Agricultural Types

Chapter 6.2: Types of Agriculture

Overview of Agricultural Divisions

Today, agriculture is commonly divided into two main categories: subsistence agriculture and commercial agriculture. These categories correspond roughly to regions of varying economic development:

  • Less Developed Countries (LDCs): Predominantly practice subsistence agriculture.
  • More Developed Countries (MDCs): Predominantly engage in commercial agriculture.

Subsistence Agriculture

  • Definition: Subsistence agriculture is defined as the production of food primarily for consumption by the farmers and their families. Surpluses may occasionally be produced but are not sold commonly.
  • Characteristics:
      - This type of farming is prevalent in less developed countries, where families engage in farming primarily for self-sustainability.
      - It is characterized by small-scale farming focused on producing enough food for the farmer and their family, with less than 5% of the North American population engaged in farming.
Intensive Subsistence Agriculture
  • Most Abundant Type: Intensive subsistence agriculture is the predominant form of agriculture practiced worldwide and is known for significant dependence on animal power.
  • Location: Commonly practiced in humid tropical regions such as East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, where high population density and limited land space necessitate maximizing food production.
  • Labor Intensity: This agriculture is labor-intensive, using limited space effectively and generating high yields per unit area. Common forms include:
      - Wet Rice Farming: The most common type, particularly in regions with sufficient water supply.
      - Non-Wet Rice Cereals: Includes grains like wheat and barley.
Double Cropping
  • Definition: Double cropping is a method where farmers harvest two crops in a single year from the same field to maximize yield, made feasible by climates with sunny locations and long growing seasons.
Shifting Cultivation
  • Definition: Another subsistence practice, shifting cultivation involves farmers clearing new land every few years to farm due to depletion of soil nutrients.
  • Process:
      1. Slash-and-Burn: Farmers clear a patch of land through cutting (slashing) and burning natural vegetation, which helps fertilize the soil.
      2. Crop Rotation: Farmers typically cultivate crops on cleared land for two to three years until it loses fertility and then seek new land for cultivation, occasionally returning after the vegetation regrows after five to twenty years.
  • Typical Crops: Corn, millet, sugarcane are commonly grown.
Social and Environmental Implications of Subsistence Farming
  • Land Ownership: Farmers typically do not own the land but operate on land controlled by village chiefs or councils.
  • Deforestation: Slash-and-burn practices contribute significantly to global deforestation, raising concerns about biodiversity loss and the ecological impact of farming practices.

Pastoral Nomadism

  • Definition: Similar to subsistence agriculture, pastoral nomadism focuses on the domestication of animals rather than crops.
  • Location: Predominantly occurs in arid regions (e.g., Middle East, North Africa).
  • Livestock: Animals are raised for milk, clothing, and shelter rather than for meat, with nomads typically trading animal products for grains with local farmers.
  • Animal Selection: The choice of livestock is influenced by regional culture, climate, and terrain; for example:
      - Camels: Excellent for transportation in arid climates.
      - Goats: Require more water but consume a broader range of foraged food.
  • Territorial Awareness: Pastoral nomads maintain a profound understanding of their territories, migrating seasonally between resource-rich areas without trespassing.

The Second Agricultural Revolution

  • Historical Context: Coinciding with the Industrial Revolution, this agricultural shift moved beyond subsistence to generate surpluses for feeding urban populations.
  • Innovations: Advances in farming techniques and machinery in the late 1800s and early 1900s, such as railroads, tractors, and combines, allowed for more efficient production and distribution of food.
  • Commercial Agriculture: In more developed nations, agriculture aims primarily at producing food for sale in global markets, defined as agribusiness.
  • Role of Technology: Improved agricultural practices, machinery, and access to transport (e.g., railroads) transformed agricultural landscapes and operations.

Commercial Agriculture

  • Goals and Characteristics: Commercial agriculture focuses on producing food for sale and processing rather than direct sale to consumers, involving large-scale production and economies of scale.
  • Workforce Comparison: Over 50% of the workforce in emerging countries may engage in subsistence farming, while in MDCs like the U.S., this figure drops below 2%. Despite the small percentage, U.S. farmers leverage advanced machinery to meet national food needs efficiently.
  • Plantation Agriculture: A specific type of commercial agriculture, often found in tropical climates, focusing on single cash crops (e.g., sugarcane, coffee) typically owned by companies based in MDCs and employing imported labor.

Geographical Perspectives on Agriculture

  • Land Use Theory: Understanding agricultural land use patterns involves how distance from markets influences farming practices. Geographer Johann Heinrich von Thünen developed a model to explain rural land use through concentric circles radiating from a city representing different agricultural activities:
      1. First Ring: Market gardening and dairy production due to perishability.
      2. Second Ring: Timber and forestry products.
      3. Third Ring: Grain farming (cash crops) with varying cultivation intensity based on distance.
      4. Fourth Ring: Livestock ranching, where animals can traverse longer distances.
  • Market Influence: The proximity to the market affects rent prices and agricultural practices, creating a higher economic rent on land closer to the market center.

Modern Agricultural Influences

  • Transportation Technology: Advancements in transportation (railroads, refrigerated trucks) have influenced agricultural decisions, allowing farmers to produce perishable goods far from urban centers without jeopardizing freshness or profit.
  • Global Agricultural Trends: Recent shifts and demands shape agricultural land use patterns, as evidenced by increased corn production for ethanol due to rising fuel demands affecting grain farmers.

Agricultural Economics and Cultural Impacts

  • Economy of Scale: Large-scale commercial farms can mitigate risks by diversifying production, whereas small farmers face vulnerability to price fluctuations.
  • Cultural Lag: The term describes the challenges cultural practices face in adapting to technological advancements in agriculture, impacting what is cultivated and consumed across generations and regions.
  • Evolving Dietary Practices: American dietary habits show influence from historical European traditions, indigenous practices, and the modern agricultural economy's fluctuations.

Conclusion

Agricultural practices differ greatly across regions, driven by development levels, economic demands, and cultural preferences. With climate change and resource management challenges, understanding agricultural types and their implications is crucial for addressing global food security.