Harvesting Season

There are three main crop seasons, namely, kharif, rabi and summer. Major kharif crops are rice, jowar, bajra, maize, cotton, sugarcane, soyabean and groundnut. Major rabi crops are wheat, barley, gram, linseed, rapeseed and mustard. Rice, maize and groundnut are grown in summer season also.

Land Utilisation

Land utilisation statistics are available for 93.1 per cent of total geographical area of 3,287.3 lakh hectares. According to Land Use Statistics available from States, area under forest had increased from 404.8 lakh hectares in 1950-51 to 694.1 lakh hectares in 2000-2001. Net sown area increased from 1,187.5 lakh hectares to 1411.0 lakh hectares during the same period. Broad cropping pattern indicates that though foodgrains have a preponderance in gross cropped area as compared to non-foodgrains, their relative share came down from 76.7 per cent during 1950-51 to 65 per cent during 2000-2001. According to the Agriculture Census, the area operated by large holdings (10 hectares and above) has declined to 14.8 per cent in 1995-96 compared to 17.3 per cent in 1990-91. Similarly, the area operated under marginal holdings (less than one hectare) has increased to 17.2 per cent in 1995-96 from 15.0 per cent in 1990-91. This indicates that land is getting fragmented.

Technology Mission on Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize

The Technology Mission on Oilseeds was launched by the Central Government in 1986 to increase the production of oilseeds to reduce import and achieve self-sufficiency in edible oils. Subsequently, pulses, oil palm and maize were also brought within the purview of the Mission in 1990-91, 1992 and 1995-96 respectively. In addition, the National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development (NOVOD) Board is also supplementing the efforts of Technology Mission on Oilseeds, Pulses and Maize (TMOP) by opening of newer areas for non-traditional oilseeds. It is promoting tree-borne oilseeds.

• Oilseeds Production Programme (OPP);
• National Pulses Development Project (NPDP);
• Accelerated Maize Development Programme (AMDP);
• Post Harvest Technology (PHT);
• Oil Palm Development Programme (OPDP); and
• National Oilseeds and Vegetable Oils Development Board (NOVOD).

During the Tenth Plan, these schemes have been restructured as :

• Integrated Scheme of Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize (ISOPOM) by converging the ongoing schemes of OPP, NPDP, AMDP and OPDP;
• Research and Development in Post Harvest and Processing Technology (PHT) in Oilseeds, Pulses, Oil Palm and Maize including TMOP headquarters; and
• Integrated Development of Tree-borne Oilseeds to be implemented by NOVOD Board.