(a) Write down the constraints of fruit processing industry in India. 10 (b) Describe mentha cultivation with reference to…

(a) Constraints of the fruit-processing industry in India

Only a small share of fruit output, by common estimates under 10%, is processed. The main constraints are:

• Seasonal, scattered raw material supply, with fluctuating prices and idle capacity in the off-season, and small, fragmented holdings that give uneven quality.
• Shortage of processing-grade varieties with high pulp, brix and shelf life (for example, mango and tomato grown mostly for fresh use).
• High post-harvest losses and weak cold chain, pack-houses and transport from farm to factory.
• Poor farm–industry linkage, with few contracts and weak quality assurance.
• High cost of packaging, energy, credit and taxes, and outdated technology in small units.
• Low consumer demand for processed fruit, limited research and market information, and export barriers (sanitary and phytosanitary standards, pesticide residue limits).

Schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana, PLI for food processing (2021) and the PM Formalisation of Micro Food Processing Enterprises (2020) address these.

(b) Mentha cultivation

Varieties. Japanese mint (Mentha arvensis), the main commercial species for menthol: Kosi, Kushal, Himalaya, Shivalik, Saksham, Gomti; peppermint (M. piperita): Kukrail; spearmint (M. spicata): Arka MSS-1, Neera; bergamot mint (M. citrata): Kiran.

Soil and climate. Well-drained, fertile sandy loam or loam rich in organic matter, pH 6–7.5; a warm, humid subtropical climate with 100–150 cm rainfall, long sunny days (above 14 hours) at maturity and no waterlogging. Uttar Pradesh (Barabanki, Sitapur, Rampur) leads.

Nutrient management. Planted as suckers or stolons (January–February), mint needs about 120–150 kg N (in splits), 50–60 kg P₂O₅ and 40–60 kg K₂O per hectare, with FYM and sulphur, and irrigation at 10–15 day intervals.

Harvest and processing. The crop is cut 100–120 days after planting at 50% flowering, dried in the field for a few hours, and steam distilled in stainless-steel stills; oil yield is 100–150 kg/ha. The crude oil, with 70–80% menthol, is chilled to crystallise menthol; dementholised oil is used in flavour and pharma.

(c) Role of auxins in agriculture

Auxins are IAA (natural) and synthetic IBA, NAA and 2,4-D. Uses:

• Rooting of cuttings with IBA or NAA, as in grape, rose, guava and pomegranate.
• Parthenocarpy and fruit set with 4-CPA or NAA in tomato and brinjal.
• Prevention of pre-harvest fruit drop with NAA or 2,4-D, as in apple, citrus and mango, and fruit thinning with NAA.
• Flowering induction in pineapple with NAA.
• Weed control with 2,4-D as a selective herbicide against broadleaves in wheat, rice and sugarcane.
• Sprout suppression in stored potato with NAA methyl ester.
• Callus and organ culture in tissue culture media.

(d) Integrated pest management in cotton

IPM combines methods below the economic threshold. Cultural: clean seed and deep summer ploughing, timely sowing, crop rotation, removal of stubble and alternate hosts, refuge crop of non-Bt cotton, and trap crops (marigold or okra for Helicoverpa, castor for Spodoptera).

Mechanical and monitoring: pheromone traps, yellow sticky traps, hand picking of larvae, and weekly scouting. Biological: Trichogramma, Chrysoperla, and HaNPV for Helicoverpa, with neem seed kernel extract (5%). Host resistance: Bt cotton (Cry1Ac, Cry2Ab) against bollworms, though pink bollworm has developed resistance in some areas. Chemical: selective insecticides, only at the economic threshold, rotating modes of action to delay resistance.

(e) Micronutrient deficiencies in children and women and associated diseases

Iron: anaemia, widespread in India (NFHS-5: about 67% of children aged 6–59 months and 57% of women aged 15–49), causing fatigue, poor learning, low birth weight and maternal risk. Iodine: goitre, cretinism and mental retardation. Vitamin A: night blindness, xerophthalmia and higher infection risk. Zinc: stunting, diarrhoea and weak immunity. Folate and B12: megaloblastic anaemia and neural tube defects. Vitamin D and calcium: rickets and osteomalacia.

Responses: Anaemia Mukt Bharat (2018) with iron-folic acid, National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme and iodised salt, Vitamin A prophylaxis, POSHAN Abhiyaan, food fortification and biofortified crops.