Farming

Question 1

what is the main type of farming in the Ganges Delta

Answer 1

Intensive rice production

Question 2

Describe the location of the lower Ganges delta

Answer 2

The delta region of the Ganges occupies a large area of Bangladesh as well as West Bengal and southern Sri Lanka

Question 3

Why is it good that rice is very labour intensive in Bangladesh?

Answer 3

high density population with high unemployment and underemployment

Question 4

Describe the temperatures through out the year

Answer 4

small temperature range, about 8˚C. Temperatures of 21˚C and over throughout the year

Question 5

Why are the temperatures favourable for rice production?

Answer 5

it allows two crops to be grown annually (rice needs a growing season of only 100 days)

Question 6

There are two distinct seasons of rainfall. Explain when these are and how much rainfall.

Answer 6

Monsoon rainfall from May to October is over 2000mm. August is the month with peak rainfall reaching about 300mm, while December has the lowest with about 5mm. Dry period Nov to April.

Question 7

What do farmers do during high rainfall periods

Answer 7

flood the fields and plant rice

Question 8

why is the dry period from Nov to April important?

Answer 8

For harvesting

Question 9

The flooding of the Ganges provides water to flood the fields. What else does it provide?

Answer 9

rich alluvial soil

Question 10

Why are the plots so small in Bangladesh

Answer 10

they are divided up between relatives when a land owner dies so they get increasing smaller

Question 11

how many months is the growing season

Answer 11

5 months

Question 12

Give 4 physical inputs for the farming system of rice

Answer 12

monsoon rain of over 200mm, flat land for flooding, temperatures over 21 degrees, alluvial soils-nutrients and impermeable layer for rice paddies, dry period for harvesting

Question 13

Give 3 human inputs or non physical

Answer 13

large labour force, rice seeds, manure from water buffaloes and water buffaloes for ploughing

Question 14

Name 5 processes for rice production

Answer 14

ploughing, planting, threshing, weeding, constructing bunds and canals

Question 15

name the 2 outputs

Answer 15

rice and rice seeds

Question 16

how much water does it take to produce 1kg of rice

Answer 16

5000litres so very water intensive

Question 17

where is rice grown first before it is transferred into the paddy fields

Answer 17

nurseries

Question 18

when is the second rice crop planted

Answer 18

November

Question 19

explain two issues that face these rice farmers in Bangladesh

Answer 19

1. Land tenure- many farmers are tenants and pay for the use of the land by giving a share of their crop to the landlord.
   2.Shortage of land and many plots are too small to support a farmer and his family and may be spread over a wide area which is inefficient. Coupled with a high population growth, this has led to food shortages.
2. Wastage of nutrients especially nitrogen in irrigated and wetland cultivation due to inefficient use of fertilisers.
3. Drought- When monsoon rains fail then the farmer is forced to seek off-farm employment.
4. Floods provide water and silt for the rice to grow but severe floods destroys the crop.
5. Environmental- continual flooding of paddies account for 25% of methane released into the atmosphere.
6. Stagnation in productivity and declining soil fertility

Question 20

Why was the green revolution started in the 1950s?

Answer 20

to increase yields

Question 21

what was the most important change in the green revolution?

Answer 21

High yielding rice varieties eg. IR8 tripled the production of rice in India

Question 22

give two disadvantages of the green revolution

Answer 22

more fertilsers, more pesticides and more water was needed. Mechanisation lead to unemployment. Reliance on foreign companies for seeds. Poor farmers couldnt afford HYVs

Question 23

Why is rice production considered an intensive form of cultivation in Bangladesh?

Answer 23

small plots of lands with very high inputs and labour intensive