Food and Resources KQ2 (Factors affecting intensity of food production)

Question 1

Ways to improve crop production

Answer 1

1) Better Information
2) Better Seeds
3) Better Tools
4) Better Storage

Question 2

Food production Chain

Answer 2

1) Producers
2) Processing and packaging
3) Distribution network
4) Retailers
5) Consumers

Question 3

Factors affecting intensity of food production

Answer 3

> Physical

1) Relief
2) Soils and drainage
3) Climate

> Economic

1) Purpose of farming
2) Demand and capital
3) Agribusiness

> Political

1) Government policy
2) ASEAN

> Technological advances
1) Green Rev

Question 4

Physical: Climate

Answer 4

Def: Avg. condition of atmosphere of specific place over long period of time

1) Temperature
- Affects rates of photosynthesis & germination
- <5c difficult to grow crops
- Different crops require different temp for growth

2) Rainfall
- Amount needed differs for all crops

• High temp + High rainfall usually more conducive for plant growth
• Results in longer growing seasons (more harvests per year)
• Topics: 22-32c, >2,000mm rainfall annually

-Places with long winters, food production only occurs during warmer seasons

Question 5

Crops dependant on climate examples

Answer 5

Potato / 18-20c / 500-700mm

Rice / 20-30c / 1500-2500mm

Wheat / 15-20c / 450-650mm

Question 6

Greenhouses (Climate control)

Answer 6

• Creates optimal conditions for plant growth
• Overcome short growing seasons (able to cultivate all-year-round)
• Controls temp, light, irrigation
• Multiple harvests per year
• Increases crop yield, increases productivity

Question 7

Sheltered Farms (Climate control)

Answer 7

• Provides livestock optimal environment to live
• Protects livestock from harsh weather and diseases
• Prevents stress which reduces livestocks immunity and productivity

e. g. Stress = more likely to suffer from infections/fall sick and die
e. g. Wet conditions = fungal infections/parasitical diseases

Question 8

Physical: Soils and drainage

Answer 8

• Soil: Top layer of earths surface
• Rocks, minerals, organic matter
• Soil fertility: availability of air, water and nutrients from minerals
• Fertile soil rich in minerals, found near volcanos/floodplains
• Soil Drainage: ability of soil to retain/drain water
• Poor drainage hinders plant growth

Question 9

Soils and drainage examples

Answer 9

e. g. Mekong river delta (Vietnam)
- Accumulates minerals from upstream (high fertility)
- Flat terrain and frequently flooded
- Very high production of rice crops

• Oats require more drainage, sandy soils
• Rice needs more water, clay-y soils

Question 10

Physical: Relief

Answer 10

• Relief = Slope + Altitude of land surface

1) Steep Relief
A: well-drained, suitable for certain crops
L: Topsoil less stable, washed down when saturated

2) Altitude
- Higher alt, cooler temp
- Cooler temp may be suitable for certain crops i.e. strawberries

3) Terracing
- Steep mountainous regions modified by cutting steps into hillside to create flat land
- Previously unsuitable slopes now able to grow crops

Question 11

Terracing examples

Answer 11

Terracing
e.g. Cameron Highlands, tea plantations, Malaysia

e.g. Longji Rice terraces, China

Question 12

Economic: Purpose of farming

Answer 12

> Commerical

1) Large scale, for sale
2) Greater level of productivity and production
3) Plots bigger
4) Skilled labour
5) Machinery
6) Chemicals

> Subsistence

1) For own consumption
2) Productivity and crop yield is low
3) Simple tools
4) Reused seeds
5) Smaller plots of land
6) Not efficient, educated and effective

Question 13

Subsistence and commercial farming examples

Answer 13

Commerical
- Corn in USA

Subsistence
- Staple crops like cassava in SSA

Question 14

Economic: Demand and capital

Answer 14

> Demand: Willingness to obtain a product

• Affects intensity of production
• Changes according to taste and preference of consumers
• Higher demand = farmers increase productions = increased profits

> Capital: Wealth in form of money or other assets
- Determines whether demand can be met

Question 15

Demand and capital case study: Corn

Answer 15

1) China (Emerging economy), increased disposable income per capita (capital)
2) Demand for meat by wealthier population increases (Demand)
3) Corn needed to raise livestock increase (supply), local production of corn not able to meet demand (demand)
4) China imports corn from other nations like USA (supply, demand and capital)
5) USA increases production of corn to export (demand)
6) China able to rear more livestock to meet demand

