Identify the crop on the basis of the following characteristics : It

Identify the crop on the basis of the following characteristics :

  • It is a kharif crop.
  • Aus, Aman and Boro are its three different growing periods in an agricultural year.
  • About one-fourth of the total cropped area of India is under its cultivation.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

Wheat
Rice
Pulses
Cotton
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-1 – 2021
The crop described by the given characteristics is Rice.
– The statement “It is a kharif crop” applies to Rice and Cotton. Wheat is a rabi crop. While pulses include both types, the subsequent characteristics point to a single major crop.
– The description of “Aus, Aman and Boro” as three different growing periods in an agricultural year is a specific characteristic of Rice cultivation, particularly prevalent in regions like West Bengal. Aman is the main rice crop grown during the monsoon (Kharif) season.
– The statement that “About one-fourth of the total cropped area of India is under its cultivation” also strongly points to Rice, which occupies the largest area under cultivation among all crops in India (approximately 23-24% of the Gross Cropped Area).
Wheat is primarily a rabi crop, grown in about 15% of the cropped area. Cotton is a kharif crop but grown in a much smaller area than rice (around 6-7%). Pulses are grown in about 15-20% area but are not a single crop, and the “Aus, Aman, Boro” description is unique to rice.