Difference Between Agro-Based and Mineral Based Industries

Industries are often defined and called with the name and purpose they serve. Industries can be agro-based, mineral-based, or forest-based depending on the raw materials they use. The basic difference between agro-based industries and mineral-based industries is the same as defined above. Agro-based industries use plant and animal-based products as raw materials whereas mineral-based industries are those industries that use mineral ore as a raw material.

What are agro-based industries?

The industries which use plant and animal-based products as their raw materials are termed agro-based industries. For example – food processing, vegetable oil, dairy products, leather industries all accumulate under the category of agro-based industries. They also include the production of paper. In this sector, the largest industry is the textile industry.

Types of the agro-based industries:

• Textile industries:

In simple terms, the clothing industry is termed the textile industry. It deals with the distribution, production, design, marketing of yarn, fabrics, or readymade clothing. It also involves manufacturing cotton textiles, woollen textiles, silk textiles, synthetic fibre, and jute textiles.

• Sugar Industry :

One of the most important aspects of the human diet, sugar is supplied, regulated through the sugar industry. Presently, in terms of production, the sugar industry is present in two areas — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Punjab in the north while in the south it is present in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamilnadu, and Andhra Pradesh. There are approximately 450 sugar mills in India.

• Vegetable oil industry :

Another important part of the agro-based sector is the vegetable oil industry. This involves the production of vegetable oils, in terms of process it is a very complex one. Firstly, the oil is removed from plant components such as seeds through mechanical extraction by using oil mils or some chemical toxicants and solvents. Later, the extracted oil is purified and is also refined as per the requirement. Sometimes, it is chemically altered as well.

• Tea and Coffee industry :

In India, tea and coffee are attributed as energy and relief drinks which is why their market share is huge among beverages. Most of the tea and coffee plantations are found in Assam.

What are mineral-based industries?

Manufacturing industries that use minerals such as iron ore as their raw materials are called mineral-based industries. The most basic industry on which the others are dependent is the iron and steel industry. The material produced from these industries works as a raw material for other industries such as heavy machinery, building materials, railway coaches or houses, etc.

Types of mineral-based industries :

• Iron and steel industry :

This is the most basic and important industry for any country. It is also used to gauge the economic development of a nation.

• Copper smelting industry :

This industry is responsible for the production of copper. Example – Indian copper Corporation at Ghatsila in Jharkhand.

• Aluminium industry :

As the name suggests, it is responsible for the production of aluminium. The process through which metallic Aluminium is derived from its ore is known as aluminium smelting. It is the second most important metallurgical industry in India. There are eight such plants in India

• Cement industry :

The most important infrastructure industry i.e. cement comes under the category of mineral-based.

Key differences between agro-based industries and mineral-based industries

• Agro-based uses plant and animal products while mineral-based uses mineral ore as raw materials.
• Agro-based industries usually provide employment in the rural areas while the mineral-based works as a source of employment in both rural and urban areas
• Examples of agro-based include food processing, vegetable oil, cotton textile, a dairy product, or leather industries.
• On the other hand, examples of mineral-based industries are iron & steel industries and heavy machine industries.
• In India both industries are leaders in their respective places.
• Though there are only ten primary steel plants in India, it is still a leading exporter of steel in the world whereas India’s production of spices, vegetables, and tea leaves is already known in the world.
• However, both of them are important as they increase Industrial Products employment foreign exchange, and earnings and help in the increase of economy of the country as a whole

Facts about the agro-industry in India:

• Sugar industry is the second-largest organised industry in India. In terms of sugarcane production, it currently ranks second in the world.
• 14% of industrial production involves textile and employs more than 35 million people. It also contributes 24 percent to foreign exchange earnings and 4% to the GDP.
• Yarn from India is exported to Japan, US, UK, France, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.

Facts about the mineral industry in India:

• Presently, India ranks at ninth position among the crude steel producers. It has an annual production of 32.8 million tonnes.

• In 2004 India was the largest exporter of Steel.

• India produces over 600 million tonnes of aluminium every year.

Conclusion: 

The difference between agro-industries and mineral based industries is that it uses plant and animal-based products as resources while the mineral-based industries use mineral ores as the raw materials. Both of them produce completely different products and have varying benefits with them. Their role in the economy of a nation is a huge one, either of them is equally necessary to the nation.

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