Pariksha SaathiLesson 8 of 10 · Rajasthan General Knowledge
Agriculture, Minerals and Industries of Rajasthan
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Farming in a dry land
Most of Rajasthan's farming is rain-fed, so crops are chosen for drought tolerance. Kharif crops, sown with the monsoon in June-July, include bajra, jowar, maize, moong, moth, guar, groundnut, sesame, cotton and soybean; rabi crops, sown in October-November, include wheat, barley, mustard, gram, cumin, coriander and isabgol. Irrigation from wells and tubewells, the Indira Gandhi and Ganga canals in the north-west and the Chambal canals in Hadoti decides where wheat and cotton can grow. Sri Ganganagar, watered by canals, is called the food basket of Rajasthan.
Crops where Rajasthan leads
For decades Rajasthan has been India's largest producer of bajra (pearl millet), rapeseed-mustard, guar (cluster bean) and moth bean, and a major producer of isabgol, coriander, cumin, fenugreek and gram. Bajra is the staple grain of the desert. Bharatpur hosts the Indian Council of Agricultural Research's directorate for rapeseed-mustard research. Guar seed gives guar gum, used in food processing and oil drilling, and much of it is processed at Jodhpur. Coriander is concentrated in Hadoti, with Ramganj Mandi in Kota a leading market, and Nagaur is famous for methi (fenugreek).
Livestock
In the desert, animals matter as much as crops. Rajasthan has the largest camel population in India and is a leading producer of wool. Famous breeds include the Rathi cow, called the Kamdhenu of Rajasthan, the Tharparkar and Kankrej cattle and the Nagauri bullock; the Chokla sheep, called the Merino of India, and the Marwari and Magra sheep; the Jamunapari, Barbari and Marwari goats; and the Bikaneri and Jaisalmeri camels. The National Research Centre on Camel is at Bikaner and the Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute at Avikanagar (Tonk).
The museum of minerals
Rajasthan's ancient rocks make it so rich in minerals that it is called the museum of minerals. Lead and zinc are mined at Zawar, south of Udaipur, one of the oldest zinc-smelting sites in the world, and at Rampura Agucha (Bhilwara), one of the largest zinc-lead mines in the world; silver is recovered as a by-product, and zinc smelters stand at Debari (Udaipur) and Chanderiya (Chittorgarh). Copper comes from the Khetri belt in Shekhawati, where Hindustan Copper, set up in 1967, runs its complex, and tungsten from Degana in the Nagaur region. Rajasthan is the leading or only producer in India of lead-zinc, silver, wollastonite, gypsum, rock phosphate, calcite and jasper.
Non-metallic minerals and building stone
Rock phosphate is mined at Jhamarkotra near Udaipur, wollastonite in Sirohi and Dungarpur, and gypsum in Bikaner, Nagaur, Barmer and Jaisalmer; gypsum goes into cement and is used to reclaim alkaline soils. Lignite comes from Palana (Bikaner) and Giral and Kapurdi (Barmer). Building stone is a speciality: white marble from Makrana was used in the Taj Mahal and the Victoria Memorial, red and pink sandstone from Dholpur and Karauli went into many of New Delhi's government buildings, Kota stone (a limestone) is used for flooring, and Jaisalmer gives yellow stone.
Energy
Oil was struck in the Barmer basin at the Mangala field in 2004, and production began in 2009; Jaisalmer also has natural gas. The Rajasthan Atomic Power Station at Rawatbhata (Chittorgarh), built with Canadian help, began working in 1973. Thermal power stations stand at Kota, Suratgarh and Chhabra. With some of the strongest sunshine in India and vast open land, Rajasthan is a major centre of solar power, and the Bhadla Solar Park near Phalodi is among the largest in the world. Wind farms stand in Jaisalmer and Barmer.
Industries and crafts
Rajasthan's first modern cotton mill, Krishna Mills, opened at Beawar in 1889, and its first cement factory at Lakheri (Bundi) in 1915. Bhilwara, with many textile mills, is called the Manchester of Rajasthan. The state is equally known for crafts: Jaipur's blue pottery, made from quartz rather than clay and of Persian origin; the hand-block prints of Sanganer (fine floral designs on white) and Bagru (dabu mud-resist printing with natural dyes); bandhej, the tie-dye of Jodhpur and Jaipur, and leheriya, its wave-patterned form worn at Teej; Kota Doria, a light chequered cotton-silk fabric from Kaithoon; thewa, gold work fused on glass, from Pratapgarh; Molela terracotta plaques of deities from near Nathdwara; and usta art, gold relief work on camel hide, from Bikaner. Several of these, including Kota Doria, Jaipur blue pottery and the Sanganer and Bagru prints, carry GI tags.
Key facts
- Rajasthan has long led India in bajra, rapeseed-mustard, guar and moth bean; Sri Ganganagar is the food basket of the state.
- Kharif: bajra, jowar, maize, moong, moth, guar, groundnut; Rabi: wheat, barley, mustard, gram, cumin, isabgol.
- Largest camel population and a leading wool producer; Rathi cow = Kamdhenu of Rajasthan; Chokla sheep = Merino of India; camel research centre at Bikaner.
- Zinc-lead: Zawar (near Udaipur) and Rampura Agucha (Bhilwara); copper: Khetri (Shekhawati); tungsten: Degana.
- Rock phosphate: Jhamarkotra; wollastonite: Sirohi and Dungarpur; gypsum: Bikaner, Nagaur, Barmer; lignite: Palana and Giral.
- Makrana white marble: Taj Mahal and Victoria Memorial; Kota stone for flooring; Dholpur sandstone for buildings.
- Barmer oil: Mangala field found in 2004, production from 2009; Rawatbhata atomic plant from 1973; Bhadla solar park near Phalodi.
- First cotton mill: Krishna Mills, Beawar, 1889; first cement factory: Lakheri, 1915; Bhilwara is the Manchester of Rajasthan.
- Crafts and places: blue pottery (Jaipur), Sanganeri and Bagru prints, Kota Doria (Kaithoon), thewa (Pratapgarh), Molela terracotta, usta art (Bikaner).
Quick revision
Rain-fed farming; leads in bajra, mustard, guar, moth; Ganganagar food basket; largest camel population, a leading wool producer; Rathi, Tharparkar, Chokla breeds; museum of minerals: Zawar and Rampura Agucha zinc-lead, Khetri copper, Degana tungsten, Jhamarkotra rock phosphate, gypsum, wollastonite, Makrana marble; Barmer oil 2004/2009; Rawatbhata 1973; Bhadla solar; Krishna Mills Beawar 1889; Lakheri cement 1915; blue pottery, Sanganer, Bagru, thewa, Kota Doria.