Possible Changes to the System: INPUTS What goes in to make it work HUMAN/ECONOMICHUMAN/ECONOMIC PHYSICALPHYSICAL PROCESSES Activities carried out to turn inputs to outputs OUTPUTS Products from the farm LEDC – output usually consumed by family (SUBSISTENCE FARMING) MEDC – output profit – will be reinvested into farm (COMMERCIAL FARMING) FARMING SYSTEMS: A farm is a system, with inputs, processes and outputs Climate Amount of rain Length of growing season Temperature Relief Soils and Drainage Labour Rent Transport Costs Machinery Fertilisers/Pesticides Government Control Seeds / Livestock Farm Buildings Energy Market Demand Running the farm / jobs needed to grow crops / rear animals: e.g. Ploughing Weeding Harvesting Milking etc. etc. Products produced by the farm e.g. CROPS e.g. wheat, oats etc. ANIMAL PRODUCTS e.g. Milk / wool / chicken / beef etc. Physical Changes – e.g. floods, disease (foot and mouth etc.) Human Changes – change in demand; market price; government policy etc. Usually beyond the control of the farmer

Case Study: Subsistence Farming Rice Farming in India Characteristics of Rice Farming in India: Rice growing in India is an example of intensive farming Many farms are small (may be only one hectare – size of a football pitch) Due to small farm size and the poverty there is little mechanisation and these farms are often labour intensive (a lot of labour needed – e.g. preparation of fields, planting, weeding etc.) Most farmers are subsistence farmers Most farmers are only tenants. Source: Source:

Case Study of Subsistence Farming: Why Rice Farming in India? KEY: Main Rice Growing Areas Use Bunce: GEOGRAPHY FOR GCSE p.162 to shade in main rice growing areas. 1. Climate 2. Flat Land 3. Huge Demand 4. Fertile Soils 5. Water Supply 6. Large Labour Force Monsoon Climate – stays above 21 o C with a long wet season – plenty of moisture for growth Followed by dry sunny weather for ripening and harvest. Ideal for paddy fields – stops water draining away allowing rice to grow in it. Increases productivity – good crops grown Plentiful water available – due to monsoon climate Rice is the staple food of 65% of the population of India – forms 90% of the total diet. India is the world’s second largest rice producer (20% of world’s total) Provides direct employment to about 70% of working people in India. Large numbers of workers available.

Changes to the system Process: Farmer – decision maker Physical Inputs: Human & Economic Inputs Diversification Enterprises: Outputs: Output mainly consumed by the family Brahman Cattle4 full time workers & 4 seasonal workers Monsoon Climate Fertilisers and Pesticides Farmhouse & small storage house Flat land near the coast Cut grass to feed cows Soil - Clay Weeding Land preparation Spray pesticides Av Rainfall 2000mm Wife goes to work – brings in 80% of income Rent Machinery Av temp 35 o C Harvest Rice Rice (2 crops a year) Typhoon Damage in October 1998 damaged yields Use of hybrid rice requires fertilisers and pesticides – expensive and can lead to health problems Some wives had to go out to work to supplement income Case Study Subsistence Farming: Rice Farming in India