Question 90 from UPSC CSE 2023 - Geography

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. India has more arable area than China.
2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.
3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: B. Only two

Strategy: - **Arable Area:** India has more arable land than China, making this statement correct.
- **Proportion of Irrigated Area:** India irrigates a higher proportion of its cultivated area than China, due to extensive irrigation for staple crops. This statement is also correct.
- **Average Productivity per Hectare:** China's agricultural productivity is significantly higher than India's, owing to superior technology and practices. Therefore, this statement is incorrect.

**Conclusion:** Only two statements are correct.

Key Info: **Arable Area**
- Land suitable for growing crops.
- India: Approximately 156 million hectares (largest globally).
- China: Approximately 120 million hectares.

**Irrigated Area Proportion**
- Land with controlled water supply for crops.
- India: Around 48% of cultivated area is irrigated, due to extensive river systems and canal infrastructure.
- China: Around 41% of cultivated area is irrigated.

**Agricultural Productivity per Hectare**
- China's agricultural yield is consistently higher than India's.
- Recent data:
  - China (average cereal productivity): ~6,300 kg/hectare.
  - India (average cereal productivity): ~3,400 kg/hectare.
- China's methods: High fertilizer consumption, advanced seed technology, intensive R&D, and mechanization.
- India's progress: Significant improvements (e.g., Green Revolution), but average yields trail China.

**Overall Context**
- Both nations face challenges in feeding large populations with limited arable land.
- They increasingly rely on modern inputs to boost output.
- These comparative statistics are corroborated by international sources like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Bank.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Only one

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: All three

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: None

Consider the following statements: India has more arable area than China. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China. How many of the above statements are correct?

Consider the following statements:

India has more arable area than China.

The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China.

The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China.
How many of the above statements are correct?