NABARD ARD Notes Series · Chapter 1 of 16
NABARD Grade A Agronomy Notes (ARD Syllabus): Agriculture, Agronomy, Classification of Field Crops, Agro-Climatic Zones, Cropping Systems and Dryland Agriculture with PYQs
These NABARD Grade A agronomy notes, written for the NABARD 2026 and 2027 cycles, follow the official ARD syllabus topic by topic: agriculture and its branches, agronomy and its scope, classification of field crops, factors affecting crop production, agro-climatic zones, cropping systems and problems of dryland agriculture. NABARD asked 23 agronomy objective questions from 2021 to 2025, plus a 2024 Phase 2 descriptive question on dryland farming. Every one of them is placed under the syllabus topic it came from, with the facts to memorise, the 2025-26 crop statistics and 17 practice MCQs.
Written by Faiz Sir, NABARD Grade A mentor at Clarity 4 Sure (C4S). PYQs verified against the C4S NABARD PYQ repository; crop statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture’s Third Advance Estimates 2025-26. Updated 2 November 2026.
NABARD Grade A agronomy syllabus for 2026 and 2027
The NABARD Grade A ARD syllabus lists these agronomy topics. Each links to its section in these notes, with the PYQs asked from it.
| Syllabus topic | PYQs asked | Jump to |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture: definition, meaning and its branches | Basis for all ARD questions | Agriculture |
| Agronomy: definition, meaning and scope of agronomy | 2021 (definition) | Agronomy |
| Classification of field crops | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 (seasons, scientific names, photoperiod, residue) | Field crops |
| Factors affecting crop production | 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 (tillage, puddling, weeds, mulching) | Factors |
| Agro-climatic zones | 2021, 2025 (twice), plus El Niño 2025 | Agro-climatic zones |
| Cropping systems: definition and types | 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025 | Cropping systems |
| Problems of dryland agriculture | 2021 (Rainfed Area Development), 2024 descriptive | Dryland agriculture |
The same ARD syllabus block continues with seed production, seed processing and seed village (Chapter 2), agro-meteorology (Chapter 3), and precision farming, the system of crop intensification and organic farming (Chapter 4). Always check the latest NABARD notification for the final syllabus.
How many agronomy questions come in NABARD Grade A? PYQ analysis 2021–2025 and NABARD 2026 outlook
Agronomy appears in every NABARD ARD paper, in both Phase 1 and the Phase 2 objective section. Counting only agronomy and agro-climatology (soil, irrigation and machinery have their own chapters), the memory-based papers show this pattern:
Expect 5–6 agronomy questions in a typical cycle, mostly static but increasingly framed as statements and passages, plus the chance of a descriptive question in Phase 2. See the chapter priorities in How to Prepare for ARD in NABARD Grade A 2027 and the earlier agronomy, meteorology and seed science PYQ analysis.
Agriculture: definition, meaning and its branches
Definition and meaning of agriculture
Agriculture is the science, art and business of cultivating crops and rearing livestock for food, fibre, fuel and other products, together with the management of the land, water and other resources behind them. The word comes from the Latin ager (field) and cultura (cultivation). It is a science because it rests on principles from biology, chemistry and physics; an art because it needs practical skill; and a business because the farmer produces for income.
Branches of agriculture and the NABARD ARD syllabus sequence
The main branches of agriculture are agronomy, horticulture, soil science, agricultural engineering, plant breeding and genetics, plant pathology, entomology, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry, agricultural extension and agricultural economics. The NABARD Grade A ARD syllabus covers them in this official sequence, and the NABARD ARD Notes Series follows the same order:
| Official syllabus section | Syllabus keywords (official wording) | In this series |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture and agronomy | Agriculture: definition, meaning and its branches; Agronomy: definition, meaning and scope of agronomy; Classification of field crops; Factors affecting crop production; Agro-climatic zones; Cropping systems: definition and types of cropping systems; Problems of dryland agriculture | Chapter 1: Agriculture & Agronomy (this one) |
| Seed | Seed production, seed processing, seed village | Chapter 2: Seed Science |
| Meteorology | Meteorology: weather parameters, crop-weather advisory | Chapter 3: Agro-Meteorology |
| Modern farming | Precision farming, System of Crop Intensification, organic farming | Chapter 4: Precision Farming, SCI & Organic Farming |
| (a) Soil and Water Conservation | Major soil types, soil fertility, fertilisers, soil erosion, soil conservation, watershed management | Chapter 5: Soil & Water Conservation |
| (b) Water Resource | Irrigation management: types of irrigation, sources of irrigation, crop-water requirement, command area development, water conservation techniques, micro-irrigation, irrigation pumps, major, medium and minor irrigation | Chapter 6: Water Resources & Irrigation |
| (c) Farm and Agri Engineering | Farm machinery and power; sources of power on the farm: human, animal, mechanical, electrical, wind, solar and biomass; bio fuels; water harvesting structures, farm ponds, watershed management; agro processing; controlled and modified storage, perishable food storage, godowns, bins and grain silos | Chapter 7: Farm & Agri Engineering |
