question_answer

What are the main occupations (name at least two) of the people living in the basin of the Ganga and the Brahmaputra rivers? Describe about the agricultural practices taken up by the people living in this basin.

Answer:

The main occupations of the people living in the Ganga-Brahmaputra Basin are Agriculture and Fishing. Agriculture being the main occupation which is a labour intensive activity and a large number of people are associated with this primary activity. The climate of this basin allows an all year growing season. During the rainy season, the south-west monsoons, help produce kharif crops such as rice, millets, and pulses. Cash crops like sugar cane and jute are also grown is this basin. The flat land and availability of water has supported the growth of settlements and land transport routes. All this has helped people of this basin to develop on all fronts. The northern part of the basin are occupied by tribes living in the hills-they practice subsistence agriculture and rear livestock. Other people along with the tribal practice Terrace farming and grow rice, wheat, maize along with local cereals. Plantations of tea in Assam and West Bengal, Orchards of apples, plums and peaches, etc., in the hilly areas have helped develop the economy of this region.