Agroclimatic Zones

Let’s begin with a basic truth:

Agriculture is not just a human activity—it is a deeply natural one.

It depends heavily on land and water, which are not uniformly available across regions. Therefore, if we are serious about agricultural development, we cannot apply a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, we must plan based on nature’s template—the physical environment of each region.

Hence, in 1989, the Planning Commission, with help from NRSA (National Remote Sensing Agency), created 15 Agro-Climatic Zones.

🗺️ What Are Agroclimatic Zones (ACZs)?

An Agro-Climatic Zone is a land unit carved out based on climatic conditions, soil type, water resources, and the suitability of crops, to ensure efficient and location-specific agricultural planning.

🧩 Key Physical Factors That Define ACZs

1. Climate: Temperature and humidity affect the type of crops that can be grown.
2. Rainfall: Determines water availability—whether irrigation is needed or not.
3. Soil Characteristics (Edaphic factors): Different crops require different soil types.
4. Water Resources: Both surface water and groundwater availability.
5. Physiography (Landform & terrain): Most fundamental control in India’s case.

🔍 Note: Although we often blame monsoon for agricultural failures, in India’s context, physiographic factors (like mountains, plateaus, plains) play an even deeper role—they decide how climate and water behave in each region.

🏔️ How Do India’s Physiographic Features Influence Agriculture?

Let’s take an example:

• The Himalayas prevent cold winds from Central Asia, maintaining a warm latitudinal regime in most of India.
• The Western Ghats and their orientation decide where the monsoon rain falls—leading to wet Western coasts and dry interior plateaus.
• Soil and underground water are influenced by the geology—the type of rocks and terrain (parent rock, slope, etc.).

Thus, the ultimate agricultural potential of a region is tied to its physiography.

🗺️ Agro-Climatic Zones of India (Planning Commission, 1989)

