Here’s a detailed analysis of Indian states based on their agricultural zones, categorized by agro-climatic and agro-ecological conditions:

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🌾 1. Northern Region (Indo-Gangetic Plains)

States: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, parts of West Bengal

• Main crops: Wheat, rice, sugarcane, pulses, oilseeds
• Features: Fertile alluvial soil, good irrigation, dense canal system
• Challenges: Overuse of groundwater, stubble burning, monocropping (mainly wheat-rice)

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🌾 2. Eastern Region

States: West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand, Eastern Bihar, Assam

• Main crops: Rice, jute, pulses, tea, vegetables
• Features: High rainfall, laterite/alluvial soil, suitable for paddy and horticulture
• Challenges: Floods, underutilization of resources, poor mechanization

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🌾 3. Western Region

States: Rajasthan, Gujarat

• Main crops: Millets (bajra, jowar), oilseeds, cotton, pulses
• Features: Arid/semi-arid zone, sandy soil, low rainfall, drip irrigation practices
• Challenges: Drought, soil salinity, water scarcity

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🌾 4. Central Region

States: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh

• Main crops: Soybean, wheat, rice, pulses, coarse grains
• Features: Black cotton soil (regur), rainfed farming
• Challenges: Irregular rainfall, need for crop diversification

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🌾 5. Southern Plateau and Hills

States: Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, parts of Maharashtra

• Main crops: Rice, ragi, pulses, oilseeds, coffee, spices
• Features: Diverse soil types (red, laterite, black), moderate to low rainfall, irrigation in river basins
• Challenges: Water scarcity, dependency on monsoon

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🌾 6. Western Ghats and Coastal Zones

States: Coastal Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka coast, Kerala, Tamil Nadu coast

• Main crops: Coconut, spices, cashew, rice, arecanut, rubber
• Features: High rainfall, humid climate, lateritic soils
• Challenges: Soil erosion, cyclones, limited cultivable land

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🌾 7. North-Eastern Hill Zone

States: Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Sikkim

• Main crops: Rice, maize, tea, horticultural crops (pineapple, orange, ginger)
• Features: High rainfall, hilly terrain, shifting cultivation (jhum)
• Challenges: Soil degradation, infrastructure issues, transport bottlenecks

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🌾 8. Himalayan Region

States: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand

• Main crops: Apples, walnuts, saffron, barley, maize
• Features: Temperate climate, terraced farming
• Challenges: Limited growing season, soil erosion, landslides

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✅ Summary of Key Agro-Climatic Zones (as per Planning Commission):

India has 15 agro-climatic zones, such as:

• Western Himalayas
• Eastern Himalayas
• Lower Gangetic Plains
• Trans-Gangetic Plains
• Central Plateau and Hills
• Western Dry Region
• Southern Plateau
• East Coast and West Coast plains

These zones help in region-specific cropping strategies, irrigation planning, and sustainable agriculture.

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