Agricultural regionalization refers to the classification of geographical areas into distinct agricultural regions based on similarities in climate, soil, topography, cropping patterns, irrigation methods, and farming practices. In the context of India’s vast geographical diversity, agricultural regionalization is a crucial tool for understanding regional disparities, planning crop strategies, and formulating location-specific agricultural policies.
Given the wide variations in rainfall, temperature, soil types, and relief features, agriculture in India is not uniform. Regionalization helps in identifying zones best suited for specific types of crops, farming systems, and technological interventions.
Table of Contents
Need for Agricultural Regionalization in India
- India has diverse agro-climatic conditions ranging from arid deserts to humid tropics, necessitating different approaches to agriculture.
- Agricultural regionalization facilitates efficient resource allocation and scientific land use planning.
- It enables region-specific cropping patterns, improving productivity and sustainability.
- Helps address regional disparities in agricultural development.
Factors Affecting Agricultural Regionalization
- Climate – Temperature, rainfall, and length of growing season.
- Soil Type – Fertility, texture, drainage, and pH levels.
- Topography – Plains, plateaus, and hill areas affect the type of agriculture.
- Water Availability – Irrigated vs. rainfed regions.
- Cropping Pattern – Types of crops grown, seasonality, and intensity.
- Farming Practices – Traditional, commercial, subsistence, or mixed farming.
- Socio-economic Factors – Landholding size, mechanization, and access to markets.
Major Agricultural Regions of India
Different scholars have given classifications of agricultural regions. One of the most accepted classifications is by Planning Commission and ICAR based on Agro-Climatic Zones. However, a general regionalization may include:
1. North-Western Wheat Region
- States: Punjab, Haryana, Western Uttar Pradesh
- Crops: Wheat, rice (in irrigated zones), sugarcane
- Features: Mechanized farming, high irrigation, Green Revolution impact
2. Eastern Rice Region
- States: West Bengal, Odisha, Bihar, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Assam
- Crops: Rice, jute, pulses
- Features: High rainfall, fertile alluvial soil, intensive agriculture
3. Western Dry Region
- States: Rajasthan (Thar Desert)
- Crops: Bajra (pearl millet), pulses, oilseeds
- Features: Arid climate, sandy soil, dependence on monsoon
4. Central Cotton Region
- States: Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat
- Crops: Cotton, jowar, pulses, oilseeds
- Features: Black soil (regur), medium rainfall, drought-prone areas
5. Southern Mixed Crop Region
- States: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
- Crops: Millets, pulses, cotton, oilseeds, rice (in deltaic regions)
- Features: Varied rainfall, diverse soils, both dry and irrigated farming
6. Hill and Plantation Region
- States: Kerala, Tamil Nadu (Western Ghats), North-East states
- Crops: Tea, coffee, spices, rubber
- Features: Hilly terrain, laterite soils, plantation-based economy
7. North-Eastern Hilly Region
- States: Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, etc.
- Crops: Rice, maize, vegetables, fruits
- Features: Jhum (shifting) cultivation, high rainfall, forest cover
Advantages of Agricultural Regionalization
- Promotes scientific crop planning and zonal specialization
- Enhances input-use efficiency (fertilizers, irrigation, seeds)
- Helps in disaster management (droughts, floods, crop failure)
- Encourages balanced regional development
- Aids in formulating agro-climatic zone-based policies
Challenges
- Changing climate patterns disturb established zones
- Monsoon dependency in rainfed areas
- Soil degradation and resource overuse in intensive regions
- Regional imbalances due to uneven implementation of policies
Government Initiatives
To address regional agricultural diversity, the government has initiated:
- Agro-Climatic Planning and Development (ACPD) program
- National Agricultural Research System (NARS) for regional research
- Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and Soil Health Card Scheme
- Mission on Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for region-specific crops
Conclusion
Agricultural regionalization is fundamental to understanding the spatial variations in India’s farming systems and addressing region-specific challenges. It enables the government and farmers to adopt location-specific crops, technologies, and resource management practices. As India moves towards climate-resilient agriculture, strengthening the scientific basis of agricultural regionalization is more important than ever for sustainable and inclusive rural development.