Welcome dear students! Today we are going to learn about Land Resources of Karnataka from Class 9 Social_Science. In this chapter, we will learn about the pattern of land use in Karnataka, the importance and types of farming, and we will understand the distribution of the important crops of Karnataka and their production. Karnataka is geographically well placed. It has varied physical features, soil, vegetation, minerals, water and ground water resources. Land is the most important natural resource. Its proper use enables the state's development. Land use for various purposes is called land utilization. It includes cultivable land, forest area, fallow land, land for residential purposes, for the construction of roadways, railways, dams, canals, barren land, and land used for grazing purposes. Proper utilization of land is the foundation for economic development. The total geographical area of Karnataka State is 19.05 lakh hectares. This is used for the following purposes. Let us look at the pattern of land utilization in Karnataka. Net area sown accounts for 60.1 percent. Forest area accounts for 16.1 percent. Land not available for cultivation accounts for 10.48 percent. Other uncultivated land accounts for 9.22 percent. Fallow land accounts for 4.1 percent.
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First, let us discuss the net area sown. The distribution of net area sown is not the same all over the state. Kalaburagi district has the largest area under cultivable land in the state. It is followed by Belagavi, Vijayapura, Tumakuru, Raichur, Bagalkot, Ballari, Chitradurga and Mysuru districts. Bengaluru district has the least net area sown, due to widespread urbanization. Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu have less cultivable land. Second, let us look at the forest area. Uttara Kannada district has large forest area. Shivamogga, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Belagavi, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Ballari districts also have sufficiently large forest areas. However, Vijayapura has the least forested area. Even Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Raichur, Bidar and Gadag districts have less forest area.
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Third, we have land not available for cultivation. This land is not used for cultivation but for other purposes like rail routes, roads, residences, industry and irrigation projects. In recent times, use of land for such developmental purposes is increasing. Bengaluru Urban district is given first place for such purposes. It is followed by Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Belagavi, Ballari, Mysuru and Dakshina Kannada districts. It is the least in Bidar district. It is moderate in the other districts. Fourth, we have other uncultivated land. This land use consists of permanent grazing land, trees and groves. It is found largely in Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Kolar, Chikkamagaluru and Chitradurga districts. It is least in Gadag, Bagalkot and Dharwad district. Such land can be reclaimed and used for agriculture. Fifth, we have fallow land. Land which has not been cultivated for more than two or three years is called fallow land. Kalaburagi district has the largest area as fallow land. It is followed by Raichur, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Koppal and Tumakuru districts. There is very little fallow land in Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Mysuru, Uttara Kannada and Udupi districts. However, such land areas have increased in these districts. Such land also can be reclaimed and utilised for agriculture.
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Now let us move on to agriculture. The cultivation of the land for raising crops is called agriculture. Animal husbandry, poultry, bee keeping, fisheries and sericulture are included under agriculture. Nearly 61.33 percent of the people in Karnataka are in rural areas and they depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Let us understand its importance. Agriculture is one of the ancient, primary occupations of Karnataka. It is the main source of livelihood for many. It is the backbone of our state's economy. Economic progress depends on agriculture. Agriculture provides employment to people. It also provides food for the people and raw materials to industries. It is a source of revenue to the state and helps to earn foreign exchange. Coffee, silk, spices, tobacco, and cotton are the agricultural products which are exported. Agriculture helps in the development of tertiary occupations like transport, banking, and insurance. It plays an important role in the political and social systems of the state.
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Next, we will learn about the types of cultivation. Different kinds of crops are grown according to the size of the land holding, land fertility, availability of water, amount of rainfall, climate, physical features, and market facilities. The types of cultivation are classified according to these factors. They are subsistence farming, irrigation farming, dry farming, mixed farming, shifting cultivation, commercial farming, and plantation farming. Crops grown by using water from canals, tanks or wells is called irrigation. Paddy and sugarcane are the main crops grown under this farming. Cultivation of crops which depend on rain is called dry farming, for example ragi, jowar, and oil seeds. The cultivation of a few annual crops on large estates for the purpose of earning money is called plantation farming, for example coffee, tea, rubber, and cocoa. Crops that are grown not only for the domestic market but also for the international market come under commercial farming, for example tobacco, cotton, and jute. The crops which are grown by the farmers for home consumption and not for the market is called subsistence farming. This is an ancient type of cultivation. Nowadays, a mixed type of farming is gaining popularity. In addition to growing crops, dairy farming, silkworm rearing, sheep rearing, poultry, bee keeping, and fishery are taken up and it is called mixed farming.
