UPSC Prelims 2012 Q47: Geography – Indian Agriculture & Land Use
Consider the following crops of India :
1. Groundnut
2. Sesamum
3. Pearl millet
Which of the above is/are predominantly rainfed crop/crops?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Predominantly rainfed crops
A rainfed crop depends mainly on rain, with little or no irrigation.
| Crop | Predominantly rainfed? | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Groundnut | Yes | About four-fifths of its area is rainfed; Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh |
| 2. Sesamum | Yes | Hardy oilseed of dry areas |
| 3. Pearl millet (bajra) | Yes | Grown on sandy soils of Rajasthan with low rainfall |
Rainfed farming in India:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Share of net sown area | About half |
| Main rainfed crops | Coarse cereals, pulses, oilseeds and cotton |
| Mostly irrigated crops | Wheat, sugarcane and rice in Punjab and Haryana |
All three crops are predominantly rainfed.
Answer: (d) 1, 2 and 3.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Pearl millet is also a predominantly rainfed crop.
- (b) Incorrect. Groundnut is also grown mostly under rainfed conditions.
- (c) Incorrect. Groundnut and sesamum are also predominantly rainfed.
- (d) CORRECT. Groundnut, sesamum and pearl millet are all predominantly rainfed.
Key point
Rainfed crops: coarse cereals (bajra, jowar), pulses, oilseeds (groundnut, sesamum). Mostly irrigated: wheat, sugarcane.
Remember
Groundnut, sesamum, bajra: all rainfed.
Common mistakes
- Thinking groundnut needs irrigation because it is a commercial crop.
- Forgetting that most oilseeds in India are grown without irrigation.
- Counting only millets as rainfed crops.
Exam tip
Oilseeds, pulses and millets are the rainfed trio. Wheat and sugarcane are the irrigated ones.
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare — Agricultural Statistics at a Glance (irrigated area under crops)
- NCERT Class XII — India: People and Economy, Ch on Land Resources and Agriculture