Indian cash crops are the prime backbone that is responsible for Indian trade and commerce within and outside the country. Among Indian cash crops, fibre crops are especially important. Jute is one of the Indian cash crops that accounts for the maximum profit turn out among all the cash crops. Orissa is the fourth largest producer of jute after West Bengal, Bihar and Assam. Rice and jute are the immediate competitors, as they require almost similar soil and climatic conditions for growth. Cultivation of jute is primarily confined to the coastal plains of Cuttack, Balasore and Puri districts. Jute has been termed a versatile fibre because of its numerous uses. Cord and rope, net bags, string, floor cloth, sacking, carpets, tarpaulin, upholstery, ornamented jute fibres are a few to mention. It is the major item of export in West Bengal, sustaining about 40 lakh farmer families by generating cash income.
Indian cash crops are grown for money. The term cash crop is used to differentiate from subsistence crops, which are those fed to the producer`s own livestock or grown as food for the producer`s family. Prices for major Indian cash crops are set in commodity markets with global opportunities, with some local variation (called basis) based on freight costs and local supply and demand balance. Agribusiness, with its high-capital-investment and industrial-scale agricultural practices, aims at Indian cash crops cash crops and away from anything that is consumed locally or which cannot be preserved, shipped and sold abroad.
Mesta, also one of the Indian Cash crops is also cultivated in areas of the districts of Cuttack, Ganjam, Balangir and Koraput districts. Sugarcane is the second most important Indian Cash crops, grown in Orissa and is grown in irrigated areas. Orissa stands eighth in sugarcane production in India. A considerable amount of cultivation occurs in Cuttack, Sambalpur, Balangir, Kalahandi and Puri districts; Orissa also produces a small quantity of tobacco. In cash crop production, Cuttack district tops the list.
Among the new Indian cash crops, the most important is cashew, which has been planted extensively in the low-level latiritic plateaus at the foothills of the Eastern Ghats. These cashew plantations are mostly confined to Cuttack, Puri and Ganjam districts. The Cashew Plantation Board is responsible for the development of cashew cultivation in the state. Cashew, also one of the Indian Cash crops is also being planted along the sand dunes on the entire coastal belt. This is because of the favourable soil and climatic conditions in these areas. On the degraded and deforested hills of the Eastern Ghats, cashew is planted to check soil erosion in India. As a result, Orissa is earning a considerable amount of foreign exchange by exporting cashew through Paradeep.
Rubber is also an important Indian cash crop that is cultivated to protect the degraded hill slopes of Eastern Ghats, rubber plantation have been taken up by Rubber Board. Bright prospect for the growth and development of natural rubber exist in the northern Orissa - Mayurbhanj, Kendujhar and Baleshwar due to favourable agro-climatic conditions. Although, Orissa is a non-traditional area for rubber plantations, inland hill areas of Cuttack, Puri, Ganjam and Dhenkanal districts have agro-climatic conditions suitable for rubber cultivation. Cotton cultivation has been taken up extensively in Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi districts where suitable soil and climate conditions are found. Sea island cotton can be grown in the Ballipal region of Baleswar district.
Tea, one of the prime Indian cash crops is cultivated in areas of Eastern Ghats, Kendujhar, mountainous region of Phulbani and Koraput. Tea is a beverage made by steeping processed leaves, buds, or twigs of the tea bush in hot water for a few minutes. Indian tea is full bodied, strong, and known throughout the world. Today Indian tea is available in a wide range of flavors and strengths. In India, the regions in which they are grown i.e. Darjeeling Tea, Assam Tea and Nilgiri Tea define Indian Tea.
Coffee has become a loved Indian cash crop growing in forestlands of Eastern Ghats, Koraput, Kalhandi, Malkangiri, Rayagada, G.Udayagiri and Balliguda areas of Kanohanthal district. Coffee is a widely consumed beverage prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant. It is usually served hot but can also be served cold. India offers several varieties of specialty coffees that are popular in the West. Continuous research by Indian scientists has helped identity better strains that will make finer coffees with added flavour profiles, in both Arabica and Robusta varieties.
India is the largest producer and exporter of tobacco in the world. Total tobacco production in India is about 700 million Kilograms annually. Rich and varied Indian geographic and agro-climatic conditions promote consistent availability of wide range of tobaccos for export all through the year. Tobacco is one of the most wanted Indian Cash crops, attaining demand by virtue of its qualities, sheer volumes and diversity and is progressing gracefully to occupy its rightful place in the world tobacco market. Indian Cash Crops are the commodities that actually bring a great amount of money into the nation.
