Question

Which of the following states is the largest producer of bajra followed by Rajasthan?
A)Bihar
B)Madhya Pradesh
C)Gujarat
D)Karnataka

Answer 1

Hint:Bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow dark soils; thus, one needs to have conceptual clarity about the types of soils found in India and their location.

Complete answer:
Bajra is a coarse grain which means it doesn’t need too specific conditions to grow and it can be cultivated in areas where rainfall isn’t adequate or temperatures go higher than normal. The most appropriate fit in this scene is the state which has such favourable conditions for bajra to grow. It has been stated previously that sandy and shallow soils are another suitable condition for bajra. So, in the given options, we need to figure out which states fit in the description-
>Bihar has a really fertile soil profile as it lies in the region that comes under Gangetic Basin and has abundance of rainfall and the soil is alluvial in nature. This goes contrary to the conditions favorable for the growth of bajra. Thus, the option isn’t correct.
>Madhya Pradesh has a soil profile which is mixed in nature and can be classified as moderately fertile region. It has some regions of shallow soil too (regions closer to Rajasthan) but that isn’t enough to tag it as one of the highest bajra producing regions. So, this option is incorrect.
>Gujarat is the right answer. Gujarat has the suitable condition for the growth of bajra in its central region which provides a mixture of sandy and loamy soils. Also, that region doesn’t have much rainfall as well which favors the growth of bajra.
>Karnataka can be easily eliminated as it is a region which has adequate rainfall and the soil pattern is quite rich in the quality and nutritional values- alluvial, laterite, black, etc. Thus, this isn’t the right choice.

The correct answer is Option C

Additional information
When we mention that bajra needs a lesser amount of rainfall that doesn’t mean that other places with fertile soil profiles can’t grow them. It simply implies that such regions will not choose to invest into a crop which is low in demand and doesn’t yield good profit. The most cultivated crops in such regions are pulses, wheat, rice, etc. On the contrary, the regions which have a weaker or poor soil structure have to settle with the most suitable options.

Note:As we have previously stated, bajra grows well on sandy soils and shallow dark soils. The largest producer of bajra is Rajasthan which is followed by Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Haryana.