Food Crops Other than Grains

India has one of the largest agricultural lands in the world which makes agriculture the backbone of the country. More than half of the country’s population is engaged in agriculture which contributes significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The diverse climatic conditions, soil and topography of India facilitate the cultivation of a wide variety of food and non-food crops grown throughout the country. In this article, we will discuss the major food crops of India other than grains. 

Food Crops Other Than Grains

Food Crops Other Than Grains

Following are some of the most important food crops other than grains, which are grown in India and have tremendous presence and scope:

Sugarcane

It is a tall, perennial grass species and is the main source of sugar, jaggery, khandsari and molasses. It’s a both tropical and a subtropical crop. In North, India sugarcane is of the sub-tropical variety which has low sugar content. South India, is of the tropical variety and has high sugar content and high yield. After Brazil, India is the second largest producer in the world. Some of the important sugarcane growing conditions:

1. Climatic Conditions: Hot and humid climate with a temperature of 21°C to 27 °C and annual rainfall between 75cm – 100 cm. 
2. Soil: can be grown on a variety of soils ranging from sandy loam to clay loam. However, the soil needed to be well drained.
3. Major sugarcane-producing states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Punjab and Haryana. 

Oil Seeds 

The varied geographical conditions in India are favourable for growing 9 annual oilseed crops (groundnut, mustard, coconut, sesamum, soybean, castor seeds, cotton seeds, linseed and sunflower). India is one of the major oilseeds cultivators in the world. Most of these crops are edible and used for cooking purposes and some of these are also used as raw materials in the manufacturing of products such as soap, cosmetics and ointments. Some of the important oil seeds are:

Groundnuts 

• It is the most important oilseed in India and almost half of the oilseed grown in the country is groundnut. 
• It is an important rotation crop which helps in increasing the fertility of the soil. 
• It is a Kharif crop. 
• It requires a tropical climate and 20°-30°C temperature and 50-75 cm rainfall. 
• Well-drained light sandy loams, loams, red, yellow and black cotton soils are well suited for its cultivation.
• major producing states are Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.  

Sesamum

• It is a rainfed crop which requires 45-50 cm of rainfall. 
• It develops well in areas having temperatures ranging from 21° – 23°C. 
• It grows in well-drained light loamy soil. 
• It is a rabi crop in the south a Kharif crop in north India. 
• major producing states are West Bengal, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

Mustard 

• It thrives only in a cool climate. 
• It is a rabi crop. 
• It is majorly produced in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

Linseed 

• It requires a cool, moist climate with around 20°C temperature and 75 cm rainfall. 
• deep black soils and alluvial soils and clay loams are best suited for its cultivation. 
• It is a rabi-crop. 
• Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh are the main producers.

Castor seeds

• It grows best in temperatures ranging from 20°C to 25°C and 50 to 75 cm rainfall.
• It is a rabi crop in south India and a Kharif crop in north India. 
• The main producing states are Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. 

Tea 

The second largest tea producer in the world is India. Apart from being one of the top consumers of tea, India is also one of the top tea exporters in the world. Tea cultivation is an example of plantation agriculture. It is labour-intensive, as it requires cheap skilled labour in abundance. To maintain the freshness of tea, it is processed within the tea garden.

1. Climatic conditions: tropical and sub-tropical climates. Tea bushes require a warm and moist frost-free climate all through the year. The ideal temperature for its growth is 20°-30°C.  It requires 150-300 cm annual rainfall, well distributed throughout the year.
2. Soil: deep and fertile well-drained soil, which should be rich in humus and organic matter.
3. Major producing states: Assam(Assam valley and Cachar) followed by West Bengal(Dooars, Terai and Darjeeling). Other states are Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura.

Coffee 

It is the second most important beverage after tea in India. India is among the top coffee-producing countries and nearly 70% of the coffee produced is exported, largely to European and Asian markets. Arabica which was initially brought from Yemen and Robusta are the two main varieties of coffee produced in India.

1. Climatic conditions: The hot and humid climate with temperatures ranging from 15°C and 28 °C. Rainfall from 150 to 250 cm. Frost, snowfall, high temperature above 30°C and strong sunshine is not good for coffee crops thus it is grown under shady trees. Coffee crop is grown on hill slopes at elevations from 600 to 1,600 metres above sea level because stagnant water is harmful to it.
2. Soil: They can be cultivated on a variety of soil types. The shallow soils (sandy loam) on steep mountain slopes or almost level ground, with good organic matter (humus) content, are ideal for its production. Soil’s water balance is quite important to the growth of coffee along with the presence of minerals like iron and calcium.
3. Major coffee-producing area: The cultivation is confined to the Nilgiris in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka is the largest producer as 70 per cent of the total coffee produced in India is grown here. Coffee cultivation is also expanding rapidly in areas of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha as well as in the North East states.

Horticulture Crops

The term horticulture is derived from two Latin words hortus and cultura which means crops grown in garden cultivation. In horticulture, more variety and larger amounts of fruits, vegetables, and flowers are cultivated. Horticulture is regarded as one of the top agricultural industries in many regions of the world. It is a capital and labour-intensive agriculture.

India has a diverse agro-climate that facilitates the production of a wide range of horticultural crops that includes fruits, vegetables, spices, root tuber, ornamental, aromatic plants, medicinal species, and plantation crops such as coconut, cashew, and cocoa. Thus, the advantageous topographical characteristics make India the second-largest producer of fruits and vegetables in the world. India produces tropical as well as temperate fruits and more than 10% of the world’s fruit is produced here. Some horticulture fruit crops produced in India are :

1. Mango: Mango grows throughout the country and thus accounts for nearly half of the country’s total fruit area. It grows in a wide range of soil and climatic conditions. It doesn’t get much affected by both drought or heavy rainfall. Its production in India is concentrated in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal among other states. 
2. Orange: Orange grows successfully in tropical and subtropical areas, mainly under rain-fed conditions. It can be grown in a variety of soils, but the ideal soil is medium or light loam with a slightly heavier subsoil. Oranges are grown in Assam, Nagpur, Cherrapunjee (Meghalaya), Punjab, Wayanad, Coorg, Palani hills, and the Nilgiris.
3. Bananas: Bananas are primarily grown in tropical areas where temperatures do not fall below 16°C and rainfall does not fall below 150 cm. The ideal place for banana cultivation is the peninsular coastal plains and irrigated tracts. It develops well in rich, well-drained soil with plenty of moisture and humus. It is produced the most in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Mizoram.

FAQs on Food Crops Other Than Grains

Question 1: What are the 3 types of crops?

Answer:

The 3 types of crops include Rabi, Kharif and Zaid.

Question 2: What are the 7 major crops in India?

Answer:

The major crops grown in India are rice, millet, wheat, pulses, tea, sugarcane, and coffee are few to name.

Question 3: Which crops are called food crops?

Answer:

The crops which are used for human consumption are known as subsistence crops and food crops. Few examples include fruits, vegetables, grains etc.