Agriculture and Food Security

All living organisms need food to survive.
Food supplies protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
India's need for food is increasing with the growing population.
Efforts are made to increase food production to meet demand.
Sustainable practices in agriculture and animal husbandry are needed to increase food production without environmental damage.

Cereals like wheat, rice, maize, and millets provide carbohydrates for energy.
Spices and fruits provide vitamins, minerals, and small amounts of protein, carbohydrates, and fats.
Different crops have different climate requirements (temperature and photoperiod) for proper growth and completion of their life cycle.
Kharif crops are grown during the rainy season (June to October).

Improving crop yield through better varieties.
Selecting varieties that produce high yields in diverse conditions.
Breeding crops for desirable traits like disease resistance, fertilizer use efficiency, pest resistance and better quality.
Factors used when making improvements to variety include high yield, quality, biotic and abiotic resistance (to factors like temperature, water, and nutrients).

Financial conditions and resources available to farmers affect agricultural practices and technologies.
There's a correlation between increased input and higher crop yield.
Methods of optimizing yields to decrease production costs include practices such as no-cost or low-cost production methods.
Nutrient management refers to supplying nutrients to plants.

16 nutrients are required for plant growth.
13 are macronutrients (used in large quantities), while 7 are micronutrients (used in small quantities).
Deficiency of any nutrient will hinder plant growth and lead to other health issues.

Manure comprises organic matter and supplies small quantities of nutrients to the soil.
Manure is prepared from waste products like animal excreta and plant waste through decomposition.
Manure is a biological waste material that benefits the environment.

Compost and Vermicompost: Livestock excreta, vegetable waste, and domestic wastes are decomposed in a pit using earthworms or composting methods.
Green Manure: Crops are grown and then mulched to enrich the soil with nitrogen and phosphorus (e.g., Sunhemp).

Commercially produced plant nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
Fertilizers improve crop yield but excessive use leads to water pollution.
Use fertilizers appropriately by considering the right dose, time, and post-application measures.

Most agriculture in India depends on rainfall.
Water for irrigation comes from wells, canals, rivers, and tanks, which are designed to provide water to crops. Irrigation systems like canals are elaborate and extensive, and river lift systems are used where canals are insufficient.
Tanks are small storage reservoirs.

Different ways of growing crops for better results and income.
Mixed cropping: Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same plot of land.

Protecting crops from weeds, insects, pests, and diseases.
Weeds (unwanted plants), insects, and pests can damage crops.
Applying pesticides (herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides) can control weeds, insects, and pests.
Prevention methods are crucial to reducing loss, including proper seed bed preparation, timely planting, intercropping, and crop rotation.

Animal husbandry is the scientific management of animals to efficiently produce food and other useful items.

Cattle farming purpose: getting milk, preparing fields, and transporting materials.
Types of cattle: cows, buffaloes, milch animals, and draught animals
Lactation period: The time a female cattle gives milk after the birth of a calf.

Crossbreeding helps to obtain hybrids that show good characteristics from parents, such as high lactation periods and disease resistance.
Cleanliness includes shelters (roofed and ventilated), routine brushing, and ensuring the area is free of waterlogging.
Appropriate feed (roughage, concentrates, and food containing vitamins and minerals) is necessary for improved milk production.
Prevention and treatment of diseases are crucial.

Breeding aims to improve chick quality, reduce maintenance, and produce dwarf broilers for meat.

Proper diet for chickens (protein-rich for broiler and fiber-rich diets for layers, along with vitamins and minerals).
Maintaining appropriate temperatures and sanitation.
Using disinfectants to prevent diseases like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Proper space allocation for birds to prevent mortality.

Fish production is a crucial protein source.
Types: Finned fish (true fish production) and unfinned fish (shellfish).
Finned fish include cartilaginous and bony fish.
Unfinned fish include shellfish like prawns and mollusks.
Fish production can be done through capture or culture.
Capture fishing involves catching fish in their natural aquatic habitats.
Culture fishing involves cultivating fish in controlled or confined environments (like ponds, lakes, and reservoirs).
Aquaculture is a large-scale fish farming method where fish are cultivated with utmost care. This method can also function in oceans (mariculture).
Some costly fishes found in sea like mullets, prawns, mussels, seaweed, oysters. Satellite data aids in identifying areas with high fish populations.

Fish production in freshwater (ponds, lakes, rivers) and brackish water (lagoons, estuaries).
Lower fish yield compared to marine fishing.

Five to six fish varieties cultivated in a single pond to maximize resource use and minimize competition for food.
These varieties have diverse feeding habits, thus reducing competition.

Beekeeping involves managing honeybees for honey and wax production.
Certain beekeeping varieties are favored due to their high honey collection capacity, fast reproduction, and reduced stinging.
Beekeeping is an income-generating activity.