Classification of Agricultural Products with reference to their Seasonality & Perishability

Agriculture

The art and science of crop and livestock production. Agriculture is the set of activities that transform the environment for the production of animals and plants for human use. In its broadest sense, agriculture comprises the entire range of technologies associated with the production of useful products from plants and animals, including soil cultivation, crop and livestock management, and the activities of processing and marketing.

Agriculture in India
About 75% people are living in rural areas and are still dependent on Agriculture. About 43% of Indias geographical area is used for agricultural activity Accounts for 27% of GDP Contributes 21% of Total Exports, and Supplies Raw materials to Industries Growth Rate in production - 5.7% Food grains production 211.17 mt

Agriculture in Haryana

Geographical Area Cultivated Area Net Area Sown Gross Cropped Area Cropping intensity Irrigated Area Area under brackish water No. of Farm Holdings a) Marginal farmers b) Small farmers c) others

44.21 lakh ha. 38.09 lakh ha. 35.56 lakh ha. 63.94 lakh ha 182 % (National average 135%) 84% 54% 15.28 lakh 7.04 lakh (46.1%) 2.94 lakh (19.3%) 5.30 lakh (34.7%)

Categories of Agricultural Products

Cereals and Pulses Seeds Spices Fruits Vegetables Dry Fruits & Nuts Edible Oils Essential Oil Flowers Fertilizers Beverages & Juices Fodder Dairy Products

Aromatic Plants Herbal Products Agricultural Machinery & Equipments Coconut and Coir Product Meat & Poultry Foods Processed Food & Snacks Pickles & Condiments Marine Food Supplies Other Agro Products

Classification of Agricultural Products

Agricultural products can be classified into two categories: o Perishable products o Non-perishable products. Agricultural products can be classified into two categories on the basis or seasons: o Rabi o Kharif o Zaid

According to Parishability

Perishable Goods: Generally all the vegetables falling the

category of perishable agricultural products as they survive only for a few days.

Vegetables Fruits

Cold Storage

Availability of proper cold storages are important for preserving perishable commodities like milk, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits, ornamental flowers and other floricultural goods. These cold storages give perishable food items a longer shelf life by preventing them from rotting due to humidity, high temperature and micro-organisms. This results in a decrease in loss due to spoilage. Different products are stored at different temperatures. Flowers will remain fresh even in a moderately cool chiller whereas a product like meat needs to be deep frozen to prevent it from turning rancid. The government trains managers and operators of cold storages to store products at the optimum temperature, maintain machinery, hygiene and administration. The Directorate of Marketing and Inspection of the Department of Agriculture and Cooperation provides consultancy and technical services to prospective entrepreneurs for the construction, maintenance and operation of cold storages. Other activities that the Directorate of Marketing and Inspection is involved in are preparation of a master plan for cold storage requirements at micro/macro levels, conducting seminars, problem oriented studies and coordinating research in cold storage

According to Parishability

Non-Perishable Goods: the goods which can survive for

years are classified in the category of non-perishable agricultural products.

Cereals and Pulses Spices Sweeteners Fats and Oils

Storage of Non Perishable Goods

Material of the container used to store these items: - Stainless steel - Aluminum - Glass - Branded plastic

According to Seasonality

RABI: Sowing is done from October to December and harvesting

season is from March to May.
The crops that are sown in the winter season are called Rabi crops. (also known as the "winter crop") in India. The Rabi means, when the crop is harvested. Crops that are grown in the winter season, from November to April are called Rabi Crops. Some of the important rabi crops are wheat, barley, peas, gram and mustard. States of north and north eastern part of India such as Punjab and kashmir and in Pakistan sindh are important for the production of wheat and other rabi crops. Availability of precipitation during winter months due to the western temperate cyclones helps in the success of these crops.

RABI CROPS:

Maize Cumin Coriender Wheat Fenugreek Gram Onion Mustard Tomato Potato Oat

According to Seasonality

KHARIF: Sowing for the crops is done from April to July and
harvesting is done from .September to December.
The crops that are sown in the rainy season are called kharif crops. (also known as the summer or monsoon crop) in India. Kharif crops are usually sown with the beginning of the first rains in July, during the south-west monsoon season. The main monsoon season in India runs from June to September and the southwest summer monsoon occur due to a low pressure area that's caused by the extreme heat of the Thar Desert and adjoining areas, during summer.

KHARIF CROPS:

Paddy Guar (F) cotton chilly Jowar Urid maize arhar Bajri Ground Nut

According to Seasonality

ZAID: Sowing for the crops is done in March and harvesting is done in
June
In Indian sub-continent, the crops grown on irrigated lands which do not have to wait for monsoons, in the short duration between Rabi and Kharif crop season, mainly from March to June, are called Zaid crops (also written as Zayad crops). These crops are grown mainly in the summer season during a period called the ' Zayad crop season ' .They require warm day weather for major growth period and longer day length for flowering. Its main products are seasonal fruits and vegetables

ZAID CROPS:

Musk Melon Water Melon Gourds Cucumber

CROP SEASONS
CROPPING SEASON PERIOD SOWING HARVEST ING BEGINNIN G OF NOV CROPS CULTIVATED (Northern States) RICE, COTTON, BAJRA, MAIZE JOWAR, TUR WHEAT, GRAM, RAPESEEDS , MUSTARD, BARLEY VEGETABLE S, FRUITS, FODDER CROPS CULTIVATED (Southern States) RICE, MAIZE, RAGI, JOWAR, GROUNDNUT

KHARIF

APR - MAY

RABI

END OF OCT OR BEGINNING OF NOV APRIL

MARCH

RICE, MAIZE, RAGI, GROUNDNUT, JOWAR RICE, VEGETABLES, FODDER

ZAID

JUNE