Zone	States/Location	Topography & Soil	Climate	Major Crops	Major Issues	Suggestions
I. Western Himalayan Region	J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand (hills)	Snow-covered peaks, river valleys, thin soils	Summer: 5–30°C, Winter: 0 to -4°C; Cold climate	Rice (valleys), maize (hills), wheat, barley, oats, peas, apples, saffron	Accessibility, erosion, landslides, outdated farming	HYV seeds, orchard-based farming, storage & marketing
II. Eastern Himalayan Region	NE States, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Assam Hills	Rugged hilly terrain	25–30°C (Jul), 10–20°C (Jan); Rainfall: 200–400 cm	Rice, maize, potato, tea, oranges, pineapples	Shifting cultivation, low soil fertility	Terrace farming, rural infrastructure
III. Lower Gangetic Plains	West Bengal, East Bihar	Low-lying alluvial plains, high water table	26–41°C (Jul), 9–24°C (Jan); Rainfall: 100–200 cm	Rice (Aman, Aus, Boro), jute, maize, potato, pulses	Monocropping, low diversification	Diversify with fishery, banana, poultry, seed banks
IV. Middle Gangetic Plains	East UP, North Bihar	Fertile Ganga plain	Similar to Lower Gangetic	Rice, maize, millets (Kharif); wheat, pulses, barley (Rabi)	Wastelands, low diversification	Agro-forestry, pisciculture, reclaim fallow lands
V. Upper Gangetic Plains	Central & West UP, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar (Uttarakhand)	Fertile, alluvial plains	Rainfall: 75–150 cm; Sub-humid	Rice, wheat, sugarcane, oilseeds, cotton	Groundwater stress	Mixed cropping, dairy, horticulture, mechanization
VI. Trans-Gangetic Plains	Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, NW Rajasthan	Fertile alluvial plains	Semi-arid; Rainfall: 65–125 cm	Wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton	Water logging, salinity, falling water table	Pulses, vegetables, horticulture, livestock
VII. Eastern Plateau & Hills	Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh	Undulating land, red-yellow soils	26–34°C (Jul), 10–27°C (Jan); Rainfall: 80–150 cm	Rainfed rice, millets, ragi, oilseeds, potato	Rainfed farming, soil erosion	Pulse promotion, irrigation, soil conservation
VIII. Central Plateau & Hills	West MP, parts of UP & Rajasthan	Rocky, red & black shallow soils	Rainfall: 80–120 cm; Hot summers, mild winters	Sorghum, maize, cotton, groundnut; wheat, gram (Rabi)	Soil erosion, weak irrigation	Watershed, agro-forestry, livestock rearing
IX. Western Plateau & Hills	Maharashtra (non-Konkan), MP	Undulating, basaltic base, black soil	Rainfall: 75–150 cm (monsoon-based)	Cotton, soybean, tur, wheat (Rabi), groundnut	Drought-prone, water scarcity	Dryland farming, watershed, check-dams
X. Southern Plateau & Hills	Karnataka, Telangana, TN	Rolling terrain, red loamy/lateritic soil	Rainfall: 70–130 cm; Bimodal pattern (SW & NE)	Ragi, millets, pulses, oilseeds, cotton	Erratic rains, rainfed dependency	Rainwater harvesting, horticulture, sericulture
XI. East Coast Plains & Hills	Coastal AP, TN, Odisha	Deltaic plains (Godavari, Krishna), alluvial soil	Rainfall: 90–200 cm; Cyclone-prone	Rice, coconut, banana, groundnut, sugarcane	Floods, salinity, cyclones	Resilient farming, aquaculture, processing units
XII. West Coast Plains & Ghats	Kerala, Konkan, Coastal Karnataka, Goa	Narrow plains, Western Ghats; Laterite soil	Rainfall: 200–400 cm; Humid climate	Rice, coconut, spices, arecanut, rubber	Soil erosion, land fragmentation	Plantation, eco-tourism, organic farming
XIII. Gujarat Plains & Hills	Saurashtra, Kutch, mainland Gujarat	Alluvial (mainland), saline (Kutch), black soil	Rainfall: 40–120 cm; Arid to semi-arid	Cotton, groundnut, wheat, bajra	Drought, salinity, water scarcity	Salt-tolerant crops, drip irrigation
XIV. Western Dry Region	Western Rajasthan (Thar)	Sandy desert, low-fertile soils	Rainfall: <25 cm; Extreme temperature	Bajra, moong, moth, guar, arid fruits	Water stress, desertification	Drip irrigation, arid crops, camel/goat farming
XV. Island Region	Andaman, Nicobar, Lakshadweep	Coral (Lakshadweep), volcanic (Andaman), loamy/sandy soils	Rainfall: 200–300 cm; Hot & humid	Coconut, arecanut, fruits, limited rice	Isolation, cyclones, poor access	Coconut industry, fisheries, marine aquaculture

🌍 Why Does This Regionalisation Matter?

Just like tailor stitches clothes according to a person’s body type, agricultural planning must suit the physical profile of each region.

Thus, India’s agricultural regionalisation almost overlaps with its physiographic regionalisation. This alignment ensures that:

• We grow the right crops in the right places.
• We use water wisely and sustainably.
• We protect the ecology of fragile zones.

🌾 Principles of Agroclimatic Regional Planning

The concept promotes sustainable, inclusive, and ecological agriculture through:

1. Local area-based planning
2. Minimal ecological disruption
3. People’s participation (like PRIs – Panchayati Raj Institutions)
4. Balanced development: Not just crop production but livestock, fisheries, forestry—whatever suits the zone.

🧠 Final Thought: A Progressive Vision

Agroclimatic zoning is not just an administrative division—it’s a scientific and ethical approach to agriculture. It respects:

• The limits of nature
• The potential of people
• And the need for sustainability

It is a progressive framework that ensures agriculture is not just about more yield, but also about healthy ecosystems and empowered communities.