(a) Describe three ways in which… | Geography

Question 1 Report

(a) Describe three ways in which light industries differ from heavy industries

(b) Give four reasons why light industries are more prevalent than heavy industries in tropical Africa.

Answer

Answer Details

(a) Three ways light industries differ from heavy industries

Light industries	Heavy industries
Use light raw materials and produce light finished goods (textiles, soap, food processing).	Use heavy, bulky raw materials and make heavy products (iron and steel, machinery).
Require relatively small capital to set up.	Require very large capital investment.
Use simple technology and less power.	Use advanced technology and consume large amounts of power.
Are market-oriented and can be located in many places.	Are raw-material or power-oriented and tied to specific sites.

(b) Four reasons why light industries are more prevalent than heavy industries in Tropical Africa

Shortage of capital: Light industries need less money to establish, which suits the limited local capital.
Low level of technology and skilled manpower: Light industries use simpler machinery and less specialised labour.
Availability of raw materials: Abundant agricultural raw materials favour agro-based light industries (food, textiles, beverages).
Small and low-income market: The market mainly demands consumer goods, not heavy machinery, so light industries thrive.
Inadequate power supply and infrastructure: Heavy industries need reliable, large-scale power and transport that many countries lack.

(a) Describe three ways in which light industries differ from heavy industries (b) Give four reasons why light industries are more prevalent than heavy indu...