- India has more arable areas 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?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) All three
(d) None
Answer: (A)
Statement 1 is correct: India and China,the world’s most populous countries, have limited arable land — China has about 120 million hectares (mha) and India 156 million hectares (mha).
Statement 2 is incorrect: China’s irrigation cover is more than that of India’s irrigation cover.
Statement 3 is not correct: As a result of this irrigation, China’s total sown area is 166 m ha compared to India’s gross cropped area of 198 m ha. Even with much lesser land under cultivation, China produces agricultural output valued at $1,367 billion—more than three times that of India’s $407 billion. China’s productivity in most crops is 50 to 100% higher than India’s.