Coffee
India is a vital agricultural country, with agriculture playing a significant role in not only providing food but also raw materials for various industries. Notably, the agricultural sector exports products like tea, coffee, and spices.
Types of Farming
Over time, farming practices have evolved in India. These practices can be categorized as:
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Primitive Subsistence Farming: Characterized by small scale and minimal tools, this farming relies heavily on monsoon and soil fertility, often practicing shifting cultivation. Examples include ‘jhumming’ in the northeast and names like ‘Bewar’ and ‘Podu’ in different regions.
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Intensive Subsistence Farming: Practiced in densely populated areas, this type uses labor-intensive methods with high doses of biochemical inputs, significantly exerting pressure on land resources.
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Commercial Farming: Involves large-scale cultivation with modern inputs and includes plantations that grow single crops extensively for industrial use. Prominent plantation crops include coffee, tea, and rubber, essential to India's agrarian economy.
Coffee Production
Coffee is a significant beverage crop in India, primarily cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. The Arabica variety is especially prized, revealing the importance of climatic conditions and the economic impact of coffee farming on local communities.