Utilisation of Resources- Geography Guide for Class 8
Information about Utilisation of Resources
Title | Utilisation of Resources |
Class | Class 8 |
Subject | Class 8 Geography |
Topics Covered |
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Nature has bestowed upon our Mother Earth with large varieties of rocks, soils, minerals, vegetation, animals, etc. We use these gifts of nature to fulfil our day to day needs. We need air to breathe, water to drink and food to eat. We get all these things from the earth.
- All the things on earth, which are necessary for our existence on this planet, are known as resources.
Even human beings are considered as a resource because human beings are an asset. It is only with the help of human skill that the other resources can be developed.
Human needs and wants are neither uniform in all parts of the world nor static over the years. They generally grow and become complex with the process of change in the society.
In ancient times, emphasis was mainly given on satisfying the basic needs, such as food, clothing and shelter which was derived from the natural environment. Even today, the pygmies of Africa eat edible plants, roots, flowers, fruits, and hunt animals. In advanced societies, greater emphasis is laid on the utilisation of resources for satisfying the multifarious needs of human beings.
Utility and value of a resource varies from time to time and place to place. Earlier human civilisations flourished along the river valleys as they used water for irrigating fields.
Now, human beings are using water for generating energy, irrigation, navigation and industries, etc. China and United States of America (USA) are generating more wind energy than India.
Utilisation of Resources
Resources become usable when they are processed. For example, cotton is converted into yarn. On further processing, it is converted into fabric, then finally into garments. Thus, at various stages value addition is possible by applying skill and technology.
Generally, the utilisation of resources depends upon various factors, such as:
- Availability of resources
- Skill of human beings
- Availability of capital
- Availability of water
- Advancement of technology (tools, machines, etc.)
- Availability of transport and communication facilities, etc.
In the initial stages of economic development, availability of resources played a very important role. With the advancement of technology, availability of capital and skilled labour became a necessity for the utilisation of resources.
For example, USA is termed as a developed country because it is economically self-sufficient and technologically advanced.
On the other hand, India is still in a developing stage. Though resources are essential for development, but their mere presence does not guarantee development. Other factors also play a crucial role.