Question 95 from UPSC CSE 2021 - Geography

Question

Among the following, which one is the least water-efficient crop?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. Sugarcane

Strategy: Identify the crop with the highest water consumption by leveraging core agricultural knowledge. The approach is to recognize sugarcane as a well-known water-intensive outlier when compared to low-water crops like millets and pulses, and moderately water-intensive crops like sunflower.

Key Info: Sugarcane is among the most water-intensive crops grown in India. Its production typically requires 1500–2500 mm of water per season, with an average water footprint of around 200–210 litres per kilogram. It is predominantly cultivated in states like Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, raising sustainability concerns in water-stressed regions.

Sunflower requires moderate water, with a water footprint estimated between 7–9 litres per kilogram. It is suited for rain-fed conditions and is relatively more drought-tolerant than many other oilseeds.

Pearl millet, also known as bajra, is a highly drought-resistant cereal grown in semi-arid and arid regions. It requires minimal irrigation and is favored for its resilience in low rainfall areas.

Red gram, or pigeon pea, is a major pulse crop generally cultivated as a rain-fed crop needing 350–400 mm of water during its lifecycle. Any irrigation is typically limited to critical stages like budding and flowering.

India's chronic water scarcity is intensified by the expansion of water-guzzling crops, leading to policy recommendations for diversification towards less water-intensive cereals and pulses to ensure sustainable agricultural water management.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Sunflower

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: Pearl millet

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: Red gram