AGRICULTURE

Distribution of Crops
Cereals (Rice, Wheat, Maize, Barley, Oats)
RICE (Oriza Sativa)
Conditions Distributions
Humid and moist conditions, fields should be China (Double Cropping) - Chang Jiang
submerged in water during growing period (Yangtze), Xi River (Si Kiang), Sichuan
drained dry before the crop is harvested. (Szechwan)
Temperature: 20°C to 27°C India - Punjab, West Bengal, Northeastern part.
Rainfall:80" to 120" Bangladesh - Ganga Delta.
Labour: Intensive Japan - North Honshu.
Indonesia, Taiwan, Malaysia, Korea.
Brazil
U.S.A. - Louisiana, California, Texas,
South Carolina.
Africa - Egypt (Nile Delta and Valley).
Europe - North Italian Plain, Ebro Basin of
Spain, Rhone Delta of France and some regions
in Balkans: Russia.
WHEAT
Conditions Distributions
Warm and moist during early stages of China
growth and sunny and dry during later stages USA -White wheat- California, Washington,
and harvest. Oregon, Idaho:
Temperature: 15° C, 100 frost-free days Hard red spring wheat - North and South
Rainfall: 15 to 40" Dakota, Montana and Minnesota:
Soils: Light or heavy loam. (Best suited Hard red winter wheat - Nebraska, Kansas,
chernozem or black soil) Soft red winter wheat- Illinois, Indiana, Ohio,
Labour: Large scale where manual Pennsylvania.
cultivation is done. Canada- Prairie provinces- Saskatchewan,
Topography: Undulating temperate Alberta, Manitoba.
grasslands. Australia- Murray Darling River Basin,
Characteristics: Swanland Western Australia.
• Most important and most valuable of all Europe - France (Paris Basin), Turkey,
cereals Germany
Italy (Lombardy Plain), Romania
• Concentrated mainly in the mid- latitude
(Lower Danube Basin), Hungary (Pustaz),
grass and regions of temperate zone.
Sweden (Scania ), U. K. (East Anglia).
Winter wheat: Sown in late autumn of
CIS- Spring wheat - Kazakstan, W, Siberia,
early winter and harvested in early winter
Urals, Volga region.
and harvested in early summer. Spring
Ukraine - Winter Wheat
Wheat: Sown in spring and harvested in
Argentina - Wheat Crescent of the Pampas.
late summer and the late autumn.
(Rosario to Bahia Blanca).
Hard Wheat: low moisture content best
New Zealand - Canterbury Plain, South Island.
suited for bread making.
India - Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar
Soft Wheat: higher moisture content more
Pradesh.
suited for making bakeries.
MAIZE
(Zea maize ) - Dent corn (Widely grown), Flint Corn (Hard), Sweet Corn (Contains
Sugar), Pop Corn (Human consumption), Flour corn, Waxy Corn (for making adhesives),
Pod Corn (Rarely Grown).
Condition Characteristics Distribution
Temperature: 18° to • Known as Indian corn USA - Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
27°C during the day which originated in Iowa, Minnesota.
and 14°C during the night. America China - S. Manchuria to
140 frost-free days North
• Animal feed: World's
Annual Rainfall: 63.5 Brazil - S. E. Brazil - Minas
70-90% corn
to 114.5 and 25 to 45 inches. Gerais, Sao Paulo, Rio
production.
Soil: Nitrogen rich soil, well Grande, Pasara.
drained • Corn belt of USA is a Europe - France, Romania,
Temperate: Podzols highly developed mixed Italy. S. Africa - Maize
Tropics: Red Soils farming region. Triangle of Southern
Topography: Undulating Transvaal and Orange Free
lowlands with well-drained State.
plains Mexico
 OATS (Avena Sativa)
Cool Humid climate, less • Hardiest of all cereals CIS
resistant to cold or heat than North America
• Spring sown crop.
either wheat or barley U.S.A. -Iowa, Minnesota,
Soils: Can survive in very Wisconsin and Illinois,
poor soils. Such as peaty soils. Canada
Europe - Germany, Poland-
around Baltic Sea, France,
Sweden Asia- China
TEA (Camellia spp.)
