PRT 2008 Lecture 2

Agricultural Systems

Agricultural system Subsistence farming Subsistence farming Commercialized farming Commercialized farming

Subsistence farming Characterized by low input/yield. Usually inter-cropping. Slash and burn. High risk.

Cont. Involves working on a plot of land to produce only enough food to feed the family working on it. The success is dependent on climate, soil, agricultural practice and crops grown.

Cont. The land produces enough food to sustain the family through daily activities, rarely enough of surplus to take to the market or store for later use.

Cont. Does not promote accumulation of capital. Thus, free of capitalist economy. The benefit of fewer working hours provides the family with time for a healthy life.

Cont. The area of land a farmer can cultivate is limited by soil fertility, climate, tools, techniques and available crop types.

Cont. Socio-economic conditions may prevent an expansion of farming plot, especially when inheritance traditions require that the plot be split among the children.

Cont. Raising of domesticated livestock (free-range chicken), fish in small pond and paddy fields

Cont. Happen in Africa, South America, certain part of Europe, South-east Asia.

Commercialized Farming Characterized by monoculture, or a combination of a few crops with high yielding modern varieties and large quantities of chemical input (pesticides and fertilizers). Use of modern techniques and advanced machineries.

Tropical Plantation Agriculture Oil palm, rubber, cocoa, coffee, coconut, tea, etc. Oil palm, rubber, cocoa, coffee, coconut, tea, etc. Produce are exported to the developed West Produce are exported to the developed West Some are for home consumption Some are for home consumption

Vegetable farming A specialized production in rows and blocks A specialized production in rows and blocks Open or enclosed Open or enclosed Allow machinery to cultivate the field Allow machinery to cultivate the field Labor intensive Labor intensive Using latest post-harvest technologies Using latest post-harvest technologies

Organic farming Using no chemical or very little of it to produce vegetables and fruits

Hydroponics A technique of growing plants without soil

Cont. Passive hydroponics – plants in containers of nutrient solution in growing medium such as vermiculite, clay granules, gravel, cocoa bean shell, etc.

Cont. Flood & drain – a tray filled with plants in a growing medium of nutrient solution which is pumped into the tray then drained back into a reservoir.

Cont. Deep water culture – plant roots are suspended and are allowed to hang down into aerated nutrient solution

Cont. Nutrient film technique – plants grow through light-proof plastic films placed over shallow, gently sloping channel along which a steady flow of a thin film of nutrient solution is maintained such that roots grow into dense mat

Cont. Aeroponics – plant roots are suspended in a mist (produced by misters commonly used in micro- irrigation system) or extreme fine fog of nutrient rich solution

Cont. Media – expanded clay aggregate (baked clay pebbles), rockwool (from basalt), coco coir (from coconut husk), perlite (glass pebbled from volcanic rocks), etc.

Aquaculture Cultivation of aquatic organisms such as raising catfish or tilapia in ponds or net-pens in lakes, rivers and bays

Poultry and animal farming They are in enclosures/shelters or rangeland

Agri-based industries Fruit processing – canning juices/codials, jem and jelly, pickled and dehydrated fruits, herbals and health potions Fruit processing – canning juices/codials, jem and jelly, pickled and dehydrated fruits, herbals and health potions Food processing – mills for rice, sugar and spices, packed food such as cereals and canned beverages, katchup, chocolate candies, canned fish, flakes Food processing – mills for rice, sugar and spices, packed food such as cereals and canned beverages, katchup, chocolate candies, canned fish, flakes Animals – poultry, dairy, fish processing (burger, fillet, bottled milk Animals – poultry, dairy, fish processing (burger, fillet, bottled milk Industrials – leather and rubber goods, batik and songket, oleochemicals, biofuel, wood-based products Industrials – leather and rubber goods, batik and songket, oleochemicals, biofuel, wood-based products Cottage industries – food, handicrafts Cottage industries – food, handicrafts