PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES (PT.1)

Primary Activities (4)

Farming, Fishing, Mining, Forestry

Inputs

‘Ingredients’ of a system, needed to produce something e.g. cows

Processes

Activities or work done to create something new e.g. milking a cow

Outputs

Results of process, a new product e.g. milk carton

Ex. (Inputs, Processes, Outputs)

Chicken – Rearing – Egg. Sheep – Shearing – Wool. Seed – Watering – Carrot.

Types of Farming (4)

Pastoral (animals), Arable (crops), Mixed e.g. Wright’s Farm Co. Wexford, Horticulture (greenhouse crops)

Types of Farming (4)

Subsistence (crops + animals for survival only), Intensive farming (many workers involved e.g. Keeley's Strawberry Farm), Extensive farming (very few workers involved), Commercial farming (business, cash crops)

Netherlands has the

Highest population density in Western Europe with 16 million people

The people have

Reclaimed areas of land from the sea

New land is called

Polder

Polders have given

New farmland and space to live

This is used to grow

Flowers, salad crops, potatoes and others

How were polders created?

A large dam was built across the mouth of a large coastal inlet. Water was pumped out of the inlet making it dry land.

Impact of Polders on the Netherlands

Roads and farms were built, and people now live on polders

Physical Factors that affect Farming (4)

Climate, Relief, Soils

Climate

Decides what kind of crop can be grown in a region e.g. oats grow well in Ireland while coffee does well in Brasil. Some animals also need to be kept inside or outside during the year.

Relief

The lay of the land impacts drainage and the type of machinery that can be used. It also affects what crops and animals are best suited to the landscape.

Soils

The fertility of soils decides which crops are best to grow. For example, clay soils store too much water, while Brown Earths are very nutritious.