| (d) Plantation & Horticulture | Definition, meaning and its branches; agronomic practices and production technology of various plantation and horticulture crops; post-harvest management, value and supply chain management of plantation and horticulture crops | Chapter 8: Plantation & Horticulture |
| (e) Animal Husbandry | Farm animals and their role in Indian economy; animal husbandry methods in India; common terms pertaining to different species of livestock; utility classification of breeds of cattle; introduction to common feeds and fodders, their classification and utility | Chapter 9: Animal Husbandry |
| (e) Poultry | Introduction to poultry industry in India (past, present and future status); common terms pertaining to poultry production and management; concept of mixed farming and its relevance to socio-economic conditions of farmers in India; complementary and obligatory nature of livestock and poultry production with that of agricultural farming | Chapter 10: Poultry |
| (f) Fisheries | Fisheries resources, management and exploitation: freshwater, brackish water and marine; aquaculture: inland and marine; biotechnology; post-harvest technology; importance of fisheries in India; common terms pertaining to fish production | Chapter 11: Fisheries |
| (g) Forestry | Basic concepts of forest and forestry; principles of silviculture, forest mensuration, forest management and forest economics; concepts of social forestry, agroforestry, joint forest management; forest policy and legislation in India; India State of Forest Report; recent developments under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change | Chapter 12: Forestry |
| (h) Agriculture Extension | Its importance and role; methods of evaluation of extension programmes; role of Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVK) in dissemination of agricultural technologies | Chapter 13: Agricultural Extension |
| (i) Ecology and Climate Change | Ecology and its relevance to man; natural resources, their sustainable management and conservation; causes of climate change, greenhouse gases (GHG), major GHG emitting countries, climate analysis; adaptation vs mitigation; climate change impact on agriculture and rural livelihood; carbon credit; IPCC, UNFCCC, CoP meetings; funding mechanisms for climate change projects; initiatives by the Government of India: NAPCC, SAPCC, INDC | Chapter 14: Ecology & Climate Change |
| (j) Present scenario of Indian agriculture | Present scenario of Indian agriculture and allied activities; recent trends; major challenges in agriculture; measures to enhance viability of agriculture; factors of production and the rest of section (j) | Chapter 15: Indian Agriculture: Scenario, Finance & Marketing |
| Rural Development | The rural development part of the ARD syllabus | Chapter 16: Rural Development |
Sequence and wording from the official NABARD Grade A ARD syllabus. Always check the latest NABARD notification for changes.
NABARD often joins two branches in one question: agronomy with irrigation, agronomy with a scheme, agronomy with current statistics. That is why this series links every chapter to the others.
Agronomy: definition, meaning and scope of agronomy
Definition and meaning of agronomy
Agronomy is the branch of agricultural science that deals with the principles and practices of soil, water and crop management for field-crop production. The word comes from the Greek agros (field) and nomos (management). Indian agronomy texts commonly name Pietro de Crescenzi as the father of agronomy.
The branch of agriculture dealing with soil, water and crop management is:
Show answer
Scope of agronomy
- Crop production: choosing crops and varieties and managing them through the season.
- Tillage and seedbed preparation.
- Cropping systems: arranging crops in time and space.
- Weed management: reducing crop–weed competition.
- Water management: using irrigation and rainfall efficiently.
- Nutrient management: using fertilisers and manures efficiently.
- Dryland agriculture: producing crops under limited rainfall.
- Sustainable production: conservation agriculture, precision farming and resource-use efficiency.
NABARD agronomy important facts at a glance
Revise this table the day before the exam. Rows marked PYQ have been asked directly.
| Concept | Fact to remember |
|---|---|
| Agronomy PYQ | Soil, water and field-crop management |
| Father of agronomy | Pietro de Crescenzi |
| Kharif · Rabi · Zaid PYQ | Monsoon (June–Oct) · winter (Oct–Mar) · short summer between Rabi and Kharif |
| Primary tillage PYQ | First deep soil-working after harvest (ploughs) |
| Puddling PYQ | Wet tillage for transplanted rice; main aim: cut percolation losses |
| Mixed cropping PYQ | Crops grown together without definite rows; for risk insurance |
| Intercropping PYQ | Crops grown together in a definite row pattern |
| Relay cropping PYQ | Next crop sown before the standing crop is harvested |
| Multiple cropping PYQ | Two or more crops a year on the same land, made possible by irrigation |
| Cropping intensity | Gross cropped area ÷ net sown area × 100 |
| Mulching PYQ | Surface cover to cut evaporation and suppress weeds |
| Smother crops PYQ | Dense crops that suppress weeds: cowpea, sorghum, sunhemp |
| Photoperiodism PYQ | Response to relative length of day and night |
| Agro-climatic regions PYQ | 15, by the Planning Commission (1989) |
| Dry farming · dryland · rainfed | Below 750 mm · 750–1,150 mm · above 1,150 mm rainfall |
| Rainfed agriculture | About 51% of net sown area; about 40% of food production |
| CRIDA · NRAA | ICAR dryland institute, Hyderabad (1985) · National Rainfed Area Authority (2006) |
Classification of field crops
NABARD tests crop classification in several ways, so learn each crop through more than one lens: season, use, life span and photoperiod response, plus its scientific name.
