Agro -Climatic Zones

Agro Climatic zone is a land unit is terms of major climates suitable for a certain range of crops and cultivars

(FAO , 1983)

India was divided into 15 agro- climatic zones on the basis of water surplus, water deficit and cropping system

The classification is on the basis of :-

1) Growth period 

2) Rainfall/ potential evapotranspiration

3) Soil 

4) Districts

There are two components of ecological zones-

1) Biotic factors viz. Fauna and Flora

2) Abiotic factors viz. Water , minerals , light

At present India has been divided into 21 agro ecological zones- 

The detailed descriptions of 15 agro climatic zones are as follows

1) Western Himalayan Region:

Includes Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh & Hilly areas of U.P. climate is cool and humid 

Annual rainfall 1650 -2000 mm 

Important crops are wheat , maize , paddy and potato 

To develop this region:

1) Intensify the soil and water conservation planning

2) Land utility planning should be implemented viz. Agriculture for 30% sloppy land , Horticulture for 30-50 % slope , paddy for above 50% slope 

3) Good storage for transportation, marketing & processing

4) Irrigation management like water harvesting & processing

5) Livestock management

2) EASTERN HIMALAYAN REGION:

Sikkim  , hills of Darziling , Arunachal Pradesh, nagaland , Meghalaya , Manipur , Tripura , Mizoram , Assam , Jalpaiguri area of W.B. and some parts of Bihar

Climate - Humid and sub humid 

Rainfall - 1840- 3528 mm annual 

Main crops: Maize , Paddy , Jute , Rapeseed 

For the development of the region:

1) Soil and water conservation for each watershed 

2) Educate the people about the harmful effect of land erosion at panchayat level

3) Facilities of good supply of inputs , marketing transportation, processing & storage 

4) Adoption of Integrated Farming system because of different Dietary pattern of local people

5) Good communication and Transport facility

3) LOWER GANGETIC PLAIN:  West Bengal 

Crops : Rice , jute. Rapeseed and wheat 

Climate - Moist humid and dry humid 

Annual rainfall - 1302- 1607 mm

Followings are negative points:

1) Lack of good water management; drainage problem

2) Use of local variety

3) Less use of High Yielding varieties (HYV)

4) Poor extension work

5) Inadequate supply of inputs

6) Poor marketing & processing

7) Lack of transportation and storage

8) Dependent on monsoon 

9) Soil & water erosion 

10) Uneducated & poor farmers

11) Poor electric supply

MIDDLE GGANGETIC PLAIN:

Eastern parts of U.P. and Bihar plains

Climate - Moist sub humid to dry sub humid 

Annual rainfall- 1211- 1470 mm

Main crops- Sugarcane, Paddy , Maize , wheat

5) UPPER GANGETIC PLAIN 

Remaining parts of UP 

Climate - Dry sub humid to sub dry

Rainfall - 721-979 mm

Main crops - Rice , Wheat , Maize and Sugarcane

Irrigation by canal and tube well

Special planning to grow vegetables and fruits scientifically.

•Maximum dry areas- Western Dryland region

•Gujarat Plains and Hills are called oilseed region

•Plantations & spices are grown in western coast and ghats

•Coconut cultivation is island region

6) TRANSGANGETIC PLAINS:

Punjab , Haryana , Shiwalik region , Sriganganagar, Delhi semi dry areas of plains , dry areas of Thar (Rajasthan) 

Cropping intensity highest , low poverty, maximum use of ground water

Followings points for the development of this region:

1) Good water management

2) Management and reclamation of user soil

3) Proper use of ground water

4) Diversification of crops

5) Introduction of Leguminous crops in cropping system

6) Proper livestock & pasture management

7) Increasing of area under vegetables, fruits and pastures

7. EASTERN PLATEAU & HILLS :

Wainganga , Eastern Hilly areas of M.P, inland Orissa , Chotanagpur plateau  Platean and Hilly regions of West Bengal, Chattisgarh 

Climate - Moist humid to dry subhumid

Rainfall- 1271- 1436 

Main crops- Rice , Wheat , Maize ,cRagu 

8) CENTRAL PLATEAU AND HILLS:

About 46 districts of M.P. chattisgarh, U.P. and Rajasthan

Annual rainfall: 400- 1550 mm

Climate :Semi arid to dry sub humid climate 

Main crops - Wheat , Gram , Jowar , Bajra , paddy 

75% area is rain affected where following Programmes are being run - 

1) Watershed management

2) Crop diversification

3) Reclamation of Ravine area 

9) WESTERN PLATEAU & HILLS:

Main regions of Maharashtra, major parts of M.P. and some parts of Rajasthan.

Climate - Semi arid 

Rainfall - 602- 1040 mm 

Major crops: Jowar , Bajra , Cotton and wheat 

Irrigation mainly by canal

•Following suggestion for this zone:

1) Management of minor irrigation

2) Improvement in the conditions of cattle and buffaloes 

3) Cultivation of costly crops

10) SOUTHERN PLATEAU & HILLS:

About 35 districts of Andhra , Karnataka, Tamil Nadu 

Annual rainfall - 677-1000 mm

Suggestions:

1) Proper utilization of Dryland technology in watershed area 

2) Incrase fertilizer use efficiency

3) Minor irrigation programme

11)EAST COAST PLAINS:

East coast of T.N. , Andhra & Orissa 

Rainfall - 780- 1287 mm

Main crops- Rice , Groundnut, Ragi , jowar & Bajra 

12) WEST COAST PLAINS AND GHATS: 

Westcoast of TamilNadu keral , Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa 

Main occupation is Cultivation of spices and plantation crops 

Rainfall - 2226- 3640 mm

Main crops: 

Rice , ragi , Groundnut and Tapioca 

Suggestions:

1) Storage of rainwater 

2) Proper use of ground water

3) Increase in area under fruits and vegetable 

4) Fisheries management

13) GUJARAT PLAINS & HILLS:

19 districts of Gujarat,

Annual rainfall: 340- 1793mm

Main crops - Maize , wheat , rice , Groundnut, Tobacco , cotton , jowar , Bajra

* This zone is famous for oilseed crops hence called oilseed region 

Suggestions: 

1) Rainwater harvesting and it's management

2) Dryland Farming & management of canal & ground water

3) Development of Agro-forestry and arid -Horticulture

14) WESTERN DRY REGION:

9 districts of Rajasthan

Hot Sandy desert , erratic rainfall, high evaporation, Scanty vegetation , no perrenial rivers , general occurrence of drought

95mm annual rainfall

Main crops - Bajra , Gram , wheat , rapeseed 

Two main plannings:

1) Indira Gandhi Cannal 

2) DDP( Drought Development programme)

15) ISLAND REGIONS: 

Island territories of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadeep 

3000mm annual rainfall

 climate : Humid 

Main crops - Rice & Coconut

•Main emphasis on 

1) Crop Improvement

2) Water Management

3) Fisheries