Question

Name the two major beverage crops grown in India. Describe their growing areas.

Answer 1

(a) Tea :

(i)   An example of plantation agriculture, an important beverage crop introduced in India by the British.

(ii)  Grows well in tropical and sub-tropical climates endowed with deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.

(iii)  Require warm and moist frost-free climate, frequent showers evenly distributed over the year. 

(iv)  A labour intensive industry, requires abundant cheap and skilled labour.

(v)  Major producing states are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala. Apart from these, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh and Tripura and also tea-producing states in the country.

(vi)  India is the leading producer as well as exporter of tea in the world.

(b) Coffee :  Importance :

(i)  India produces about four per cent of the world’s coffee production.

(ii)  The Arabica variety produced in the country is in great demand all over the world.

(iii)  Is cultivated in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Answer 2

The two most important beverage crops of India are

1. Tea
2. Coffee

Favorable conditions for these crops"

• Temperature should be around 15°C-30°C
• Soil should be fertile, loamy, well drained  and rich in nutrients with rainfall around 150-200 centimeters.

Major states for producing Tea:
1. Asam.
2. Tamil Nadu.
3. West Bengal .

Major states for producing Coffee

1. Tamil Nadu.
2. Kerala.
3. Karnataka.