Economic Geography: Farming

Agriculture A system of growing crops and raising animals which involves soil conservation and sustainable irrigation. In simple terms, also known as farming. Other types of ‘cultures’-silviculture; pisciculture; viticulture; sericulture;aquaculture

Farming As A System

Inputs Any farm can be viewed as a system, with inputs, throughputs (or processes), outputs and feedback. Inputs can be divided into two groups. Physical inputs are naturally occurring things such as water, raw materials and the land. Human or Cultural Inputs are things like money, labour, and skills.

Processes And Outputs Processes or Throughputs are the actions within the farm that allow the inputs to turn into outputs. Processes could include things such as milking, harvesting and shearing. Outputs can be negative or positive, although they are usually the latter. Negative outputs include waste products and soil erosion. The positive outputs are the finished products, such as meat, milk and eggs, and the money gained from the sale of those products.

Feedback Feedback is what is put back into the system. The main two examples of this are money, from the sale of the outputs, and knowledge, gained from the whole manufacturing process. This knowledge could then be used to make the product better or improve the efficiency of the processes.

Types of Farming Arable- growing crops Pastoral- rearing animals

Mixed farming

These three types can be-  Subsistence (Intensive/extensive)- slash and burn also known as Jhooming  Commercial (intensive/extensive)  Shifting  Sedentary  Plantations- Monoculture  Livestock/ranching  Nomadic Done either on Small scale or large scale

Sustainable agriculture Maximizing the carrying capacity of land (yield) with the use of correct irrigation techniques to ensure soil conservation Some possible ways- Organic farming Crop rotation Irrigation techniques like- drip/sprinkler etc. Fallow land Limited use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides- use of natural manure

Green Revolution The introduction of modern western style farming techniques in LEDCs during the late 1960's and 1970's. Norman Borlaug- 1940’s researched on wheat Supported by Rockefeller and Ford foundations- a lot of work done on varieties of rice- especially in Philippines Introduction of HYVs

Advantages of GR Increased food production- improved food trade Helped solve problem of food shortage Shorter growing period- farmers could grow 2-3 crops in the same duration Consumers had access to different types of crops Some farmers in LEDCs gained financially

Disadvantages of GR Expensive for some farmer- HYVs were not cheap Water intensive Heavily rely on Insecticides and fertilizers increasing chances of euthrophication Not suitable to the local palate as the taste changed Natural varieties lost Foreign dependence increased (tariffs and subsidies became very important) Mechanization increased leading to unemployment

GM crops Vs Organic Crops Genetically modified- so look/production was better but taste is not- though uniform-led to unnecessary growth in size/shape/texture of crops- effects on humans still not known-destruction of native species Organic- grown the natural way- takes longer-more expensive-but healthy food.

Food Shortages as explained by the World Bank working for Poverty alleviation, April 2015 “The world needs to produce at least 50% more food to feed 9 billion people by But climate change could cut crop yields by more than 25%. The land, biodiversity, oceans, forests, and other forms of natural capital are being depleted at unprecedented rates. Unless we change how we grow our food and manage our natural capital, food security—especially for the world’s poorest—will be at risk.”

“Already, high food prices are the new normal. When faced with high food prices, many poor families cope by pulling their children out of school and eating cheaper, less nutritious food, which can have severe life-long effects on the social, physical, and mental well-being of millions of young people. Malnutrition contributes to infant, child, and maternal illness; decreased learning capacity; lower productivity, and higher mortality. One-third of all child deaths globally are attributed to under-nutrition”.

“Investment in agriculture and rural development to boost food production and nutrition is a priority for the World Bank Group, which works through several partnerships to improve food security; from encouraging climate-smart farming techniques and restoring degraded farmland to breeding more resilient and nutritious crops to improving storage and supply chains for reducing food losses.”

Food security The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”. Its 3 pillars are- Food Availability Food Access Food Use

Mal-nourised Badly nourished Under/over Diseases of affluence and Poverty

Food Shortage Videos From feedingninebillion.com

Case studies A country or region suffering from food shortages Any agricultural system

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