UPSC Prelims 2019 · Question 23 of 99
UPSC Prelims 2019 question on Kharif Crops Trends
- ExamUPSC CSE
- Year2019
- PaperGeneral Studies Paper I
- SubjectGeography
- TopicAgriculture Geography
- DifficultyHard
- TypeStatement
With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in which 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 is/are correct?
Show answer
Answer: A. 1 and 3 only
Verdict
Correct statements: 1 and 3 → Option (a).
Analysis
Based on the Area, Production and Yield data of major Kharif crops:
Statement by statement
Statement 1 – CORRECT: Area under rice cultivation (441.10 lakh hectare in 2014-15, 434.99 in 2015-16, 431.94 in 2016-17) is the highest among the Kharif crops listed.
Statement 2 – INCORRECT: Area under oilseeds (255.96 lakh hectare in 2014-15) is more than coarse cereals (which includes jowar). Jowar area is a subset of coarse cereals and is less than oilseeds.
Statement 3 – CORRECT: Area of cotton (not listed separately but larger) cultivation is more than that of sugarcane (50.66 lakh hectare in 2014-15, 49.27 in 2015-16, 43.89 in 2016-17).
Statement 4 – INCORRECT: Area under sugarcane cultivation has not steadily decreased; it fluctuated across the years shown.