Chapter 6

SECONDARY ACTIVITIES

FACTS THAT MATTER

•All secondary activities add value to natural resources by transforming raw materials into finished goods of higher value. They are concerned with manufacturing, processing and construction (infrastructure) industries.


Manufacturing

Literally means to make by hand'. It is essentially a process involving transformation of raw materials into finished goods of higher value for sale in local or distant markets.

Characteristics of Modern Large Scale Manufacturing .

1. Specialization of skills/methods of production: Mass production involves production of large quantities of standardised parts by each worker performing only one task repeatedly there by reducing the cost of production.

2. Mechanisation: Refers to gadgets which accomplish task Automation (without aid of human thinking) is the advanced form of mechanisation.

3. Technological Innovation: (Through research and development strategy) are an important aspect for quality control, eliminating waste and (efficiency) combating pollution. Organisational structure and stratification: Modern manufacturing is characterised by

(a) Complex machine technology

(b) Specialisation and division of labour for producing more goods with less effort and low cost Vast capital

(c) Vast capital

(d) Large organisation

(e) Executive bureaucracy

5. Unevern geographic distribution: Modern manufacturing centres cover< 10% of world's land area. These nations are the centres of economic and political power.


Factors Influencing Industrial Location

Industries maximise profits by reducing costs. Therefore industries should be located at places with lowest production cost. Some factors are:

(i) Access to market: Market means people who have a demand for these goods and also have the purchasing power (ability to purchase). Villages and towns offer small market and the developed countries like Japan, Australia, USA, European countries (high purchasing power) along with thickly populated areas of South- East Asia, South Asia offer large global market.

(ii) Access to raw materials: Industrial raw material should be cheap and easy to transport. Industries based on cheap, heavy, bulky and weight losing raw material are located near the source, for example, iron and steel, cement, etc. Industries using perishable raw materials (sugar) are located close to raw materials of farm products.

(iii) Access to power supply: Earlier coal was the major source of energy but today hydro electricity, petroleum are also important sources of energy. Industries with more power requirements are located close to the source of power e.g. aluminium industry.

(iv) Access to labour supply: Some type of manufacturing skill require skilled labour-though increasing mechanisation, automation and flexibility of industrial processes have reduced dependency of industries upon labour.

(v)Access to transportation and communication facilities: Speedy and eficient transport facility to carry raw materials to factories and to move finished products to the markets are essential for development of industries. Improvement in transportation has led to integrated economic and regional specialisation of manufacturing Communication is also an important need for the exchange and management of information.

(vi) Government policy: Governments adopt regional policies to promote balanced economic development and set up industries in backward regions.

(vii) Access to Agglomeration economies/links between industries: These benefits are termed as agglomeration economies. Savings are derived from the linkages which exist between different industry.

Classification of Manufacturing Industries

I. On the basis of size:

(a) Household/Cottage Industries:

•Smallest manufacturing unit

•Set up within the residential area (home)

•Uses local raw materials

•Finished products are consumed within household or sold in local market

•Simple tools are used to produce goods of everyday use.

•Uses family or part time labour

•Capital & transportation are not that significant here as it uses local raw materials, & market


(b) Small scale industries:

•Use Generally local raw materials

•Simple power driven machines

•Semi-skilled labour

•Provides local employment and enhances purchasing power of the locality

•The manufacturing unit is outside home unlike cottage industries.

•Labour surplus countries like India, China promote these to general employment for its growing population

(C) Large Scale Industries depends on:-

•A large market

•Various raw materials from outside

•Enormous power resources

•Skilled labour

•Advanced technology

•Assembly line mass production

•Large capital investment


II. On the basis of Inputs/Raw Materials

(a) Agro based Industries: Dependent on agricultural products for their raw materials. E.g. Sugar, juices, spices, pickles.

(b) Food Processing Industries: like canning, fruit processing, confectionary.

(c) Chemical based Industries: Uses natural chemicals like minerals, salt, sulphur, potash.

(d) Forest based industries: Many forest products are used as raw materials like timber for furniture, wood, bamboo, grass for paper industries, etc.

