UPSC CSE Prelims
Agriculture of the World Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
Practice solved questions for Agriculture of the World with detailed step-by-step solutions, key insights, and trend analysis for UPSC CSE PRELIMS.
Solved Previous Year Questions
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Which of the following countries are well known as the two largest cocoa producers in the world?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 3 — Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana
Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and Ghana are the two largest cocoa producers in the world, together accounting for more than 60% of global cocoa production. West Africa dominates cocoa production, with these two countries leading the industry due to favorable climatic conditions and extensive cultivation.
📝 Short Notes: Global Cocoa Production
- West Africa's Dominance: West Africa produces approximately 70% of the world's cocoa, with Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana being the top two producers globally.
- Côte d'Ivoire: The world's largest cocoa producer, accounting for about 40-45% of global production, with approximately one million cocoa farmers supplying major companies like Nestlé, Mars, and Hershey.
- Ghana: The second-largest producer, contributing about 20% of global cocoa production, known for high-quality cocoa beans.
- Other Producers: Indonesia, Ecuador, Cameroon, and Nigeria are other significant cocoa-producing countries, but their combined output is much less than West Africa.
- Climatic Requirements: Cocoa thrives in tropical climates with high temperatures (21-32°C), high humidity, and well-distributed rainfall, typically within 10-20 degrees of the equator.
- Environmental Impact: Large-scale cocoa cultivation has led to significant deforestation in West Africa, particularly in Côte d'Ivoire, where forests have been cleared for cocoa plantations.
- Economic Significance: Cocoa is a major export commodity for West African countries, providing livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers but also facing challenges like price volatility and labor issues.
With reference to 'palm oil', consider the following statements:
- The palm oil tree is native to Southeast Asia.
- The palm oil is a raw material for some industries producing lipstick and perfumes.
- The palm oil can be used to produce biodiesel.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 and 3 Only
This question tests knowledge about palm oil's origin, industrial applications, and use as biofuel. Statement 1 is incorrect as the oil palm tree is native to West Africa, not Southeast Asia, though major production now occurs in Indonesia and Malaysia. Statements 2 and 3 are correct regarding palm oil's use in cosmetics and biodiesel production.
❌ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The oil palm tree (Elaeis guineensis) is native to West Africa, not Southeast Asia. However, it was introduced to Southeast Asia in the 19th century, and today Indonesia and Malaysia account for about 85% of global palm oil production.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Palm oil and its derivatives are extensively used in cosmetic industries for manufacturing lipsticks, perfumes, soaps, and lotions due to their moisturizing properties and texture-enhancing qualities.
✅ Statement 3 – Correct: Palm oil is a major feedstock for biodiesel production. Countries like Indonesia and Malaysia use Palm Methyl Ester (PME) as a renewable fuel alternative, and it is blended with conventional diesel.
📝 Short Notes: Palm Oil
- Botanical Origin: Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is native to West and Central Africa, particularly the coastal regions of Angola, Benin, Cameroon, and Nigeria.
- Major Producers: Indonesia (58% of global production) and Malaysia (27%) are the world's largest producers, contributing about 85% of total global output.
- Industrial Uses: Food industry (cooking oil, margarine), cosmetics (soaps, lipsticks, creams), pharmaceuticals, and biofuel (biodiesel).
- Biodiesel Production: Palm oil has high oil yield (4-5 tonnes/hectare), making it economically viable for biodiesel. It is converted to Palm Methyl Ester (PME) through transesterification.
- India's Context: India is the world's largest importer of palm oil (about 8-9 million tonnes annually), primarily from Indonesia and Malaysia, meeting nearly 40% of its edible oil requirements.
- Environmental Concerns: Large-scale palm oil plantations have led to deforestation, habitat loss (especially for orangutans), and greenhouse gas emissions in Southeast Asia.
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