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Let us look at the speciality of crops in Karnataka. Nanjanagud is famous for Rasabale. Byadagi is famous for Chillies. Tiptur is famous for Coconut. Mysuru is famous for Betel. Bengaluru is famous for Blue grapes. Devanahalli is famous for Pomelo. Eranagere is famous for Brinjal. Nippani is famous for Tobacco. Kamalapura is famous for Red Banana. Just like different types of farming, there are different types of crops in Karnataka. The main responsible causes for this are soil, climatic conditions, relief features, irrigation facility, traditions of the farmers and market for the agricultural produce. The crops of Karnataka can be classified as follows. Food crops include paddy, ragi, maize, pulses, and millets. Commercial crops include sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, and mulberry. Oilseeds include groundnut, nigerseed, sesame, and sunflower. Plantation crops include coffee, coconut, arecanut, rubber, and banana. In addition to these, different types of horticultural crops and floriculture are there. Now let us study about the major crops of Karnataka.
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First, let us study food crops. Paddy is a very important food crop of Karnataka. Rice is the staple food of the people of Karnataka. Do you know this? Paddy belongs to the grass family. Its scientific name is Oryza sativa. Paddy is grown in 28.2 percent of the total cultivable land. Irrigation facility, use of chemical fertilizers and high yielding hybrid seeds have resulted improvement in the yield of paddy. Paddy is a tropical crop. Cultivation of paddy requires heavy rainfall and high temperature. Areas having scanty rainfall need irrigation facility for the growing of paddy. Cultivation of paddy requires level land. Fertile clayey and alluvial soils are ideal for paddy cultivation. Organic manure, leaves of trees and abundant labourers are required for the cultivation of paddy. Nearly 70 percent of paddy is sown during June to August months, and harvested during November to December. It is a kharif crop. Even in summer, paddy is grown in areas where irrigation facility is available from February to June. This is called rabi crop. In Malnad, paddy is grown by broadcasting method and in the plains by transplanting method.
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Let us look at the paddy growing areas. Paddy is grown in all the districts of Karnataka. The Krishna Tungabhadra valley, Cauvery valley and the coastal districts are famous for paddy cultivation. Raichur district stands first in the production of paddy. Next comes Ballari, Shivamogga, Davangere, Mysuru, Mandya, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Kalaburagi. The other paddy growing areas of Karnataka are Tumakuru, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu and Belagavi. The yield and quality of paddy is better in irrigated areas. Second, we have Jowar. This is second most important crop in Karnataka after paddy. Until recently, the area under jowar cultivation was more than that of paddy. But in recent years it has decreased. The total area under jowar cultivation is 26 percent of the cultivable area. Karnataka ranks second after Maharashtra in the production of jowar in India. Jowar is the staple food of the people of North Karnataka. It is mainly used for preparing rotis. The stalks of jowar plant are used as cattle fodder.
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Let us also discuss Maize. Globally maize is considered as the Queen of Grains. Maize, which is grown in plenty in south Karnataka, is predominantly used as food for human beings and fodder for animals. Jowar and Maize belong to the grass family. It is a tropical crop, requiring moderate rainfall and moderate temperature. Mixed black and red soil and alluvial soil are suitable for jowar. It is a rain fed crop and grown by using broadcasting method. It depends on the South West Monsoons. The growing areas for jowar are Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Bagalkot, Raichur, Belagavi, Bidar, Ballari, Davangere, Koppal and Gadag. These are the leading producers of jowar. Vijayapura stands first in the production of jowar in the state. Chitradurga, Shivamogga, Chamarajnagar, Hassan, Tumakuru, Chikkaballapura and Mandya districts also produce jowar. Do you know this? Kalaburagi is the granary of Togari (Toor).
