Agricultural Regions in LDCs Key issues 2 and 4

Physical Geography …for a moment Tropics, Mid-latitude, High-latitude regions High Latitudes Polar Regions Temperate Zones Middle latitudes Tropics Low latitudes Temperate Zones Middle latitudes Polar Regions High Latitudes

Four Main Regions Shifting cultivation Pastoral Nomadism Humid, low-latitude, high temp and rainfall Pastoral Nomadism Dry climates where crops are imposible Intensive Subsitence Agriculture Densely populated areas – particularly Asia Plantation Farming Tropics and subtropics Specifically Latin America, Africa and Asia

Percent of Labor Force Engaged in Agriculture

Farmland Per Tractor

Now Compare

Challenges for Subsistence Farmers What is the birth rate like in LDCs? Farmers need to consider new farming approaches “Population growth influences the distribution of types of subsistence farming” –ESTER BOSERUP How? New farming methods Land left fallow for shorter periods Boserups’s five stages to the intensification of farmland – p. 334

Challenges for Subsistence Farmers The International Trade Model of Development (ch. 9) “A country can develop economically by concentrating scarce resources on expansion of its distinctive local industries.” Countries should focus on what they can produce for a higher quality and less price than any other country Funds made by this can help the country develop in other ways In order to do this, LDCs need to use better everything Sell crops and other stuff to MDCs

Challenges for Subsistence Farmers Drug Crops Particularly Latin America and Asia They aren’t selling DRUGS, they are selling crops that can be turned INTO drugs  Cocaine and Heroine Afghanistan produces about 80% of the world’s opium Columbia grows half of the world’s coca leaf Most marijuana in the U.S. comes from Mexico

Agricultural Regions in MDCs Key Issues 3 and 4

Six Main Regions Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming Dairy Farming U.S. Corn Dairy Farming Farms near large urban areas of NE U.S., SE Canada and Northern Europe Grain Farming Wheat Livestock Ranching Mediterranean Agriculture Commercial Gardening and Fruit Farming

Corn Production

Milk Production

Wheat Production

Meat Production

Challenges for Commercial Farmers Lets talk about supply and demand!

Challenges for Commercial Farmers Access to markets Overproduction This is where subsidies come in, but we will talk more about this later Sustainable Agriculture An agricultural practice that preserves and enhances environmental quality Lower revenue but lower costs Organic farming Three principles: Sensitive land management Limited use of chemicals Better integration of crops and livestock