Consider the following statements:
- The Government of India provides Minimum Support Price for niger (Guizotia abyssinica) seeds.
- Niger is cultivated as a Kharif crop.
- Some tribal people in India use niger seed oil for cooking.
How many of the above statements are correct?
2. Niger is cultivated as a Kharif crop. This statement is correct. Niger is predominantly a Kharif crop in India, sown with the onset of the monsoon (June-July) and harvested from September to November. It is primarily grown in states like Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka.
3. Some tribal people in India use niger seed oil for cooking. This statement is correct. Niger seed oil is edible and is traditionally used for cooking, especially by tribal populations and in rural areas where it is cultivated, due to its availability and nutritional properties. It is also used for other purposes like lighting and soap making.
All three statements are factually correct.
– Niger is primarily grown during the Kharif season in India.
– Niger seed oil is used for cooking, including by some tribal communities.