During the colonization of India is gradually more and more turned into an agrarian country.In the post-independence India and agriculture continues to play a vital role in the economy.The share of the agricultural population of more than 70%.Of these, 40% are land-poor and landless peasants and agricultural workers apart from them.Indian agriculture has basically plant growing despite the fact that the country has the world's largest livestock population.Cattle 230 million heads of sheep and goats 120 million.
But the role of livestock in India quite unusual.First of all cattle in the country is used as the main labor force in manufacturing.Cows and buffaloes used to plow and harvest works, freight and irrigation fields.Working cattle here is the greatest asset the peasant, it is fed and well cared for him.After the cattle is old, it does not clog, so the fields and country roads filled, impeding traffic, while remaining inviolable and 'sacred' animals.Meat and milk in India consume very little.Meat from the fact that the bulk of the population is vegetarian and milk consumed only by adding it in tea.Products of animal origin used in the country in very small quantities.The year is only 42 liters of milk, 1.5 kg of meat and 3 eggs per capita.These products use only the wealthy population, which in India is a thin layer in the bulk.Just like in India, agriculture Indonesia and other countries in South Asia, very little attention paid to livestock.
From animal products India exports only the skin, bones, skin and hair.Also widely used in the country of manure, which is not only the main type of fertilizer for farms, but also the primary fuel.Despite the fact that the country's climate allows for year-round cultivation, where almost rarely collect more than one crop.More than 85% of the acreage occupied by food crops.Valley of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, and coastal lowlands are one of the great parts of the world's rice belt, which further extends into China and Southeast Asia.In the northwestern area of agriculture, India is the country's wheat area.
Wheat is grown in irrigated fields in the winter season.In slabooroshaemyh and arid areas grown drought-resistant crops: sorghum, ragi, Bajram and various minor millet.Distributed also widely different kinds of peas, beans and other legumes.But, despite this, the agricultural production of the country does not provide a full population with food and, therefore, often has to import large quantities of grain.For most people in the country's main and only source of fat serve as oilseeds.They cultivated throughout India, but demand for them is much greater and India have to buy oil abroad.
Agriculture India is the world's largest producer of sugar cane.The main zone of the country for the production of sugar - a valley of the Ganges.In addition, India is one of the leading world powers on the cultivation of cotton.The country is also the largest producer of tea in the world.It grows about one-third of total world tea picking.Traditionally, an important article of Indian export - export of a variety of herbs and spices.The most important of them - black pepper.Second place in the world, India is to collect bananas.From other fruits important place is given to mango - is the Indian "queen" of fruit.
