Agro-Climatic Zones In India: Classifications and Features

Table of Contents

India is divided into different agro-climatic zones based on several factors such as topography, climate, soil type, and other geographical features. In the late 90s, a consensus was achieved in India on the primacy of topography for a regional division. Based on this consensus the Planning Commission in 1988 outlined 15 agro-climatic zones in India. For proper planning of agricultural activities, these Agro-climatic regions are further divided into sub-regions.

These agro-climatic zones help in understanding the different region’s suitability for various crops and agriculture practices. To know all about these zones, their sub-regions, their characteristics, and their importance read the article thoroughly.

Agro-Climatic Zones of India

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 1983 an agro-climatic zone is a land unit uniform concerning climate and length of growing period (LGP) that is climatically suitable for a certain range of crops and cultivars. Regions with comparable climatic conditions and agricultural potential are referred to as Agro Climatic Zones (ACZ). Climate, precipitation, soil composition, and crop compatibility all have a role in restricting these zones. Restricting these zones will make it easier to create location-specific interventions and strategies for agricultural development.

Objectives of Agro-Climatic Regions

To optimize agricultural production and strategies
To evaluate the agricultural potential and constraints of various regions
To encourage crop rotation and diversification
To recognize and solve the problems that farmers encounter
To improve each region’s efficient use of its resources
To encourage regional collaboration in agricultural development
To create agricultural policies programs and incentives
To encourage the preservation of each region’s natural resources

Agro-Climatic Zones

The Planning Commission, as a result of the mid-term appraisal of the planning targets of the Seventh Plan, has divided the country into fifteen broad agro-climatic zones based on physiography, soils, geological formation, Climate, cropping patterns, and development of irrigation and mineral resources for broad agricultural planning and developing future strategies. These are further divided into more homogeneous 72 sub-zones. Fourteen regions were in the mainland and the remaining one was in the islands of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea.

Check the following table to learn about 15 Zones.

Agro-Climatic Zones of India
Zone	Region	States/Union Territories Included
1	Western Himalayan Region	Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh
2	Eastern Himalayan Region	Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal, and all North-Eastern states
3	Lower Gangetic Plains Region	West Bengal
4	Middle Gangetic Plains Region	Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
5	Upper Gangetic Plains Region	Uttar Pradesh
6	Trans-Gangetic Plains Region	Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Rajasthan
7	Eastern Plateau and Hills Region	Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal
8	Central Plateau and Hills Region	Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh
9	Western Plateau and Hills Region	Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan
10	Southern Plateau and Hills Region	Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu
11	East Coast Plains and Hills Region	Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry
12	West Coast Plains and Ghat Region	Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Karnataka, Maharashtra
13	Gujarat Plains and Hills Region	Gujarat
14	Western Dry Region	Rajasthan
15	The Islands Region	Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep

Features of Agro-Climatic Zones

There are 15 Agro-Climatic Zones in India. Features of each zone are provided below.

Zone 1: Western Himalayan Region

Features	Description
Location	Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Kumaun-Garhwal areas of Uttarakhand.
Climate	Mild summers (July avg. temp: 5°C-30°C), severe winters (Jan temp: 0°C to -4°C).
Soil	Valleys- Thick alluvium, Hill slopes- Thin brown hilly soils.
Crops	Main crops: maize, wheat, potato, barley. Temperate fruits in parts of Jammu Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.

Zone 2: Eastern Himalayan Region

Features	Description
Location	Sikkim, Darjeeling area (West Bengal), Arunachal Pradesh, Assam hills, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura.
Climate	Sub-humid climate, with rainfall over 200 cm and temperatures ranging from 25°C to 33°C in July and 11°C to 24°C in January.
Soil	Brownish, thick layered, and less fertile soil.
Agricultural Practice	Shifting cultivation (Jhum) (1/3 of the cultivated area)
Main Crops	Rice, potato, maize, tea, and fruits such as orange, pineapple, lime, and litchi.

Zone 3: Lower Gangetic Plains Region

Features	Description
Location	Eastern Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam Valley.
Climate	July: 26°C – 41°C, January: 9°C – 24°C.
Soil	Alluvial Soils
Main Crops	Rice is the main crop, with three successive crops (Aman, Aus, and Boro) in a year.

Zone 4: Middle Gangetic Plains Region

Features	Description
Location	Eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar (except the Chotanagpur plateau).
Climate	July: 26°C – 41°C, January: 9°C – 24°C.
Soil	Alluvium derived like Khaddar and Bhangar
Main Crops (Kharif Season)	Rice, maize, millet.
Main Crops (Rabi Season)	Wheat, gram, barley, peas, mustard, potato.

Zone 5: Upper Gangetic Plains Region

Features	Description
Location	Central and western parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Climate	Sub-humid continental with July temperature between 26°C – 41°C, January temperature between 7°C – 23°C, and average annual rainfall between 75 cm – 150 cm.
Soil	Sandy loam soil.
Main Crops	Wheat, rice, sugarcane, millets, maize, gram, barley, oilseeds, pulses, and cotton.

