Question
Download Solution PDFWhich of the following is the main food crop of the semi-arid areas of central and southern India?
Answer (Detailed Solution Below)
Detailed Solution
Download Solution PDFThe correct answer is Jowar.
Key Points
- Jowar is the main food crop in semi-arid areas of central and southern India.
- Maharashtra alone produces more than half of the total jowar production of the country.
- It is both Kharif and Rabi crops in Southern India.
- It is a Kharif crop in northern India.
- Other leading producer states of jowar are Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
Additional Information
- Ragi
- 'Ragi' also known as Finger Millet, is a popular food grain crop in India.
- It is a Kharif crop.
- It is called dry land crops, mostly cultivated by the people of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu & Kerala.
- Grown in both tropical and sub-tropic regions.
- Maize
- In India, maize is the third most important food crop after rice and wheat.
- Maize in India contributes nearly 9 % to the national food basket.
- Maize also serves as a basic raw material as an ingredient in thousands of industrial products including:
- starch, oil, protein, alcoholic beverages, food sweeteners, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, film, textiles, gum, etc.
- The predominant maize-growing states are Andhra Pradesh (20.9 %), Karnataka (16.5 %), and Rajasthan (9.9 %), Maharashtra (9.1 %).
- Bajra
- In India, Bajra is an essential food crop in the millet category after Jowar.
- It is cultivated in a warm and dry climate between June and October.
- It is a Kharif crop.
- Bajra requires light soil with proper water drainage.
- However, it can be grown in all types of soils.
- Out of the whole Bajra production in the country, 85% is grown in Rajasthan.
- India is in first place in Bajra production in the world.
Last updated on Jul 19, 2025
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