UPSC Prelims 2010·GS1·geography·indian geography

Though coffee and tea both are cultivated on hill slopes, there is some difference between them regarding their cultivation. In this context, consider the following statements: 1. Coffee plant requires a hot and humid climate of tropical areas whereas tea can be cultivated in both tropical and subtropical areas. 2. Coffee is propagated by seeds but tea is propagated by stem cuttings only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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  1. A1 only
  2. B2 only
  3. CBoth 1 and 2Correct
  4. DNeither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because coffee is primarily a tropical crop that thrives in hot and humid conditions with temperatures between 15 and 28 degrees Celsius. In contrast, tea is more versatile and is successfully grown in both tropical and subtropical climates, as seen in regions ranging from South India to the cooler foothills of the Himalayas. Statement 2 is generally considered correct in the context of commercial cultivation practices often cited in Indian geography. While both plants can technically be grown from seeds or cuttings, coffee is traditionally and predominantly propagated by seeds. Tea cultivation extensively uses vegetative propagation through stem cuttings to ensure uniform quality and higher yield in commercial plantations. Therefore, both statements are correct according to standard textbooks.
geography: Though coffee and tea both are cultivated on hill slopes, there is some difference between them regarding their cultivat

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