Final answer:
The correct answer is option D) Barley.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first crops developed in India included staple grains such as wheat and barley. According to historical evidence, particularly from the Neolithic settlement of Mehrgarh, located in the region that is now Pakistan, barley was one of the earliest plants to be farmed, with evidence dating back to 7000 BCE. The ancient farmers of the Indus valley also cultivated wheat as they built settled communities.
In addition to barley and wheat, cotton was later domesticated in the region, illustrating the expanding agricultural practices of the time.
Therefore, in answering the student's question, the correct choice is D) Barley, as it was one of the first crops to be developed in India, while cotton followed later and emphasized the region's diverse agricultural development.