South Asia Today Chapter 25

Agriculture  Most people in SA make their living by farming (70% in India, 80% in Bangladesh)  Most people practice subsistence farming  Simple tools are used  Some farmers now use tractors  Irrigation of fields done with water pumped from wells

A Variety of Crops  Major food crop is rice (India – 2 nd in world)  Wheat = Indo-Gangetic Plain  Peanuts are grown on western coast  Bangladesh = jute (75% of export income)  Cotton = India & Pakistan  Tea = India & Sri Lanka  Region very dependent upon cash crops

Improved Agricultural Practices Improved Agricultural Practices  Population continues to grow & gov’ts have realized the need for modern technology  Improvements include pesticides, irrigation and fertilization  Farmers are being taught to plant 2 or more crops on the same piece of land in a single year  Education & gov’t leadership important  Green Revolution increasing crop yields

Mining  Most mining takes place on the Indo- Gangetic Plain & eastern India  Mica, coal, iron ore, bauxite, silver, & copper are found here  Natural gas deposits in Pakistan  Sapphires and rubies in Sri Lanka  Bhutan = coal, lead, marble, zinc, & copper, but there are problems with extraction

Fishing  Important industry in Sri Lanka & Pakistan  Fresh & dried fish serve as exports  In Bangladesh, fish is a primary food source and it has grown to become a major industry, even though it is relatively new

Light Industry  Involves the production of consumer goods (i.e. bicycles, TV's, and textiles)  24 million employed in textile industry  Many goods produced in homes  Goods created include cotton, rayon, silk, shoes, jewelry, and furniture  Privately owned companies (less than 100 employees) are also key 100 employees) are also key

Heavy Industry  Large scale industries are related to mining, electric power, iron, & steel production  Bangladesh = steel, iron, & cement  Bangladesh also specializes in shipbuilding  Until the 1990’s, more than 200 of its industries were owned solely by the gov’t  Since 1992 – foreign investment has been encouraged

Tourism  Tourism is important to many South Asian countries including Nepal (hunting), Bhutan (exotic location), and Sri Lanka (beaches and fancy hotels)  Violence between the Sinhalese and the Tamils have reduced tourism on the island

Deforestation  Definition = loss of forests  ½ of trees in N. India have been cut down in the past 30 years  1/3 of Nepal’s forests have been cut down  Trekkers use tons of firewood, litter, and leave garbage behind in their journeys  Slash and burn methods have caused deforestation  Only forests left in Bangladesh are ones with Mangrove Trees are ones with Mangrove Trees

Effects  Defense against cyclones is limited  Water run-off causes monsoon flooding  Downpours wash topsoil off the mountains  Soil clogs dams & alters the paths of rivers  Animals such as tigers & elephants are forced into smaller habitats are forced into smaller habitats  Climate changes occur

Conservation  Bhutan = gov’ts taking control of forests, limiting commercial forestry  Sri Lanka = reforestation program  India = Chipko (tree hugger) movement Began by a follower of Gandhi Began by a follower of Gandhi Convinced the gov’t to halt Convinced the gov’t to halt commercial timbering in the commercial timbering in the Himalayas Himalayas

Wildlife  Sri Lanka = elephants, water buffalo, monkeys  Bangladesh = crocodile & Bengal tiger  Many of these animals are becoming endangered in the forested area  Some have become rare due overhunting  South Asian gov’ts have taken steps to protect these animals (laws & organizations) (laws & organizations)

Dams  Play an important role in irrigating dry areas  Pakistan = the world’s largest earthen dam  Producers of hydroelectric power  Wildlife displaced and plant life destroyed  Some dams (India) are considered to be interfering with the spiritual forces of the water forces of the water

Narmada River Project  Located in India (Narmada River Basin)  Many arguments for & against the project  Pro’s: Will generate large amounts of electricity Will generate large amounts of electricity Will irrigate millions of acres of land Will irrigate millions of acres of land Will control flooding Will control flooding Con’s: Con’s: 1000’s of tribal people will be forced off of their land1000’s of tribal people will be forced off of their land Health problems will occurHealth problems will occur The soil will be depletedThe soil will be depleted