Chapter – 5

Secondary Activities

In this post we have given the detailed notes of class 12 Geography Book 1 Chapter 5 (Secondary Activities) in English. These notes are useful for the students who are going to appear in class 12 board exams.

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Chapter 5: Secondary Activities

Introduction

Secondary activities are those economic activities that involve the processing of raw materials into finished goods of higher value. These activities form the manufacturing and industrial sectors of an economy.  

Manufacturing

Manufacturing encompasses a wide range of production processes, from simple handicrafts to complex industrial processes. The key characteristics of modern manufacturing include:  

• Specialization of skills and methods of production: Modern manufacturing involves mass production of standardized parts with each worker performing a specific task repeatedly.

This division of labour leads to increased efficiency and productivity.  

• Mechanization and automation: Modern manufacturing relies heavily on using gadgets and machines to perform tasks. Automation, where machines are designed to “think”, is an advanced stage of mechanization. This leads to increased efficiency and productivity.  
• Technological innovation: Research and development play a crucial role in modern manufacturing, leading to technological innovations for quality control, waste reduction, and pollution control.  
• Organizational structure and stratification: Modern manufacturing is characterized by complex machine technology, extreme specialization and division of labour, vast capital, large organizations, and executive bureaucracy.  
• Uneven geographic distribution: Manufacturing industries are concentrated in a few developed countries, covering less than 10% of the world’s land area.  

Factors Influencing Industrial Location

The location of industries is influenced by several factors, including:

• Access to market: Industries need to be located near their target markets to minimize transportation costs and ensure timely delivery of finished goods. The market should have a demand for the goods and the purchasing power to buy them.  
• Access to raw materials: Industries that use bulky or perishable raw materials are often located near the source of these materials to reduce transportation costs and ensure the quality of raw materials.  
• Access to labour supply: Industries require a skilled and unskilled labour force, and their location is often influenced by the availability of labour. However, increasing mechanization and automation have reduced the dependence of industries on labour.  
• Access to sources of energy: Industries that consume large amounts of energy are often located near power sources, such as coal, hydroelectricity, and petroleum.  
• Access to transportation and communication facilities: Efficient transportation and communication networks are essential for the movement of raw materials, finished goods, and information.  
• Government policy: Government policies, such as tax incentives and infrastructure development, can influence the location of industries.  
• Agglomeration economies: Industries often benefit from being located near other industries, leading to cost savings and increased efficiency.  

Footloose Industries

Footloose industries are not tied to a specific location due to factors such as raw materials or transportation costs. They can be located in a wide variety of places, often depending on factors like accessibility by road network. These industries are not dependent on any specific raw material, produce in small quantity, employ a small labour force, and are generally not polluting.  

Classification of Manufacturing Industries

Manufacturing industries can be classified based on:

• Size:
  • Household/cottage industries: These are the smallest manufacturing units, where artisans use local raw materials and simple tools to produce everyday goods in their homes.  
  • Small-scale industries: These industries use local raw material, simple power-driven machines, and semi-skilled labour.  
  • Large-scale industries: These industries involve a large market, various raw materials, enormous energy, specialized workers, advanced technology, assembly-line mass production, and large capital.  
• Inputs/raw materials:
  • Agro-based industries: These industries process raw materials from the field and farm into finished products. Examples include food processing, sugar, beverages, textiles, and rubber.  
  • Mineral-based industries: These industries use minerals as raw materials. Examples include iron and steel, aluminium, copper, cement, and pottery.  
  • Chemical-based industries: These industries use natural chemical minerals or raw materials obtained from wood and coal. Examples include petrochemicals, synthetic fibers, and plastics.  
  • Forest-based industries: These industries use forest products as raw materials. Examples include timber, wood, bamboo, and lac.  
  • Animal-based industries: These industries use animal products as raw materials. Examples include leather and wool.  
• Output/product:
  • Basic industries: These industries produce goods that are used as raw materials for other industries. Examples include iron and steel, and textiles.  
  • Consumer goods industries: These industries produce goods for direct consumption. Examples include food products, toiletries, and electronics.  
• Ownership:
  • Public sector industries: These industries are owned and managed by governments.  
  • Private sector industries: These industries are owned and managed by private individuals or organizations.  
  • Joint sector industries: These industries are owned and managed by joint stock companies or by both the public and private sectors together.  

High-Technology Industry

High-technology industries are characterized by intensive research and development, leading to the production of advanced scientific and engineering products. They employ a large number of professional workers and utilize advanced technologies like robotics and computer-aided design.  

Technopolies

Technopolies are regionally concentrated, self-sustained, and highly specialized high-tech industries. Examples include Silicon Valley in California and Silicon Forest in the Seattle area.  

Conclusion

Secondary activities play a crucial role in the global economy, transforming raw materials into valuable finished products. The location and characteristics of these industries are influenced by a variety of factors, including access to markets, raw materials, labour, energy, transportation, and government policies.  

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