Food is essential for all living organisms, providing necessary nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals for growth, development, and health. Major sources of food include both plants and animals, predominantly obtained through agriculture and animal husbandry. Here’s a summary of the key points discussed in this chapter:

Importance of Food Production

1. Growing Population:
   • India has a population exceeding one billion and is still growing.
   • To meet the food demand of this growing population, India will require more than 250 million tonnes of grain annually.
2. Limited Land for Cultivation:
   • Most agricultural land in India is already under intensive cultivation, leaving little opportunity to expand the area for farming.
   • Therefore, enhancing production efficiency for crops and livestock is crucial.
3. Past Achievements:
   • The Green Revolution: Increased food-grain production through advanced agricultural techniques.
   • The White Revolution: Improved milk production and distribution, enhancing the availability and efficiency of dairy resources.

• Intensive use of natural resources for food production can lead to environmental degradation and disrupt ecological balance.
• Sustainable practices in agriculture and animal husbandry are necessary to ensure that food production does not harm the environment.

• Increasing grain production alone will not address issues of malnutrition and hunger; people must also have the financial means to purchase food.
• Food Security relies on both the availability and access to food.
• Many people depend on agriculture for their livelihood, so enhancing the income of agricultural workers is vital to combat hunger.

1. Scientific Management:
   • Implementing modern agricultural practices to achieve high yields.
2. Diverse Farming Practices:
   • Engaging in mixed farming, intercropping, and integrated farming practices (combining agriculture with livestock, poultry, fisheries, and beekeeping) can lead to better resource utilization and income stability.

Types of Crops:

• Cereals: Provide carbohydrates for energy (e.g., wheat, rice, maize, millets, sorghum).
• Pulses: Provide protein (e.g., gram, pea, black gram, green gram, pigeon pea, lentil).
• Oilseeds: Provide necessary fats (e.g., soybean, groundnut, sesame, castor, mustard, linseed, sunflower).
• Vegetables, Spices, and Fruits: Supply vitamins and minerals, along with small amounts of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
• Fodder Crops: Raised as food for livestock (e.g., berseem, oats, Sudan grass).

• Different crops require specific climatic conditions, temperature, and photoperiods (duration of sunlight).
• Kharif Crops (June to October): Paddy, soybean, pigeon pea, maize, cotton, green gram, black gram.
• Rabi Crops (November to April): Wheat, gram, peas, mustard, linseed.

• From 1952 to 2010, food grain production in India increased fourfold with only a 25% increase in cultivable land area.

1. Choice of Seeds for Planting: Selecting high-yield and disease-resistant varieties.
2. Nurturing the Crop Plants: Providing adequate water, nutrients, and care during the growth period.
3. Protection Management: Safeguarding crops from pests, diseases, and environmental factors.

• Crop variety improvement
• Crop production improvement
• Crop protection management

Objective: The goal of crop variety improvement is to identify and develop crop varieties that yield high production under varying conditions.

Methods of Improvement:

1. Hybridization:
   • Involves crossing genetically dissimilar plants.
   • Types of hybridization:
     • Intervarietal: Between different varieties of the same species.
     • Interspecific: Between different species within the same genus.
     • Intergeneric: Between different genera.
2. Genetic Modification:
   • Involves introducing specific genes to impart desired characteristics, resulting in genetically modified crops.

• High yield potential across diverse agricultural conditions.
• Availability of uniform, high-quality seeds that germinate consistently.

• Weather Conditions: Drought and flood resilience are essential.
• Soil Quality: Varieties that can tolerate high soil salinity and other soil conditions.
• Water Availability: Effective water management strategies.

1. Higher Yield: Increase productivity per acre.
2. Improved Quality:
   • Quality requirements vary by crop (e.g., baking quality in wheat, protein quality in pulses).
3. Biotic and Abiotic Resistance:
   • Biotic Stressors: Diseases, insects, and nematodes.
   • Abiotic Stressors: Drought, salinity, waterlogging, temperature extremes.
4. Change in Maturity Duration:
   • Shorter growth cycles allow multiple crop cycles per year, reducing production costs and losses during harvesting.
5. Wider Adaptability:
   • Developing varieties that perform well in various environmental conditions.
6. Desirable Agronomic Characteristics:
   • Examples include:
     • Tallness and Branching: Preferred for fodder crops.
     • Dwarfness: Desired in cereals to optimize nutrient usage.

Importance of Nutrients:

• Like humans, plants require nutrients for their growth and overall well-being.
• Nutrients are provided to plants through air, water, and soil.

• Air Supplies: Carbon, oxygen
• Water Supplies: Hydrogen, oxygen
• Soil Supplies:
  • Macronutrients (required in large quantities):
    • Nitrogen
    • Phosphorus
    • Potassium
    • Calcium
    • Magnesium
    • Sulfur
  • Micronutrients (used in small quantities):
    • Iron
    • Manganese
    • Boron
    • Zinc
    • Copper
    • Molybdenum
    • Chlorine

• A deficiency of these nutrients can negatively affect physiological processes in plants, including reproduction, growth, and disease resistance.

