Agriculture Notes for UPSC: Agriculture Notes PDF for UPSC

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating crops, raising livestock, and harnessing natural resources for food production and other agricultural products. It encompasses various aspects such as crop cultivation, soil management, irrigation techniques, animal husbandry, agricultural economics, agricultural policies, and sustainable farming practices.

Agriculture is an important topic in the UPSC examination and is covered in both the Preliminary and Mains examinations. It holds significance in the General Studies Paper 1, where questions related to agricultural practices, farming systems, agricultural productivity, and rural development are asked. Additionally, agriculture is also an optional subject for the Mains examination.

This article aims to cover various aspects of agriculture that are important for the UPSC examination. We will delve into topics such as types of farming systems, agricultural technologies, agricultural marketing and trade, government schemes and policies related to agriculture, agricultural research and development, and sustainable farming practices.

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Agriculture Notes For UPSC Mains

Agroecology and Environment

• Ecology and its Relevance to Man
• Natural Resources and Sustainable Management
• Physical and Social Environment in Crop Distribution
• Agroecology and Cropping Patterns
• Environmental Pollution and Hazards

Agricultural Practices and Techniques

• Cropping System
• Rainfed Agriculture
• Water Use Efficiency
• Criteria for Scheduling Irrigations
• Runoff Irrigation
• Problem Soils and Their Reclamation
• Farming System

Crop Science and Plant Genetics

• Propagation of Forest Plants
• Forest Products
• Selfing and Crossing Techniques
• Crop Domestication
• Law of Homologous Series
• Crop Genetic Resources
• Molecular Markers
• Pure Line Selection
• Recurrent Selections
• Heterosis and its Exploitation
• Breeding for Disease and Pest Resistance
• Interspecific and Intergeneric Hybridization

Seed Production and Post-harvest Technology

• Seed Production and Processing Technologies
• Seed Certification
• Post-harvest Technology

Horticulture and Plant Management

• Commercial Floriculture
• Medicinal and Aromatic Crops
• Orchard and Plantation Crops

Pest and Disease Management

• Integrated Pest and Diseases Management
• Plant Quarantine

Miscellaneous

• Food Production and Consumption Trends in India
• Global Food Policy Report
• Food Consumption Patterns
• Heritability

Agriculture Study Materials for UPSC

Apart from these Agriculture notes for UPSC, candidates must also refer to other study materials to devise their preparation in a solid way. You also need to stay updated with the latest developments and world conventions for Agricultural development. Some of the highly recommended Agriculture study materials are given below -

• Refer to the official Agriculture Census website of Govt. of India to stay updated with recent developments in the field.
• Read publications and journals on Krishi developments and other rural affairs from the official ICAR-Indian Agricultural Statistics Research Institute website.
• Follow all Economics and Environment NCERT Books for UPSC from classes 8 to 12 for clearing basic fundamentals of agriculture and irrigation.
• Try to read static affairs on soil health improvement, better credit and insurance facilities to farmers, watershed extension programs, etc.
• Once you’re done studying from these Agriculture notes for UPSC, try to solve at least 3-4 exams’ UPSC Agriculture optional previous year papers for good revision.

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Agriculture UPSC Notes - Important Government Schemes

Starting from the state government to central government subsidy schemes for agriculture and farmers, UPSC aspirants have a lot to cover. However, we have researched an exhaustive list of Government schemes and initiatives towards this field for your quick reference. Quickly memorize important agricultural schemes by the government by going through the following Agriculture notes for UPSC:

Check out Government Schemes UPSC Notes here!

Agriculture Notes For UPSC - Preparation Tips

Aspirants can get confused studying so many Agriculture notes for UPSC optional papers. However, remembering the names of PM schemes, funds, and other global conventions can be challenging too. Thus, we have provided some expert tips to help you prepare for the agriculture subject with ease, have a look at them below -

• Try to highlight names of Govt. schemes with date, what is it about, and any current revisions.
• You can also study related notes from UPSC Economics and Geography topics for fundamental preparation.
• Make use of GK & Current Affairs in your note-making process to learn newly released agricultural reports, schemes, and other initiatives for communities.
• Try to read monthly Agriculture columns and other journals for important UPSC magazines like Yojana and Kurukshetra.
• Follow one national newspaper daily to learn about UPSC Agriculture current affairs.

Conclusion

Agriculture plays a crucial role in the UPSC examination, both as a part of the General Studies Paper 1 and as an optional subject. The agriculture notes provided in this article is designed to assist you in your preparation and enhance your understanding of the subject. By studying agriculture, you will gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in the agricultural sector, sustainable farming practices, and the socio-economic aspects of rural development.

We hope that this article has helped you to study with the Best Agriculture Notes for UPSC exam preparation. If you want to access more preparation notes for UPSC, download the Testbook App now and stay ahead in UPSC and other top competitive exams across the country.