Consider the following statements : 1. India has more arable area than China. 2. The proportion of irrigated area is more in India as compared to China. 3. The average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is higher than that in China. How many of the above statements are correct?

Answer: A. Only ONE of the three statements is correct. (1) India has more arable area than China: CORRECT. India has about 156 million hectares of arable land, the largest in the world. China has about 119 million hectares. India's arable share of total area is about 52% vs China's 13%. (2) Proportion of irrigated area is more in India than China: WRONG. China has a HIGHER irrigation ratio. About 67% of China's cultivated area is irrigated, vs about 50% for India. China invested heavily in irrigation infrastructure during the Mao and reform eras. (3) Average productivity per hectare in Indian agriculture is HIGHER than China: WRONG. China's average yields are consistently HIGHER than India's across most crops (rice, wheat, maize, vegetables). Chinese rice yield is about 7 tonnes/ha vs India's 4 tonnes/ha. Better seeds, more fertilizer use and superior irrigation drive higher productivity. Source: FAOSTAT / NCERT Class 11 India: Physical Environment Ch 6 (Soils) and Ch 10.