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Third food crop is Ragi. This is a very nutritive food grain. Ragi balls, porridge, sprouted flour, malt, and dosa are made from ragi. In Karnataka it is the third most important food grain after paddy and jowar. It is a cheap grain. The stalks of the ragi plant are used as fodder for cattle. Ragi can be preserved for many months. Ragi is a tropical crop. High temperature, moderate rainfall, red sandy and loamy soil are suitable for this crop. It can withstand very severe droughts. In some places, ragi is grown by using irrigation facility. Many labourers are needed to transplant ragi saplings, pull out the weeds to harvest and store ragi. It is an important Kharif crop. It can be grown even during summer season by using irrigation. The growing areas for ragi are concentrated in the districts of southern maidan. Ragi is a traditional crop of Old Mysore province. Jowar is the main crop in North Karnataka, whereas ragi is the main crop in South Karnataka. Karnataka stands first in the production of ragi in India. However, the use of ragi has increased. Ragi is grown in 14 percent of the total cultivable land. Tumakuru is the leading producer of ragi. Then comes Ramnagar, Bengaluru Rural, Hassan, Mandya, Kolar, Chikballapur, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajnagar and Davanagere districts.
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Now let us move to commercial crops. First is Sugarcane. Sugarcane is the most important commercial and industrial crop of Karnataka. Karnataka ranks fourth in the production of sugarcane. Sugarcane is a tropical crop. It is grown in areas with high temperature and heavy rainfall or good irrigation facility. Sandy loamy soil and red soil are suitable for the cultivation of sugarcane. Since sugarcane has to be transported to the factories as soon as it is harvested, there has to be good transport facility. Sugarcane belongs to the grass family. It grows to a height of three metres. It contains sucrose and it is used to produce jaggery and sugar. Being an annual crop sugarcane requires irrigation facility. Activity: List out the food crops and commercial crops grown in your district. The growing areas for sugarcane are led by Belagavi, which is the leading producer of sugarcane in Karnataka and followed by Bagalkot which has irrigation facility from the Almatti project. Mandya, Mysuru, Shivamogga, Davanagere, Hassan, Koppal, Vijayapura, Bidar, Ballari and Haveri are the other important sugarcane growing areas. Mandya district has specialised in the cultivation of sugarcane even from pre independence days.
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Second commercial crop is Cotton. Cotton is a fibre crop. It provides raw material for cotton textiles. Besides, it is used for making carpets, ropes, beds and pillows. Cooking oil is produced from cotton seeds. Cotton seed cake is used as cattle feed. Cotton is a crop of the tropics and the sub tropics. Moderate rainfall, high temperature and black soil are suitable for its growth. Cotton has been used for a long time in daily life in Karnataka. Long, medium and short staple cotton are the different varieties of cotton. Karnataka grows more of medium and short staple cotton. Cotton is a kharif crop. It is sown in August to September. It is a rain fed crop. It can also be grown with the help of irrigation facility. The main cotton producing districts of Karnataka are Haveri, Dharwad, Gadag, Mysuru, Ballari, Raichur, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, Davanagere, Chitradurga, Koppal and Vijayapura. Among these, Haveri district ranks first in the production of cotton in the state. Dharwad district ranks second. Nowadays, areas growing cotton are dwindling. Pests and disease have become major problems. As a result, the development of disease tolerant and high yield varieties of cotton by the Agricultural Research Institute has improved the yield of production of cotton.
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Third commercial crop is Tobacco. It belongs to the nicotiana group. It contains an intoxicating substance called nicotine. Tobacco is used in the manufacture of beedis, cigarettes, cigar and snuff. The Portuguese introduced tobacco in the 17th century in India. Subsequently, people started growing it in Karnataka. Presently, it is a major commercial crop in the state. It can be grown in areas with moderate rainfall and high temperature in loamy soil. Karnataka grows virginia tobacco, beedi tobacco and chewing tobacco. Virginia tobacco is highest quality and is in great demand in the global market. It is grown widely in Karnataka. It earns valuable foreign exchange and revenue for the state exchequer. Karnataka ranks fourth among the tobacco growing states in India. Mysore district occupies the first position in the production of tobacco. It is also grown in the districts of Hassan, Shivamogga, Kodagu, Belagavi, Ballari, Chitradurga, Raichur, Davanagere, Tumakuru and Gadag. Nippani in Belagavi district is very famous for its beedi tobacco marketing. Tobacco grown in Karnataka is of a world class, and most of it is exported.
