Correct Option
The correct option is Only one
Explanation
India and China present contrasting agricultural profiles in terms of arable land, irrigation coverage, and productivity per hectare.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 - Correct: India has approximately 156–160 million hectares of arable land, making it the largest in the world, surpassing even China, which has approximately 119–120 million hectares of arable land. Despite China's larger total geographical area, a significant portion consists of deserts, mountains, and plateaus unsuitable for cultivation. Hence, India indeed has more arable area than China.
- Statement 2 - Incorrect: China has a significantly higher proportion of irrigated area relative to its cultivated land compared to India. China has developed an extensive irrigation infrastructure over decades, and the share of irrigated area as a proportion of total cultivated land is higher in China than in India. India, while having large absolute irrigated area, lags behind China in proportional irrigated coverage.
- Statement 3 - Incorrect: China's average agricultural productivity per hectare is considerably higher than that of India across most major crops including rice, wheat, and vegetables. China's higher productivity is attributable to greater mechanisation, better irrigation coverage, higher fertiliser use efficiency, and advanced agricultural technology. India's average yield per hectare remains lower in comparison.
Key Takeaway: Among the three comparisons between India and China - arable area, proportion of irrigated area, and productivity per hectare - only the first statement is correct. India surpasses China in total arable land, but China leads in both the proportion of irrigated area and average agricultural productivity per hectare.