A state in India has the following characteristics: 1. Its northern part is arid and semi-arid. 2. Its central part produces cotton. 3. Cultivation of cash crops is predominant over food crops. Which one of the following states has all of the above characteristics?
- AAndhra Pradesh
- BGujaratCorrect
- CKarnataka
- DTamil Nadu
Explanation
The correct answer is Gujarat based on the following geographical and agricultural features:
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Northern part is arid and semi-arid: The northern regions of Gujarat, including Kutch and parts of Saurashtra, are characterized by arid and semi-arid climates. This matches the first condition perfectly.
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Central part produces cotton: The central plains and the Bharuch region of Gujarat are famous for their black cotton soil, making the state one of the leading producers of cotton in India.
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Predominance of cash crops: Agriculture in Gujarat is heavily commercialized. The state focuses significantly more on cash crops like cotton, groundnut, tobacco, and oilseeds rather than food grains like rice or wheat.
While states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka also produce cotton, they do not satisfy the specific combination of a northern arid zone and a predominant focus on cash crops over food crops as distinctly as Gujarat does.
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