ ​land.
​ ​Further,​ ​lack​ ​of​ ​development​ ​of​ ​rural​ ​infrastructure,​ ​withdrawal​ ​of​ ​subsidies​ ​and
price​ ​support,​ ​and​ ​impediments​ ​in​ ​availing​ ​of​ ​the​ ​rural​ ​credits​ ​may​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​inter-
regional​ ​and​ ​inter-personal​ ​disparities​ ​in​ ​rural​ ​areas.
​ ​Intensive​ ​Agricultural​ ​District​ ​Program​ ​(IADP)​ ​and​ ​Intensive​ ​Agricultural
Area​ ​Program​ ​(IAAP)​ ​were​ ​launched​ ​to​ ​overcome​ ​the​ ​agricultural​ ​problems​ ​in
India.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​Mineral​ ​Reserves
Iron
About​ ​95%​ ​of​ ​total​ ​reserves​ ​of​ ​iron​ ​ore​ ​is​ ​found​ ​in​ ​the​ ​States​ ​of​ ​Odisha,
Jharkhand,​ ​Chhattisgarh,​ ​Karnataka,​ ​Goa,​ ​Telangana,​ ​Andhra​ ​Pradesh,​ ​and​ ​Tamil​ ​Nadu.

​ ​Sundergarh,​ ​Mayurbhanj,​ ​and​ ​Jhar​ ​are​ ​the​ ​major​ ​iron​ ​ore​ ​regions​ ​in​ ​Odisha​ ​and​ ​the​ ​important
mines​ ​are​ ​Gurumahisani,​ ​Sulaipet,​ ​Badampahar​ ​(Mayurbhaj),​ ​Kiruburu​ ​(Kendujhar),​ ​and​ ​Bonai
(Sundergarh).Noamundi​ ​(Poorbi​ ​Singhbhum)​ ​and​ ​Gua​ ​(Pashchimi​ ​Singhbhum)​ ​are​ ​important
mines​ ​in​ ​Jharkhand.

Manganese
​ ​Odisha​ ​is​ ​the​ ​leading​ ​producer​ ​of​ ​Manganese.
​ ​Bonai,​ ​Kendujhar,​ ​Sundergarh,​ ​Gangpur,​ ​Koraput,​ ​Kalahandi,​ ​and​ ​Bolangir​ ​are
the​ ​major​ ​manganese​ ​regions​ ​in​ ​Odisha.
​ ​Dharwar,​ ​Ballari,​ ​Belagavi,​ ​North​ ​Canara,​ ​Shivamogga,​ ​Chitradurg,​ ​Tumkur,​ ​and
Chikkmagaluru​ ​are​ ​major​ ​manganese​ ​regions​ ​in​ ​Karnataka.

Bauxite
​ ​Odisha​ ​is​ ​the​ ​largest​ ​producer​ ​of​ ​Bauxite​ ​in​ ​India.
​ ​Kalahandi,​ ​Sambalpur,​ ​Bolangir,​ ​and​ ​Koraput​ ​are​ ​the​ ​leading​ ​producers​ ​of
bauxite​ ​in​ ​Odisha.
​ ​Lohardaga​ ​(Jharkhand)​ ​is​ ​rich​ ​in​ ​bauxite​ ​deposits.
Amarkantak​ ​plateau​​ ​has​ ​rich​ ​deposits​ ​of​ ​bauxite​ ​in​ ​Chhattisgarh.

Copper
​ ​Copper​ ​deposits​ ​are​ ​largely​ ​concentrated​ ​in​ ​Singhbhum​ ​district​ ​of​ ​Jharkhand,
Balaghat​ ​district​ ​of​ ​Madhya​ ​Pradesh,​ ​and​ ​Jhunjhunu​ ​and​ ​Alwar​ ​districts​ ​of​ ​Rajasthan.
Mica
​ ​Hazaribagh​ ​plateau​ ​of​ ​Jharkhand​ ​and​ ​Nellore​ ​district​ ​of​ ​Andhra​ ​Pradesh​ ​have
deposits​ ​of​ ​high​ ​grade​ ​mica.
​ ​Jaipur​ ​to​ ​Bhilwara​ ​and​ ​areas​ ​around​ ​Udaipur​ ​are​ ​the​ ​major​ ​mica-bearing​ ​regions
of​ ​Rajasthan.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ENERGY​ ​RESOURCES
Coal
​ ​About​ ​80%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​coal​ ​deposits​ ​in​ ​India​ ​is​ ​of​ ​bituminous​ ​type​ ​and​ ​is​ ​of​ ​non-
coking​ ​grade.
​ ​The​ ​most​ ​important​ ​Gondwana​ ​coal​ ​fields​ ​of​ ​India​ ​are​ ​located​ ​in​ ​Damodar​ ​Valley
region.
Raniganj,​ ​Jharia,​ ​Bokaro,​ ​Giridih,​ ​and​ ​Karanpura​ ​are​ ​major​ ​coalfields​ ​of
Jharkhand-Bengal​ ​coal​ ​belt.
Jharia​ ​is​ ​the​ ​largest​ ​coal​ ​field​ ​followed​ ​by​ ​Raniganj.

Petroleum
Petroleum​ ​industries​ ​produce​ ​various​ ​by-products;​ ​for​ ​example,​ ​fertilizer,
synthetic​ ​rubber,​ ​synthetic​ ​fiber,​ ​medicines,​ ​vaseline,​ ​lubricants,​ ​wax,​ ​soap,​ ​and
cosmetics.

Crude​ ​petroleum​ ​normally​ ​occurs​ ​in​ ​sedimentary​ ​rocks​ ​of​ ​the​ ​tertiary​ ​period.
For​ ​the​ ​systematic​ ​oil​ ​exploration​ ​and​ ​production,​ ​the​ ​Oil​ ​and​ ​Natural​ ​Gas​ ​Commission​ ​was​ ​set
up​ ​in​ ​1956.

​ ​Digboi,​ ​Naharkatiya,​ ​and​ ​Moran​ ​are​ ​important​ ​oil​ ​producing​ ​areas​ ​in​ ​Assam.

Ankaleshwar,​ ​Kalol,​ ​Mehsana,​ ​Nawagam,​ ​Kosamba,​ ​and​ ​Lunej​ ​are​ ​the​ ​major
petroleum​ ​producing​ ​regions​ ​in​ ​Gujarat.
​ ​Located​ ​160​ ​km​ ​off​ ​Mumbai,​ ​Mumbai​ ​high,​ ​an​ ​offshore​ ​oilfield​ ​was​ ​discovered​ ​in​ ​1973.
Production​ ​of​ ​petroleum​ ​at​ ​the​ ​field​ ​was​ ​started​ ​in​ ​1976.

Major​ ​crop​ ​Producer​ ​countries

Rice
1.​ ​ ​China
2.​ ​India
3.​ ​Indonesia
Maize
1.​ ​ ​USA
2.​ ​China
3.​ ​Brazil

TEA
1.​ ​ ​India
2.​ ​China
3.​ ​Sri​ ​Lanka
4.​ ​Kenya

Coffee
1.​ ​ ​Brazil
2.​ ​Columbia
3.​ ​Mexico
4.​ ​Indonesia

Sugarcane
1.​ ​ ​India
2.​ ​Brazil
3.​ ​USA
4.​ ​Cuba

Rubber
1.​ ​ ​Thailand
2.​ ​Indonesia
3.​ ​Malaysia

Cotton
1.​ ​ ​China
2.​ ​USA
3.​ ​India
4.​ ​Pakistan

Jute
1.India
2.Bangladesh

Silk
1.​ ​ ​China
2.​ ​India
3.​ ​Japan
Major​ ​Mineral​ ​Resource​ ​producers
Iron​ ​Ore​​ ​-​ ​China,​ ​Japan,​ ​Russia
Copper​ ​Ore​​ ​-​ ​Chili,​ ​USA,​ ​Indonesia
Tin​ ​-​ ​China,​ ​Indonesia,​ ​Peru
Lead​​ ​-​ ​China,​ ​Austraila,​ ​USA
Zinc​​ ​-​ ​China,​ ​Australia,​ ​Peru
Manganese​ ​-​ ​South​ ​Africa,​ ​Brazil,​ ​Australia
Aluminium​​ ​-​ ​China,​ ​Russia,​ ​Canada
Cement​ ​-​ ​China,​ ​India,​ ​USA
Petroleum​​ ​-​ ​Saudi​ ​Arabia,​ ​Russia,​ ​USA
Natural​ ​Gas​​ ​-​ ​Russia,​ ​USA,​ ​Canada
Silver​​ ​-​ ​Peru,​ ​Mexico,​ ​China
Coal​ ​-​ ​China,​ ​USA,​ ​India
Uranium-​Kazakhstan,Canada
Gold​-China,Australia,USA,Russia