World Geography / Unit 9: Southwest, South and Central Asia
9.6 Economy, Resources and Cities
Notes
- Oil and natural gas drive many Southwest Asian economies (Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Kuwait, UAE). Many are members of OPEC. Some economies are diversifying into tourism, finance and trade.
- South Asia is largely agricultural: rice, wheat, tea, cotton and jute. The Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s used new crop varieties and fertilizer to raise yields in India and Pakistan.
- India has a large service sector, including information technology; textiles are important in Bangladesh and Pakistan.
- Large cities include Mumbai, Delhi, Karachi, Dhaka and Tehran. Rapid growth brings crowding and pollution.
- Challenges: water scarcity, conflict in some areas, uneven development and rapid population growth.
Practice
What does OPEC coordinate?
Many Persian Gulf countries belong to OPEC.
The Green Revolution in South Asia mainly refers to
It increased the production of wheat and rice.
Which crop is a major product of Bangladesh's delta region?
The wet delta is ideal for rice and jute.
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