Page 208 - 9 teachers social book 9 @ 2077 ctp_Neat

There is more development of industries and trade in the Terai region. The population
density is very high in this region. About 50.27% of the total population of Nepal live
in this region. (Source: CBS 2011 AD)

The main occupation of the people in the Terai reason is agriculture. Alluvial soil
is suitable for growing food crops as well as cash crops. Food crops such as paddy,
wheat, maize, buck wheat, etc. are grown in large scale. The surplus amount of crops
are supplied to the different parts of the country. Cash crops like tea, jute, cotton,
sugarcane, coconut, tobacco, beetle nut and the tropical fruits like mango, pineapple,
papaya, litchi, etc. are grown sufficiently. Therefore, the Terai region is known as the
“granary of Nepal.” There are agro-based industries in the Terai. The agricultural
raw materials are supplied to these agro-based industries to produce fine products.
For example, sugarcane is supplied to the sugar mill to produce sugar, tobacco is
supplied to the cigarette factory to produce cigarettes. These industries help to reduce
unemployment problems, encourage farmers to produce more agricultural products.
Thus, dependency on agriculture is also reduced.

The main inhabitant of the Terai region is the Brahmins, the Chhetris, the Jhas,
the Yadavs, the Rajbanshi, the Chaudhary, the Tharus, the Satars, the Dhimal, the
Musahars, etc. Due to the hot climate people wear light cotton clothes. Winter is warm
but sometime temperature decreases and cold wind blows. Mainly old aged people
and children are affected by the cold wind. So, to protect from cold they wear warm
clothes. Winter remains for short period. The staple food of the people living in this
region are rice, bread (chapati), pulses and vegetables. Majority of the people follow
Hinduism followed by Buddhism and Islam. In Nepalgunj and its area, mainly Islam
followers live. People observe Dashain, Tihars, Ramnawami, Krishna Janmaasthami,
Maha Shivaratri, Chhath, Holi, Eid, Bakar Eid. Tharu people observe Maghi as their
New Year.
Despite being prosperous the Terai suffers from some social hazards, mainly dowry
system, women are accused of witch crafts, child marriage, etc. The natural hazards
like flood is affecting the life during monsoon season. If it could be controlled, then the
Terai is not lesser than heaven.

Dynamic Social Studies - Book IX 208