With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements: 1. Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop. 2. Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production. 3. In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Question

GSHardPrelims 2020Indian Geography

With reference to pulse production in India, consider the following statements:

Black gram can be cultivated as both kharif and rabi crop.
Green-gram alone accounts for nearly half of pulse production.
In the last three decades, while the production of kharif pulses has increased, the production of rabi pulses has decreased.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct. Like most of the pulses in India, Black gram pulse too can be cultivated both in kharif as well as in rabi season in India.

Statement 2 is incorrect. Chickpea pulse, also known as Chana, is the most dominant pulse produced in India. It contributes around 40% of the total pulse production in India.

Statement 3 is incorrect. Both kharif and rabi pulse production have generally shown an increasing trend over the last three decades, largely due to government initiatives and technological advancements. Rabi pulses, which make up a larger share of the total production (more than 60%), have shown a substantial increase. Hence, option A is the correct answer.