Course Content
Crop Production (Unit 6)
0/29
ASRB NET / SRF / Ph.D. Agronomy

Agro-Climatic Regional Planning

  • Initiation: It was initiated in 1988 by the Planning Commission of India under the Seventh Five Year Plan.
  • Objective: The regional planning was implemented on the basis of agro-climatic factors to ensure balanced regional growth across India.
  • Planning Authority: The Planning Commission is headed by the Prime Minister of India.

 

Planning Commission

  • Established: 1950 by the Government of India.
  • Objective: Formulate and oversee Five-Year Plans for balanced economic development.
  • Structure: Headed by the Prime Minister.
  • Key Functions:
    • Formulated Five-Year Plans.
    • Allocated resources to various sectors and states.
    • Monitored and evaluated plan implementation.
  • Abolition: Dissolved in 2014, replaced by NITI Aayog.

 

NITI Aayog

  • Established: 1st January 2015.
  • Objective: Promote cooperative federalism and sustainable development.
  • Structure: Headed by the Prime Minister, includes Vice Chairman, Members, and CEOs.
  • Key Functions:
    • Provides strategic advice for policy formulation.
    • Monitors and evaluates government programs.
    • Focuses on innovation, research, and sustainable growth.
    • Promotes collaborative partnerships between central and state governments.

 

 

Agro-Climatic Zones (ACZ)

Definition: Agro-climatic zones are regions classified based on climatic conditions like temperature, rainfall, and humidity, which directly affect agriculture and farming practices.

Classification in India:

  • According to the Planning Commission, India is divided into 15 agro-climatic zones.
  • According to NARP (National Agricultural Research Project)/ ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research), India is divided into 131 agro-climatic zones.

 

Agro-Ecological Zones (AEZ)
  • Definition: Agro-ecological zones are defined based on a combination of ecological factors, including climate, soil types, topography, vegetation, and hydrological conditions. This classification looks at a wider set of ecological factors beyond just the climate.

Classification in India:

  • According to NBSS&LUP (National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning), Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. India is divided into 21 agro-ecological zones.
  • According to ICAR, India is divided into 8 agro-ecological zones.

 

Key Differences

Focus:

  • Agro-climatic zones focus mainly on climatic factors and the growing season.
  • Agro-ecological zones consider a broader range of environmental factors, including soils and topography.

Purpose:

  • Agro-climatic zones aim to help in crop selection and farming practices based on climate.
  • Agro-ecological zones help in land use planning, conservation, and sustainable farming by understanding the entire ecological environment.

 

 

Agro-Climatic Zones of India

 

S.No

Agro-Climatic Zone

States Included

Climate Description

Annual Rainfall (mm)

Main Crops

1

Western Himalayan Region

Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Uttarakhand

Cool and humid climate with significant temperature variations due to altitude. Summers are mild, while winters can be severe with heavy snowfall.

1,000–2,000

Wheat, maize, barley, fruits (apples, pears), and vegetables (potatoes, peas).

2

Eastern Himalayan Region

Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, parts of West Bengal

Humid and sub-humid climate with heavy rainfall, especially during the monsoon season. The region experiences a mild summer and cool winter.

1,500–3,000

Rice, maize, millets, tea, and various horticultural crops.

3

Lower Gangetic Plains Region

West Bengal

Moist humid to dry humid climate with hot summers and mild winters. The region is prone to flooding during monsoons.

1,200–1,800

Rice, jute, sugarcane, pulses, and oilseeds.

4

Middle Gangetic Plains Region

Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Moist sub-humid to dry sub-humid climate with hot summers and cool winters. The region has fertile alluvial soil, making it suitable for diverse cropping.

1,000–1,500

Rice, wheat, maize, pulses, and oilseeds.

5

Upper Gangetic Plains Region

Western and Central Uttar Pradesh

Dry sub-humid to semi-arid climate with hot summers and cold winters. The region benefits from extensive irrigation facilities.

800–1,200

Wheat, rice, sugarcane, and pulses.

6

Trans-Gangetic Plains Region

Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, parts of Rajasthan

Semi-arid to dry sub-humid climate with hot summers and cool winters. The region has well-developed irrigation systems, supporting intensive agriculture.

500–1,000

Wheat, rice, maize, and cotton.

7

Eastern Plateau and Hills Region

Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, parts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh

Moist sub-humid to dry sub-humid climate with moderate rainfall. The region has undulating terrain with red and lateritic soils.

1,000–1,400

Rice, millets, pulses, and oilseeds.

8

Central Plateau and Hills Region

Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan

Semi-arid to dry sub-humid climate with hot summers and cool winters. The region has mixed red and black soils, suitable for diverse cropping.

600–1,000

Wheat, sorghum, millets, and pulses.

9

Western Plateau and Hills Region

Maharashtra, parts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan

Semi-arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. The region has black cotton soil, ideal for certain cash crops.

500–1,000

Cotton, sorghum, millets, and pulses.

10

Southern Plateau and Hills Region

Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Semi-arid to dry sub-humid climate with moderate rainfall. The region has diverse soils, supporting various cropping systems.

800–1,200

Millets, pulses, oilseeds, and cotton.

11

East Coast Plains and Hills Region

Coastal regions of Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu

Semi-arid to dry sub-humid climate with hot summers and moderate to high rainfall during monsoons. The region is prone to cyclones.

1,000–1,500

Rice, millets, pulses, and oilseeds.

12

West Coast Plains and Ghats Region

Coastal regions of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala

Humid climate with heavy rainfall, especially during the monsoon season. The region has lateritic and alluvial soils.

