Indian Food Crops include rice, wheat, corn (maize), coarse grains (sorghum and millets), and pulses (beans, dried peas, and lentils). Approximately 127.5 million hectares of land in India is used to grow food grains, which is about 75 percent of the total planted area.

Around 33 percent of cropland was used for the cultivation of rice, about 29 percent for coarse grains, and the rest evenly divided between wheat and pulses. Rice is India`s pre-eminent crop and happens to be the staple food of the people of the eastern and southern parts of the country. Production of this Indian food crop increased from 53.6 million tons in 1980 to 74.6 million tons in 1990 and almost 39 percent increase over the decade. Rice is grown all across the nation and is available in umpteen varieties. Around 2,00,000 varieties of rice, exists in India. In India, rice is grown under widely varying conditions of altitude and climate.

Wheat, one of the major Indian food crops, has played a formative role in the unfolding of India`s history. The northern region of India has traditionally dominated wheat cultivation. The northern states of Punjab and Haryana Plains in India have been abundant wheat producers. Wheat is cultivated in clayey soil and is extensively used for bread making and pasta. Today, India is exporting sufficient quantities of all types of wheat and extensive research efforts that are underway for improving its cereals and grain output in future. India is today the second largest wheat producer in the whole world.

Sorghum and millet are the principal coarse grains of Indian food crops. They are primarily grown in dry areas of Indian subcontinent. Corn and barley are considered as the staple food grown mainly near and in the Himalayan region. Indian Pulses are an important source of protein in the vegetarian diet and is widely used in different cuisines of the nation. Maize is a common food crop in northern and western India.

The principal oilseeds grown in India include groundnuts, rapeseeds and mustard seeds. Vegetable oil is the most common means of cooking. Sugarcane is one of the popular Indian food crops. Over the years sugar has turned into a substantial ingredient of regular food intake. For daily sugar needs, people depend exclusively on sugarcane. This food crop is usually grown in north and south India.

Coffee and tea are the two most admired food crops in India. Tea belongs to the northeastern part, while coffee is confined to the southwestern part of the world. The perfect soil, favorable climate and careful handling of these food crops in India has lead to a stabilised Indian food industry.