Question 16

Economic: Agribusiness

Answer 16

Def: Businesses/ industries involved in large scale food production
- Place importance on scientific and business principles in farming (i.e. investing in R&D for = crop yield)

• Larger companies more able to withstand impacts on crops
• Greater financial capacity to absorb losses

Question 17

Agribusiness examples

Answer 17

e. g. Dole Food company, California
- Generates food and vegetables in huge amounts, selling them worldwide
- Bananas sourced from Philipines, Central/South Americas

Question 18

Political: Governmental policies

Answer 18

Def: Plan of action by govt to change a specific situation

1) Agricultural policies
- Policies for domestic agriculture
- Govt decides how much resources to allocate to agri.
- More resources in agri = intensify food production

2) Food policies
- Decision to manage food production
- Food security through stockpiling and diversifying food supply
- Stable food supply = readily available for population

Question 19

Agricultural policy example

Answer 19

Educating farmers on efficient ways to farm and manage crops
- Invest money to educate and provide technology

e. g. Punjab Agricultural Department, India
- Taught farmers about best available seed varieties, pesticide treatments and irrigation methods
- Greater productivity
- Increased skilled labour

Question 20

What is food security?

Answer 20

When all people in an area are able to obtain sufficient quantities of safe and nutritious foods to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle

Question 21

Food policies and examples

Answer 21

1) Stockpiling
- Setting aside food for emergencies
- Sourced locally/imported
- Prevents extreme price volatility

2) Importing food from different sources
- Diversify sources of food
- More suppliers = buffer against food shortages and price fluctuations during food shortage

e.g. Past: SG sourced veg only from Malaysia
Present: SG source veg from USA, China, Australia etc

3) Contracts and agreements
- Encourage direct contracts with farmers
- Agree amount and price of food products before hand
- Prevents inflation of food prices

e. g. NTUC Fairprice Co-operative LTD
- Agreements with Indonesian farmers

Question 22

Political: ASEAN (Association of SEA Nations) and examples

Answer 22

• ASEAN: Aims to 1) accelerate regions economic growth, 2) Increase social progress, 3) Foster cultural development 4) Protect regional peace and stability

1) ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserves (APTERR)
- October 2011,
- Big rice producers supply rice for reserves
- Provides rice to countries that sign agreements during shortage

e.g. China- 300,000 tonnes rice,
Thailand- 15,000 tonnes rice
SG - USD$107,500 Funding

2) Thailand
- Agreement with Cambodia to intensify rice production
- Aid other countries to increase rice production

Question 23

Technological advances: Green Revolution

Answer 23

• Def: Rapid increase in productivity of agri. through use of science and technology (Since 1960s)

1) HYVs
- X-breeding to obtain favourable characteristics = increased yield (i.e. shorter growing season, pest resistant)
- Usually require more water and nutrients to accelerate growth

2) Fertilisers
- Substance added to soil to provide nutrients
- Continuous farming = no time to fallow = nutrients depleted
- Low fertility, decreased crop yield
- Fertilisers provide nutrients for increased crop yield

3) Pesticides
- Chemical substance to kill insects and small animals that destroy crops
- Fights high levels of pest damage when single type of crop is grown
- Decreased pest damage = Increased crop yield

4) Herbicides
- Chemical substance to kill weed and undesirable plants that compete for nutrients and other resources
- Preserves nutrients and land for crops
- Increases crop yield

5) Irrigation
- Method of supplying water to the land other than by natural means
- Supplying water to dry places increases amount of arable land

• Flood irrigaton: Water delivered to whole surface
• Centre- Pivot irrigation: Rotating Overhead sprinklers producing circular water patterns covering large areas with small amounts of water.

6) Mechanisation
- Advanced machinery used to perform tasks
- Sped up process of sowing, tending and harvesting

e.g. Combined harvesters reduce reliance on human labour

Question 24

Green rev examples: HYV

Answer 24

1) Wonder rice
- Growing season of 100 days vs 120 days

2) India (1960s-2010s)
- IR8 rice enabled farmers to produce 2x more grain
- Saved India from 1960s famine
- 1990s, 70% of rice and wheat grown is HYV
- 1970-2010s, Rice 2x prod. Wheat 4x prod.

Question 25

Green rev examples: Irrigation

Answer 25

1) Lybia, North Africa
- Greatest man-made river
- Underground pipes, canals, wells, reservoirs and tunnels draw water from underground aquifers in Sahara Desert for agricultural, domestic and industrial uses