• Soil can be enriched by adding nutrients through manure and fertilizers.

Manure

• Definition: Organic matter that enriches the soil and supplies small quantities of nutrients.
• Preparation: Made from the decomposition of animal excreta and plant waste.
• Benefits:
  • Increases soil fertility and organic matter.
  • Improves soil structure, enhancing water retention in sandy soils and drainage in clayey soils.
  • Environmentally friendly as it recycles biological waste material.

1. Compost and Vermicompost:
   • Composting involves decomposing farm waste (e.g., livestock excreta, vegetable waste, straw).
   • Vermicomposting uses earthworms to speed up decomposition, resulting in nutrient-rich compost.
2. Green Manure:
   • Certain plants (e.g., sun hemp, guar) are grown before sowing crops and then ploughed into the soil, enriching it with nitrogen and phosphorus.

Fertilizers

• Definition: Commercially produced plant nutrients.
• Main Nutrients Supplied: Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.
• Purpose: Promote healthy vegetative growth, contributing to higher yields in intensive farming.

• Careful application regarding proper dosage, timing, and precautions is essential for effective utilization.
• Over-application can lead to nutrient washout and water pollution, damaging soil fertility and harming soil microorganisms.

• Short-term benefits of fertilizers should be weighed against the long-term advantages of manure in maintaining soil health.

Organic Farming

• Definition: A farming system that minimizes or eliminates chemical fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides while maximizing organic inputs.
• Practices:
  • Use of organic manures and recycled farm wastes.
  • Employment of bio-agents (e.g., blue-green algae) and natural pesticides (e.g., neem leaves, turmeric) in grain storage.
• Cropping Systems:
  • Incorporates mixed cropping, intercropping, and crop rotation to enhance pest control and provide necessary nutrients to the soil.

Importance of Irrigation:

• Most agriculture in India relies on rain-fed systems, where crop success depends on timely and adequate rainfall during the growing season.
• Poor monsoons can lead to crop failures.
• Proper irrigation ensures crops receive water at critical growth stages, thereby increasing yields.

Droughts

• Droughts result from insufficient or irregular rainfall, posing a significant threat to rain-fed farming.
• Light soils, which have low water retention capacity, are particularly vulnerable to drought.
• Scientists have developed drought-resistant crop varieties to mitigate these challenges.

Types of Irrigation Systems

India has diverse water resources and climates, leading to the adoption of various irrigation systems based on available resources:

1. Wells:
   • Dug Wells: Water is collected from shallow water-bearing strata.
   • Tube Wells: Tap into deeper water strata; water is lifted by pumps for irrigation.
2. Canals:
   • An extensive irrigation network receiving water from reservoirs or rivers.
   • Main canals branch into distributaries to irrigate fields effectively.
3. River Lift Systems:
   • Utilized in areas where canal flow is inadequate.
   • Water is drawn directly from rivers for irrigation near riverbanks.
4. Tanks:
   • Small storage reservoirs that capture and store runoff from smaller catchment areas.
   • Tanks help in managing water resources for irrigation.

• Rainwater Harvesting: Capturing and storing rainwater for agricultural use.
• Watershed Management: Building small check-dams to increase groundwater levels, prevent runoff, and reduce soil erosion.

Field crops face threats from weeds, insect pests, and diseases. Effective management is essential to prevent significant losses.

Weeds:

• Weeds are unwanted plants that compete with crops for nutrients, light, and space (e.g., Xanthium, Parthenium, Cyperinus rotundus).
• Early removal of weeds during crop growth is crucial for achieving a good harvest.

• Insects can damage crops in three ways:
  1. Cutting the root, stem, and leaves.
  2. Sucking cell sap from various plant parts.
  3. Boring into stems and fruits.
• These actions harm crop health and reduce yields.

• Caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, which can spread through soil, water, and air.

• Pesticides: Include herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to treat crops and soil. However, excessive use can harm non-target species and lead to environmental pollution.
• Mechanical Removal: Weeds can be controlled through manual or mechanical means.
• Preventive Methods:
  • Proper seed bed preparation.
  • Timely sowing of crops.
  • Intercropping and crop rotation to manage weeds and pests.
  • Use of resistant varieties.
  • Summer ploughing to destroy weeds and pests.

Objective: Visit a nearby garden or agricultural field to observe and document the types of weeds, flowers, and crops, as well as any insect pests present.

Instructions:

1. Visit the Location:
   • Choose a nearby garden or agricultural field for observation.
2. Observe and Document:
   • Weeds:
     • Make a list of the various weeds you find in the area.
   • Flowers/Crops:
     • Identify and list the different flowers and crops present in the garden or field.
   • Insect Pests:
     • Look for any insect pests infesting the flowers or crops. Note their appearance and behavior.

