UPSC Prelims 2014 Q69: Geography – Indian Agriculture & Land Use
Consider the following pairs : Region : Well - known for the production of
1. Kinnaur : Areca nut
2. Mewat : Mango
3. Coromandel : Soya bean
Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 3 only
- (c) 1, 2 and 3
- (d) None
Answer: (d) None
Explanation
Regions and what they are known for
| Pair | Verdict | Fact |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kinnaur : Areca nut | Incorrect | Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh) is known for apples and chilgoza pine nuts; areca nut grows in Karnataka, Kerala and Assam |
| 2. Mewat : Mango | Incorrect | Mewat is a dry region of Haryana and Rajasthan; mango belts are in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra |
| 3. Coromandel : Soya bean | Incorrect | The Coromandel coast of Tamil Nadu grows rice; soya bean is the crop of Madhya Pradesh (Malwa) |
Where the three crops really grow:
| Crop | Needs | Main areas |
|---|---|---|
| Areca nut | Hot, wet climate | Karnataka, Kerala, Assam |
| Mango | Tropical and subtropical plains | Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra |
| Soya bean | Black soil, moderate rain | Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra |
Answer: (d) None.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Kinnaur is too cold for areca nut, and Mewat is not a mango region.
- (b) Incorrect. The Coromandel coast is not known for soya bean.
- (c) Incorrect. All three pairs are wrongly matched.
- (d) CORRECT. None of the pairs is correctly matched.
Key point
Kinnaur: apples and chilgoza. Coromandel: rice. Areca nut: Karnataka, Kerala. Soya bean: Madhya Pradesh. Mango: Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh.
Remember
Kinnaur = apples; Madhya Pradesh = soya bean.
Common mistakes
- Not checking the climate: areca nut cannot grow in cold Kinnaur.
- Forgetting that Madhya Pradesh is the 'soya State'.
- Hesitating to mark 'None' when all three pairs look odd.
Exam tip
Match the crop to the climate: a tropical palm cannot grow in a Himalayan district.
Sources
- NCERT Class XII — India: People and Economy (Land Resources and Agriculture)
- Directorate of Arecanut and Spices Development — Arecanut growing States