(e) Animal based industries: like leather based, woolen, etc.


III. On the basis of outputs/finished products

(a) Basic industry are the ones whose products are used as raw materials by other industries-like iron and steel industry supplies raw materials for machine tools industry.

(b) Consumer goods industries: Produce finished products which are directly consumed by the customers e.g. biscuits, TV, garments, etc.


IV. On the basis of ownership

(a) Public Sector: Owned and managed by the government (State owned Industries.

(b) Private Sector: Owned and managed by individual investors, TISCO in India.

(c) Joint Sector: Managed by Joint Stock Companies or sometimes jointly by both the public and private sectors.


Traditional Large Scale Industrial Regions

These are based on heavy industries near coalfields and engaged in metal smelting heavy engineering or textiles. They are characterised by:

(a) High proportion of employment in manufacturing

(b) High density housing with poor services

(c)Pollution, waste heap has given them the name 'smokestack industries (d) Problems of unemployment, emigration and closure of factories.


•Ruhr Coalfield in Germany It was a major industrial region of Europe. But with a decline in coal demand the industry started shrinking. Even after iron was exhausted it functioned based on imported ore.

•This region is responsible for 80% of Germany's total steel production.

•Changes has brought in decay of some areas with problems of industrial waste and pollution. Iron & steel industry is now giving way to new industries like Opel car assembly plant, chemical plants, universities, etc. New Ruhr' landscape has emerged.


Concept of High Technology Industry

•Hitech industry is the latest generation of manufacturing activities. Continuous research and development led to the manufacture of highly advanced and scientific products. White collar (professionals) highly skilled, make up the workforce. Robotics, CAD manufacturing and constant R&D chemical and pharma products are examples of high tech industries.

•Neatly spaced, low modern, dispersed office-plant-cab buildings mark the Hitech industrial landscape. Planned business parks are examples.

•Technopolies are high tech industries which are regionally concentrated, self sustained and highly specialised. E.g. Silicon Valley, Silicon Forest.


Iron & Steel Industries:

• Basic and heavy industry - as it provides raw materials for other industries and it is heavy as both it's inputs and outputs are heavy and bulky.


Distribution of Iron and Steel Plants:

They are concentrated in advanced countries of the world:

•USA -

  • North Appalachian region (Pittsburgh), Great Lake Region (Chicago-Gary,

  • Erie, Cleveland Lorain Buffalo and Duluth), Atlantic Coast (Sparrows Point and Morisville), Alabama


•Europe -

  • UK - Scun Thorpe, Port Talbot, Birmingham and Sheffield.

  • Germany- Dortmund, Duisburg, Essen and Dusseldor.

  • France - Le Creusot & St. Ettienne -elat srbot

  • Russia - Moscow, St. Petersburgh, Tula and Lipetsk.

  • Ukraine-Krivoi Rog, Donetsk

  • Netherlands

•Asia-

  • Japan - Tokyo - Yokohama, Nagasaki

  • China - Shanghai, Tienstin and Wuhan

  • India - Jamshedpur, Kulti-Burnpur, Durgapur, Rourkela, Bhilai, Bokaro, Salem and Bhadravati.


Cotton Textile Industry

Cotton requires good quality cotton as raw materials.

Its 3 sub sectors.

1. Handloom

• labour intensive

• small capital

• involves spinning weaving and finishing of fabrics.

2. Power loom

• uses machines

• less labour intensive

• produces more

3. Mill sectors

• machines are used

• capital intensive

• produces fine clothes in bulk


Distribution:

• India, China, USA, Pakistan, Egypt produce more than half of world's raw cotton. UK, NW European countries and Japan produce cotton textile from imported yarn.

•Europe accounts for nearly half of cotton imports. Its showing a declining trend as it is facing stiff competition from synthetics.

•Now less developed countries with cheap labour is gaining importance as cotton textile centres.





We hope CBSE/MP Board Class 12th "Geography" Chapter 6 "Secondary Activities" will help you.

Written By - HIMANSHU SHARMA