Agro-Climatic Zones of UP
Nine ICAR agro-climatic zones of Uttar Pradesh with districts, rainfall, soil types, and major crops for UPSSSC AGTA exam.
Introduction
The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) has divided Uttar Pradesh into 9 agro-climatic zones based on climate, soil, topography, and cropping patterns. Understanding these zones is fundamental for AGTA aspirants as questions frequently test district-zone-crop associations.
Overview of the 9 Agro-Climatic Zones
UP spans a wide range of agro-climatic conditions — from the sub-humid Terai foothills in the north to the semi-arid Vindhyan plateau in the south. Rainfall varies from 600 mm in the southwest to over 1,200 mm in the northeast.
Zone-wise Detailed Table
| # | Zone Name | Key Districts | Annual Rainfall | Soil Type | Major Crops |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhabar & Terai | Pilibhit, Lakhimpur Kheri, Bahraich, Shravasti | 1,000-1,400 mm | Alluvial, marshy, loamy | Sugarcane, rice, wheat, lentil |
| 2 | Western Plain | Meerut, Bulandshahr, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Shamli | 700-900 mm | Alluvial (Khadar & Bangar) | Wheat, sugarcane, potato, vegetables |
| 3 | Mid-Western Plain | Bareilly, Shahjahanpur, Budaun, Rampur | 800-1,000 mm | Alluvial, sandy loam | Wheat, rice, mustard, sugarcane |
| 4 | South-Western Semi-Arid | Agra, Mathura, Aligarh, Etah, Mainpuri, Firozabad | 600-750 mm | Alluvial, sandy | Millets, mustard, gram, potato |
| 5 | Central Plain | Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Hardoi, Sitapur, Lakhimpur | 850-1,000 mm | Alluvial, loamy | Wheat, rice, sugarcane, pulses |
| 6 | Bundelkhand | Jhansi, Lalitpur, Hamirpur, Banda, Mahoba, Chitrakoot, Jalaun | 600-800 mm (erratic) | Red-laterite, rocky, shallow | Millets, pulses, oilseeds, gram |
| 7 | North-Eastern Plain | Gorakhpur, Basti, Siddharthnagar, Bahraich, Gonda | 1,000-1,200 mm | Alluvial, clayey | Rice, sugarcane, wheat, banana |
| 8 | Eastern Plain | Varanasi, Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Ballia, Sultanpur | 900-1,100 mm | Alluvial, clay loam | Rice, wheat, oilseeds, vegetables |
| 9 | Vindhyan | Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Prayagraj (part), Kaushambi | 800-1,000 mm | Red, stony, laterite | Coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds |
Zone 1: Bhabar and Terai
The northernmost zone along the Nepal border, this is a sub-humid to humid region with high rainfall and waterlogged conditions.
- Bhabar: Narrow pebbly strip at the foot of Shivalik hills — porous soil, poor water retention
- Terai: Low-lying marshy belt south of Bhabar — fertile alluvial soil, high water table
- Sugarcane thrives here — Lakhimpur Kheri is India’s largest sugarcane-growing district
- Forest cover is relatively high (Dudhwa National Park lies in this zone)
Zone 4: South-Western Semi-Arid
The driest zone in UP with rainfall as low as 600 mm. Classified as semi-arid.
- Soil is sandy and alkaline — requires careful irrigation management
- Mustard is the dominant oilseed; Agra-Mathura belt is a major mustard region
- Potato cultivation has expanded significantly in Agra and Firozabad
- Water scarcity is a persistent concern — depends heavily on canal and tube-well irrigation
Zone 6: Bundelkhand
The most drought-prone and economically backward agro-climatic zone in UP.
- Rocky and undulating terrain with shallow soil depth
- Rainfall is erratic — frequent drought years lead to crop failure
- Traditional crops: millets (bajra, jowar), gram, lentil, sesame
- Bundelkhand Package — special central government relief and development programme
- Outward migration is extremely high due to agrarian distress
- Potential for dryland horticulture: aonla (amla), guava, pomegranate
Zone 7: North-Eastern Plain
This zone receives the highest rainfall after the Terai zone and is prone to annual flooding.
- Rice is the staple kharif crop; paddy fields dominate the landscape
- Sugarcane is widely grown; Gorakhpur has significant crushing capacity
- Flooding from rivers like Rapti, Ghaghra, and Gandak causes annual damage
- Zone has the highest population density in UP
Comparison: Western vs Eastern UP Agriculture
| Parameter | Western UP (Zones 2-4) | Eastern UP (Zones 7-8) |
|---|---|---|
| Irrigation | ~90% irrigated | ~60-70% irrigated |
| Dominant crops | Wheat, sugarcane, potato | Rice, pulses |
| Productivity | Higher (above national average) | Lower |
| Farm income | Relatively better | Below state average |
| Mechanization | High (tractors, combines) | Low to moderate |
| Urbanization | Higher | Lower |
Key Takeaways
- ICAR divides UP into 9 agro-climatic zones based on climate, soil, and cropping
- Terai (Zone 1): highest rainfall, sugarcane-rice belt — Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit
- South-Western Semi-Arid (Zone 4): driest zone (~600 mm), mustard-potato belt — Agra, Mathura
- Bundelkhand (Zone 6): drought-prone, pulses and millets, highest migration
- North-Eastern Plain (Zone 7): flood-prone, rice-dominant, highest population density
- Western UP has ~90% irrigation coverage vs ~60-70% in eastern UP
Summary Cheat Sheet
| Zone | Name | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bhabar & Terai | Sugarcane, highest rainfall, marshy |
| 2 | Western Plain | Wheat-sugarcane, most developed |
| 3 | Mid-Western Plain | Wheat, rice, mustard |
| 4 | South-Western Semi-Arid | Driest zone, mustard, potato |
| 5 | Central Plain | Lucknow-Kanpur, mixed farming |
| 6 | Bundelkhand | Drought-prone, pulses, millets |
| 7 | North-Eastern Plain | Rice, flooding, highest density |
| 8 | Eastern Plain | Rice-wheat, oilseeds |
| 9 | Vindhyan | Coarse cereals, red/stony soil |
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