Question

The largest wool market of Asia is:
A. Barmer
B. Bikaner
C. Jaisalmer
D. Jodhpur

Answer 1

Hint: This is a town in the northwest of the state of Rajasthan. This town is surrounded by the Thar Desert. The town is renowned for its 16th-century Junagarh Fort, a large complex of ornate buildings and halls.

Complete Answer:
Bikaner is located in the heart of the state of Rajasthan, well known for producing high quality yarns and wool. The trade in wool began 100 years ago, when shepherds traded gold fibre for their daily needs and food. After that the wool trade started with money. The Bikaner market is the largest market for wool to supply wool to various cities in Rajasthan and around the world.

Both Bikaner and the surrounding areas provide high-quality magra and chokla wool, apart from the standard quality of 30-38 micron wool used for the weaving of duresses and carpets. Often the quality of the wool produced is said to be equal to the quality of the wool produced in New Zealand.

Shepherds from surrounding areas brought raw wool and sold it directly to agents or to wool traders. Trade in wool was booming and was mostly used for local use. Since the fifties, wool pressing and baling have begun, opening a new market for traders in the region. Wool was well washed, sorted and graded for export to Russia, the United Kingdom and other countries.

Previously, the wool was woven by hand, which used to be a very tiresome task. Later, a wool-spinning plant was built in Bikaner, marking the beginning of the new age of industrialisation. Some other plants were also set up in the 60s and 70s, which contributed to an immense growth in the industry.

The following are the options:
- Barmer is not Asia's main market for wool. Therefore, Option A is the wrong one.
- Bikaner is recognised as Asia's largest market for wool. As a consequence, Option B is the right alternative.
- Jaisalmer is also not the main market for wool in Asia. Option C is therefore an incorrect option.
- Bikaner is Asia's largest market for wool, not Jodhpur. Option D is not the correct answer, therefore.

Therefore, Choice B is the correct answer.

Note: As of the 2011 Indian Census, the population of the city of Bikaner was 644,406, ranking it in the top 70 major cities of India and 5th in Rajasthan.
- Australia is the world's leading producer of wool, producing about 345 million kilogrammes of wool; around one-quarter of the world's production of wool.
- There are several countries in India engaged in the manufacture of wool other than Rajasthan, such as Karnataka, Jammu & Kashmir, Telangana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.