Geography Paper 2 Nov/Dec 2015

Question 3

  1. Explain three reasons for the production of consumer goods by most manufacturing industries in Tropical African countries.
  2. What four problems are associated with manufacturing industries in Tropic Africa?
  3. Suggest a possible solution each to any three of the problems identified in 3(b) above.

Observation

This question was not popular among the candidates and majority of those who answered it performed poorly.  Most of the candidates who answered the question could not correctly explain the reasons for the production of consumer goods by most manufacturing industries in Tropical African countries.  The expected answers were:

  • need to conserve foreign exchange;
  • availability of local raw materials;
  • inadequate capital/less capital intensive;
  • little space/land required;
  • high demand for consumer goods by populace;
  • low level of technology;
  • import substitution;
  • availability of skilled technicians;
  • availability of skilled labour;
  • availability of transport network.

 

The problems of manufacturing industries in Tropical Africa and the solutions were better attempted by the candidates