LAND RESOURCES OF KARNATAKA- Notes

LAND RESOURCES OF KARNATAKA

Karnataka is geographically well placed. It has varied physical features, soil, vegetation, minerals, water and ground water resources. Land is the most important natural resources. Its proper use enables the state’s development. Land Utilisation Land use for various purposes is called ‘land utilisation’. It includes cultivable land, forest area, fallow land, land for residential purposes, for the construction of roadways, railways, dams, canals, barren land, land used for grazing purposes etc. Proper utilization of land is the foundation for economic development. Pattern of land utilization in Karnataka 1. Net area sown : The distribution of net area sown is not the same all over the state. Gulbarga 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 wide-spread urbanization. Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Kodagu have less cultivable land.

2. 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, Bengaluru Rural, Raichur, Bidar and Gadag districts have less forest area. 3. 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 in first place is given for such purposes. It is followed by Shivamogga, Tumakuru, Belagavi, Ballari, Mysuru and Dhakshina Kannada districts. It is the least in Bidar district. It is moderate in the other districts. 4. Other uncultivated land :

This land use consists of permanent grazing land, trees and grooves. 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. 5. 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 Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Mysuru, Uttar Kannada and Udupi districts. However, such land areas have increased in these districts. Such land also can be reclaimed and utilised for agriculture. AGRICULTURE

The cultivation of the land for raising crops is called agriculture. Animal husbandry, poultry, bee-keeping, and sericulture are included under agriculture. Nearly 61.4% of the people in Karnataka are in rural areas and they depend on agriculture for their livelihood. 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 to earn foreign exchange. Coffee, silk, spices, tobacco, cotton etc are the agricultural products which are exported. Agriculture helps in the development of tertiary occupations like transport, banking, insurance etc. It plays an important role in the political and social systems of the state. 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, market facilities etc., The types of cultivation are classified according to these factors. They are subsistence farming, irrigation farming, dry farming, mixed farming, shifting cultivation, commercial farming, plantation farming etc. 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, oil seeds etc. 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, cocoa etc. Crops that are grown not for the domestic market but also for the international market come under commercial farming, for example: tobacco, cotton, jute etc.

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, fishery etc. are taken up and it is called mixed farming. The major crops of Karnataka Just like different types of farming, there are different types of crops in Karnataka. The main responsible for this are: soil, climatic conditions, relief features, irrigation facility, traditions of the farmers and market for the agricultural produce etc. The crops of Karnataka can be classified as follows : Food crops – paddy, ragi, maize, pulses, millets, Commercial crops – sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, mulberry. Oilseeds-groundnut, ningerseed, sesame, sunflower etc. Plantation crops – coffee, coconut, arecanut, rubber, banana etc. In addition to these different types of horticultural crops and floriculture are there. Now let us study about the major crops of Karnataka.

FOOD CROPS 1. Paddy : Paddy is a very important food crop of Karnataka.Rice is the staple food of the people of Karnataka. Paddy is grown in 28.2% 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% of paddy is sown during June - August months, and harvested during November-December. It is a kharif crop. Even in summer, paddy is grown in areas where irrigation facility is available (February - June). This is called rabi crop. In Malnad, paddy is grown by broad- casting method and in the plains by transplanting method.

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 come 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. 2. Jowar : This is second most important crop in Karnataka after paddy. Untill recently, the area under jowar cultivation was more than that of paddy. But in recents years it has decreased. The total area under jowar cultivation is 26 % 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 folder. In South Karnataka jowar is primarily grown for cattlefeed. This crop also belongs 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. Growing areas : Except for a few districts of South Karnataka, all other districts grow jowar. Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Bagalkot, Raichur, Belagavi, Bidar, Ballari, Davangere, Koppal and Gadag are the leading producers of jowar. Vijayapura stands first in the production of jowar in the state. Chitradurga, Shivamogga,

Chamarajnagar, Hassan, Tumakuru and Mandya districts are also produce jowar. 3) Ragi : This is a very nutritive food grain. Ragi balls, porridge, sprouted flour, malt, dosa etc. are made from ragi. In Karnataka it is the third most important food grain after paddy and jowar. It is 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 grow by using irrigation facility. Many labourers are needed to transplant ragi sapplings, 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. Growing areas : Karnataka stands first in the production of ragi in India. However, the use of ragi has reduced. Ragi is grown in 14% of the total cultivable land. The ragi-growing areas 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, where as ragi is the main crop in South Karnataka. Tumakuru is the leading producer of ragi. Then come Ramnagar, Bengaluru Rural, Hassan, Mandya, Kolar, Chikballapur, Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Chamarajnagar and Davanagere districts. COMMERCIAL CROPS

1) 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. Growing areas : Belagavi 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.

 2) Cotton : Cotton is a fibre crop. It provides raw material for cotton textiles. Besides, it is used for making carpets, 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 Research Institute. There is improvement in the yield production of cotton. 3) 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 great demand in the global market. It is grown widely in Karnataka. It earns valuable foreign exchange and revenue for the state exchequer. Growing areas : 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. 4) Coffee : Coffee is Karnataka’s famous plantation and beverage crop. Karnataka ranks first in the production of coffee in India. A Muslim Fakir (priest) named Bababudan planted coffee saplings for the first time around 1670 A.D. in the hills of Chikkamagaluru. 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.medium and short staple cotton. Cotton is a kharif crop. It is sown in August-September. It is a rain-fed crop. It can also grown with the help of irrigation facility.

Growing areas : 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 Coffee growing areas : Karnataka has a share of 70% 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. Hence it enjoys great demand both in the national and international markets. That is why Karnataka is known as ‘The Land of Coffee’.