Economic Geography
Term Description
Agglomeration Economic activities that are similar or alight on each other cluster together for
convenience
Agriculture Farming: the use of land to grow crops and to rear animals
Backward linkage An industry or business that may supply equipment, re-sources or services to
another industry or business, thus supporting them
Bene ciation Processing minerals into a more usable form
Communal Farming Food production on land that is owned by the group living there; often the land is
controlled by the local chief
Co-operative A system in which farmers pool their resources for corporation in a certain area,
Farming such as purchase of seeds, fertilisers or services such as transport
Cumulative Farming When a region has an industrial advantage such as the port or a raw material,
other industries will ow
Economic Recessive A period of temporary reduction in business
Economically Active That part of the population that is either working or looking for work
Famine This is the absence of food security & maybe recognised by the presence of
hunger, starvation, malnutrition & the worry of possible food shortages
Food insecurity Food insecurity exists when NOT all people, at all times have physical and
economic access to su cient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary
needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life
Food Security Food insecurity exists when all people, at all times have physical and economic
access to su cient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food
preferences for an active and healthy life
Formal economic Work in the registers rm, factory or farm; regulated (& taxed employment)
activity
Forward linkage The products of 1 industry are used as the raw material of another industry
Genetically modi ed Seeds that are hybridised or have gene modi cations to ensure resistance to
(GM) seeds disease or climatic conditions
Gross Domestic The total value of all goods and services produced in a country in one year
Product (GDP)
Gross Geographic Each province contributes to the countries GDP. The provincial contribution is
Product (GGP) referred to as the gross geographic product (GGP)
Hinterland The area beyond the seaport which supplies most of its exports & which uses
goods imported through or made in that seaport
Homelands The 10 regions within SA designated by the apartheid government to be the
home country of every black person, according to their ethnic identity
Informal Sector Types of employment where people have had to nd work for themselves
(sometimes illegally) on the streets or in small home workshops. All developing
countries have a large informal sector
Link Industry An industry that either supplies materials or equipment to another industry or
which depends on another industry for materials or equipment for its own
processes
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, Term Description
Manufacturing The conversation of raw materials into fabricated products; & the assembly of
items
Mass Production The making of the large quantities of identical articles by standard mechanised
processes
Mechanisation The process of changing from working largely or explicitly by hand or with
animals to doing that work with machinery
Monoculture The cultivation of one main crop extensively, such as maize or sugar cane
Multiplier E ect Additional economic development (as in factories, services, employment and
wealth) in response to a new or expanding developments (e.g. a mine or factory)
Nationalisation When the government takes over the ownership and operations of the mines
Open Cast Mining Type of mining which does not use shafts or tunnels. Mining takes place at the
surface. The layer above the mineral seam is removed and the exposed deposit is
extracted using earth moving machinery
Pastoral Farming The raising of animals such as cattle, sheep and goats
Permeculture Sustainable agriculture
Primary Sector Extraction of raw materials
Quarrying A form of surface mining for rock or stone which is used in building or road
making
Quaternary Sector Involves intellectual activities like research and information technology. This
sector includes data processing and the dissemination of information
Quinary Sector Some consider there to be a branch of the quaternary sector called the quinary
sector, which includes the highest levels of decision-making in a society or
economy. This sector would include the top executives or o cials in such elds
as government, science, universities, nonpro t organisations, healthcare, culture
& media
Ranching The large-scale rearing of cattle and extensive farms
Reserves Minerals known to exist but not yet mined
Ro-ro Roll on roll o – a ship that export vehicles. The vehicles roll onto the ship and
then roll o at their nal destination
Secondary Sector The processing of raw materials to produce manufactured products
Tertiary Sector This sector involves the selling of products and provision of services
Ubiquitous Sector Industries that are located over the entire geographic area
Value Added When a basic resource or material has been made into a product for sale. E.g.
Products fruit juices and jam are processed from the fruit picked
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, Structure of the Economy
Contribution of the Economy Sectors to the South African Economy
Economic Sectors Types of activities within the South African
Economy
Primary economic sector Worlds largest producer of platinum, gold and
• Extracting natural resources chromium, coal, fruit, maize, wheat, sugar,
• Mining, shing, farming, forestry wine, dairy products
Secondary economic sector Motor vehicles and parts, machinery, textiles,
• Processing or manufacturing of goods received from chemicals and aggro processing (processing
the primary sector. The process of bene ciation may goods from farms E.G.canning fruit and making
take place here jams or juices)
Tertiary economic sector Transport, education, tourism, nancial and
• Service and sales industry. Various services or the legal, health care services, retail centres and
distribution of commodities entertainment
Quaternary economic sector Computer scientists, research and data
• Services provided using research and expert processing and analysts, Financial planners,
knowledge or ICT (information and communication lab testing and analysis e.G.CSIR, Stats SA
technology)
Contribution of agriculture to the South African economy
Fewer people are involved in agriculture due to increased technology services:
1. Mechanisation
2. Improved irrigation systems
3. Fertilisers and chemicals
4. Use of hybrid and genetically modi ed crops
• Agriculture involves the growing of crops and raising of farm animals (pastoral).
• This can be carried out on small or large scale farms.
• South Africa has a jewel agricultural economy. I.e subsistence and commercial
farming.
• Agriculture is the predominant supplier of employment in rural areas and earns
South Africa valuable foreign exchange.
• The agricultural industry makes use of products and services from other
industries and so stimulates these industries (multiplier e ect) E.G.transportation,
supermarkets, factories, farming equipment.
• It also supplies raw materials to the secondary industries.
Main products produced: domestic market and export market
Rainfall patterns in uence most crop farms are found in the south western and
eastern regions of South Africa.
SA’s main EXPORTS: SA’s main IMPORTS:
Citrus fruits , Apples and Grapes Poultry meat
Sugar Wheat and Rice
Maize Spices (VAP)
Wine (VAP) and Fruit juices (VAP) Tea (VAP) and Co ee (VAP)
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