Cropping intensity is a way to increase crop production from the same piece of land and is defined as the number of crops a farmer grows on the same field in a given agricultural year. Cropping intensity will probably be key to tracking how the intervention affects the possibility of irrigation or planting during short-season rainfall. This article will explain to you about Cropping Intensity which will be helpful in preparing the Agriculture Syllabus for the UPSC Civil Service exam.

Methods to Increase Cropping Intensity

• Enhancing the irrigation systems: Irrigation increases cropping intensity by allowing crops to be grown during the dry season as well.
  • Irrigation has played a significant role in increasing cropping intensity in northern states where it has risen significantly.
  • Fertilizers: The need to leave the land fallow for a period of time to replenish lost nutrients can be avoided by using fertilisers and other suitable cropping practises.
• Crop Rotation: It is the proper arrangement of successive crops so that different crops draw nutrients in different proportions or from different strata.
• Encouraging mechanized farming methods: The use of tractors, tillers, threshers, and other farm machinery can save critical time between raising two crops, allowing for the sowing of more than one crop.
• High Yield Variety (HYV) of crops with a brief growing cycle.
• Cropping techniques like strip cropping, mixed cropping, and relay cropping.
• Usage of contemporary inputs including weedicides, chemical fertilizers, and insecticides.
• Mandating the conservation strategy such as the preservation of soil and water.
• Paving the way for commercialization, trade, and capitalist agriculture.

Cropping Intensity in India

• India has the highest amount of cultivated land in the world, with about 51% of it being used for cultivation, 20% forests, 6% for wasteland, and 4-5% for pastures.
• The chance of the overall cultivable area increasing is very small.
• However, there has been a constant rise in the need for both food and industrial crops. Therefore, increasing cropping intensity is the only way to boost output.
• In 2001, cropping intensity in India was close to 135%. But at present, it is approximated as 145%.
• India's cropping intensity is low in comparison to the European nations like the UK, Italy (190%), and Holland (230%).
• However, it is higher when compared to Brazil, China, and Argentina.

Cropping Intensity - Features

• Cropping intensity is proportional to the amount of modern inputs and technology used.
• Cropping Intensity is higher in areas with labor-intensive farming.
  • West Bengal and Bihar, for example, have higher cropping intensities due to abundant labour, and unemployed people work on land for a living.
• Cropping Intensity is higher in regions with high crop diversity because subsistence farming has a higher crop diversity.
  • For example, Northern Bihar, Eastern UP, and Malabar West.
• The climatic control on cropping intensity is also palpable; for example, cropping intensity is higher in wet areas.
• Cropping Intensity in rich alluvial soil regions with higher land capability is as follows:
  • River valleys and deltas have high cropping intensities due to the availability of water and soil fertility.
  • Cropping Intensity is high in high population density areas.
  • Cropping intensity is low in regions with a high land-man ratio.
  • Cropping Intensity is also determined by government policies regarding subsidies and infrastructure facilities.

Saptial Pattern of Cropping Intensity

Based on cropping intensity, India can be divided into four regions/zones. The following zones are discussed in the table:

Advantages of Increasing Cropping Intensity

• High Crop Yield: The ability to produce large crop yields is one of the key benefits. Due to the high yields produced on a little amount of land, meeting market demands has only been possible by increasing crop intensity.
• Production of More Food Varieties: It results in a greater diversity of food for human consumption because it primarily concentrates on mass food production in a particular food crop or animal production.
• More Efficient: Farmers are more efficient because they require less land and farm inputs per unit of food produced. As opposed to conventional farming methods that required big tracts of land but generated lower yields/food products, organic farming maximizes yields on a small piece of land, increasing the farmer's profit.
• Affordable Food Prices: Contrary to conventional farming, the intensification of the production of fruits, vegetables, milk, meat, and poultry has reduced the cost of food.

This is because it uses less space and generates more output than it uses in input.

• Reduction in Worldwide Hunger Rate: Additionally, it has made a significant contribution to the reduction of hunger worldwide. Thus, the average person can afford to eat a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients.

Disadvantages of Cropping Intensity

Poor Living Conditions and Hygiene for Livestock

• It is strongly criticized and believed that increasing crop intensity is unfair to the animals.
• The result is typically terrible living conditions and cleanliness for the cattle because it entails the use of numerous pesticides, growth hormones, and excessive crowding on a tiny space.
• Keeping animals above their capacity is related to pollution and inadequate hygiene which results in infections and numerous diseases.