Classification of field crops by season: kharif, rabi and zaid
| Season | Sowing and harvest | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Kharif | Sown with the south-west monsoon (June–July), harvested September–October | Rice, maize, sorghum, bajra, cotton, groundnut, soybean, jute, sesame, tur |
| Rabi | Sown in winter after the monsoon (October–December), harvested March–April | Wheat, barley, chickpea, lentil, mustard, peas |
| Zaid | Short summer season between Rabi and Kharif (March–June) | Cucurbits (bitter gourd, cucumber, watermelon), summer moong, fodder crops |
A – sown in winter after the monsoon, harvested in summer; B – sown with the south-west monsoon; C – summer season between Rabi and Kharif. Which crop can be grown in season A?
- Jute
- Bajra
- Sesame
- Bitter gourd
- Chickpea
Show answer
Classification of field crops by economic use
- Cereals: rice, wheat, maize, barley.
- Millets: sorghum (jowar), pearl millet (bajra), finger millet (ragi) and the small millets.
- Pulses: chickpea, pigeon pea (tur), lentil, green gram (moong), black gram (urad), cowpea.
- Oilseeds: groundnut, rapeseed-mustard, soybean, sunflower, sesame, castor.
- Fibre crops: cotton, jute, mesta.
- Sugar crops: sugarcane, sugar beet.
- Fodder crops: berseem, lucerne, fodder sorghum and maize.
This grouping matters for current affairs: foodgrain estimates, the Pulses Mission, the Edible Oils Mission and MSP all use these categories. NABARD 2021 also asked which crop group generates the most crop residue in India: cereals.
Classification of field crops by life span
- Annual crops complete their life cycle in one season or year: rice, wheat, most pulses and oilseeds.
- Biennial crops need two seasons: sugar beet (for seed), some vegetables.
- Perennial crops live for several years: lucerne, Napier grass; sugarcane is grown as a ratoon crop over two to three years.
Classification by photoperiod response: short-day, long-day and day-neutral crops
Photoperiodism is the response of plants (and animals) to the relative length of day and night. NABARD asked this definition in 2022.
| Group | Flowering needs | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Short-day plants | Day shorter than a critical length (long nights) | Rice, soybean, many sorghum varieties |
| Long-day plants | Day longer than a critical length | Wheat, barley, oats, mustard |
| Day-neutral plants | Flowering largely independent of day length | Sunflower, tomato, maize (most hybrids) |
Scientific names of important field crops
Scientific names are pure recall, and NABARD asks one or two almost every year. Learn them as a set, because the wrong options are always other major crops.
| Crop | Scientific name | Crop | Scientific name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | Oryza sativa | Chickpea | Cicer arietinum |
| Wheat (bread) | Triticum aestivum | Pigeon pea (tur) | Cajanus cajan |
| Barley PYQ 2024 | Hordeum vulgare | Lentil | Lens culinaris |
| Maize | Zea mays | Green gram (moong) | Vigna radiata |
| Sorghum | Sorghum bicolor | Black gram (urad) | Vigna mungo |
| Pearl millet | Pennisetum glaucum (also Cenchrus americanus) | Cowpea PYQ 2023 | Vigna unguiculata |
| Finger millet | Eleusine coracana | Soybean | Glycine max |
| Groundnut | Arachis hypogaea | Indian mustard | Brassica juncea |
| Sesame | Sesamum indicum | Sunflower | Helianthus annuus |
| Cotton (American) | Gossypium hirsutum | Sugarcane | Saccharum officinarum |
What is the scientific name of barley?
- Hordeum vulgare
- Pennisetum glaucum
- Sorghum bicolor
- Vigna radiata
- Oryza sativa
Show answer
Scientific name of cowpea:
- Pisum sativum
- Vigna unguiculata
- Momordica charantia
- Allium sativum
- Solanum melongena
Show answer
Factors affecting crop production
Crop yield depends on internal (genetic) factors and external (environmental and management) factors.
| Factor group | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Internal (genetic) | Variety and its yield potential, maturity duration, tolerance to drought, pests and diseases |
| Climatic | Rainfall (amount and distribution), temperature, light and day length, humidity, wind |
| Edaphic (soil) | Texture, structure, fertility, pH, organic matter, soil moisture |
| Physiographic | Altitude, slope and aspect of the land |
| Biotic | Weeds, insects, diseases, beneficial organisms |
| Management | Seed, sowing time, tillage, fertiliser, irrigation, weed control, plant protection, harvesting |
| Socio-economic | Credit, labour, markets, technology, mechanisation, input supply |
This is where agronomy meets the rest of the syllabus: edaphic factors lead into Soil & Water Conservation (Chapter 5), water into Irrigation (Chapter 6), and socio-economic factors into NABARD’s own work on rural credit. The management factors NABARD asks most about are covered next.