1. Reflection:
   • After completing your observations, reflect on the role of weeds and pests in agriculture and how they can affect crop yield and health.
2. Discussion:
   • Share your findings with your classmates or teacher, discussing any challenges faced during the observation and the importance of managing weeds and pests in agriculture.

Overview: Storage losses in agricultural produce can be substantial due to various factors:

1. Biotic Factors:
   • Insects
   • Rodents
   • Fungi
   • Mites
   • Bacteria
2. Abiotic Factors:
   • Inappropriate moisture levels
   • Improper temperatures

• Degradation in quality
• Loss in weight
• Poor germinability
• Discoloration of produce

Preventive and Control Measures: To mitigate storage losses, several practices can be implemented:

• Strict Cleaning: Ensure thorough cleaning of the produce before storage.
• Proper Drying: Dry the produce first in sunlight and then in shade to reduce moisture content.
• Fumigation: Use chemical treatments to kill pests before storage.

Activity 12.2

Objective: Collect grains/seeds of cereals, pulses, and oilseeds while gathering information about their sowing and harvesting seasons.

Instructions:

1. Collect Samples:
   • Gather grains or seeds from different categories:
     • Cereals: (e.g., rice, wheat, maize)
     • Pulses: (e.g., lentils, chickpeas, beans)
     • Oilseeds: (e.g., mustard, sunflower, soybean)
2. Research:
   • For each type of grain/seed collected, find out:
     • The season in which it is typically sown.
     • The season in which it is harvested.

Animal Husbandry

Definition: Animal husbandry refers to the scientific management of livestock, which includes:

• Feeding
• Breeding
• Disease control

• As the population and living standards increase, there is a rising demand for animal products such as milk, eggs, and meat.
• Awareness regarding humane treatment of livestock has led to new limitations in livestock farming practices.
• Improving livestock production is essential to meet the growing demands sustainably.

Overview: Cattle farming serves two primary purposes:

1. Milk Production: Cows and buffaloes raised for their milk.
2. Draught Labour: Cattle used for agricultural tasks such as tilling, irrigation, and carting.

• Bos indicus: Indian cows.
• Bos bubalis: Buffaloes.

• Milch Animals: Female cattle raised for milk production.
• Draught Animals: Cattle used for labor.

• Dependent on the lactation period, which is the time during which a female produces milk after giving birth to a calf.
• Increasing Lactation Period: Extending the lactation period can enhance milk production.
• Breeds:
  • Exotic Breeds: Jersey, Brown Swiss (selected for long lactation periods).
  • Local Breeds: Red Sindhi, Sahiwal (known for disease resistance).
  • Cross-breeding: Combining local and exotic breeds to produce cattle with desirable traits.

Objective: Visit a livestock farm and observe the following:

1. Number of Cattle: Count the total number of cattle and identify different breeds.
2. Daily Milk Production: Record the amount of milk produced daily by each breed.

Cattle Care and Management

Shelter and Hygiene:

• Cattle require proper cleaning and shelter for humane farming and health.
• Regular brushing is necessary to remove dirt and loose hair.
• Shelters should be:
  • Well-ventilated
  • Roofed to protect from rain, heat, and cold
  • With sloping floors to stay dry and facilitate cleaning

• Maintenance Requirement: Food necessary for overall health.
• Milk Producing Requirement: Additional food needed during lactation.

1. Roughage: High in fiber (e.g., hay, silage).
2. Concentrates: Low in fiber, high in proteins and nutrients.

• Cattle should receive balanced rations containing all essential nutrients in appropriate proportions.
• Feed Additives: Certain additives with micronutrients enhance health and milk production.

Diseases in Cattle

Health Monitoring:

• Healthy cattle have a regular feeding routine and normal posture.
• Cattle are susceptible to various diseases that can reduce milk production or cause death.

• External Parasites: Live on the skin, causing skin diseases.
• Internal Parasites: Such as worms (affecting the stomach and intestines) and flukes (damaging the liver).

• Caused by bacteria and viruses.
• Vaccinations are administered to protect farm animals against major viral and bacterial diseases.

12.2.3 - Fish Production

Overview: Fish is an affordable source of animal protein and includes both finned fish and shellfish (e.g., prawns and mollusks). There are two primary methods of obtaining fish:

1. Capture Fishing: Harvesting fish from natural resources.
2. Culture Fishery: Farming fish in controlled environments.

12.2.3 (i) Marine Fisheries

Resources: India has extensive marine fishery resources, with a coastline of 7,500 km and access to deep seas.

Popular Varieties: Common marine fish include:

• Pomfret
• Mackerel
• Tuna
• Sardines
• Bombay duck

Aquaculture: Certain high-value marine fish, such as:

• Finned fish (e.g., mullets, bhetki, pearl spots)
• Shellfish (e.g., prawns, mussels, oysters)
• Seaweed

12.2.3 (ii) Inland Fisheries

Freshwater Resources: Inland fish production occurs in:

• Canals
• Ponds
• Reservoirs
• Rivers
• Brackish water bodies (e.g., estuaries, lagoons)