Conditions Distributions
Warm summer with greater frequency China (Green Ten)- Chang Jiang (Yangtze), Sichuan
of rainfall. basin.
Temperature: 130 to 240 C (Ideal- Taiwan (Oolong Tea) around Taizhou.
210C ) Sri Lanka (Black Tea).
Rainfall: 125 to 205 cm India (Black Tea) - Assam - Khasi Hills, Brahmaputra
Convert - 205 cm and Surma
Grown on highlands because Valleys, Darjeeling, Kerala – Nilgiris Hills and Western
Tea cannot tolerate stagnant water. Ghats.
Soils: Acidic soil without Calcium Japan Green Tea ) - Eastern Slopes of Japanese
and rich in Iron and Alps in Southern
Manganese. well-drained, deep and Slopes specially Shizuoka Prefecture
friable loam. Indonesia - Volcanic mountain of western Java,
Labour: Intensive because Northern High-lands of Sumatra.
mechanisation is not possible. Bangladesh (Black Tea) - Chittagong and Silhet.
It is believed to have origin- Malaysia (Black Tea)
ated in Yangtze valley of China. Kenya - Nairobi, Malavi, Mozambique, Uganda.
COFFEE
Conditions Characteristics Distribution
Temperature: 14°to 26°C • Arabica - Least hardy, South America
Growth rapid during finest Coffee for flavour, Brazil (Arabica)-Sao Paulo,
hot rainy season. most important in World Ribeirao Preto, Santos, Rio
Rainfall 40 to 80 - Trade de Janeiro.
Upland areas (2000ft. to
6000 ft.)
Shelter from direct
sunlight specially
for young plants. Soils: Sandy
loam to clay loam, well-
drained rich
in organic matter. Virgin soil,• Brazil - One of the
newly cleated forests
give best yield.
Terra Roxa of Brazil is
most Suitable.
Labour: Intensive
Mechanisation is not possible. • Fazendas: State farms of
COCOA (Theobroma Cacao) (Greek : Theobroma - The food of Gods)
Conditions
Climate: Equatorial climate
with high temperatures and
well- distributed rainfall.
It is sensitive to Prolonged
droughts.
It requires protection from
direct sunlight. Particularly
when plants are young.
Strong winds and storms
damage the crop.
Temperature: 23°C
Rainfall - 80-140".
Soils Loamy soils rich in iron
and potassium are also
suitable
Labour: Intensive
• Robusta - Poor quality, Columbia- Slopes of Andes,
disease resistant, survive Slopes of Andes, Medellin,
in arid conditions: Manizales and Tolima.
Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru.
• Liberica- sturdy and
Central American States-
disease resistant, moderate
Asia - Malaysia, Vietnam,
quality low land coffee.
Philippines.
India - Western Ghats.
important coffee's African Countries (Robusta
producer and Sao Paulo is and Liberica) - Kenya around
the coffee trade Nairobi, Uganda, Angola
• centre with Santos as (Arabic), Ivory Coast, Zaire
export port. and Cameroon.
Brazil.
Characteristics Distribution
• Native of tropical America Africa : Ghana - Accra,
and was found wild in the Kumasi Takoradi: Nigeria-
region of lowland Central Ibadan Ivory Coast:
Cameroun:
• America (from Panama to
South America: Brazil (Bahia,
Yucatan Peninsula) and
Espirito Santo), Ecuador
the river basins of
(Guayaquil), Venezuela, Peru,
Amazon and Orinicoo.
Columbia and the Island of
• Cacao criollo from Trinidad and Tobago.
tropical Central America: Costa Rica,
• America and Cacao Mexico, Haiti, Dominican
forastero from West Republic, and Caribbean
Africa and two major region- W. Indies.
varieties of Cacao. Asia: Malaysia (Sabah and
• Susceptible to many Peninsular region), Papua
diseases. e.g., Witches New Guinea.
 broom disease Swollen-
shoot disease. Manilla
disease
SUGARCANE (Saccharum Officinarum L.)