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Fourth commercial crop is Coffee. Coffee is Karnataka famous plantation and beverage crop. Karnataka ranks first in the production of coffee in India. A Muslim Fakir or priest named Bababudan planted coffee saplings for the first time around 1670 in the hills of Chikkamagaluru. Hence these hills are called as Bababudangiri or Inam Dattatreya Peeta. However, organized cultivation of coffee began under the British rule in 1826, and today vast coffee estates can be seen in Karnataka. Karnataka produces two types of coffee namely Coffee Arabica and coffee Robusta. Of these Arabica is of better quality and enjoys a great demand in the international market. Coffee is a tropical crop which can grow well on the slopes of hills, with heavy rainfall. Clay mixed soil is suitable for this crop. Coffee plant cannot withstand the direct rays of the sun. Hence shady trees are grown in estates. Coffee is mainly grown in the Malnad region which has all the conditions required for growing it. Karnataka has a share of 70 percent of the coffee produced in India. It is grown largely in Kodagu district. After Kodagu, Chikkamagaluru and Hassan are important for coffee growing. It is grown to a small extent in Shivamogga, Chamarajnagar and Dakshina Kannada district. Coffee grown in Karnataka is good in quality. It is best known for its taste and flavour. Hence it enjoys great demand both in the national and international markets. That is why Karnataka is known as The Land of Coffee. Activity: Invite the farmers to your school. Conduct a discussion on methods of cultivation and marketing of the crops which they have grown. Activity: Collect more information regarding organic farming.
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Now let us move to the exercises section to ensure you are fully prepared for your exams. I will guide you through each question. Exercise One: Fill in the blanks with suitable words. Question one: Utilising land for different purposes is called land utilization. Question two: Largest net area sown is in Kalaburagi district. Question three: The Belagavi district is the largest producer of sugarcane in Karnataka. Question four: Tobacco contains an intoxicating substance called nicotine. Exercise Two: Answer the following questions in brief. Question five: Name the different types of land utilization in Karnataka. Answer: The different types of land utilization in Karnataka are net area sown, forest area, land not available for cultivation, other uncultivated land, and fallow land. Question six: Write a note on the importance of agriculture in Karnataka. Answer: Agriculture is one of the ancient, primary occupations of Karnataka. It is the main source of livelihood for many. It is the backbone of our state's economy. Economic progress depends on agriculture. It provides employment, food for the people, and raw materials to industries. It is a source of revenue to the state and helps earn foreign exchange. It also helps in the development of tertiary occupations like transport, banking, and insurance, and plays an important role in the political and social systems of the state.
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Question seven: What is meant by irrigation? Name the main crops grown under irrigation. Answer: Crops grown by using water from canals, tanks or wells is called irrigation. The main crops grown under this farming are paddy and sugarcane. Question eight: Explain the main characteristics of mixed farming. Answer: In mixed farming, in addition to growing crops, dairy farming, silkworm rearing, sheep rearing, poultry, bee keeping, and fishery are taken up together. This mixed type of farming is gaining popularity nowadays. Question nine: Write a note on Maize. Answer: Globally maize is considered as the Queen of Grains. Maize grown in plenty in south Karnataka is predominantly used as food for human beings and fodder for animals. Jowar and Maize belong to the grass family. It is a tropical crop, requiring moderate rainfall and moderate temperature. Exercise Three: Match the following. For your revision, here are the correct answers: Coffee matches with Kodagu. Cotton matches with Haveri. Paddy matches with Raichur. Ragi matches with Tumakuru. Jowar matches with Vijayapura.
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Exercise Four: Activities. Activity one: Collect samples of the various kinds of foodgrains and pulses grown in Karnataka. Activity two: On a map of Karnataka mark the areas where jowar, ragi and other foodgrains are grown. Exercise Five: Project. Note down the names of the crops grown in the surrounding areas of your place. Collect pictures of the same.
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Thank you for listening! Keep revising and practicing. Goodbye! [CHAPTER_COMPLETE]