Food Production Flashcards
1
Q
what is arable farming
A
the cultivation of crops e.g. wheat farming
2
Q
what is pastoral farming
A
rearing livestock e.g. beef
3
Q
what is commercial farming
A
growing crops or rearing livestock to sell for profit
4
Q
what is subsistence farming
A
growing crops or rearing livestock to feed the farmer and their family
5
Q
what is extensive farming
A
a farm with low inputs or yields per hectare
6
Q
what is intensive farming
A
a farm with high inputs or yields per hectare
7
Q
what is nomadic farming
A
farmers move seasonally with livestock to different areas
8
Q
what is sedentary farming
A
the same area of land is farming year after year
9
Q
6 physical factors influencing type of agriculture
A
- temperature - optimum temperature for crop growth
- growing season - the length of growing season affects the type of crop grown e.g. barley needs about 90 days from sowing to harvest
- precipitation - water is required for crops to thrive
- relief and slope aspect - the altitude of the land affects temperature and the steepness affects the suitability for crops. different crops may be grown on south-facing slopes which get more sunshine and are warmer
- soil type and fertility - crops need deeper, more fertile soil
- drainage - for most crops to grow the land needs to be well drained so that roots do not get waterlogged
10
Q
6 human factors affecting agriculture
A
- tradition - many farms simply grow the crops or raise the livestock that have been on the farm for generations
- subsidies - farmers may change crops or livestock depending on the money available from the government
- transport - the cost of transporting the product may affect what is produced
- farm size - larger farms can afford more in terms of feed, fertiliser and machinery
- market demand - the changing demand for produce. increased demand for meat may affect the choice of what is produced
- capital - the amount of money a farmer has to invest
11
Q
3 physical inputs to farms
A
- climate
- soil
- relief
12
Q
5 human inputs to farms
A
- subsidies
- machinery
- labour
- pesticides/fertiliser
- seeds
13
Q
8 processes in farms
A
- ploughing
- milking
- sowing
- shearing
- pest control
- fertilising
- harvesting
- feeding
14
Q
8 outputs in farms
A
- cereal
- crops
- hay/straw
- milk
- meat
- manure
- eggs
- vegetables
15
Q
5 impacts of farming systems
A
- monocultures reduce diversity because the animals have no access to a wide range of foods
- when nutrient cycling is often dependent on fertilisers added to the soil, this may be natural (manure) or artificial fertilisers
- when the ecosystem is modified with inputs of seed, fertiliser, pesticides, herbicides and the use of machines
- where food webs are reduced
- reducing the amount of biomass
16
Q
5 natural causes of food shortage
A
- flooding- crops cannot cope with being waterlogged
- causes the death of livestock - drought and unreliable rainfall. this can reduce crop yields significantly
- disease - reduce yields, result in livestock deaths/culling e.g. swine flu
- pests - locusts can wipe out entire fields of crops in a matter of hours
- tropical cyclones - heavy rainfall and strong winds which can destroy large areas of crops
17
Q
7 human causes of food shortage
A
- war and conflict - people are unable to farm due to the conflict. war also disrupts the supply and movement of food supplies
- rising food prices - people cannot afford the food that they need
- human-induced global warming - this leads to changing weather patterns, increased temperatures and rising sea levels
- lack of investment - many LEDCs have poor transport systems which means that transporting food and livestock is difficult
- corruption- investment in rural areas and agriculture does not happen due to corrupt politicians taking the money
- rapid population increase - the food available has to be shared between more people, decreasing the amount that people have
- soil erosion and desertification - overgrazing and over-cultivation lead to a loss of soil fertility so plants won’t grow, or yields decrease
18
Q
6 impacts of food shortage
A
- malnutrition
- rising food prices
- underdevelopment - loss of productivity
- soil erosion and desertification
- social unrest
- migration
19
Q
8 solutions to food shortage
A
- appropriate technology
- educated farmers
- green revolution
- GM crops
- food aid
- fertilisers/pesticides
- mechanisation
- irrigation
20
Q
5 causes of food shortage in Somalia
A
- Al Shabaab - terrorist group in Somalia mean aid can’t get to certain areas and they use food as a weapon to control and recruit
- suffering from a two year drought
- already existing levels of malnutrition
- drought kills livestock and agriculture (90% animal mortality in some areas
- lack of action from the government - $1 billion required, less than $200 million raised
21
Q
7 impacts of food shortage in Somalia
A
- 2/3 of those displaced dont have access to clean water
- 4 million suffering from hunger and malnutrition
- death by starvation
- loss of livestock and crops
- high inflation of food prices, which many can’t afford
- poverty, leading to physical and mental health issues
- migration across the border into Ethiopia
22
Q
Bangladesh case study: 6 inputs
A
- rich alluvial soils full of nutrients due to annual flooding of river ganges
- manure from water buffalo adds fertility
- large population–> high labour input
- land to grow and relief
- climate - plenty of rain and high temperatures
- water availability
23
Q
bangladesh case study: 5 processes
A
- rice initially grown in nurseries, then transported as soon as monsoon rains flood fields
- animals used for ploughing instead of machinery
- fish added to padi to add protein to diet and fruit trees
- low walls built to keep water in the padi fields
- sowing, weeding, planting, harvesting
24
Q
bangladesh case study: 6 outputs
A
- During the dry season, when there is often insufficient water for rice, either vegetation’s or a cereal crop is grown.
- farmers grow vegetables on small land plot
- rice
- money from selling
- family consumption
- new investments in irrigation
