UPSC Prelims 2019 Q83: Indian Economy – Agriculture & Rural Development
With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in India in the last five years, consider the
following statements:
1. Area under rice cultivation is the highest.
2. Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.
3. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.
4. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) 1 and 3 only
- (b) 2, 3 and 4 only
- (c) 2 and 4 only
- (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation
Kharif crops: area under cultivation
| Statement | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Area under rice cultivation is the highest | Correct | Kharif rice covers about 39 to 40 million hectares, the most of any crop |
| 2. Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds | Incorrect | Kharif oilseeds cover about 18 million hectares; kharif jowar only about 2 million |
| 3. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane | Correct | Cotton is about 12 million hectares; sugarcane about 5 million |
| 4. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased | Incorrect | It has moved up and down around 5 million hectares; no steady fall |
Order of kharif area:
| Rank | Crop group |
|---|---|
| 1 | Rice |
| 2 | Oilseeds (soyabean, groundnut) |
| 3 | Pulses (tur, urad, moong) |
| 4 | Cotton |
| 5 | Sugarcane, then jowar |
Statements 1 and 3 are right.
Answer: (a) 1 and 3 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. Rice has the largest area, and cotton has more area than sugarcane.
- (b) Incorrect. Jowar has far less area than oilseeds, and sugarcane area has not fallen steadily.
- (c) Incorrect. Statements 2 and 4 are both false: jowar trails oilseeds and sugarcane area fluctuates.
- (d) Incorrect. Statements 2 and 4 are false; only the rice and cotton statements hold.
Key point
Kharif area: rice (about 40 million ha) > oilseeds (about 18) > cotton (about 12) > sugarcane (about 5) > jowar. Sugarcane area fluctuates.
Remember
Kharif: rice first; cotton more than sugarcane; oilseeds more than jowar.
Common mistakes
- Thinking jowar still covers large areas; its area has shrunk for decades.
- Reading 'steadily decreased' loosely; a rise in any year breaks it.
- Underrating cotton, which covers more than twice the area of sugarcane.
Exam tip
Words like 'steadily' are easy to disprove. One year of increase makes the statement false.
Sources
- Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare — Agricultural Statistics at a Glance (area under principal crops)
- Economic Survey 2018-19 — Vol 2, Ch on Agriculture and Food Management