You must have observed that the land around | Class 12 Geography Notes
By ConceptScroll Team · Published on 17 July 2026 · 5 min read
You must have observed that the land around – this guide gives you a concise, exam-ready overview of You must have observed that the land around from Class 12 Geography, written by ConceptScroll editors and reviewed against the latest NCERT textbook.
Foodgrains
Foodgrains are the staple crops occupying about two-thirds of the total cropped area in India, forming the backbone of the Indian agricultural economy. They are classified into cereals and pulses based on grain structure.
Cereals:
- Occupy about 54% of cropped area.
- India produces about 11% of the world's cereals, ranking third after China and the USA.
- Classified into fine grains (rice, wheat) and coarse grains (jowar, bajra, maize, ragi).
Rice:
- Staple food for most Indians.
- Grown from sea level to 2000 m altitude and in diverse climates.
- In southern states and West Bengal, multiple crops of rice are grown annually.
- India contributes about 22% of world rice production, second after China.
- Major producers: West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab.
- Higher yields in irrigated states like Punjab and Haryana due to Green Revolution technologies.
Wheat:
- Second most important cereal.
- Grown mainly in rabi season in temperate zones.
- About 14% of cropped area under wheat.
- Major producers: Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan.
- Highest yields in Punjab and Haryana.
Coarse Cereals:
- Occupy about 16.5% of cropped area.
- Jowar is the main coarse cereal, grown mainly in semi-arid central and southern India.
- Bajra is grown in hot, dry northwestern and western India.
- Maize is grown widely except Punjab and eastern regions.
Pulses:
- Important protein source, occupying about 11% of cropped area.
- Mostly rainfed and grown in drylands.
- Main pulses: gram and tur.
- Yields are low and fluctuate due to rainfed conditions.
Understanding foodgrain production is essential for food security and agricultural planning in India.
📊 Diagram: Figures 3.3 and 3.4 show the distribution of rice and wheat production across India, highlighting major producing states.
🧪 Activity: Differentiate between different foodgrains by separating cereals from pulses and fine from coarse cereals.
🔗 Connection: This section connects to Oilseeds and Fibre Crops, other important agricultural products.
Frequently asked questions
What changes have you noticed in agricultural sector and cropping – pattern? Discuss in the class.
The agricultural sector in India has witnessed several changes over the years. These include the introduction of modern agricultural equipment such as the Roto Till Drill, increased dependence on irrigation though still limited to about 33% of cultivated land, and a shift towards more commercialized farming in irrigated areas. Cropping patterns have also changed with a move towards less water-intensive crops like pulses and oilseeds, as suggested by recent initiatives promoting Green Revolution
1. Choose the right answers of the following from the given options. (i) Which one of the following is NOT a land-use category? (a) Fallow land (b) Marginal land (c) Net Area Sown (d) Culturable Wasteland (ii) What one of the following is the main reason due to which share of forest has shown an increase in the last forty years? (a) Extensive and efficient efforts of afforestation (b) Increase in community forest land (c) Increase in notified area allocated for forest growth (d) Better peoples' participation in managing forest area. (iii) Which one of the following is the main form of degradation in irrigated areas? (a) Gully erosion (b) Wind erosion (c) Salinisation of soils (d) Siltation of land (iv) Which one of the following crops is not cultivated under dryland farming? (a) Ragi (b) Jowar (c) Groundnut (d) Sugarcane (v) In which of the following group of countries of the world, HYVs of wheat and rice were developed? (a) Japan and Australia (b) U.S.A. and Japan (c) Mexico and Philippines (d) Mexico and Singapore
Answers: (i) (b) Marginal land Explanation: Marginal land is not a land-use category but a classification based on productivity. The main land-use categories include Fallow land, Net Area Sown, and Culturable Wasteland.
(ii) (a) Extensive and efficient efforts of afforestation Explanation: The increase in forest area over the last forty years is mainly due to extensive afforestation efforts by the government and other agencies.
(iii) (c) Salinisation of soils Explanation: In irrigated areas, s
2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words. (i) Differentiate between barren and wasteland and culturable wasteland. (ii) How would you distinguish between net sown area and gross cropped area? (iii) Why is the strategy of increasing cropping intensity important in a country like India? (iv) How do you measure total cultivable land? (v) What is the difference between dryland and wetland farming?
Answers: (i) Barren and wasteland refers to land which is not suitable for cultivation due to natural or man-made reasons. Culturable wasteland is land which is currently not cultivated but can be brought under cultivation with reasonable effort.
(ii) Net sown area is the actual area sown with crops during a year. Gross cropped area is the total area sown including multiple cropping, i.e., net sown area plus area sown more than once.
(iii) Increasing cropping intensity means growing more than
3. Answer the following questions in about 150 words. (i) What are the different types of environmental problems of land resources in India? (ii) What are the important strategies for agricultural development followed in the post-independence period in India?
Answers: (i) Environmental problems of land resources in India include land degradation due to soil erosion (water and wind), deforestation, salinisation and alkalisation of soils, waterlogging, loss of soil fertility, and desertification. These problems reduce the productive capacity of land and affect agricultural output.
(ii) Important strategies for agricultural development in post-independence India include the Green Revolution with introduction of High Yielding Varieties (HYVs) of seeds,
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- computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database | Class 12 Geography Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.
- computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database | Class 12 Geography Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.
- computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database | Class 12 Geography Notes
Clear NCERT-aligned notes on computer hardware and the application software are referred as the Database for Class 12 Geography.