Question

Name the fiber crops and name the climatic conditions required for their growth.

Answer 1

The four major fibre crops in India are Jute, Cotton, Natural Silk, and hemp.

• Jute is also known as the golden fibre.
• Jute grows well in soils which are renewed every year, hence they grow in well-drained fertile soils in the flood plains.
• During the time of growth, high temperatures are required.
• The major jute producing states in India are Odisha, West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Meghalaya.
• Jute is used to make carpets, yarn, ropes, mats, gunny bags.
• Jute, Cotton and hemp are derived from soil.
• Natural silk is obtained from cocoons of the silkworms fed on green leaves specially mulberry.
• Sericulture means rearing of silk worms for the production of silk fibre.
• Cotton plant is believed to be the original home of India.
• The main raw material for the cotton textile industry is cotton.
• In the Deccan plateau, there is black cotton soil which is used to grow cotton.
• Cotton requires bright sun-shine, light rainfall or irrigation, high temperature and 210 frost-free days.
• Cotton requires 6 to 8 months to mature and is a Kharif crop.
• Major cotton producing states are Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Tamil Nadu.