Karnataka > Agriculture in Karnataka
The Portuguese introduced maize, tobacco, groundnut, potato, chillies and tomato from the New World and Karnataka could get the knowledge of these new crops early due to its proximity to Goa, and further Goan Christian farmers migrated to Karnataka in good number, especially to the coastal and Malnad area. Buchanan held in 1800 that the rice grounds here were more "neatly cultivated" than in Malabar.
The British introduced long fibred American cotton in India and especially in Bombay Karnataka. The Cotton Boom of the American Civil War days (1860s) gave an unprecedented fillip to cotton cultivation. Coffee plantations were raised on a large scale by the British during the 19th century.
Though the rulers of Karnataka paid much attention to irrigation, especially tanks, irrigated area did not exceed five percent before the major irrigation works were taken up in our own times. Agriculture at present is the main source of food for the population and fodder for the cattle besides the source of livelihood for nearly 65 per cent of the population. Agricultural holdings, farm implements, irrigation works and livestock represent the largest fixed capital in the State. About 69 per cent of total population live in rural areas in the State as against 73.9 per cent in the Country. About 38.5 per cent of total population were main workers as against 34.2 per cent in the Country. Among main workers 34.2 per cent were cultivators, 2.9 per cent were agricultural labourers and 3.6 per cent were engaged in livestock, forestry, fishing, plantations and allied activities. In Karnataka, the work participation rate of female (29.3) is higher than in the Country (22.7) as a whole. But this rate is higher in Andhra Pradesh (34.8), Tamil Nadu (30.9) and Maharashtra (33). In Karnataka, the cropped area is recorded survey-number wise in Rights, Tenancy and Crop Inspection (RTC) by the Village Accountants. During 199798 Provisional Report, out of the total reporting area of 190.49 lakh ha, 61.4 per cent was the gross cropped area which included net area sown and area sown more than once. Net area sown was 52.89 per cent, Fallow land accounted for 10.86 per cent. Area under forests formed 16.1 per cent. Land not available for cultivation constituted 10.95 per cent. Other uncultivated land excluding fallows was 9.22 per cent. The net sown area was 107.4 lakh ha in the State as against 1,358.8 lakh ha in the Country. Area available for crop growth in the State was 7.9 per cent of the reporting area for the country. Related Information of Agriculture and Allied Activities in Karnataka Agricultural Census
Cropping Pattern
Irrigation
Horticulture
Coffee
Animal Husbandry
Livestock Farms
Dairy Development
Fisheries
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