CHAP 4 Worldwide Systems of Agricultural Production

A collection of flashcards covering key concepts related to worldwide agricultural systems, including types, practices, and comparisons between developed and developing regions.

What are the broad types of agricultural production systems found worldwide?

Primitive, subsistence, and developed agriculture.

What is subsistence agriculture?

Agriculture aimed at providing for one's own needs rather than for profit.

What is the purpose of commercial agriculture?

To make money with agricultural practices.

What is shifting cultivation?

A method where farmers clear land and utilize it until fertility declines, then abandon it for new plots.

What defines nomadic herding?

The irregulate movement of herders and their livestock in response to feed availability.

What is transhumance?

Seasonal migration of animals between fixed summer and winter pastures.

What is paddy rice farming?

Labor-intensive farming of rice in flooded fields, primarily in Asia.

Define extensive agriculture.

Agriculture systems practiced over large areas with minimal human attention.

What is intensive agriculture?

Agriculture where considerable attention is given to small plots of land or individual animals.

What are cash crops?

Crops grown specifically for market sales, not for personal use.

How does climate influence agricultural systems?

Climate determines feasible crop types and agricultural practices based on rainfall and temperature.

What factors influence livestock systems in a particular area?

Climate, topography, soil type, and socioeconomic conditions.

What is urban agriculture?

Agricultural practices carried out in urban areas, often in backyards or community spaces.

How does developed agriculture differ from subsistence agriculture?

Developed agriculture is more productive and focuses on profit, while subsistence agriculture aims for self-sufficiency.

What is commercial livestock finishing?

A specialized agricultural system focusing on raising livestock primarily for meat production.

What role do animals play in subsistence agriculture?

They provide labor, food, and other resources, but are primarily kept for subsistence rather than profit.

What are the characteristics of commercial plantation agriculture?

Large land holdings with labor-intensive practices focused on producing single crops for profit.

What are the limitations faced by small livestock units in developing countries?

Limited markets, low productivity, and financial constraints hinder their growth.

What are the broad types of agricultural production systems found worldwide?

Primitive, subsistence, and developed agriculture.

What is subsistence agriculture?

Agriculture aimed at providing for one's own needs rather than for profit.

What is the purpose of commercial agriculture?

To make money with agricultural practices.

What is shifting cultivation?

A method where farmers clear land and utilize it until fertility declines, then abandon it for new plots.

What defines nomadic herding?

The irregulate movement of herders and their livestock in response to feed availability.

What is transhumance?

Seasonal migration of animals between fixed summer and winter pastures.

What is paddy rice farming?

Labor-intensive farming of rice in flooded fields, primarily in Asia.

Define extensive agriculture.

Agriculture systems practiced over large areas with minimal human attention.

What is intensive agriculture?

Agriculture where considerable attention is given to small plots of land or individual animals.

What are cash crops?

Crops grown specifically for market sales, not for personal use.

How does climate influence agricultural systems?

Climate determines feasible crop types and agricultural practices based on rainfall and temperature.

What factors influence livestock systems in a particular area?

Climate, topography, soil type, and socioeconomic conditions.

What is urban agriculture?

Agricultural practices carried out in urban areas, often in backyards or community spaces.

How does developed agriculture differ from subsistence agriculture?

Developed agriculture is more productive and focuses on profit, while subsistence agriculture aims for self-sufficiency.

What is commercial livestock finishing?

A specialized agricultural system focusing on raising livestock primarily for meat production.

What role do animals play in subsistence agriculture?

They provide labor, food, and other resources, but are primarily kept for subsistence rather than profit.

What are the characteristics of commercial plantation agriculture?

Large land holdings with labor-intensive practices focused on producing single crops for profit.

What are the limitations faced by small livestock units in developing countries?

Limited markets, low productivity, and financial constraints hinder their growth.

What are the major factors that determine the type of livestock systems found in a given location?

Key factors include environmental elements (climate, topography, water availability, vegetation) and socioeconomic considerations (market access, capital, cultural and traditional practices, technology, government policies).

How does climate influence different agricultural types globally?

1. Arid/Semi-Arid Climates: Favor nomadic herding and extensive ranching due to sparse vegetation and water. 2. Temperate Climates: Support diverse crop farming (grains, fruits, vegetables) and intensive livestock operations due to moderate rainfall and temperatures. 3. Tropical/Subtropical Climates: Ideal for cash crops like coffee, tea, rubber via plantation agriculture, and paddy rice farming in monsoon regions.

How do primitive, subsistence, and developed agricultures differ in characteristics?

1. Primitive: Oldest, basic tools, slash-and-burn, lowest technology, often shifting cultivation. 2. Subsistence: Farmers grow food for family needs, limited surplus, low technology, traditional methods, focus on self-sufficiency. 3. Developed: High technology, mechanization, high productivity, market-oriented, specialization (cash crops, commercial livestock finishing), significant capital investment.

In which agricultural systems are animals primarily utilized, and for what purposes?

1. Subsistence Agriculture & Nomadic Herding: Animals provide labor (plowing), food (meat, milk), hides, and manure for fertilizer, serving household needs. 2. Transhumance: Animals (sheep, cattle) are moved seasonally for pasture, maximizing feed resources. 3. Developed/Commercial Agriculture: Animals are raised primarily for profit in specialized systems like dairy farming, beef finishing, and poultry production, often with high-tech input.