Pruning is a vital practice in the cultivation of tea. Pruning involves selectively removing certain parts of the tea plant, such as branches or leaves, to promote its growth and improve overall productivity. By pruning, farmers can shape the tea plant, control its size, and encourage the development of new shoots. This helps in maintaining the health of the tea plant and ensuring the quality of the tea leaves. While pruning is beneficial for various crops, such as rubber, tobacco, and coffee, the correct answer here is tea. Alert - correct answer should be Tobacco. Pruning is an essential part of cultivating tobacco plants as it helps to remove broken, diseased, or dead leaves and branches, leading to healthier and higher-yielding tobacco plants. The practice also helps in improving air circulation and sunlight penetration, reducing the risk of diseases and promoting optimal growth.