Crop management practices NABARD asks: tillage, puddling, weed management and mulching
Tillage: primary, secondary, zero and conservation tillage
Tillage is the mechanical manipulation of soil to create good conditions for germination, root growth and weed control.
| Type | What it is | Implements and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary tillage | First, deep soil-working after the previous harvest: opens, loosens and inverts soil, buries residue | Mould-board plough, disc plough, chisel plough |
| Secondary tillage | Lighter operations after primary tillage to prepare a fine seedbed | Harrows, cultivators, levellers, planker |
| Zero tillage | Sowing directly into unploughed soil with minimum disturbance | Zero-till drill, Happy Seeder; saves cost, fuel and time |
| Minimum tillage | Only the tillage essential for a good seedbed | Cuts soil compaction and cost |
| Conservation tillage | Leaves at least 30% of the surface covered with crop residue | Core of conservation agriculture |
______ is the initial soil manipulation after the last harvest, breaking and loosening soil to a significant depth.
- Primary tillage
- Secondary tillage
- Zero tillage
- Conservation tillage
- Blind tillage
Show answer
Which is NOT a mechanical function of a seed-cum-fertiliser drill?
Show answer
Puddling in rice
Puddling is wet tillage: ploughing a flooded field to churn the soil into soft mud before transplanting rice. It forms a compact layer (hard pan) below the surface that reduces deep percolation, and it also controls weeds, eases transplanting and helps root anchorage.
What is the objective of puddling in paddy?
- Ease of transplanting
- Higher Fe and P availability
- Longer crop duration
- Less weeds
- Water retention by reducing percolation losses
Show answer
Which equipment is used for puddling in paddy?
- Scraper
- Disc plough
- Harrow
- Puddler
- Mould-board plough
Show answer
Weed management: smother crops, aquatic weeds and interculture
Weeds compete with crops for light, water and nutrients. Control methods are preventive, cultural (smother crops, crop rotation, mulching), mechanical (hand weeding, hoeing), chemical (herbicides), biological, and integrated weed management, which combines them.
What are smother crops?
Show answer
Which aquatic weeds have roots submerged in water and leaves floating on the water surface?
- Floating weeds
- Emergent weeds
- Submerged weeds
- Marginal weeds
- None
Show answer
A wheel hoe is used for:
Show answer
Mulching and crop residue
Mulching is covering the soil surface with material such as straw, crop residue, leaves or plastic film. Its main purposes are to reduce evaporation (conserve moisture) and suppress weeds; it also moderates soil temperature and reduces erosion. It is also a key dryland moisture-conservation practice.
Mulch is mainly used for which purpose?
- To minimise evaporation and suppress weeds
- To protect soil from sunlight
- To kill pests
- To increase soil temperature
- None
Show answer
Agro-climatic zones of India: the 15 agro-climatic regions
An agro-climatic zone is a land unit with broadly uniform climate, soil, rainfall and cropping, used for agricultural planning. The Planning Commission (1989) divided India into 15 agro-climatic regions. Do not confuse them with the 127 agro-climatic zones of the National Agricultural Research Project (NARP) or the 20 agro-ecological regions of ICAR-NBSS&LUP. NABARD asked this topic in 2021 and twice in 2025.
| # | Region | Main areas |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Western Himalayan | J&K, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand |
| 2 | Eastern Himalayan | Sikkim, Darjeeling hills, north-eastern states |
| 3 | Lower Gangetic Plains | West Bengal |
| 4 | Middle Gangetic Plains | Bihar, eastern Uttar Pradesh |
| 5 | Upper Gangetic Plains | Western and central Uttar Pradesh |
| 6 | Trans-Gangetic Plains PYQ 2021 | Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Ganganagar (Rajasthan); highest irrigation and groundwater use |
| 7 | Eastern Plateau & Hills | Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, parts of Odisha and West Bengal |
| 8 | Central Plateau & Hills PYQ 2025 | Bundelkhand, Vindhyan uplands, Madhya Pradesh, parts of Rajasthan and UP |
| 9 | Western Plateau & Hills | Interior Maharashtra (Vidarbha, Marathwada), western MP |
| 10 | Southern Plateau & Hills | Interior Karnataka, Telangana, Rayalaseema, interior Tamil Nadu |
| 11 | East Coast Plains & Hills | Coastal Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu |
| 12 | West Coast Plains & Ghats PYQ 2025 | Kerala, coastal Karnataka, Goa, Konkan; heart of coconut |
| 13 | Gujarat Plains & Hills | Gujarat |
| 14 | Western Dry Region | Western Rajasthan |
| 15 | Island Region | Andaman & Nicobar, Lakshadweep |
Which agro-climatic zone is the historic heart of Indian coconut cultivation, with more than 50% of coconuts?
- East Coast Plains and Hills
- Gujarat Plains
- Southern Plateau
- Island Region
- None of the above
Show answer
(a) The Vindhyanchal Hills belong to which agro-climatic region? (b) Haryana belongs to which agro-climatic region?
Show answers
Agro-meteorology link: El Niño and the monsoon
What does the El Niño effect refer to?
