Till 10,000 B.C.E. people were nomadic. They were wandering in groups from place to place in search of food and shelter. They ate raw fruits and vegetables and started hunting animals for food. Later, they could cultivate land and produce rice, wheat and other food crops. Thus, was born ‘Agriculture’. When plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it is called a crop. For example, a crop of wheat means that all the plants grown in a field are that of wheat.

You already know that crops are of different types like cereals, vegetables, and fruits. These can be classified on the basis of the season in which they grow. India is a vast country. The climatic conditions like temperature, humidity, and rainfall vary from one region to another. Accordingly, there is a rich variety of crops grown in different parts of the country. Despite this diversity, two broad cropping patterns can be identified: (i) Kharif Crops: The crops which are sown in the rainy season are called kharif crops. The rainy season in India is generally from June to September. Paddy, maize, soyabean, groundnut and cotton are kharif crops. (ii) Rabi Crops: The crops grown in the winter season (October to March) are called rabi crops. Examples of rabi crops are wheat, gram, pea, mustard, and linseed.

The basic practices of crop production are listed below: (i) Preparation of soil (ii) Sowing (iii) Adding manure and fertilizers (iv) Irrigation (v) Protecting from weeds (vi) Harvesting (vii) Storage.

The preparation of soil is the first step before growing a crop. One of the most important tasks in agriculture is to turn the soil and loosen it. This allows the roots to penetrate deep into the soil and breathe easily.

Soil contains minerals, water, air and some living organisms. Dead plants and animals get decomposed by these organisms, releasing various nutrients back into the soil, which are then absorbed by plants. Thus, turning and loosening of soil is very important for cultivation of crops.

Before sowing the seeds, it is necessary to break soil clumps to get better yield. This is done with the help of various tools. The main tools used for this purpose are the plough, hoe, and cultivator.

Sowing is an important part of crop production. Before sowing, good quality, clean and healthy seeds of a good variety are selected. Farmers prefer to use seeds which give high yield.

The substances which are added to the soil in the form of nutrients for the healthy growth of plants are called manure and fertilizers. They're essential for the growth of plants.

All living beings need water to live. Water is important for proper growth and development. The supply of water to crops at regular intervals is called irrigation.

In a field, many other undesirable plants may grow naturally along with the crop. These undesirable plants are called weeds. The removal of weeds is called weeding. Weeding is necessary since weeds compete with the crop plants for water, nutrients, space, and light.

Harvesting of a crop is an important task. The cutting of crop after it is mature is called harvesting. In harvesting, crops are pulled out or cut close to the ground. It usually takes 3 to 4 months for a cereal crop to mature.

Storage of produce is an important task. If the harvested grains are to be kept for a longer time, they should be safe from moisture, insects, rats, and microorganisms.