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ICSE Class 10 Geography Question 16 of 24

Agriculture — III: Cash Crops (1) — Question 21

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21
Question

Question 6(a)

The floods in Maharashtra in August-September 2019 submerged sugarcane fields for over 20 days. How did this affect farmers?

Answer

The floods in Maharashtra in August–September 2019 had a severe impact on sugarcane farmers.

  1. Crop Destruction: Sugarcane fields submerged for over 20 days led to waterlogging, which caused rotting of roots and crop damage, especially since sugarcane cannot withstand prolonged standing water.
  2. Loss of Income: Sugarcane is a high-investment, long-duration crop (typically 10-12 months). Its destruction meant that farmers lost both their money and time invested over many months.
  3. Delayed Harvest and Processing Issues: Flooded fields delayed harvest and reduced sucrose content, affecting both yield quality and recovery rate during sugar processing.
  4. Soil Health Deterioration: Prolonged flooding led to soil nutrient loss and soil compaction, affecting future crops too.
  5. Debt Burden: Many farmers took loans for fertilizers, irrigation, and labour. Crop loss increased their financial distress and indebtedness.