Food Crops

On the basis of seasons, crops in India are mainly divided in 3 types.

(i) Kharif - Rice, Jowar, Maize, Cotton, Soyabean, Groundnut, Millet, Ragi, Bajra, Jute etc.

(ii) Rabi - Wheat, Peas, Pulses, Mustard etc.

(iii) Zaid - Muskmelon, Watermelon, cucumber, Bitter gourd, Sunflower etc.

On the basis of seasons, crops in India are mainly divided in 3 types.

(i) Kharif - Rice, Jowar, Maize, Cotton, Soyabean, Groundnut, Millet, Ragi, Bajra, Jute etc.

(ii) Rabi - Wheat, Peas, Pulses, Mustard etc.

(iii) Zaid - Muskmelon, Watermelon, cucumber, Bitter gourd, Sunflower etc.

Rice is the chief food crop of India, Wheat is the second most important food crop of India. Thus, option (b) is correct answer.

According to Economic Survey 2022-23, rice occupies largest cropping area (46.4 million hectares). Wheat is grown on 30.5 million hectare area during 2021-22 (4th A.Ε.).

According to Economic Survey 2022-23, rice occupies largest cropping area (46.4 million hectares). Wheat is grown on 30.5 million hectare area during 2021-22 (4th A.Ε.).

According to data for the year 2021-22 (4% A.E.), the largest area under rice cultivation is in Uttar Pradesh (5.70 million hectares).

Average production of rice per hectare in the year 2013-14 was 2416 kg. According to data Agriculture statistics at a Glance 2022, this, was 2809 kg/hectares, during 2021-22 (4° A.E.).

According to the given options, the delta region of Krishna and Godavari is known as the 'Rice Bowl of India. This region comes under Andhra Pradesh. Rice is cultivated on 2.25 million hectare area (2021-22 4º A.E.) of the total cropped area of Andhra Pradesh. Almost two third of total rice production is cultivated during the Kharif crop. Here, most important area for the production of rice is Rayalseema which is extended on Krishna-Godavari delta region. Thus, (b) is the correct answer.

Highest productivity of rice in India is in Punjab which is 4340 kg/hectare as per 2021-22 (4th A.Ε.).

Important varieties of rice are Jamuna, Karuna, Jaya, Kanchi, Jagannath, Krishna, Kaveri, Hansa, Vijaya, Padma, Annapurna, Bala and Ratna.