In which of the following states rice is a commercial crop?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (D) Punjab

Explanation:
• In Punjab and Haryana, rice is grown extensively as a commercial crop. Farmers in these highly irrigated regions cultivate rice primarily for sale in markets and central procurement agencies, rather than personal consumption.
• The introduction of high-yielding variety (HYV) seeds, assured canal and tube-well irrigation networks, and heavy chemical fertilizers during the Green Revolution turned these historically wheat-dominant states into major rice exporters.
• Conversely, in states like Odisha and West Bengal, rice is grown under subsistence agricultural conditions, serving as the staple food source for the local farmers.

Information Booster:
• The commercial status of a crop varies significantly across geographical regions depending upon local consumption habits, climatic suitability, and agro-technological advancements.

Additional Knowledge:
• Kerala (Option A): Focuses highly on plantation and cash crops like rubber, spices, and coconut, treating rice as a localized food crop.
• Uttar Pradesh (Option B): Features a mixed farming structure where rice is heavily grown, but acts largely as a food staple alongside commercial sugarcane production.
• Odisha (Option C): Cultivates rice across multiple seasons (Aman, Aus, Boro) predominantly as a subsistence crop for family sustenance.