Name one important beverage crop and specify the geographical conditions required for its growth.
Tea is an important beverage crop introduced in India initially by the British. It is a labour-intensive industry that requires abundant, cheap, and skilled labour for processing within the tea garden to restore freshness.
Regarding geographical conditions, the tea plant grows well in tropical and sub-tropical climates. It requires deep and fertile well-drained soil, rich in humus and organic matter.
Tea bushes need warm and moist frost-free conditions all through the year. Frequent showers evenly distributed over the year ensure continuous growth of tender leaves. Major tea-producing states include Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Explanation
The answer is derived directly from the provided text describing Tea cultivation. The context explicitly identifies Tea as an 'important beverage crop' and lists specific geographical requirements: tropical/sub-tropical climate, deep fertile well-drained soil rich in humus, warm moist frost-free conditions, and frequent showers. I combined these specific conditions into a structured short answer suitable for 3 marks.