Excessive Use of Agro-chemicals

• Increasing crop intensity uses a variety of agrochemicals, such as chemical pesticides, fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and acaricides.
• When these pesticides are applied, they contaminate the food products in addition to killing their intended targets, such as bugs, weeds, and parasites.

Deforestation and Alteration of the Natural Environment

• According to studies and publications on the environment, there are many ways that this method harms and degrades the ecosystem.
• Massive deforestation and soil erosion have been caused by tree removal, slash and burn practices, and the clearing of forest areas to make place for agriculture.

Conclusion

In order to increase farmer incomes and meet the growing population, improved agricultural intensity is crucial. Additionally, the incredible advantages of concentrating on enhancing agricultural productivity highlight the necessity of giving top priority to measures that would help farmers the greatest. Such a multifaceted approach can assist in accomplishing the objective of doubling farmers' income by the following years.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Which of the following is used to calculate cropping intensity?

A. Net sown area
B. Gross cropped area
C. Both a and b
D. Total land area

2. What is one of the major factors influencing cropping intensity?

A. Market prices
B. Water availability
C. Import policies
D. Population density

3. Which region is likely to have the highest cropping intensity?

A. Desert regions
B. Irrigated plains
C. Coastal areas
D. Forested hills

4. What is the typical cropping pattern associated with high cropping intensity?

A. Single cropping
B. Double cropping
C. Organic farming
D. Subsistence farming

5. Which practice helps in increasing cropping intensity?

A. Monoculture
B. Crop rotation
C. Slash and burn
D. Leaving land fallow

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the importance of increasing cropping intensity for ensuring food security in India.

Answer: In a country like India, where the population is growing and land resources are limited, increasing cropping intensity is essential for food security. By cultivating more crops per year on the same piece of land, farmers can improve agricultural productivity and meet the rising demand for food. Higher cropping intensity also allows for the diversification of crops, which can improve nutrition and increase farmers' incomes. Factors such as irrigation, modern farming techniques, and high-yield crop varieties play a crucial role in enhancing cropping intensity. Government policies that promote water management and access to inputs are key to achieving higher cropping intensity.

Q2: Analyze the role of irrigation in improving cropping intensity in India.

Answer: Irrigation is one of the most important factors that influence cropping intensity. Areas with well-developed irrigation systems can grow multiple crops in a year, increasing the frequency of land use. In regions with rain-fed agriculture, cropping intensity tends to be low due to seasonal dependence on rainfall. Irrigation ensures a steady supply of water, allowing for double cropping or even triple cropping in some cases. Investments in irrigation infrastructure, such as dams, canals, and drip irrigation systems, are essential to improve cropping intensity and, in turn, agricultural productivity.

Q3: Evaluate the challenges faced in achieving higher cropping intensity in India and suggest possible solutions.

Answer: Achieving higher cropping intensity in India is challenging due to several factors, including water scarcity, soil degradation, and lack of access to technology. In areas where irrigation is limited, farmers rely on a single crop cycle, reducing cropping intensity. Additionally, poor soil management practices lead to declining fertility, further limiting crop production. Climate change and unpredictable weather patterns also pose a risk to cropping intensity. Solutions include improving irrigation infrastructure, adopting sustainable agricultural practices, and promoting modern farming techniques like crop rotation and intercropping. Government policies that support small farmers with access to credit and agricultural inputs can also help in overcoming these challenges.

Previous Year Questions from Cropping Intensity

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019

Question: Which of the following practices is most likely to increase cropping intensity in India?
A. Single cropping
B. Monoculture
C. Double cropping
D. Fallow land cultivation

Answer: C

Explanation: Double cropping, where two crops are grown in a year on the same piece of land, increases cropping intensity by making efficient use of agricultural land.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 3)

Question: Discuss the role of government policies in enhancing cropping intensity in India. Provide examples.

Explanation: Government policies play a crucial role in enhancing cropping intensity in India. Policies that promote irrigation development, such as the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY), have enabled farmers to increase cropping cycles by ensuring a steady supply of water. Initiatives like subsidies on fertilizers, seed distribution schemes, and credit facilities for small farmers have also encouraged the adoption of modern farming techniques, which contribute to higher cropping intensity. The government's focus on promoting sustainable farming practices through programs like Soil Health Card further supports the increase in cropping intensity while ensuring environmental sustainability.