Question

Which district is the leading producer of groundnut in Gujarat?
A) Bhavnagar
B) Junagadh
C) Surendranagar
D) Ahmedabad

Answer 1

Hint:
Groundnut is perhaps the most important of the major oilseed crops grown in the country. There are five significant groundnut creating states in India and among these Gujarat is the biggest maker.

Complete step by step solution:
The share of Gujarat in the national oilseed production is 35 percent. This exercises a considerable influence on the national oilseed scene. Groundnut is primarily grown on the coastal belt of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The unirrigated drylands of Saurashtra are so poor with infertility. Except for groundnut and inferior serials, bajra, and Jowar, no other major food or cash crops can be grown profitably here. Groundnut does not require more water supply. It, however, does need well spread out rain over the entire season. Water deficit at the crucial stage has the effect of reducing crop yields considerably. Therefore irrigation and controlled water supply are very essential for high groundnut yields. In Saurashtra, there are neither any big rivers, from which the water resources can be tapped and canal irrigation developed, nor are any other modes of irrigation possible due to the low water levels in the soil. Hence, a large proportion of land under groundnut is rain-fed. Depending on the monsoon, the yields fluctuate widely from one extreme to the other. The leading producer of groundnut is Junagadh in Gujarat.

Thus, option (B) is correct.

Note:
The oilseed sector is an important sector of our national economy. The total area under oilseed crops occupied by groundnut is 46 percent. It also has a share of over 60 percent in the country’s oilseed output.