The correct option is (d).
Explanation
The Sahara Desert is a harsh environment where settled life and agriculture are restricted to areas with reliable water sources, specifically around oases and the Nile Valley. In these fertile pockets, the availability of water allows for the cultivation of various food and cash crops.
Analysis of Crops:
- Rice, Wheat, Barley, and Beans: According to standard geographical texts regarding life in the Sahara, the settled population in the oases and the Nile Valley cultivates a variety of crops including rice, wheat, barley, and beans.
- Rice: Cultivated primarily in the Nile Valley where water availability is sufficient for this water-intensive crop.
- Wheat and Barley: These are staple cereals grown in the region, often suited to the winter growing season or the micro-climates of oases.
- Beans: Grown as a pulse/vegetable crop by the local population.
In addition to these, Date Palms are the most prominent trees found in the oases, and Egyptian cotton is a major commercial crop grown in Egypt.
Key Takeaway:
Agriculture in the Sahara is confined to the Nile Valley and oases, where the settled population grows staple crops such as rice, wheat, barley, and beans, alongside date palms and cotton.