Conditions Characteristics Distribution
Climate : Hot climate • Perennial crop but not 1 Asia - India, Pakistan,
with abundant rainfall, produced for many years Taiwan China (Si-Kiang
dry sunny season during to maintain the fertility of Basin), S. E. Asia (Thailand),
harvest. soils. Philippines
Temperature -21° to 27°C (Island) of Panay, Negros.
• Grown as monoculture
throughout the year. Cebu, Luzon), Indonesia
crop Sugar mill must be
Rainfall- 50" (Eastern and Central Java)
near the field.
Soil: Well-drained, Malaysia. Latin America and
Medium heavy soil Red loamy Caribbean-Brazil, Cuba
soil, Limon or loess (Matanzas. east of Havana to
soil of northern Europe Holguin), Mexico Columbia,
and in India Black cotton Argentina, Peru, Ecuador,
soil is suitable. Dominican Republic, Puerto
Labour: Cheap and Rico. Jamaica, Barbados.
Numerous. Mechanisation U.S.A.
is often used throughout Louisiana, Hawaii.
in developed countries. Others- Mauritius, Fiji,
S. Africa (Natal).
GRAPES
Climate: Sunny summers and Mediterranean countries: Italy - Asti from the Piedmont
warm wet winters warm wet cantered at Turin; Chianti from the Arno and Tiber basins, and
winters are ideal for Marsala from the island of Sicily France - Champagne from
viticulture. Paris Basin; Burgundy and Beaujolais from the upper Rhone
Growing season 170 and Saone valleys; Cognac (brandy), Clarets and Sauternes
days, cannot stand very cold from the Basin of Aquitaine.
season, prolonged droughts Spain - Sherry from Jerez da le Frontera, near Cadiz and
are harmful and Malaga from port of Malaga: Valencia and Andalusia, and in
required plenty of sunshine. the river basins of the Ebro, Douro, Tagus, Guadiana and
Slopes are preferred Guadalquivir.
for good drainage. Portugal - port wine from Oporto and the Douro basin.
Temperature -21° to 0 Greece, Germany (Freiburg), Hungary (Tokay), Algeria,
24°C Britain U.S.A, California (San Joaquin Valley)
Rainfall - 30 or 40" South America - Chile (around Santiago) or Argentina
Soil: Fairly deep well- drained (Mendoza and San Juan).
Calcareous soil. Labour Africa Cape Province in South Africa.
Skilled patient Australia - South Australia (around Adelaide). Murray Darling
and numerous labour force. Basin of Victoria and New South Wales
Viticulture : Specialised type of agriculture for cultivation of grape vines
Different types of Wins
Dry Wines : Fully fermented wines
Sweet Wines: Partially fermented, not all the sugar converted into alcohol.
Sparkling Wine : Bottled after first fermented, and second fermentation takes place inside the
bottle gives the sparkling effect when the bottle is opened, e.g. Champagne, Asti,
Fortified Wines : Distilled grape juice (brandy) is added to stop further fermentation, e,g.
sherry
(Spain) and Port (Portugal)
Industrial Crops
TOBACCO (Genus-Nicotiana),(Varieties - Virginia tobacco, Turkish or Oriental tobacco,
Cigar tobacco)
Conditions Distributions
Climate: Warm temperate sub- China, U.S.A., India, Brazil, CIS,
tropical or tropical climate Turkey, Japan, Bulgaria, South
Temperature- >180 to 210 C Rainfall- Korea and Greece.
Moderate 20 to 40”
Cuba (Cigar Tobacco), Greece and Turkey (Turkish
Frost-free 120 to 180 days. Tobacco), Zimbabwe
Soil: Fertile soil with lime, potash, (Virginia Tobacco), Indonesia
and humus. (Special Tobacco)
Labour: Large and intensive labour.
