Situation.
In the north Laddakh, in the west Rajasthan (mainly western), Gujarat, in the east, Chhotanagpur, Arunachal Pradesh, parts of Nagaland to Manipur, Mizoram, etc.
The following conditions have made this area a zone of deficit agricultural production:
(i) Climate.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
The climate is extreme. In Laddakh, the temperature in the winter remains below freezing point. In the summer, when the temperature rises the rainfall is so low that it is very difficult to grow any crop.
In the west, the rainfall is very low and the temperatures are high in summer. In north-west the rainfall is high but the land is not suitable for cultivation.
(ii) Soil.
The soil in most of these areas is infertile. In Rajasthan, the soil is not that infertile but shortage of moisture is a major handicap.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
(iii) Topography.
The surface is stony waste in Laddakh, dry sandy in Rajasthan and hilly, barren and sandy in the north-west. All these conditions are unfavourable for cultivation of crops.
(iv) Agricultural Products.
In the north, Laddakh is almost unfit for agricultural activities. Small water streams provide some water. As a result barley and potatoes are grown in small quantities. Some good quality of Cuminseed (Jira) is grown near Dras. Apple, Chestnut, Apricot, etc. are also grown. In the west, Jowar, Barley, gram, etc. are grown in the desert area. In the north-east jhooming has rendered the land infertile.
ADVERTISEMENTS:
On small terraced fields rice is grown. Maize, rye, pulses; Sugarcane, etc. are cultivated in Manipur. Jhooming is a bane in Nagaland. Very small fields grow small qnatities of potatoes, coarse grams, vegetables, etc. which hardly suffice the needs of the people. The causes of unproductiveness are:
(i) A large forest cover (ii) Hilly Terrain (Hi) Poor soils (iv) Small holdings (v) Old farming methods (vi) Soil erosion (vii) Illetrate and poor peasantary (viii) Shortage of flat lands and (ix) Harsh climate.