Show answer
Cropping systems: definition and types of cropping systems
Definition of cropping system
A cropping system is the order and arrangement of crops grown on a piece of land over a period of time, together with the way they are managed and their interaction with farm resources and technology. A cropping pattern is the proportion of area under different crops at a point in time; a farming system is wider still, combining crops with livestock, fisheries and other enterprises. For the cropping pattern in detail, read Cropping Pattern in India: Types, Factors and Regional Variations.
Types of cropping systems
This is the most-tested concept area in NABARD agronomy: four PYQs since 2021 (2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025). NABARD tests whether you can tell closely related terms apart.
| System | Definition | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| Monocropping | The same crop grown on the same land year after year | Depletes soil, builds pests |
| Mixed cropping | Two or more crops grown together without a definite row arrangement | Risk insurance; crops chosen to minimise competition |
| Intercropping | Two or more crops grown together in a definite row pattern | Better use of space, light, water and nutrients |
| Relay cropping | Next crop sown before the standing crop is harvested | Example: wheat relay-sown into standing cotton |
| Sequential cropping | Next crop sown after the previous one is harvested | Example: rice → wheat |
| Multiple cropping | Two or more crops on the same land in a year | Umbrella term; needs assured irrigation |
| Crop rotation | Growing different crops in a planned sequence over seasons | Maintains fertility; cereal–legume rotations add nitrogen |
| Strip cropping | Crops in alternate wide strips across the slope | Also a soil-conservation measure |
| Alley cropping | Field crops grown between rows of trees or shrubs | An agroforestry system |
| Multistorey cropping | Crops of different heights grown together | Common in coconut and arecanut gardens |
Growing two or more crops simultaneously on the same field in a definite row pattern is:
Show answer
In which type of intercropping is the second crop sown before the first is harvested?
- Mixed
- Multistorey
- Relay
- Alley cropping
- Strip cropping
Show answer
With sufficient irrigation, which cropping system can be followed?
- Monocropping
- Intercropping
- Multiple cropping
- Monoculture
- None
Show answer
Which statement is NOT true with respect to mixed cropping?
Show answer
Cropping intensity: formula and example
Cropping intensity = (Gross cropped area ÷ Net sown area) × 100
A farmer with 10 hectares grows rice on all 10 in kharif and wheat on 6 in rabi. Net sown area = 10 ha; gross cropped area = 16 ha; cropping intensity = 160%. A field cropped twice counts twice in gross cropped area.
Link it: irrigation → multiple cropping → higher cropping intensity → more output and farm income. Expect this chain in Phase 2 passages and descriptive answers.
Problems of dryland agriculture in India
Dryland agriculture is crop production in areas where rainfall is low and erratic and there is no assured irrigation, so soil moisture is the main limiting factor. It is a named NABARD syllabus topic, and NABARD asked “Write a short note on dryland farming” as a 10-mark Phase 2 descriptive question in 2024.
Dry farming vs dryland farming vs rainfed farming
| Type | Annual rainfall | Moisture situation | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry farming | Below 750 mm | Moisture stress for most of the season; frequent crop failure | Arid |
| Dryland farming | 750–1,150 mm | Moisture stress in parts of the season; dry spells | Semi-arid |
| Rainfed farming | Above 1,150 mm | Moisture usually adequate; excess water and erosion can be problems | Humid and sub-humid |
Why dryland and rainfed agriculture matters
- Rainfed agriculture covers about 51% of India’s net sown area and contributes about 40% of food production.
- Most nutri-cereals (millets), pulses, oilseeds and cotton are grown under rainfed conditions, so dryland productivity decides India’s self-sufficiency in pulses and edible oils.
- Rainfed areas support a large share of the country’s livestock and of its small and marginal farmers, which is why they matter for NABARD’s rural-credit work.
Main problems and constraints of dryland farming
| Type of problem | Details |
|---|---|
| Climatic | Low, erratic and uneven rainfall; late onset or early withdrawal of the monsoon; prolonged dry spells within the season; high temperatures and evaporation |
| Soil | Low organic matter and fertility; low water-holding capacity; shallow soils; surface crusting; wind and water erosion |
| Crop and technology | Low yields (around 1 tonne per hectare for many crops); limited use of improved seed and fertiliser because of risk; few short-duration, drought-tolerant varieties adopted; poor plant population |
| Socio-economic | Small holdings; poor access to credit, insurance and markets; weak infrastructure; distress migration; dependence on livestock |
Solutions: dryland farming technologies
- In-situ moisture conservation: contour farming, ridges and furrows, broad-bed and furrow, compartmental bunding, mulching.
- Rainwater harvesting: farm ponds and check dams, with life-saving irrigation at critical stages.
- Suitable crops and varieties: short-duration, drought-tolerant crops such as millets, pulses and oilseeds.
- Cropping systems: intercropping and mixed cropping as insurance against total crop failure.
- Contingency crop planning: alternative crops and practices for delayed monsoon or mid-season drought.
- Watershed development and integrated farming systems combining crops, livestock and trees.
- Risk cover: crop insurance under PMFBY, whose add-on cover pays when expected yield falls below 50% of normal (asked in 2025).
