Unit I: Rural & Agricultural Fundamentals (ICAR AIEEA PG ABM)
Strictly based on the official ICAR AIEEA PG Agri-Business Management syllabus and past-year trends (2021–2024).
📌 1. Social, Political & Economic Structure of Rural India
- Social: Caste, literacy, health, and customs
- Political: Panchayati Raj (Gram Sabha, Gram Panchayat)
- Economic: Agriculture-based income, seasonal work
📌 2. Role of Agriculture & Allied Sectors
| Sector | Contribution |
|---|
| Agriculture | Food production, rural employment |
| Forestry | Fuelwood, timber, forest economy |
| Horticulture | Fruits, vegetables, export potential |
| Livestock | Dairy, manure, protein supply |
📌 3. Major Crops & Seasons
| Crop Group | Examples | Use |
|---|
| Cereals | Rice, Wheat | Staple energy source |
| Legumes | Chickpea, Moong | Protein-rich food |
| Oilseeds | Mustard, Soybean | Edible oils |
| Vegetables | Tomato, Brinjal | Micronutrients |
| Fruits | Mango, Banana | Vitamins, exports |
📌 4. Soils of India & Crop Suitability
| Soil Type | Region | Crops |
|---|
| Alluvial | Indo-Gangetic Plain | Rice, Wheat |
| Black | Deccan Plateau | Cotton, Sorghum |
| Red | Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu | Millets, Groundnut |
| Laterite | NE India, Kerala Hills | Tea, Cashew |
| Desert | Western Rajasthan | Bajra, Moth bean |
📌 5. Essential Plant Nutrients & Symptoms
| Nutrient | Type | Deficiency Symptom |
|---|
| Nitrogen (N) | Macro | Yellow leaves |
| Phosphorus (P) | Macro | Purple stems |
| Potassium (K) | Macro | Leaf tip burn |
| Zinc (Zn) | Micro | Stunted growth |
| Iron (Fe) | Micro | Yellowing between veins |
📌 6. Major Pests & Diseases of Crops
| Crop | Major Pest | Disease |
|---|
| Rice | Stem borer | Blast |
| Wheat | Aphids | Black Rust |
| Pulses | Pod borer | Yellow Mosaic Virus |
| Cotton | Bollworms | Wilt |
📌 7. Nutrition from Fruits & Vegetables
| Nutrient | Sources |
|---|
| Vitamin C | Guava, Citrus, Amla |
| Vitamin A | Carrot, Spinach, Papaya |
| Iron | Leafy greens, Drumstick leaves |
📌 8. Watershed Management
- Watershed = rainwater drains into a single outlet
- Practices: Bunding, check dams, contour ploughing
- Benefits: Prevent erosion, conserve soil & water
📌 9. Research & Extension Systems in India
| Institution | Function |
|---|
| ICAR | National research apex body |
| SAUs | State Agricultural Universities |
| KVKs | District-level training and demos |
| ATMA | Extension management at district level |
📌 10. Basic Statistics – Definitions Only
- Mean: Arithmetic average
- Median: Middle value
- Mode: Most frequent value
- Standard Deviation: Measure of spread
📘 Recommended Books
- Fundamentals of Agriculture – Arun Katyayan (Vol I & II)
- Objective Agriculture – S.R. Kantwa
- NIPA ICAR PG Entrance Guide
🌐 Useful Links
🔔 Final Note
The content provided above highlights key concepts and examples to help simplify your preparation. However, students should ensure they study all topics mentioned in the official ICAR AIEEA PG ABM Unit I syllabus and refer to previous year papers for better clarity on question patterns.
