Agriculture Agriculture is very important, old and traditional type of economic activity. It is an economic activity conducted by Homo sapiens to grow crops and raise livestock directly from the field under their direct supervision. Based on the mode of production, there are two types of agriculture 1. Subsistence agriculture 2. Commercial agriculture

Subsistence agriculture Subsistence agriculture is that type of agriculture practice by which farmers try to meet their own demand by producing the necessary agricultural products. There should not be any profit motive in producing those agricultural commodities. There are two types of subsistence agriculture, such as A. Primitive agriculture/ Primitive subsistence agriculture B. Intensive agriculture/ Intensive subsistence agriculture

Primitive agriculture Primitive agriculture is the function of the south (People living in the developing and under developed areas). It is also known as traditional agriculture. It manifests only rudimentary technical management of the land, and limited amounts of time, effort and capital are devoted to this activity. For example: shifting cultivation, slash/burn agriculture etc.

Slash-and-burn Agriculture Slash-and-burn is an agricultural technique which involves cutting and burning of forests or woodlands to create fields. There are an estimated 250 million slash-and-burn farmers across the world. In 2004 it was estimated that, in Brazil alone, 500,000 small farmers were each clearing an average of one hectare of forest per year.

In slash-and-burn agriculture, forest will be cut months before a dry season. The "slash" is permitted to dry, and then burned in the following dry season. The resulting ash fertilizes the soil, and the burned field is then planted at the beginning of the next rainy season with crop such as upland rice, maize, cassava, or other staple crop. Most of this work is typically done by hand, using axes, hoes, and other such basic tools. Slash-and-burn Agriculture

Location of Primitive Agriculture: Central Africa, south East Asia and the adjacent islands. On the mainland of Asia, primitive cultivation tend to be confined to the interior Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, adjacent portions of India and china, Amazon and Congo forest area

Intensive agriculture When the farmers produce the goods in a cost effective manner it is known as intensive agriculture. The main objective of this agriculture is to gain profit by minimizing the cost. This type of agriculture mainly related with rice cultivation. Location: coastal and delta areas of India, Southeast Asia, southern china and Japan.

Primitive agriculture is mainly different from intensive agriculture on the basis of Mode of production: primitive subsistence agriculture is absolutely non-cost effective. There is no tendency to maximize the profit. On the other hand, intensive agriculture is cost-effective. Cropping intensity: is a function of frequency of occurrence of crops in a given year. For primitive agriculture cropping intensity is single cropping. But, in intensive agriculture the cropping intensity is double or multiple cropping. Fragmentation of land: fragmentation of land is very low in primitive agriculture and on the other hand, very high in the intensive agriculture.

Commercial Agriculture Commercial agriculture is mainly profit oriented or business oriented. These are also known as modern agriculture system. Mainly two types: A. Commercial grain farming B. Plantation agriculture

Commercial grain farming In commercial grain farming producers always produce the goods in a cost effective manner and make profit. All the equipments are mechanized. It is mainly seen in the North region of the world. Crops, which are produced in this agriculture system, are wheat, rice, corn etc. Location: North American short grass land, Russia, Western Europe, South America.

Plantation agriculture Plantations are a technique for organizing land and labour in the tropics and supply mid latitudes markets with certain products. Plantation of tea, rubber, coffee, pineapple, coco tree are known as plantation agriculture. Growing cash crops. Mainly it is the activity of south. Location: the majority of the world’s plantation occurs in the tropics.

Plantation agriculture: Some Examples Mid American countries: sugar, banana, coffee North eastern and western part of South America: cocoa, palm oil, sugar, coffee and cotton South east part of Africa: tea, rubber, palm oil, coconuts, sugar India, Srilanka, Bangladesh: Tea Indonesia, Malaysia: coffee, rubber, palm oil

Green revolution A significant increase in agricultural productivity resulting from the introduction of high-yield varieties of grains, the use of pesticides, and improved management techniques. It was introduced during mid 1960s.

Success of the Green Revolution For farmers – Yields increase by three times or more for farmers able to afford HYVs and fertilizers – Faster growing plants allow more than one crop per year (multiple cropping) – Increased output creates a surplus for sale, raising rural incomes and standard of living For the country – Food production is revolutionized and in some cases surpluses for export are created – Less dependence on imported food or food aid – Lower rates of malnutrition and reduced risk of food shortages – Reduced rates of rural to urban migration due to higher standards of living in rural areas.

Failures of the Green Revolution For farmers – Yields do not change as many poor peasants unable to afford new seeds and fertilizers – Sometimes farmers cannot pay back the borrowed money and end up in debt – Gap between large-scale rich and poor-scale farmers widens For the country – Environmental problems increase from the use of fertilizers and pesticides – Sell the property to pay the debt and move to the cities

Cropping Intensity Frequency of occurrence of crops in a given region over a given period of time. 3 types Single cropping intensity (cultivate land once in a year, country where population density is low and do agriculture with manual tools) Double cropping intensity(cultivate land twice in a year, country where population density is medium and do agriculture with the help of technology) Multiple cropping intensity(cultivate land three times in a year country where population density is high and do agriculture with the help of technology) By applying different cropping intensity cultivator can change the production amount from the same piece of land.

Sustainable Agriculture Ecologically sound Economically viable Socially & culturally appropriate Based on holistic scientific approach Its aim to produce food and fiber on a sustainable basis and repair the damage caused by destructive practices.

Appropriate technology in agriculture Irrigation Organic fertilizers Mixed cropping Natural predators New seeds and plant varieties Power from living resources (biofuels, biogas)