Q. Consider the following fruits:

1. Papaya
2. Pineapple
3. Guava

How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries? (UPSC Prelims 2025)
Answer: All the three
Notes: The correct answer is [C] All the three. The Portuguese played a transformative role in Indian agriculture during the 16th and 17th centuries by introducing several high-yield crops and fruits from the Americas (the New World) and Africa.

• Papaya (Correct): Originally from Central America, the Portuguese brought papaya to India via their trade routes in the early 16th century. It quickly adapted to the tropical climate of the Indian subcontinent.
• Pineapple (Correct): Native to South America, the pineapple (Ananas comosus) was introduced by the Portuguese. Historical records indicate it was being cultivated in India by the mid-16th century, particularly in the coastal regions they controlled.
• Guava (Correct): Known as Amrud or Peri, the guava is another New World fruit introduced by the Portuguese. It became so popular and widespread that it is now often mistaken for an indigenous Indian fruit.

Other significant Portuguese introductions include:

• Tobacco (early 17th century during Jahangir's reign).
• Chillies (which fundamentally changed Indian cuisine).
• Potatoes, Tomatoes, and Maize.
• Cashew nuts (introduced primarily to check soil erosion in coastal areas).

The Portuguese also introduced the technique of grafting in fruit trees, which significantly improved the quality and variety of Alphonso mangoes in the Konkan region.