Institutions and schemes for dryland agriculture
| Institution or scheme | Role |
|---|---|
| ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad (1985) | Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture; coordinates dryland and agro-meteorology research (AICRPDA) |
| National Rainfed Area Authority (NRAA), 2006 | Advisory body for rainfed and dryland policy under the Ministry of Agriculture |
| NMSA – Rainfed Area Development PYQ 2021 | Component of the National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture that promotes integrated farming systems |
| PMKSY – Watershed Development Component | Watershed projects for rainfed and degraded land |
| PM Fasal Bima Yojana | Yield-loss insurance, critical for dryland risk |
Which NMSA component deals with integrated farming systems?
Show answer
Write a short note on dryland farming.
Show answer outline
Rice: why one crop produces so many NABARD questions
From rice alone NABARD has asked its scientific name, puddling (three questions in 2023), water requirement, the crop season and production data. Rice is India’s largest foodgrain, with a record 154.02 million tonnes estimated for 2025-26.
Rice needs about 1,100–1,250 mm of water in total; daily consumptive use is __(1)__ mm. If standing water rises above __(2)__ cm, it affects growth at the booting stage. What fills (1) and (2)?
- 10–12, 7
- 8–10, 7
- 6–10, 5
- 6–10, 2
- None of the above
Show answer
NABARD agronomy PYQ trend: what the paper is really testing
| Layer | Example from real papers | How to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Direct static | Scientific name of barley (2024), cowpea (2023); photoperiodism (2022) | Fact tables, revised often |
| 2. Concept application | Primary tillage (2023), relay intercropping (2023), mixed cropping “NOT true” (2025) | Definition + difference + example |
| 3. Passage and application | Crop-season passage (2024), rice water passage (2025) | Understand the process, not just the term |
| 4. Descriptive | Short note on dryland farming (2024, 10 marks) | Structured notes you can write in 400 words |
Solve every agronomy question in the NABARD Grade A previous year question papers and the year pages for 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021.
Agronomy current affairs for NABARD Grade A 2026
Crop production: Third Advance Estimates 2025-26
Released by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on 27 May 2026. Learn the headline numbers and the records, not every decimal.
| Crop | Estimate | What to note |
|---|---|---|
| Total foodgrains | 376.56 | Record; up about 18.8 MT (5.3%) from 357.73 MT in 2024-25 |
| Rice | 154.02 | Record |
| Wheat | 120.65 | Major rabi crop |
| Maize | 55.09 | Record |
| Total oilseeds | 43.05 | Groundnut a record 13.07; rapeseed-mustard 13.76 |
| Sugarcane | 500.06 | Record; up over 45 MT |
Dynamic data rule: these figures will be replaced by the Fourth (Final) Estimates for 2025-26 and the First Advance Estimates for 2026-27. Update before the exam; the PYQs tell you which indicators matter, not that old values stay correct.
Millets (Shree Anna)
NABARD Phase 2 2023 asked which institution was declared the Global Centre of Excellence for Millets: ICAR-Indian Institute of Millets Research (IIMR), Hyderabad, announced in the Union Budget 2023-24. Millets are largely rainfed dryland crops, so they connect to the dryland section above.
Pulses and oilseeds missions
- Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses: approved by the Cabinet on 1 October 2025; ₹11,440 crore; 2025-26 to 2030-31; target 350 lakh tonnes. NABARD Phase 1 2025 asked its tenure (up to 2030-31).
- National Mission on Edible Oils – Oilseeds (NMEO-Oilseeds): approved on 3 October 2024; ₹10,103 crore; 2024-25 to 2030-31; aims to raise primary oilseed production from 39 million tonnes (2022-23) to 69.7 million tonnes by 2030-31.
Climate-resilient and digital agriculture
Track new climate-resilient and biofortified varieties released by ICAR, and connect technology to agronomy: remote sensing, drones, sensors and the Digital Agriculture Mission (AgriStack, Farmer ID, Digital Crop Survey), which NABARD’s 2025 descriptive paper asked about. For reading these releases, see How to Study PIB for NABARD Grade A.
Government schemes linked to agriculture and agronomy
| Scheme | Agronomy link |
|---|---|
| PM Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (Per Drop More Crop, Watershed Development) | Irrigation, water-use efficiency, dryland watersheds |
| PM Fasal Bima Yojana | Crop risk; farmer premium 2% kharif, 1.5% rabi, 5% commercial and horticultural (asked 2024) |
| National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture | Rainfed Area Development, soil health (asked 2021 and 2024) |
| Soil Health Card | Soil testing and balanced fertilisation |
| National Food Security Mission | Productivity of rice, wheat, pulses and coarse cereals |
| NMEO-Oilseeds and NMEO-Oil Palm | Oilseed area, yield and import dependence |
| Mission for Aatmanirbharta in Pulses | Pulse production and self-sufficiency |
| National Mission on Natural Farming | Chemical-free cropping, biomass mulching, soil health |
| Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization | Tillage and sowing machinery, custom hiring centres |
17 agronomy practice MCQs for NABARD 2026
Attempt all 17 before opening the answers. Questions marked PYQ style follow the exact format NABARD used.