2,000–3,000

Rice, coconut, cashew, and spices.

13

Gujarat Plains and Hills Region

Gujarat

Semi-arid to arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. The region has diverse soils, including black cotton soil.

500–1,000

Cotton, groundnut, millets, and pulses.

14

Western Dry Region

Western Rajasthan

Arid climate with extreme temperatures and very low rainfall. The region has sandy soils and is prone to droughts.

<500

Millets, pulses, and drought-resistant crops.

15

Island Region

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep

Humid tropical climate with heavy rainfall and warm temperatures year-round. The region has sandy and loamy soils.

2,500–3,500

Coconut, rice, and tropical fruits.

 

 

Agro-Ecological Zones of India

AEZ No.

Agro-Ecological Zone Name

States/Regions Covered

Climate Characteristics

Soil Types

Predominant Crops

1

Western Himalayas

Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand

Cold arid to warm sub-humid; rainfall varies from <150 mm to 2000 mm

Shallow to deep soils

Wheat, Maize, Paddy, Potato

2

Western Plain, Kutch & Part of Kathiawar Peninsula

Western Rajasthan, Southwest Haryana, parts of Gujarat

Hot arid; rainfall 100–500 mm; high PET

Desert soils, saline/alkaline soils

Bajra, Gram, Wheat, Mustard

3

Deccan Plateau, Hot Arid Region

Parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka

Hot arid; rainfall 400–500 mm; high PET

Red and black soils

Jowar, Bajra, Pulses

4

Northern Plain and Central Highlands, Hot Semi-Arid Region

Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Eastern Rajasthan, Western Uttar Pradesh, Northern Madhya Pradesh

Hot semi-arid; rainfall 500–1000 mm; moderate PET

Alluvial soils, sandy loam

Wheat, Rice, Sugarcane, Cotton

5

Central Highlands, Hot Semi-Arid Region

Eastern Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat

Hot semi-arid; rainfall 600–900 mm; moderate PET

Medium deep black soils

Soybean, Wheat, Sorghum

6

Deccan Plateau, Hot Semi-Arid Region

Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana

Hot semi-arid; rainfall 600–1000 mm; moderate PET

Shallow to medium black soils

Cotton, Jowar, Bajra, Pulses

7

Deccan Plateau, Hot Moist Semi-Arid Region

Parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu

Hot moist semi-arid; rainfall 700–1100 mm; moderate PET

Red and black soils

Rice, Groundnut, Millets

8

Eastern Ghats, Tamil Nadu Uplands, Hot Moist Semi-Arid Region

Tamil Nadu, parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

Hot moist semi-arid; rainfall 800–1200 mm; moderate PET

Red loamy soils

Rice, Ragi, Groundnut

9

Northern Plain, Hot Sub-Humid Region

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar

Hot sub-humid; rainfall 1000–1200 mm; moderate PET

Alluvial soils

Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane

10

Central Highlands, Malwa and Bundelkhand, Hot Sub-Humid Region

Madhya Pradesh, parts of Uttar Pradesh

Hot sub-humid; rainfall 1000–1200 mm; moderate PET

Medium and deep black soils

Soybean, Wheat, Chickpea

11

Eastern Plateau, Chhattisgarh, Hot Sub-Humid Region

Chhattisgarh, parts of Odisha, Maharashtra

Hot sub-humid; rainfall 1200–1600 mm; moderate PET

Red and yellow soils

Rice, Maize, Pulses

12

Eastern Plateau, Chotanagpur, Hot Sub-Humid Region

Jharkhand, parts of West Bengal, Odisha

Hot sub-humid; rainfall 1100–1500 mm; moderate PET

Red loamy soils

Rice, Maize, Pulses

13

Eastern Plain, Hot Sub-Humid Region

Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar

Hot sub-humid; rainfall 1200–1400 mm; moderate PET

Alluvial soils

Rice, Wheat, Sugarcane

14

Western Himalayas, Warm Sub-Humid Region

Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand

Warm sub-humid; rainfall 1600–2000 mm; exceeds PET

Brown forest and podzolic soils

Wheat, Maize, Barley

15

Assam and Bengal Plains, Hot Humid Region

Assam, West Bengal

Hot humid; rainfall 1400–2000 mm; high humidity

Alluvial soils

Rice, Jute, Tea

16

Eastern Himalayas, Warm Humid Region

Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, parts of Assam and West Bengal

Warm humid; rainfall >2000 mm; occurs throughout the year

Brown hill soils

Rice, Maize, Millet

17

North-Eastern Hills, Purvanchal, Warm Humid Region

Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya

Warm humid; rainfall 1600–2600 mm; exceeds PET

Red and lateritic soils

Rice, Maize, Pulses

18

Eastern Coastal Plain, Hot Sub-Humid Region

Coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha

Hot sub-humid; rainfall 1000–1600 mm; moderate PET

Alluvial and coastal sandy soils

Rice, Groundnut, Coconut

19

Western Ghats and Coastal Plain, Hot Humid Region

Western coastal regions of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala

Hot humid; rainfall >2000 mm; high humidity

Red laterite and alluvial soils

Rice, Coconut, Spices

20

Islands of Andaman, Nicobar, and Lakshadweep, Hot Humid Region

Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep

Hot humid; rainfall 1600–3000 mm; occurs throughout the year

Red loam to sandy loam soils

Coconut, Arecanut, Tropical Fruits

 

 

error: Content is protected !!