5.3 - farming practices, Green Revolution

land

a finite resource

food security

measure of availability of food and individuals’ ability to access it

crop yields

amount of useful resource harvested from arable farming system

arable farming

cultivation of crops

• wheat in Great Plains, USA

pastoral farming

rearing of animals

• Sheep farming, New Zealand

mixed farming

involves both crops and livestock

subsistence farming

for cultivators’ use not for profit

• Kayo, Amazonian rainforest

commercial farming

farming for profit

• tulips, Netherlands

intensive farming

producing high yields per unit area

• Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations

extensive farming

producing low yields per unit area

• free range chicken production

organic farming

doesn’t use synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides

inorganic farming

uses synthetic fertilisers, pesticides and insecticides

irrigated farming

extra water from rivers, groundwater or reservoirs provided for crop growth

horticulture farming

intensive production of high value food and flowers in gardens and greenhouses

• tomatoes for largely urban markets

monoculture farming

production of only 1 type of crop

nomadic farming

move seasonally with their heards

rain fed farming

relies on natural rainfall for germination and growth

sedentary farming

remain in the same place throughout the year

hydroponics farming

crops grown/ fish reared in water

• Busan, Cairo

farm fragmentation

farmers own many plots of land rather than single piece

Green Revolution

increase of science and technology to increase crop productivity

• higher yielding varieties HYVs

effects of Green Revolution

• more food on same land

• increased inequalities between farmers

• irrigation => salinisation

• HYVs use up all nutrients => lower soil fertility

• increased employment

• pesticides harm useful insects too