The branch of agriculture primarily concerned with soil, water and field-crop management is:
- Horticulture
- Agronomy
- Forestry
- Entomology
- Agricultural engineering
Answer
A crop sown in October–November and harvested in March–April belongs to which season, and which of these fits it?
- Kharif – cotton
- Rabi – lentil
- Zaid – watermelon
- Kharif – soybean
- Rabi – jute
Answer
Which of the following is primarily a kharif crop?
- Wheat
- Barley
- Lentil
- Soybean
- Chickpea
Answer
Which implement is used for primary tillage?
- Disc harrow
- Mould-board plough
- Planker
- Seed drill
- Wheel hoe
Answer
The primary objective of puddling in transplanted rice is:
- Increasing soil aeration
- Reducing percolation losses
- Increasing crop duration
- Raising soil pH
- Breaking the hard pan
Answer
Two or more crops grown simultaneously without a definite row arrangement is:
- Intercropping
- Sequential cropping
- Mixed cropping
- Relay cropping
- Monoculture
Answer
Which statements about intercropping are correct? 1. Crops are grown in a definite row pattern. 2. It aims at better use of space, light and nutrients. 3. The second crop is always sown after the first is harvested.
- 1 only
- 1 and 2
- 2 and 3
- 1 and 3
- All three
Answer
Wheat sown into a standing cotton crop before cotton is harvested is an example of:
- Mixed cropping
- Alley cropping
- Relay cropping
- Strip cropping
- Multistorey cropping
Answer
A farm has 20 ha net sown area; 20 ha are cropped in kharif and 12 ha in rabi. Cropping intensity is:
- 60%
- 120%
- 140%
- 160%
- 200%
Answer
The scientific name of chickpea is:
- Vigna radiata
- Glycine max
- Cicer arietinum
- Lens culinaris
- Arachis hypogaea
Answer
Match the crop to its scientific name: Indian mustard, pigeon pea, finger millet.
- Brassica juncea, Cajanus cajan, Eleusine coracana
- Sesamum indicum, Cajanus cajan, Sorghum bicolor
- Brassica juncea, Vigna mungo, Eleusine coracana
- Helianthus annuus, Lens culinaris, Zea mays
- None of these
Answer
Which is NOT a function of mulch?
- Reducing evaporation
- Suppressing weeds
- Moderating soil temperature
- Reducing erosion
- Increasing surface runoff
Answer
Which of these is a long-day crop?
- Rice
- Soybean
- Barley
- Sunflower
- Tomato
Answer
Punjab, Haryana and Delhi fall in which agro-climatic region?
- Upper Gangetic Plains
- Western Dry Region
- Trans-Gangetic Plains
- Central Plateau and Hills
- Western Himalayan
Answer
Cowpea, sorghum and sunhemp grown densely to suppress weeds are called:
- Catch crops
- Trap crops
- Smother crops
- Cash crops
- Relay crops
Answer
Crop cultivation in areas receiving 750–1,150 mm of annual rainfall, with moisture stress during parts of the season, is called:
- Dry farming
- Dryland farming
- Rainfed farming
- Irrigated farming
- Wetland farming
Answer
Which of the following is NOT a problem typical of dryland agriculture?
- Erratic and uneven rainfall
- Low soil organic matter
- Prolonged dry spells
- Waterlogging from assured canal irrigation
- Low use of improved inputs because of risk
Answer
How to prepare agriculture and agronomy for NABARD Grade A 2026 and 2027
- Round 1, understand: work through the syllabus topics in order: agriculture, agronomy, field crops, production factors, agro-climatic zones, cropping systems, dryland agriculture.
- Round 2, solve PYQs: all 23 agronomy objective questions from 2021–2025 and the 2024 dryland descriptive. Note which concepts repeat (cropping systems, mulching, puddling, agro-climatic regions).
- Round 3, add current affairs: latest production estimates, millets, pulses and oilseeds missions, digital agriculture.
- Round 4, practise: basic MCQs → statement-based → match the following → Phase 2 passages → one 400-word descriptive answer.
Free C4S videos: agronomy explained with NABARD PYQs
- Cropping Pattern: Definition, Types & Examples + Important MCQs (NABARD Grade A & AFO)
- NABARD ARD PYQ analysis: Agronomy & Seed Science
- The most important ARD chapters to revise
- Priority chapters for ARD, ESI and GA based on PYQs
- NABARD Grade A PYQ Analysis playlist (topic-wise ARD and ESI)
C4S NABARD Mentorship cum Complete Course: the programme behind the toppers
Free notes like these explain one chapter at a time. The C4S NABARD Grade A Mentorship cum Complete Course takes you through the whole syllabus with a plan, and it is the programme behind most of C4S’s NABARD toppers.
| What you get | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Expert mentor guidance | A mentor who tells you what to study next, how deep to go and whether you are on schedule |
| Concept classes | Every ARD, ESI and GA chapter taught in order, so nothing is left to guesswork |
| Pinpointed master notes | Exam-focused notes instead of collecting material from five sources |
| Chapter-wise tests | Test each chapter as you finish it, like this one, before moving on |
| PYQ analysis, PIB and current affairs | Static chapters connected to schemes and the latest data |
| Phase 1 and Phase 2 preparation | Objective tests plus descriptive answer writing for Phase 2 |
In NABARD Grade A 2025, C4S students took 8 of the top 10 ranks and 32 final selections came from the Mentorship and Test Series programme.
