Grade-10
Geography
Agro based industries
Class work-16
1. Name a few agro-based industries.
Answer
A few agro-based industries are:
1. Cotton Textile
2. Silk
3. Sugar
4. Jute
5. Vegetable oil
6. Food Processing
[Link] are the four special features of the cotton textile industry in India?
Answer
Four special features of the cotton textile industry in India are:
1. It is the first manufacturing industry in India.
2. It is the largest organized industry in India.
3. It occupies an important place in terms of employment generation.
4. The industry has developed all over India but the largest number of mills are
situated in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.
[Link] two reasons why the cotton textile industry has been developed around Mumbai.
Answer
Two reasons why the cotton textile industry has been developed around Mumbai are:
1. The black cotton soil in the hinterland of Mumbai which provides cotton as basic
raw material.
2. Humid climate of shore-based Mumbai which is ideal for this industry as the thread
does not break so easily.
[Link] the oldest and the most widespread industry in India.
Answer
Cotton textile industry is the oldest and the most widespread industry in India.
5. What are the problems of the cotton textile industry?
Answer
The problems of the cotton textile industry are:
1. Scarcity of Raw Material — Supply of raw material is not adequate.
2. Obsolete Machinery — Most of the mills have obsolete machinery. This has
resulted in low productivity and inferior quality.
3. Inadequate Power Supply — With increasing population, the problem of power
supply is becoming acute and the industry suffers from shortage of power.
4. Low Productivity of Labour — Labour productivity is extremely low in India as
compared to other advanced countries.
5. Stiff Competition — Indian cotton textile has to face stiff competition from power-
loom and synthetic fibre product.
6. Sick Mills — 177 mills have been declared as sick mills as they are going in loss.
[Link] any three problems faced by sugar industry.
Answer
Three problems faced by sugar industry are:
1. Low and irregular supply of raw material — The yield per hectare is very low as
compared to other sugarcane producing areas of the world. This results in shortage
of sugarcane to sugar mills.
2. Fluctuations in the output of sugarcane — Since the industry is agro-based, it is
seasonal. Due to erratic nature of monsoons sugarcane production fluctuates.
3. Small and uneconomic size of sugar mills — Many sugar mills are uneconomic as
they are of very small size with a capacity of 1000 to 15000 tonnes per day.
[Link] is meant by the term sericulture? State the factors responsible for the
concentration of silk industry in Karnataka.
Answer
The art of rearing silkworms for silk production is called sericulture.
The factors responsible for the concentration of silk industry in Karnataka are:
1. Availability of favourable climate for rearing silkworm.
2. Availability of the mulberry plant which is raised as a plantation bush.
3. Availability of the silkworm known as Bombyxmori which is reared throughout the
year.
4. In Mysuru, raising silkworms, reeling and weaving of raw silk is one of the main
occupations of people. Reeling is a process in which the worm is boiled in water
and the silk fibre is pulled out.
5. Availability of abundant soft water free from alkaline salt and iron.
6. Recent introduction of a new technology of handling Bombyxmori.
7. Sericulture provides employment for women folk in rearing silkworm while men
work in the plantation.
[Link] industry has a tendency to migrate towards the south? Why?
Answer
Sugar industry has a tendency to migrate towards the south. The reasons for the gradual
shifting of sugar industry towards the south are:
1. The peninsular India has tropical climate which is ideal for growing sugarcane. The
black soil, higher temperature, good amount of rainfall or irrigation and frost-free
growing season results in higher yield per unit.
2. The sucrose content is higher in the tropical variety of sugarcane in the south.
3. The crushing season is longer in the south than in the north.
4. The cooperative sugar mills are better managed in south than in the north.
5. In south, most of the mills are new and hence, are equipped with modern
machinery.
[Link] the by-products of the sugar industry. Give the industrial use of each.
Answer
The by-products of the sugar industry are:
1. Molasses — It is used in manufacture of fertilizer, DDT, power alcohol, synthetic
rubber, plastic, rum, chemicals and cattle feed.
2. Bagasse — It serves as raw material for paper industry. It is also used for making
cardboard.
3. Press mud — It is used for making wax, shoe polish and carbon paper.
[Link] any three differences between the sugar industry of Northern and Peninsular
India.
Answer
S. Sugar industry of Northern Sugar industry of Peninsular
No. India India
The crushing season is only 4 The crushing season is 7-8 11.
1. months from November to months from October to May
February and June.
The cooperative sugar mills are The cooperative sugar mills are
2.
not well managed. well managed.
3. They have old machinery. They have modern machinery.
[Link] between Mineral-based Industry and Agro-based industry giving one
example for each.
