Biology, asked by chotavim6937, 1 year ago

List the factors responsible for the cultivation of coffee andtea.

Answers

Answered by KaranMaheshwari167
0
Factors are

Temperature

Coffee needs to be protected from direct sunlight, especially when plant is young.

in Yemen / Ethiopia annual rainfall is less than 20 inches but still coffee grows well because thick sea mist=provides moisture and protects from excessive heat.

Topography

Coffee likes abundant moisture but hates waterlogging=>hilly slopes receiving orographic rainfall are best suited for coffee.

Hill slops facing the sea=even better, because they benefit from the mist and sea breezes=cooler. (and coffee hates direct sunlight/heat)

Labor

Berry has to be picked by hand, sorting the ripe berries from leaves, twigs etc. also needs patience and skill.

Since coffee has to be grown in hillslopes, large scale mechanization =not possible (unlike wheat in Canada or Corn/Cotton in US)

Market

Coffee loses flavour quickly after being roasted. Therefore, only preliminary processing done in exporting country, and roasting done in the importing country.

Let’s check some important coffee growing regions and factor responsible.

Brazil: Sao Paulo


Coffee grown in the North-Eastern region of Brazil. Brazilian Coffee plantations are called “fazendas” (because in Portuguese, Fazenda=farm)

Factor

Soil

volcanic soil known as terra roxa (red soil)= rich in minerals, potash and humus

soil remains productive for many years of coffee cultivation without requiring additional fertilizers.

Temp

in Brazil tall leguminous plants are used to provide shade + enrich the soil with nitrogen fixing bacteria

Brazilian current=mist=keeps temperature moderate.

moderate temp= not much shade needed + lower occurrence of diseases

Transport

Special railways passing through hills and tunnels to connect plantations to port cities of Rio De Janeiro etc.

Labor

they move from one estate to another

Their wages are low, but they are allowed to grow maize, vegetables, rear poultry for personal use in the fazendas.

Market

Universal demand, except where tea is the main beverage.
Competition

in 1870s, a blight disease destroyed Sri Lankan Coffee plantation, hence Brazil took the opportunity to fillup the vaccum in world market.

They cleared the virgin forest and started coffee plantations. When soil started losing fertility they’d simply destroy more forest and move interior to make another plantation => low unit production cost because no fertilizer used.

Coffee: Kerala

Kerala=> Western Ghats + Nilgiri Hills region = suited for both Tea+coffee.

Factor

Soil

red soil=best suited

Hill areas of Kozhikode, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kottayam=no stagnant water

Temp

Coffee grown on Northern and Eastern slopes of the ghat (Because coffee hates direct sunlight)

Moderating effect of Lakshadweep sea= temp stays ~25 throughout the year.

Transport

Kochi port

Market

Kochi port to (mostly) Italy+local demand in South India
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