Toppers’ Talk: hear it from NABARD officers
Join the NABARD Grade A Mentorship cum Complete Course
Get expert mentor guidance, concept classes, master notes and chapter-wise tests for the whole NABARD syllabus, from the team behind 8 of the top 10 ranks in NABARD Grade A 2025.
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Try the course free, or ask the C4S team about batches, classes and mentorship on WhatsApp.
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Free ARD practice: Telegram, WhatsApp and PYQ PDFs
Agronomy revision checklist for NABARD
Before moving on, check that you can explain each syllabus topic without notes:
- Agriculture: definition, meaning, branches
- Agronomy: definition, meaning, scope
- Kharif, rabi and zaid with examples
- Crop seasons vs marketing seasons
- Field crops by use and by life span
- Photoperiod groups with examples
- 20 scientific names
- Internal and external factors of crop production
- Primary vs secondary tillage
- Zero, minimum and conservation tillage
- Puddling: purpose and implement
- Smother, catch, cover and trap crops
- Mulching and crop residue
- 15 agro-climatic regions and their states
- 127 NARP zones vs 20 agro-ecological regions
- Cropping system vs cropping pattern
- Mixed vs intercropping
- Relay vs sequential vs multiple cropping
- Cropping intensity calculation
- Dry vs dryland vs rainfed farming
- Problems of dryland agriculture
- Dryland technologies, CRIDA, NRAA
- 2025-26 crop estimates
- All 23 agronomy PYQs and the dryland descriptive
Next in the series: Chapter 2, Seed Science
Seed production, classes of seed and tags, seed certification, dormancy, seed processing, seed village and all 10 seed PYQs.
More NABARD Grade A guides from C4S
- NABARD Grade A previous year question papers 2021–2025 with answers and cut-offs
- How to prepare ARD for NABARD Grade A 2027
- Cropping pattern in India: types, factors and regional variations
- NABARD ESI 2027: complete Economic & Social Issues guide
- How to study PIB for NABARD Grade A
- NABARD Descriptive English guide
- NABARD Grade A 2027 preparation: start from zero
- NABARD Grade A cut-off analysis
NABARD agronomy: frequently asked questions
What is the agronomy syllabus for NABARD Grade A?
The NABARD ARD syllabus covers agriculture (definition, meaning and branches), agronomy (definition, meaning and scope), classification of field crops, factors affecting crop production, agro-climatic zones, cropping systems (definition and types) and problems of dryland agriculture, followed by seed production, precision farming, the system of crop intensification and organic farming.
How many agronomy questions come in NABARD Grade A?
NABARD asked 23 agronomy and agro-climatology objective questions across Phase 1 and Phase 2 from 2021 to 2025, usually five or six per cycle, plus a 10-mark Phase 2 descriptive question on dryland farming in 2024.
What are the types of cropping systems?
The main types are monocropping, mixed cropping, intercropping, relay cropping, sequential cropping, multiple cropping, crop rotation, strip cropping, alley cropping and multistorey cropping. NABARD most often tests the differences between mixed, inter, relay and multiple cropping.
What is the difference between mixed cropping and intercropping?
Both grow two or more crops together. Mixed cropping has no definite row arrangement and is mainly a risk-insurance practice; intercropping uses a definite row pattern to make better use of space, light, water and nutrients.
How many agro-climatic zones are there in India?
The Planning Commission divided India into 15 agro-climatic regions in 1989. Separately, the National Agricultural Research Project has 127 agro-climatic zones and ICAR-NBSS&LUP identifies 20 agro-ecological regions.
What are the problems of dryland agriculture?
Low, erratic and uneven rainfall with long dry spells; soils low in organic matter and water-holding capacity; erosion; low yields and low use of improved inputs because of risk; and socio-economic constraints such as small holdings and poor access to credit, insurance and markets.
What is the difference between dry farming, dryland farming and rainfed farming?
They are classified by annual rainfall: dry farming below 750 mm (arid), dryland farming 750–1,150 mm (semi-arid) and rainfed farming above 1,150 mm (humid and sub-humid).
What is India’s foodgrain production for 2025-26?
The Third Advance Estimates of 27 May 2026 put foodgrain production at a record 376.56 million tonnes, with record rice (154.02 MT), maize (55.09 MT) and sugarcane (500.06 MT). Update this with later estimates before the exam.
Sources: NABARD questions from the C4S NABARD Grade A PYQ repository (memory-based, 2021–2025); crop estimates from the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare, Third Advance Estimates 2025-26 (27 May 2026); rainfed area share from a NABARD policy brief and NRAA; NMEO-Oilseeds and Pulses Mission details from Cabinet decisions of 3 October 2024 and 1 October 2025.