The correct option is 2 and 3 only.
Explanation
India has three major cropping seasons: Rabi, Kharif, and Zaid. The Zaid season is a short summer cropping season that occurs between the harvesting of Rabi crops and the sowing of Kharif crops.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Zaid crops are grown during the summer months (typically from March to June), not the winter season. The winter cropping season is known as the Rabi season (sown in winter, harvested in summer).
- Statement 2 is Correct: The crops produced during the Zaid season primarily include seasonal fruits and vegetables that require warm dry weather for growth and longer day length for flowering. Common examples include watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, bitter gourd, and pumpkin.
- Statement 3 is Correct: In addition to fruits and vegetables, fodder crops are extensively cultivated during the Zaid season to ensure feed availability for livestock during the dry summer months.
Key Takeaway: The Zaid season is the short summer gap between the Rabi and Kharif seasons, characterized by the cultivation of quick-growing crops like watermelons, cucumbers, vegetables, and fodder.