RUBBER (Hevea Brasiliense’s) Native of Brazil)
Conditions Distributions
Climate: Require constant high Malaysia Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Sri
temperature and heavy rainfall-evenly Lanka,
distributed throughout the year. India, Liberia, Nigeria, Brazil.
Temperature -210 to 270 C
Rainfall- 80 to 100”.
Soil: Deep, friable, well- drained,
loamy soil. Alluvial soil is also
suitable.
Labour: Cheap, efficient and fairly
skillful labour.
COCONUT (Cocos Nucifera)
Conditions Distributions
Climate: High temperature and rainfall - Coconut- India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asian
evenly distributed throughout the year; Countries and the Pacific Island, West Africa and
Frost and low humidity adversely affect Tropical Latin America.
the crop; requires plenty sunshine. Copra- Commercial product of the coconut
Temperature- 270C which is used in the making of soap margarine,
Rainfall- 100-225 cm (40 to 90 inches.) cooking oil and candles. Philippines, Indonesia,
Soil: Well- drained soil, red loam, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New
laterite, Guinea, Mozambique, New Hebrides and Fiji.
alluvial and sandy soil. Long period
stagnant water is harmful.
Labour: Intensive
GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogea) (Native of Brazil)
Climate: Grown throughout the tropics India-Deccan region and Punjab.
and extended to the sub-tropical countries China- North China Plain.
between 450 N and 350 S and up to an Others- U.S.A., Sudan,
altitude of 1000 m. Senegal, Indonesia,
Temperature: Warm Temperature. Argentina, Myanmar,
Rainfall- (20 to 50 inches) 50 cm -125 Nigeria, Zaire, Brazil.
cm. Rainfall Distributed well during the
flowering and pegging of the crop.
Cannot stand frost, long and severe
drought or water stagnation.
Soil: Wide variety of soil- best yield on
sandy loam and loamy soil. Black
Labour: Intensive
SOYABEAN (Glycine max) (Leguminous crop)
Climate: Warm temperate to cool China - North China Plain and Manchuria.
temperate crop. U.S.A. - Corn Belt.
Temperature- 210 C South America- Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia,
Rainfall- 40’’ Japan,
Soil: Moisture-retentive soils are ideal. CIS
Labour: Extensive
TOBACCO (Genus-Nicotiana), (Varieties-Virginia tobacco, Turkish or Oriental tobacco,
Cigar tobacco)
Conditions Distributions
Climate: Warm temperate sub-tropical or China - U.S.A. India, Brazil, CIS, Turkey, Japan,
tropical climate Bulgaria, South Korea and Greece. Cuba (Cigar
Temperature-> 180 C to 210 C. Tobacco), Greece and Turkey (Turkish Tobacco),
Rainfall - Moderate 20 to 40” Zimbabwe (Virginia Tobacco), Indonesia
Frost-free 120 to 180 days.
Soil: Fertile soil with lime, potash, and
humus.
Labour: Large and intensive labour.
Industrial Fibres
COTTON (Four varieties of species Gossypium-G. hirsutism (most widely grown, middle
staple cotton)
Climate: Warm climate with moderate U.S.A. New England, Atlantic Coast and piedmont,
rainfall, plenty of sunshine during Tennessee Valley, Mississippi flood-plain Black
growing period but cooler condition Waxy CIS - Uzbekistan, West of Caspian Sea in
during harvest. Temperature- 21-27° C. Azerbaijan and Armenia.
200 frost-free days. Rainfall- Moderate to China - The great plain of northern China, along
light rainfall 20” to 40" Rain just berfore Hwang Ho, Wei He valleys; Szechwan and Yangtze
the harvest damages the crop. valley. India- Central and southern Deccan
Soil: Well-drained soil (cannot tolerate (Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra), Upper
water logging), black cotton soil (regur in Ganges valley. Pakistan- Valley of Indus, Punjab
India) and medium black soil; alluvial and Sindh.
soils when irrigated. Egypt, Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Columbia. Nicaragua
Labour: Large, cheap, and skilled labour
Force.