© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 5.2What are the factors affecting factors affecting agricultural agricultural production? production? Part B

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? What are the factors affecting agriculture? AB C Which of the places is/are suitable for farming? Why? Flat lowland River (irrigation water supply)

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? What are the factors affecting agriculture? The location of different farming system is determined by the interaction of physical and cultural factors. Physical factors 1 Climate2 Land A Temperature B Rainfall C Wind A Soil B Relief C River Physical factors strongly affect where a particular crop or type of livestock will be found.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? What are the factors affecting agriculture? The location of different farming system is determined by the interaction of physical and cultural factors. Cultural factors 1 Labour 2 Capital 3 Technologies 4 Market 5 Transport 6 Institutional factors Cultural factors refer to variables from the socio-economic environment.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Let’s look at the example of vegetable farming in Lam Tsuen Valley. How do these factors shape the characteristics of farming in an area? Physical and cultural factors interact and produce the distinctive characteristics of farming. Physical factors Sunshine Around 1,948 hours a year Temperature High monthly mean temperatures Water supply Total annual rainfall: 2,214 mm River: Lam Tsuen River Land Lowland or gentle relief Alluvial soils Cultural factors Captial Labour Farmer and his/her family Technology Carrying out research and applying new technologies Transport By lorry Market Tai Po Market or Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? How do these factors shape the characteristics of farming in an area? How do these factors contribute to the characteristics of vegetable farming in Lam Tsuen Valley? Interplay of physical and cultural factors Farming characteristics in Lam Tsuen Valley Type of farming ( Intensive / Extensive ) commercial farming Farming skill ( Primitive / Semi-modern / Modern ) Farm size ( Small / Large ) Level of mechanization ( Low / Medium / High ) Farming method ( Labour-intensive / Capital-intensive ) Outputs 6-8 crops of vegetables Waste materials

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Climate ATemperature ________________ refers to the period of a year when farming is possible. Crops can only grow at ____°C or above. Under favourable temperatures, plant growth is active. At the freezing point, frost may appear and destroy crops. The longer the frost-free period, the ( shorter / longer ) the growing season. Growing season 6

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Climate ATemperature Frost-free periods of the world What is the relationship between the length of the frost- free period and latitudes?

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Climate ATemperature Temperature affects world patterns of agriculture. Wheat is grown in areas with a ( low / moderate / high ) mean temperature Wet rice is grown in areas with a ( low / high ) mean temperature

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Climate BRainfall Annual rainfall determines the types of crops grown and the size of the production. In areas with abundant rainfall, the number of crops grown in a year can be ( less / greater ). Wheat is grown in ( drier / more humid ) areas Wet rice is grown in areas with abundant rainfall In South China, double cropping or triple cropping of rice is practised each year

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Climate BRainfall Seasonal variations in rainfall, the intensity and duration of rainfall can have a great influence on crops. Prolonged drought could be disastrous to agriculture Unusual precipitation patterns may damage crops and cause huge economic losses to farmers: Rainstorms Hailstorms Frost Drought Unusual precipitation patterns may damage crops and cause huge economic losses to farmers: Rainstorms Hailstorms Frost Drought Frost can kill crops

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Climate CWind Wind may bring positive and adverse effects on crops. Positive effect Crops Sea Onshore wind brings moisture to coastal areas, lengthening the growing season. Onshore wind Adverse effect Strong winds may increase ___________ rates and cause soil erosion; evaporation damage crops. Tropical cyclones damage crops

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Land ASoil Soil quality depends on the following soil properties: Characteristics Favourable soil quality for crops Unfavourable soil quality for crops AciditySlightly acidic Strongly acidic or alkaline Soil thicknessThick soilThin soil Nutrient content/ Soil fertility High (Fertile soil)Low (Poor soil) Moisture content Sufficient, stable and well-drained Insufficient, unstable, wet and poorly-drained

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? A B C 2Land BRelief Place ( A / B / C ) is suitable for farming. Why? Altitude: It is located on ( lowland / highland ), where temperatures are usually ( lower / higher ). 27° C 6°C6°C Aspect: It ( is / is not ) facing the sun and have more sunshine. It is on the windward slope which can receive _____ rain. relief 30°C Gradient of the field: ( Gentle / Steep ) slope and thick soil

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? A B C 2Land BRelief 30°C 6°C6°C Place B Why Place B is not suitable for farming? Altitude: It is located on ( lowland / highland ), where temperatures are usually ( lower / higher ). Aspect and gradient: Although it is facing the sun and receives ______ rain, its gradient is ( gentle / steep ) and the soil is too ( thin / thick ) for crops. relief 27° C

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? A B C 2Land BRelief 30°C 6°C6°C Place C Why Place C is not suitable for farming? Altitude: It is located on ( lowland / highland ), where temperatures are usually ( lower / higher ). Aspect: It ( is / is not ) facing the sun. It ( receives / does not receive ) relief rain. It is in the ____________, which is ( dry / wet ). rain shadow Gradient: It is too ( gentle / steep ) for growing crops. 27° C

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Land BRelief Soil Bedrock Surface run-off is fast on steep slope. Soil erosion is active Little infiltration and soil moisture content Can we still grow crops on highland? How? Original slope Surface run-off is slow on flat slope More infiltration and soil moisture content Stone wall helps to stabilize the slope Yes, we can grow crops on highland by terracing.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Land CRiver Alluvial soil Crops The fertile ________ soil on flood plains is favourable for growing crops. alluvial The river provides water for _________ and transporting agricultural produce. irrigation River valleys and deltas are favourable locations for cultivation. e.g. the deltas of River Nile and Ganga River Cultivation along the Zhu Jiang in Kaiping, Guangdong (Credit: Tsui Chung Pong David)

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 1Labour Is there any difference in the demand for labour in different regions? Less developed regions Asian farmers harvesting rice The farming systems usually require ( less / more ) labour as they employ traditional and labour-intensive farming methods. Their yield per unit of land is ( low / high ) but yield per worker is generally ( low / high ).

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 2Capital More developed regions Crop harvesting in a more developed region The farming systems usually require ( less / more ) labour because __________ are widely used. machines Capital is more available. Farming rely more on _______- intensive methods. Production per farmer is ( low / high ). capital

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 3Technology The use of various technologies can help to overcome physical constraints and improve farm production. MeansBenefits Irrigation and drainage Improve the physical conditions for crop and livestock production MechanizationImprove farm production, farm efficiency and quality of farm work Applying chemicals Fertilizers to improve quality of farmland Pesticides to protect the crops from pests Herbicides to prevent weeds from competing for nutrients with crops Biotechnology, better seeds and breeds Improve the quality of crops and increase the yield of crops or livestock

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 4Market A vegetable market in Thailand There are two types of markets for farm produce, local and overseas markets. Market forces affect farmers’ decisions on the types of crops grown or animals reared.

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? Farmers need transport systems to bring inputs to the farm and send the produce to markets for sale. Farms with good transport can have more choices for crops. 5Transport Inputs Produce With good transport, __________ produce can be delivered to local and international markets within a short time. perishable

© Oxford University Press 2009 Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages? 6Institutional factors Institutional factors include land ownership and government policies on farming. I own my farmland. I am willing to invest on a long-term basis. We receive subsidies from the government. We can rear more herds at a lower cost.