According to the cropping pattern of Uttarakhand in the year 2020-21, arrange the following crops in the increasing order of the total area under cultivation.

a. Wheat

b. Paddy

c. Mandwa

d. Sugarcane

Choose the correct answer from the code given below:

The correct answer is Option 2: c d b a.

Key Points

• The cropping pattern in Uttarakhand for the year 2020-21 reveals a higher preference for staple crops such as wheat and paddy due to their suitability in the region's agro-climatic conditions.
• Mandwa (Finger Millet) occupies a smaller cultivated area compared to sugarcane, wheat, and paddy, making it the crop with the least area under cultivation among the listed options.
• Sugarcane, being a cash crop, has a larger area under cultivation compared to Mandwa but less than paddy and wheat.
• Paddy and wheat, essential cereal crops, dominate the cropping pattern in Uttarakhand, with wheat typically having the largest cultivated area.
• Thus, the correct increasing order of the total area under cultivation is: Mandwa (c) < Sugarcane (d) < Paddy (b) < Wheat (a).

Additional Information

• Mandwa (Finger Millet):
  • A traditional millet crop grown in hilly regions for its resilience to drought and poor soils.
  • Rich in nutrients, it plays an important role in food security and nutrition in Uttarakhand's rural areas.
• Paddy (Rice):
  • A staple food crop in India, requiring abundant water and specific climatic conditions for optimal growth.
  • Paddy cultivation dominates in Uttarakhand plains like Haridwar and Udham Singh Nagar districts.
• Sugarcane:
  • A cash crop grown primarily in subtropical and tropical climates.
  • It is processed for sugar, jaggery, and ethanol production, contributing to agricultural income.
• Wheat:
  • A major rabi crop in India, grown extensively during the winter season.
  • Wheat cultivation in Uttarakhand is concentrated in irrigated areas of the plains.
• Cropping Pattern in Uttarakhand:
  • Influenced by the region's topography, climate, and irrigation facilities.
  • Characterized by the cultivation of cereals, pulses, millets, and cash crops.