Which activity requires the following? I. Large area of land usually in thousands of hectares II. Availability of water either in the form of rain or irriga...

Answer Details

The activity that requires a large area of land usually in thousands of hectares, availability of water either in the form of rain or irrigation, and a high capital outlay is plantation agriculture. Let me explain why:

Large Area of Land: Plantation agriculture involves the cultivation of crops on a very large scale, often requiring thousands of hectares. This is necessary to achieve economies of scale and produce significant quantities of a specific crop such as tea, coffee, sugarcane, rubber, or oil palm.

Availability of Water: Crops grown on plantations need adequate water supply to thrive. This can be provided by regular rainfall or through irrigation systems. Thus, plantations are often located in regions with favorable climatic conditions or equipped with efficient water management systems.

High Capital Outlay: Establishing a plantation requires a significant initial investment. This includes procuring land and machinery, setting up irrigation systems, and maintaining infrastructure. Furthermore, plantations often rely on the employment of many workers and the use of advanced agricultural techniques, which also contribute to the high cost.

In contrast, the other activities mentioned do not primarily rely on these three factors to the same extent. For example, lumbering involves harvesting trees, which may also require substantial land area, but does not necessarily need irrigation. Tourism industry might require watering systems for landscaping, but its focus is more on site attractions. Finally, while mining requires high capital outlay and can cover large areas of land, it does not depend on the availability of irrigation systems like plantation agriculture does.