Agricultural Regionalisation – UPSC Geography Optional & GS Paper I 2025–26

Agricultural regionalisation is the scientific classification of geographical regions according to the homogeneity of agricultural features like climate, soil, cropping pattern, and farming system. It is an important concept in agricultural geography that facilitates specific agricultural planning, policy making, and land-use sustainability. Due to the huge diversity of agro-climatic conditions in India, a clear demarcation of various agricultural regions has occurred, each characterized by a specific crop combination and production system.

What Will You Learn from This Article?

• What is agricultural regionalisation and how is it defined in Indian geography?
• Which institutions and scholars have suggested classification of Indian agricultural regions?
• What are the prominent agricultural regions of India and their typical features?
• How do soil, rainfall, and climate determine agricultural regionalisation?
• What is the significance of agricultural regionalisation in UPSC preparation and planning?

Important Points for Revision for UPSC Mains

This part provides key takeaways and factual highlights to enhance your conceptual understanding for UPSC Geography Optional and GS Paper I answers.

• Regionalisation of agriculture means the boundary drawing of regions agricultural in nature on the basis of homogeneity of crops, soils, climate, and farming systems.
• E. Simkins (1926) and D. Thomer (1956) are some of the early thinkers who distinguished agricultural regions in India.
• The ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research) classification is the most comprehensive and UPSC-relevant.
• A classification system for Indian agricultural regions was also formulated by Jasbir Singh (1975).
• India has six major agricultural regions:

1. Rice-Jute-Tea Region
2. Wheat and Sugarcane Region
3. Cotton Region
4. Maize and Coarse Crops Region
5. Millets and Oilseeds Region
6. Fruits and Vegetable Region

• Rice-Jute-Tea region is in eastern India and comprises West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, and Tarai region of Uttar Pradesh.
• This area is characterized by heavy rainfall (180–250 cm), fertile alluvial soils, and moist climate.
• Wheat and Sugarcane area is dominant in north India, particularly Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar.
• The Cotton Region covers the Deccan Plateau with black soil (regur), and parts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Madhya Pradesh.
• Millets and Oilseeds area is prominent in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and portions of Andhra Pradesh.
• The Fruit and Vegetable belt stretches from Kashmir Valley to Assam, which is favorable for horticulture crops such as apples, oranges, and plums.
• Programme classification facilitates improved resource allocation, farm planning, and scheme implementation such as PM-KISAN and crop insurance.
• Knowledge of cropping combinations enables climate change and pest vulnerability forecasts.
• Agro-climatic regionalisation is beneficial for the effectiveness of technology interventions and productivity improvement.
• Classification corresponds with agro-ecological zones and land capability mapping.
• Agricultural regionalisation is an essential component of sustainable development and food security planning in India.
• Regionalisation serves to reduce input costs and increase yield by utilizing tailor-made agro-advisory services.
• Regionalisation depicts the geographical distribution of traditional and commercial crops and links geography with economics.

ICAR Classification of Agricultural Regions in India

Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) offers a scientific and holistic classification of agricultural regions in India. It finds widespread acceptance because it is empirical in nature and provides a spatial coverage of geographical, climatic, and crop-related variables. ICAR classifies India into six large agricultural regions based on crop associations, natural factors, and farming systems.

1. Rice-Jute-Tea Region

This region occupies the eastern and northeastern regions of India and includes:

States included: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Odisha, northern and eastern Bihar, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh parts, and Uttar Pradesh's Tarai region.

• Soil: Dominant fertile alluvial soils.
• Rainfall: Heavy rainfall of 180 to 250 cm per year.
• Climate: Humid subtropical with hot summers and sufficient monsoonal moisture.

Key Features:

• Rice is the major crop because of plenty of water and favorable soil.
• Jute is mainly cultivated in the Hooghly Basin of West Bengal and parts of Odisha and Assam.
• Tea gardens are found mainly in Assam, Darjeeling, and Tripura.
• Other crops: Sugarcane and tobacco (in Bihar), coconut (coastal tracts), and fruits such as mango, pineapple, bananas, and oranges.

