Food Production and Farming 3.2 & 3.3

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The Agricultural System Model

Farming is viewed as a system consisting of:

• Inputs: Physical (nature-based) and human/economic resources

• Processes: Working the land (e.g., sowing, weeding, harvesting)

• Outputs: Useful products (crops/meat) and waste products (manure)

Physical Inputs: Temperature

A critical growth factor where most crops require a minimum of 5^{\circ}C to grow. A long frost-free period is essential for the maturation of many plants.

Physical Inputs: Precipitation

The amount of moisture available. Different crops have varying needs; for instance, rice requires significantly higher rainfall or irrigation compared to wheat.

Physical Inputs: Soil and Relief

• Soil: Deep, fertile soils like alluvium are ideal for arable farming; thin, acidic soils are often restricted to rough grazing.

• Relief: Flat land allows for easy mechanization; south-facing slopes (in the Northern Hemisphere) provide more sunlight and warmth.

Economic Inputs: Capital and Labor

• Capital: Money required for high-quality seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery.

• Labor: Can be manual (labor-intensive, common in LEDCs) or machine-led (mechanized/capital-intensive, common in MEDCs).

Economic Inputs: Transport and Market

• Transport: The distance and quality of infrastructure to the market; high costs for perishable goods.

• Market: Consumer demand and current global prices determine which crops are most profitable for a farmer to grow.

Commercial vs. Subsistence Farming

• Commercial: Large-scale farming intended for profit where produce is sold to local or global markets.

• Subsistence: Small-scale farming where the priority is feeding the farmer's family; there is little to no surplus for sale.

Arable, Pastoral, and Mixed Farming

• Arable: Focusing solely on growing crops (e.g., wheat, maize, rice).

• Pastoral: Focusing on rearing livestock (e.g., cattle for beef/milk, sheep for wool/meat).

• Mixed: Combining both crops and livestock on the same farm, often using manure from animals to fertilize the crops.

Intensive vs. Extensive Farming

• Intensive: High inputs (labor/capital) relative to the land area to achieve high yields per hectare (e.g., rice paddies, market gardening).

• Extensive: Low inputs relative to a very large land area, resulting in lower yields per hectare (e.g., hill sheep farming, large wheat farms in Australia).

Nomadic vs. Sedentary Farming

• Nomadic: Farmers move their herds or plots of land frequently to find fresh pasture or fertile soil (e.g., shifting cultivation).

• Sedentary: Farmers remain in one fixed location permanently.

The Green Revolution

The introduction of High Yield Varieties (HYVs) like IR8 rice in the 1960s. It combined these seeds with chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and modern irrigation to increase food production in LEDCs.

Genetically Modified (GM) Crops

Crops like Bt Cotton whose DNA is altered in a laboratory.

• Advantages: Resistance to pests, disease, and drought; higher yields.

• Disadvantages: High seed costs, potential loss of biodiversity, and health/environmental concerns.

Natural Causes of Food Shortages

• Drought: Lack of rain leads to total crop failure (e.g., the Sahel region).

• Floods: Destruction of crops and washing away of nutrient-rich topsoil.

• Pests/Diseases: Locust swarms can consume entire harvests in hours.

• Climate Change: Shifting seasons make traditional farming schedules unreliable.

Human Causes of Food Shortages

• War/Conflict: Farmers are displaced, and food supplies are often destroyed or blockaded (e.g., Yemen).

• Poor Infrastructure: Lack of roads/storage means food rots before reaching consumers.

• Population Growth: Demand grows faster than technology can increase supply (Malthusian Theory).

Solutions: Technical and Political

• Irrigation: Controlled water supply for crops in dry regions.

• Appropriate Technology: Using simple, maintainable tools (e.g., hand pumps) that locals can afford and fix.

• Land Reform: Redistributing land ownership to empower the rural poor.

Solutions: Food Aid

• Emergency Aid: Short-term delivery of food during famine or conflict.

• Development Aid: Long-term help focused on improving farming techniques and local infrastructure.

Environmental Impact: Land Degradation

• Soil Erosion: Removal of topsoil by wind/water due to over-farming or lack of windbreaks.

• Overgrazing: Excessive livestock levels prevent grass regeneration, often leading to desertification.

• Salinization: Salt buildup in soil caused by excessive irrigation in hot climates.

Environmental Impact: Water Systems

• Eutrophication: Runoff from chemical fertilizers enters water bodies, causing algae blooms that deplete oxygen and kill aquatic life.