The correct answer is (b), sugarcane.
Sugarcane is the main cash crop of Uttar Pradesh, accounting for about 40% of the state’s total agricultural output. It is grown in all 75 districts of the state, with the highest production in the western and central regions. The main sugarcane-growing districts are Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Agra, Kanpur, Allahabad, and Faizabad.
Sugarcane is a perennial grass that is grown for its juice, which is used to make sugar, molasses, and ethanol. The crop is harvested once a year, and the juice is extracted from the stalks by crushing or milling. The juice is then boiled to concentrate the sugar, and the resulting syrup is crystallized to form sugar.
Sugarcane is a major source of employment in Uttar Pradesh. The crop is grown on about 2.5 million hectares of land, and employs about 10 million people directly or indirectly. Sugarcane is also a major source of revenue for the state government. The state government collects a cess on sugarcane production, which is used to fund various development projects.
Potato (a) is a major food crop in Uttar Pradesh, but it is not as important as sugarcane. Mentha (c) is a minor crop that is grown for its essential oil. Mustard (d) is a major oilseed crop in Uttar Pradesh, but it is not as important as sugarcane.