FAST READ
- Moth bean area in hot arid western Rajasthan: nearly 10 lakh hectares.
- 10 lakh hectares equals about 1 million hectares.
- Average productivity cited: around 350 kg per hectare.
WHY IN NEWS
- ICAR-CAZRI reported moth bean varieties that endured a 35-day dry spell in Kharif 2026.
- The results illustrate crop breeding as an adaptation tool for India's arid farming systems.
TOP DATA & FACTS
- Moth bean area in hot arid western Rajasthan: nearly 10 lakh hectares.
- 10 lakh hectares equals about 1 million hectares.
- Average productivity cited: around 350 kg per hectare.
- Rainfall range cited: 150-250 mm.
- Rainfall-range width: about 100 mm.
- Typical prolonged dry spells: 20-30 days.
- Kharif 2026 CAZRI varieties withstood a 35-day dry spell.
- The 35-day event was 5 days longer than the upper end of the typical 20-30 day range.
- At 350 kg/ha, 10 lakh ha corresponds arithmetically to about 350,000 tonnes if the whole cited area produced at that average; this is an illustrative calculation, not an official output estimate.
- CAZRI is located at Jodhpur.
- Reference PIB release date: 13 September 2026.
- Crop season cited: Kharif 2026.
- Three core constraints explicitly cited are low rainfall, erratic rainfall and limited soil moisture.
- Two breeding goals highlighted are enhanced stress resilience and high yield potential.
PRELIMS
- Nearly 10 lakh ha of moth bean cultivation and ~350 kg/ha productivity were cited.
- The rainfall environment is about 150-250 mm with 20-30 day dry spells.
- The Kharif 2026 varieties endured 35 dry days.
QUICK REVISION
- Moth bean area in hot arid western Rajasthan: nearly 10 lakh hectares.
- 10 lakh hectares equals about 1 million hectares.
- Average productivity cited: around 350 kg per hectare.
- Rainfall range cited: 150-250 mm.
- Rainfall-range width: about 100 mm.
- Typical prolonged dry spells: 20-30 days.
- Kharif 2026 CAZRI varieties withstood a 35-day dry spell.
- The 35-day event was 5 days longer than the upper end of the typical 20-30 day range.
PROBABLE OBJECTIVE QUESTION
Consider the following statements: