Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements with reference to cultivated area of some countries of the world:
In comparison to USA, China and Japan, India has highest geographical area under cultivation.
India’s location in tropical monsoon region helps diversified cropping all through the year.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Only 1
Only 2
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
Statement 1 is correct. The comparison in the question is among India, USA, China and Japan. According to FAO-based World Bank Arable Land data for 2023, India had about 153.87 million hectares of arable land, compared with about 151.56 million hectares in the USA and about 108.43 million hectares in China. Japan's arable area is much smaller. Thus, India has the largest cultivated/arable area among these four countries.
Statement 2 is also correct. Regional variations in India's monsoon climate and temperatures suitable for crop growth during most of the year support diversified agriculture. India has three major cropping seasons—Kharif, Rabi and Zaid. In southern India, where adequate soil moisture is available, the same crop may even be cultivated two or three times in an agricultural year.
Consequently, India's climatic and seasonal diversity permits the cultivation of a wide range of crops such as rice, wheat, millets, pulses, oilseeds, cotton, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables in different seasons.