Discuss the major agroclimatic regions of Karnataka with their major crops. (12 MARKS) (GS2 – KAS MAINS 2015)
Karnataka, with its diverse geography and climatic conditions, is divided into several agro-climatic zones, each conducive to specific types of agricultural activities. Here are the major agro-climatic regions of Karnataka along with their major crops:
North Eastern Transition Zone: This region includes parts of Bidar, Kalaburagi, and Yadgir districts. Major crops grown here are jowar, wheat, pulses, groundnut, sunflower, and cotton.
North Eastern Dry Zone: Covering parts of Kalaburagi, Yadgir, and Raichur districts, this zone is suitable for crops like jowar, pulses, groundnut, sunflower, cotton, and sugarcane.
Northern Dry Zone: Encompassing areas of Bagalkot, Belagavi, Vijayapura, Dharwad, and Gadag districts, major crops include jowar, maize, groundnut, sunflower, cotton, and sugarcane.
Central Dry Zone: This zone covers parts of Davanagere, Chitradurga, and Haveri districts. The main crops grown here are jowar, ragi, groundnut, sunflower, and cotton.
Eastern Dry Zone: Including parts of Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and Tumakuru districts, crops such as ragi, jowar, maize, groundnut, sunflower, and pulses are predominant.
Southern Dry Zone: Covering areas of Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Mandya, and Ramanagara districts, crops like ragi, jowar, pulses, groundnut, cotton, and sugarcane are grown.
Southern Transition Zone: This zone includes parts of Mysuru, Hassan, and Chamarajanagar districts. Major crops here are ragi, jowar, maize, sugarcane, groundnut, and tobacco.
Northern Transition Zone: Encompassing areas of Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, and parts of Hassan and Kodagu districts, crops grown here include arecanut, coffee, pepper, cardamom, ginger, and vegetables.
Hilly Zone: Covering the Western Ghats region in districts like Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, and Kodagu, major crops include arecanut, coffee, pepper, cardamom, ginger, and various spices.
Coastal Zone: Encompassing parts of Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts, crops like coconut, arecanut, cashew, spices, paddy, pulses, and mangoes are predominant.
These regions showcase the agricultural diversity of Karnataka, ranging from dryland crops like jowar and groundnut to horticultural crops like arecanut, coffee, and spices, depending on the local climatic conditions and soil types.