2. Wheat and Sugarcane Region

This region spreads over the Indo-Gangetic plain and central India's part:

States included: Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, western Madhya Pradesh, and northeastern Rajasthan.

• Soil: Mainly alluvial with a mixture of black and red soils.
• Rainfall: Moderate; largely from the southwest monsoon and occasional winter rains from western disturbances.

Key Features:

• Wheat and sugarcane cultivation dominate.
• Crops need irrigation, particularly in dry regions.
• Wheat belt consists of Punjab, Haryana, Ganga-Yamuna Doab, and northeastern Rajasthan.
• Sugarcane is concentrated to a great extent in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
• Other crops: Rice, pulses, and maize.

3. Cotton Region

Located in the Deccan Plateau and western parts of India, this region has:

States included: Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.

• Soil: Black regular soil that is suitable for growing cotton.
• Rainfall: Ranges from 75 to 100 cm, primarily during the monsoon.

Key Features:

• Cotton is the major crop.
• Jowar, bajra, sugarcane, gram, and wheat are associated with crop association.
• Rain-fed farming is prevalent, though there is irrigation in some areas.

4. Maize and Coarse Crops Region

This area falls in the arid western region of India:

States included: Western Rajasthan and northern Gujarat.

• Rainfall: Low and irregular, primarily less than 50 cm.
• Soil: Sandy and semi-arid soils.

Key Features:

• Irrigation is necessary due to arid conditions.
• Maize prevails in the Mewar Plateau.
• Wheat and ragi are also grown.
• Southern areas yield rice, cotton, and sugarcane.
• Bajra and pulses are common throughout the area.

5. Millets and Oilseeds Region

Situated in southern India, this area comprises:

States included: Karnataka plateau, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh .

• Rainfall: Low to moderate rainfall of 75 to 125 cm.
• Soil: Mixed—frequently shallow, with poor fertility in most regions.

Major Features:

• Millets such as bajra, ragi, and jowar are major crops.
• Groundnut and castor are the major oilseeds.
• Pulses, mangoes, and bananas also hold significance.

6. Fruits and Vegetable Region

This region stretches longitudinally from the western Himalayas to the northeastern hill ranges:

States included: Kashmir Valley to Assam.

• Rainfall: Ranging from 60 cm (Kashmir) to 200 cm (Assam).
• Climate: West - Temperate, East - Humid subtropical.

Principal Features:

• West: Apples, peaches, cherries, plums, and apricots.
• East: Citrus fruits like oranges dominate.
• Vegetables, maize, ragi, rice, potatoes, and chilies are cultivated too.

Importance of Agricultural Regionalisation in India

The outline of agricultural regions is of immense scholarly, policy, as well as planning significance:

• Scientific Planning: Facilitates region-specific farming techniques, from seed choice to irrigation planning.
• Resource Optimization: Efficient use of input like fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation based on regional needs.
• Agro-Ecological Suitability: Maintains sustainability by suggesting crops that fit local conditions.
• Disaster Resilience: Assists in the identification of drought- or flood-susceptible farm areas and initiating preventive measures.
• Policy Formulation: Facilitates region-specific agriculture policy-making and subsidies (e.g., PMFBY, PM-KISAN).

UPSC Mains PYQs on Agricultural Regionalisation

Following are the actual previous year questions of UPSC Mains related to agricultural regionalisation:

• 2023: Discuss the rationale and importance of agro-climatic regional planning in India.
• 2021: Describe the importance of agro-ecological zoning in sustainable agricultural growth.
• 2019: Contrast agro-climatic and agro-ecological zones. Discuss their significance in Indian agriculture.
• 2016: Assess the usefulness of ICAR's agricultural regionalisation in achieving food security in India.
• 2013: Elaborate on agricultural regionalisation in India and planning and development implications.

Key Books on Agricultural Regionalisation

(UPSC Geography Optional & GS Paper I)