With reference to the cultivation of Kharif crops in which in the last five years consider the following statements:

1. Area under rice cultivation is the highest.

2. Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.

3. Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.

4. Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is 1 and 3 only.

Let us analyze each statement based on agricultural data regarding Kharif crop cultivation over recent years:

Statement 1: Area under rice cultivation is the highest.
This statement is correct. Rice is the most widely cultivated food crop in India, occupying the largest area among all Kharif crops (and overall crop area in India).

Statement 2: Area under the cultivation of jowar is more than that of oilseeds.
This statement is incorrect. Total area under oilseed cultivation (including groundnut, soybean, sesamum, etc.) is significantly larger than the area under jowar cultivation.

Statement 3: Area of cotton cultivation is more than that of sugarcane.
This statement is correct. Cotton is cultivated over a much larger acreage (around 12-13 million hectares) compared to sugarcane (around 4.5-5 million hectares).

Statement 4: Area under sugarcane cultivation has steadily decreased.
This statement is incorrect. The area under sugarcane cultivation has shown fluctuations rather than a steady, continuous decrease.

Thus, statements 1 and 3 are correct.