Rice — India's Staple Food Crop
Rice is the staple food crop of a majority of the people in India. India is the second largest producer of rice in the world, after China.
Geographical conditions:
- It is a kharif crop requiring high temperature (above 25°C) and high humidity.
- It needs annual rainfall above 100 cm; in areas of less rainfall it is grown with the help of irrigation.
Growing regions: Rice is grown in the plains of north and north-eastern India, coastal areas and the deltaic regions. Canal irrigation and tube-wells have made it possible to grow rice even in the low-rainfall areas of Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan.
Wheat — The Main Rabi Cereal
Wheat is the second most important cereal crop and the main food crop in the north and north-western parts of the country.
Geographical conditions:
- It is a rabi crop requiring a cool growing season and bright sunshine at the time of ripening.
- It needs 50 to 75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed over the growing season.
Growing zones: There are two important wheat zones — the Ganga-Satluj plains in the north-west and the black-soil region of the Deccan. Major wheat-producing states: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.
Exam tip: Contrast the two — rice needs high heat, humidity and heavy rain (kharif); wheat needs a cool season and moderate rain (rabi).
Questions and Answers
Q1. Describe the geographical conditions required for the growth of rice.
Answer: Rice is a kharif crop that requires a high temperature (above 25°C) and high humidity, with annual rainfall above 100 cm. In areas of lower rainfall it is grown with the help of irrigation (canals and tube-wells). It grows best in the plains, coastal areas and deltaic regions.
Q2. Name one staple crop of India and the regions where it is produced.
Answer: Rice is the staple food crop of a majority of Indians. It is produced in the plains of north and north-eastern India, the coastal areas and the deltaic regions, and also in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh with the help of irrigation.
Q3. State the geographical conditions and producing states of wheat.
Answer: Wheat is a rabi crop needing a cool growing season, bright sunshine at ripening, and 50-75 cm of annual rainfall evenly distributed. Its two main zones are the Ganga-Satluj plains and the black-soil Deccan. Major producing states are Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan.