Though coffee and tea both are cultivated on hill slopes, there is some difference between them regarding their cultivation. In this context, consider the following statements : 1. Coffee plant requires a hot and humid climate of tropical areas whereas tea can be cultivated in both tropical and subtropical areas. 2. Coffee is propagated by seeds but tea is propagated by stem cuttings only. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. Statement 1: Coffee (Coffea species) generally requires a hot and humid climate typical of tropical areas. It thrives in temperatures between 15°C and 28°C with high rainfall. Tea (Camellia sinensis) prefers a warm and humid climate but can tolerate a wider range of conditions and is cultivated extensively in both tropical and subtropical areas (e.g., India, China). Thus, statement 1 is correct. 2. Statement 2: Coffee is primarily propagated by seeds, although vegetative propagation methods like cuttings are also used, especially for maintaining specific varieties. Tea is commercially propagated mainly through vegetative means, particularly stem cuttings, to ensure genetic uniformity and desirable traits of the mother bush. While tea can be grown from seeds, cuttings are the standard method for large-scale plantations. The statement says tea is propagated by stem cuttings only, which is the dominant commercial method, while coffee is primarily by seeds. This contrast is generally accurate in practice. Thus, statement 2 is considered correct in the context of dominant propagation methods. 3. Since both statements are correct, option (C) is the answer.