Q. With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the following statements:- Area under rice cultivation is the highest.
- Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.
- Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.
- Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.
Which of the statements given above are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2019)
Answer:
1 and 3 only
Notes: The correct answer is
[A] 1 and 3 only. This question tests the understanding of cropping patterns and land-use trends in Indian agriculture over recent years.
- Statement 1 (Correct): Rice is the most dominant Kharif crop in India. It consistently occupies the largest area under cultivation among all food grains and commercial crops, typically covering around 40-45 million hectares.
- Statement 2 (Incorrect): The area under oilseeds (which includes groundnut, soybean, sunflower, etc.) is significantly higher than that of jowar (sorghum). While oilseeds cover roughly 25-28 million hectares, jowar cultivation has been declining and occupies a much smaller area (usually less than 5 million hectares).
- Statement 3 (Correct): Cotton is a major commercial Kharif crop. The area under cotton cultivation (approx. 12-13 million hectares) is substantially more than the area under sugarcane (approx. 4-5 million hectares).
- Statement 4 (Incorrect): The area under sugarcane cultivation has not "steadily decreased." Instead, it has shown fluctuations or a slight increasing trend due to better irrigation and assured pricing (Fair and Remunerative Price - FRP), though it remains small compared to cereals and cotton.
In the Indian context, the "Big Three" of Kharif in terms of area are Rice, Coarse Cereals (as a group), and Oilseeds/Cotton.