Question

In which of the following states is terraced cultivation not practised?
A) Assam
B) Haryana
C) Nagaland
D) Tamil Nadu

Answer 1

Hint: Terraced cultivation, or terrace farming, is one of the earliest types of land and water resource management for large-scale farming. Its main purpose is to reduce the velocity of water runoff and thereby soil erosion by breaking the length of the slope that runoff has available.

Complete answer:
Terraced cultivation is the practice of cutting flat regions out of hilly or mountainous lands in order to grow crops or it is defined as a method of cultivating crops on sides of hills or mountains by planting on graduated terraces structured into a slope. It is practised in the mountain or hilly areas.

Paddy, cereals, berries, vegetables, flowers, medicinal plants, aromatic plants, colouring plants, wheat, maize, rice, pulses, oilseeds, millets, buckwheat, saffron, black cumin, grain amaranth, spices, etc. are some crops grown using terraced cultivation.

Only hilly areas use the method of terraced cultivation in India. Thus, the states that practice terraced cultivation in India are Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and North-East states. It is easily observed on the roadside valleys of the States of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

In Haryana, terraced cultivation is not practised. Therefore the correct answer is option ‘B’.

Note: The features of terraced cultivation in India are:
- Terraced cultivation prevents soil erosion by reducing both the amount and velocity of water moving across the soil surface.
- The elimination of grass waterways that can be difficult to maintain and reductions in flooding is possible.
- This cultivation effectively traps and holds rainwater.
- Thus, through this method of cultivation, we can conserve both soil and water.
- Well developed terraced cultivation is found in Central and Western Himalayas.
- Terraces are formed by cutting out steps on the slopes.