During the year 2020-21, which of the following States was the largest producer of groundnut in the country?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B, Gujarat. Gujarat has for years been India's largest groundnut-producing State, and remained so in 2020-21 — its semi-arid, well-drained soils (especially in Saurashtra) suit groundnut well, and it is a major kharif oilseed crop there.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) A significant groundnut producer (notably around Rayalaseema/Anantapur), but its output trails Gujarat's.  (c) Groundnut is grown in parts of Rajasthan, but its production is well below Gujarat's.  (d) Groundnut is cultivated in Tamil Nadu, but its output is much smaller than Gujarat's.

Concept: Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea) is India's leading oilseed crop by area, predominantly a kharif crop that needs well-drained sandy loam soil and moderate rainfall. Gujarat, especially the Saurashtra region, has long dominated national groundnut production, with States such as Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka contributing at a distance behind it.

State PCS 2022 Q55 — Geography PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2022 Q55 — Geography PYQ with Answer