Question

What are cash crops? Name the major Cash crops of India.

Answer 1

Hint: The cash crops are used mainly for business purposes. They are used by farmers who rely more on commercial gains, rather than food production.

Complete answer:
Cash crops are those crops which are not consumed by the farmers themselves, but are used as raw materials for the production of different industrial goods. The cash crops grown in India are of varying nature. They depend on the geographical conditions as well. The major cash crops in India are given below:
Sugarcane: This is an important cash crop which is grown in the region of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. This is mainly used in the production of sugar and jaggery by the industries.
Cotton: This is the main crop of this nature grown in Deccan due to the widespread presence of black soil. This is grown in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.
Jute: Jute is mainly used for making bags, ropes, etc. This crop is soil exhausting and requires a heavy use of manure and fertilizers.
Tobacco: Although very harmful and cancer stimulating, this crop is one of the major cash crops in India. It is produced in Bihar, Tamil Nadu, etc.

Note: Since the cash crops are widespread, they can be summarized by a quick glimpse of organic products available around us. Tobacco, cotton, jute, silk, tea, coffee, etc. are a few other crops of such nature. However, edible oilseeds are not considered as cash crops as they are regulated for storage.