Question

“Generally land-use in a region is influenced by the nature of economic activities.” Support the statement with suitable examples.

Answer 1

1. Size of the Economy: As the economy grows, the demand for fixed land resources increases. This leads to the conversion of “marginal lands” into productive usage to fulfil rising demand.
2. Composition of the Economy: Economic growth shifts the emphasis from the primary (agricultural) to secondary (industrial) and tertiary (services) sectors. As a result, agricultural land is gradually taken over for non-agricultural uses such as housing, factories, and roads.
3. Declining Share of Agriculture: Although the total agricultural area may shrink, the demand on remaining land grows. For example, on metropolitan outskirts, the demand for land for warehouses or residential complexes frequently replaces traditional farming.

Examples:

1. Urban Expansion: Former agricultural areas in cities like Gurugram have been converted into high-rise IT parks and commercial centres.
2. Infrastructure: Large areas of rural land are repurposed for the construction of national highways and industrial corridors to facilitate trade and transportation.