Zone 6: Trans-Gangetic Plains Region

Features	Description
Location	Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Ganganagar districts of Rajasthan.
Climate	Semi-arid characteristics with July temperature between 26°C – 42°C, January temperature between 7°C – 22°C, and average annual rainfall between 70 cm – 125 cm.
Soil	Alluvial
Main Crops	Wheat, sugarcane, cotton, rice, gram, maize, millets, pulses, and oilseeds.

Zone 7: Eastern Plateau and Hills Region

Features	Description
Location	Chotanagpur plateau, Rajmahal Hills, Chhattisgarh plains, and Dandakaranya.
Climate	July: 26°C – 34°C, January: 10°C – 27°C, Annual rainfall: 80 cm – 150 cm.
Soil	Red and yellow soils with occasional patches of laterites and alluviums.
Main Crops	Crops like rice, millet, maize, oilseeds, ragi, gram, and potato.

Zone 8: Central Plateau and Hills Region

Features	Description
Location	Bundelkhand, Baghelkhand, Bhander plateau, Malwa plateau, and Vindhyachal hills.
Climate	Semi-arid in the western part to sub-humid in the eastern part. July: 26°C – 40°C, January: 7°C – 24°C, Annual rainfall: 50 cm – 100 cm.
Soil	Mixed red, yellow, and black soils.
Main Crops	Crops grown include millets, gram, barley, wheat, cotton, sunflower, etc.

Zone 9: Western Plateau and Hills Region

Features	Description
Location	Southern part of the Malwa plateau and Deccan plateau (Maharashtra).
Climate	July: 24°C – 41°C, January: 6°C – 23°C, Annual rainfall: 25 cm – 75 cm.
Soil	Shallow to medium and deep black soils with sandy loam to loamy texture and neutral reaction
Main Crops	Jowar, cotton, sugarcane, rice, bajra, wheat, gram, pulses, potato, groundnut, and oilseeds.
Special Crops	Known for oranges, grapes, and bananas.

Zone 10: Southern Plateau and Hills Region

Features	Description
Location	Southern Maharashtra, Karnataka, western Andhra Pradesh, and northern Tamil Nadu.
Climate	July: 26°C – 42°C, January: 13°C – 21°C, Annual rainfall: 50 cm – 100 cm.
Soil	Low-level valleys and regions are covered by black soils, while red soils on higher slopes and hill tops are seen
Main Crops	Low-value cereals and minor millets predominate.
Special Crops	Coffee, tea, cardamom, and spices are grown along the hilly slopes of the Karnataka plateau.

Zone 11: East Coast Plains and Hills Region

Features	Description
Location	Coromandel and Northern Circar – the important Coastal plains of India.
Climate	Sub-humid maritime, May temperature: 26°C – 32°C, January temperature: 20°C – 29°C, Annual rainfall: 75 cm – 150 cm.
Soil	Alluvial, loam, and clay, with the problem of alkalinity.
Main Crops	Rice, jute, tobacco, sugarcane, maize, millet, groundnut, and oilseeds.

Zone 12: West Coast Plains and Ghat Region

Features	Description
Location	Malabar and Konkan coasts and the Sahyadris.
Climate	Humid, annual rainfall above 200 cm. July temperature: 26°C – 32°C, January temperature: 19°C – 28°C.
Soil	Laterite and Coastal Alluvials
Main Crops	Rice, coconut, oilseeds, sugarcane, millets, pulses, cotton.
Special Crops	Famous for plantation crops and spices raised along the hill slopes of the Ghats.

Zone 13: Gujarat Plains and Hills Region

Features	Description
Location	Kathiawar and fertile valleys of the Mahi and Sabarmati rivers.
Climate	Arid and semi-arid, annual rainfall: 50 cm – 100 cm. July temperature: 26°C – 42°C, January temperature: 13°C – 29°C.
Soil	Regur in the plateau region, alluvium in the coastal plains, and red and yellow soils in Jamnagar.
Main Crops	Groundnut, cotton, rice, millet, oilseeds, wheat, and tobacco.
Specialty	Important oilseed producing region.

Zone 14: Western Dry Region

Features	Description
Location	Western Rajasthan west of the Aravallis.
Climate	Hot sandy desert, erratic rainfall (annual average less than 25 cm), high evaporation. June: 28°C – 45°C, January: 5°C – 22°C.
Soil	Red, Laterite and Coastal Alluvial Soil with loam and clay loam soil texture and acidic reaction
Main Crops	Kharif: Bajra, jowar, moth; Rabi: Wheat, gram.

Zone 15: The Islands Region

Features	Description
Location	Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands.
Climate	Typically equatorial, annual rainfall is less than 300 cm. July temperature: 30°C, January temperature: 25°C.
Soil	Sandy along the coast, clayey loam in valleys and lower slopes.
Main Crops	Rice, maize, millet, pulses, areca nut, turmeric, cassava.
Significant Crop	Nearly half of the area is under coconut cultivation.