The Story of Indian Farming | Class 7 Social Science Notes

Echoes from the Past

The story of Indian farming dates back to prehistory. Archaeological evidence shows the presence of rice grains in the Ganga Plain as early as the 7th or 8th millennium BCE, though systematic rice cultivation may have developed later. At Mehrgarh, a site predating the Indus Valley Civilization, barley and millets were cultivated around the 7th millennium BCE. During the Harappan period (3rd millennium BCE), barley and wheat were staple crops, with evidence of rice, millets, and various vegetables.

Over time, farmers expanded their cultivation to include oilseeds such as sesame, safflower, linseed, mustard, and castor; legumes like green gram, black gram, and fenugreek; fibre crops such as cotton, hemp, and jute; and fruits including grapes, dates, jujube, jackfruit, mango, mulberry, and black plum. Ancient Indian texts like the Vedas mention barley (yava), wheat (godhūma), rice (vrīhi), sesame, black gram, and various pulses and legumes.

Intercropping, the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously, was practiced in the Harappan civilization as evidenced by perpendicular furrows at Kalibangan around 2800 BCE, a practice that continues even today. The domestication of animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, dogs, pigs, and fowl also took place during this period.

Historical texts like Kauṭilya’s Arthashastra, Sangam literature, Amarakosha, Krishiparāśhara, Varāhamihira’s Brihatsamhitā, and Surapāla’s Vṛikṣāyurveda provide detailed knowledge on agriculture, horticulture, plant biodiversity, and animal husbandry. For example, Surapāla’s Vṛikṣāyurveda recommends seed preparation methods involving milk, cow dung, honey, and other substances to enhance germination, as well as irrigation techniques tailored to soil types. The Brihatsamhitā describes grafting methods still used today, which join two plants to combine desirable traits.

📊 Diagram: Fig. 1.2. (Top) Intercropping at the Harappan site of Kalibangan (Rajasthan) around 2800 BCE, as evidenced by perpendicular furrows. (Bottom) The same practice continuing in the 1960s, around 4800 years later!; Fig. 1.3. An example of intercropping: growing sugarcane along with pumpkin

🧪 Activity: Identify crops listed in the 'Echoes from the Past' section that are still used in your home. Reflect on the continuity and changes in agricultural practices.

🔗 Connection: This historical background leads into understanding how climate, seasons, and soil types influence what crops are grown in India.