Question map
Consider the following crops of India? 1. Groundnut 2. Sesamum 3. Pearl millet Which of the statements given above is/are predominantly rainfed crop/crops?
Explanation
In India, groundnut, sesamum, and pearl millet are predominantly grown under rainfed conditions. Groundnut is described as largely a rainfed kharif crop of drylands, covering about 3.6% of the total cropped area [1]. Historically, only about 17% of groundnut area was irrigated, leaving the vast majority dependent on rainfall. Sesamum (til) is a major oilseed crop that can be grown under both irrigated and rainfed conditions, with rainfed yields typically ranging from 800-1000 kg/ha. Pearl millet (bajra) is one of the most drought-tolerant crops, well-adapted to low rainfall (500-800 mm) and poor soil fertility. It is a staple of rainfed agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions like Rajasthan and Gujarat. These crops are often intercropped together in traditional rainfed farming systems to stabilize returns against erratic monsoon patterns.
Sources
- [1] INDIA PEOPLE AND ECONOMY, TEXTBOOK IN GEOGRAPHY FOR CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Land Resources and Agriculture > Oilseeds > p. 30