Human - Rural Flashcards
What does arable mean?
Farming crops as opposed to livestock
What does pastoral mean?
Farming livestock as opposed to crops
What is diversification?
When farmers do other things (e.g. campsites, pick-your-own, and horse riding)
Advantages of diversification?
6 points
- Increase in tourism in rural areas
- Increased income for farmers
- Better quality of life for farmers
- Farmers can afford to recruit more employees
- Money is invested in rural areas to improve local services
- Natural habitats are conserved
Disadvantages of diversification?
(6 points)
- Footpath erosion
- Scenery spoiled by tourist facilities
- Littering
- Traffic congestion causing increased noise and air pollution
- Lakes and rivers used for watersports become polluted
- Drystone walls damaged by people climbing over them
What is modern technology?
- Precision farming
- New machinery
What are advantages of modern technology in developed countries?
(6 points)
Machinery:
* Increased crop yield as work can be done faster
* Increased profit due to increased yield
* Less physical work so fewer farm workers needing to be unemployed
* Fresher crops due to faster harvesting
Irrigation:
* More water so increased yield
* Increased profit due to increased yield
What are disadvantages of modern technology in developed countries?
(5 points)
Machinery:
* Loss of habitats as hedgerows are removed to increase field size and to accommodate large machinery
* Increase in noise pollution and carbon emissions
* Fewer available jobs leading to rural depopulation
* Machines are expensive and repairs can be costly
Irrigation:
* Can lead to drought if not properly managed
What are advantages of chemicals in developed countries?
(3 points)
- Increased crop yield (nutrients increase growth speed) leads to increased profits
- Kills pests
- Weeds take water and nutrients so if the weeds are gone the water and nutrients can go to the crops
What are disadvantages of chemicals in developed countries?
(5 points)
- Natural nutrients in the soil are reduced due to unnatural chemicals
- Pesticides can accumulate in predators
- Pesticides can kill pollinators
- Excess use of the wrong type of fertiliser can cause algal blooms
- Chemicals can affect farmer’s health
What are advantages of organic farming in developed countries?
(4 points)
- Food is grown without chemicals and so is more natural
- Decreased pollution due to lack of chemical run-off
- People want organic food
- Higher price potentially increasing farmer’s income
What are disadvantages of organic farming in developed countries?
(5 points)
- More labour intensive than regular farming
- Productivity is lower, potentially leading to reduced profits
- More expensive to consumer
- Organic grops won’t satisy the global rising need for food
- No GM crops
What are advantages of chemicals in developing countries?
(3 points)
- Fertilisers increase crop yield
- More food available for the people
- More food grown on an area of land, increasing farmer’s profits
What are disadvantages of chemicals in developing countries?
(3 points)
- Buying fertiliser increases operating cost
- Runoff can pollute water sources
- Animals poisoned by chemicals in water
What are advantages of HYV (High Yield Variety) GM crops in developing countries?
(3 points)
- Crop yield increased causing decrease in famine
- HYV crops are shorter and so can withstand strong winds and heavy rain
- More food grown on an area of land, increasing farmer’s profits
