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?
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct: In Indian agriculture, paddy (rice) occupies the largest gross cropped area among all kharif crops, covering roughly 43 to 44 million hectares.
Statement 2 is incorrect: The area under oilseeds (covering around 26 to 28 million hectares) is far greater than the area under jowar cultivation (which covers around 5 to 6 million hectares annually).
Statement 3 is correct: The area under cotton cultivation (approximately 11 to 12.8 million hectares) is significantly higher than the area under sugarcane cultivation (which occupies roughly 4.8 to 5 million hectares).
Statement 4 is incorrect: Acreage under sugarcane cultivation fluctuated up and down with sugar price cycles and monsoons rather than showing a ‘steady decrease’.
Hence, statements 1 and 3 are correct — Option A.