Geography

Q.13.What is the importance of the textile industry for the Indian economy?

Ans.

i). The close association with agriculture: This industry has close links with agriculture, and provides livelihood to farmers, cotton ball pluckers and workers engaged in ginning, spinning, weaving, dyeing, designing, packaging, tailoring and sewing.
ii). Demand creative: Cotton textile is a demand creative industry, i.e., it supports many other industries such as chemical, dyes, mill stores, packaging materials and engineering works.
iii). Employment: The industry provides employment to a large number of skilled as well as unskilled workers. The handspun khadi provides large-scale employment to weavers in their homes.
iv). Decentralization: The industry helps in industrial decentralization as 90% of the weaving, cutting and processing is in decentralized sector.

Q.14.“The cotton textile industry has the largest concentration in and around Mumbai (Maharashtra) and Ahmedabad (Gujarat).” Give reasons.

Ans.

i). Availability of raw materials: There is large scale production of cotton in this region. Hence, there is regular supply of raw materials.
ii). Favorable climate: This region has an equitable climate which ensures the production of cotton.
iii). Export facility: Mumbai is the major seaport of India. Through it good quality cotton, machines and raw materials are easily imported, and finished products can be easily exported.
iv). Availability of capital: A large amount of capital is also required for the establishment of textile industry, and the required capital is also available in the markets.

Q.15.The jute-textile industry is mainly concentrated in the Hugli Basic. Mention four factors for the same.

Or

Why is most of jute mills of India located in West Bengal?

Ans.

i) .The reasons responsible for the concentration of the jute-textile industry on the Hugli river in West Bengal are:
ii). West Bengal is the home of jute. It produces the highest number of bales of the jute fibre.
iii). The industry consumes huge quantities of water which is easily available from the Hugli River.
iv). Cheap labour is available from the adjoining states of Bihar, West Bengal and Orissa.
v). If required, jute can be easily imported from Bangladesh.
vi).Transportation facilities are available.

Q.16.State the challenges faces by the Jute industry?

Ans.

i). The invention of synthetic as a substitute for the jute is giving a though competition to the jute industry.
ii). Because of the old technology, the cost of production is high due to which a demand of jute goods has declined.
iii). International competition especially from Bangladesh, has also led to the decline of the industry.

Q.17.What are the major challenges of the sugar industry?

Ans.

i). Low yield of sugarcane: Although India has the largest area under sugarcane cultivation, the yield per hectare is extremely low as compared to some of the major sugarcane producing countries of the world.
ii). Short crushing season: Manufacturing of sugar is a seasonal phenomenon with a short crushing season varying normally from 4 to 7 months in a year. The mills and its workers remain idle during the remaining period of the year, thus creating financial problems for the industry as a whole.
iii). High cost of production: High cost of sugarcane, inefficient technology, and heavy excise duty results in the high cost of production. The production cost of sugar in India is one of the highest in the world.
iv) Old and obsolete machinery: Most of the machinery used in Indian sugar mill’s particularly those of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar is the old and obsolete (no longer in use). It is 50-60 years old, and need total rehabilitation.