UPSC Prelims 2010 Q14: Geography – Indian Agriculture & Land Use
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 ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a) 1 only
Explanation
Coffee vs tea cultivation: checking both statements
Both are grown on hill slopes, but their specific climate and propagation requirements differ.
| Statement | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Coffee needs tropical hot/humid climate; tea grows in both tropical and subtropical areas | Correct | Coffee is more climate-restricted to tropical conditions, while tea is more adaptable, grown in both tropical (Assam, Kerala) and subtropical (Darjeeling) zones |
| 2. Coffee propagated by seeds only; tea by stem cuttings only | Incorrect | While coffee is typically propagated by seeds, tea is propagated through both seeds and stem/vegetative cuttings, not exclusively by cuttings |
Coffee vs tea cultivation:
| Point | Coffee | Tea |
|---|---|---|
| Climate range | Tropical only | Tropical and subtropical |
| Propagation | Mainly seeds | Seeds and vegetative cuttings |
Answer: (a) 1 only.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. The climate-range distinction (coffee tropical-only, tea tropical+subtropical) is accurate; the propagation claim in statement 2 is too absolute.
- (b) Incorrect. Statement 2's claim that tea is propagated 'only' by stem cuttings is too restrictive and inaccurate.
- (c) Incorrect. Statement 2 is not fully accurate, so 'both' cannot be correct.
- (d) Incorrect. Statement 1 is accurate, so 'neither' is wrong.
Key point
Coffee needs tropical climate only; tea can grow in both tropical and subtropical zones — that distinction is correct. But tea is NOT propagated 'only' by stem cuttings; it also uses seeds.
Remember
Coffee: tropical climate only. Tea: tropical AND subtropical. Tea propagation: seeds AND stem cuttings, not cuttings alone.
Common mistakes
- Treating tea's propagation method as exclusively stem cuttings, missing seed propagation.
- Underestimating tea's wider climatic adaptability compared to coffee's tropical-only requirement.
- Not spotting the absolute word 'only' in statement 2 as a common trap.
Exam tip
Absolute words like 'only' are usually the trap — tea uses both seeds and cuttings, even though coffee's climate range is indeed narrower than tea's.
Sources
- Coffee Board of India — coffee cultivation requirements
- Tea Board of India — tea cultivation and propagation methods