Kerala (Developing Country Study)

Question 1

What does the term ‘subsistence farming’ mean?

Answer 1

Farmers only grow food for their families.

Question 2

What are the farms in Kerala like?

Answer 2

Very intensive- they are small (3 hectares) but every hectare of rice needs 2000 hours of work every year. Fields are separate, narrow strips of land. The whole family is involved as there are few other jobs.

Question 3

Why do the farms require so much manual work?

Answer 3

Farmers are able to have two harvests each year and only have low-tech equipment because they cannot afford to upgrade.

Question 4

What is the economy like in Kerala?

Answer 4

Very subsistent- some crops are sold after a good harvest.

Question 5

What is the livestock like in Kerala?

Answer 5

Animals are used for their power. Bullocks, buffalo, and goats are used for meat and milk, and cows are used for milk also.

Question 6

What is the farming equipment like in Kerala?

Answer 6

Low-tech, e.g- handmade tools wooden ploughs and manure for fertiliser.

Question 7

What is the woodland like in Kerala?

Answer 7

There are many tree crops in farming areas as well as much woodland in hills.

Question 8

What are the settlements like in Kerala?

Answer 8

There are many small villages and a high population density.

Question 9

What is the water supply like in Kerala?

Answer 9

Channels are dug from rivers to fields in the rainy season. There are also wells.

Question 10

What is the climate like in Kerala?

Answer 10

It is usually very hot with temperatures always staying 25 degrees and above. The highest rainfall is in Summer reaching it’s peak in July at 1000mm.

Question 11

How is the soil on these farms kept fertile?

Answer 11

By using natural products.

Question 12

Why are the hillsides on these farms terraced?

Answer 12

To maximise the amount of space available for crops.

Question 13

How is the economy in Kerala changing?

Answer 13

Life is becoming more commercialised with farmers growing cash crops such as flowers and vegetables.

Question 14

How are farms in Kerala changing?

Answer 14

The average farm size is now 2 hectares with the maximum size being 10 hectares.

Question 15

How are crops changing in Kerala?

Answer 15

There is less rice, fewer cashew nut trees, more rubber coconut, jatropha and banana trees and flowers.

Question 16

How is the livestock in Kerala changing?

Answer 16

There is fewer draught animals as well as fewer cattle and goats.

Question 17

How is the equipment in Kerala changing?

Answer 17

Farms are getting some machinery, as well as greenhouses (polytunnels) and agrochemicals.

Question 18

How is the labour on farms in Kerala changing?

Answer 18

The wages are much higher and there is more work in towns and fewer on farms.

Question 19

How is the woodland changing?

Answer 19

Deforestation in hills.

Question 20

How are settlements changing?

Answer 20

Settlements are larger and there are some new houses in the countryside.

Question 21

How is the environment changing?

Answer 21

Soil erosion in the hills means poorer soil. There is also more pollution from quarries as well as water pollution from chemicals.

Question 22

How has large-scale irrigation improved farming in Kerala?

Answer 22

Putting dams across rivers creates reservoirs which give a reliable water supply all year. Farmers can now grow many crops and can have two or three harvests per year.

Question 23

How have greenhouses improved farming in Kerala?

Answer 23

Theses are mostly polythene tunnels. They allow the farmer to control the climate so plants can grow at any time. They also allow more types of plants to grow and farmers can have many harvests per year.

Question 24

How have agro-chemicals improved farming in Kerala?

Answer 24

Artificial fertilisers help crops to grow better and pesticides, fungicides and other chemicals kill pests and diseases. Crops then produce higher yields but more and more chemicals need to be applied to make the soil fertile again.

Question 25

How have biogas plants improved farming in Kerala?

Answer 25

Biogas plants help convert animal manure and human sewage into gas which is then used for heating and lighting in the home. They are cheap to buy.

Question 26

What is diversification?

Answer 26

When farms change from the old traditional ways to new ways of farming.

Question 27

Why have farmers started commercial farming?

Answer 27

Possibly the most useful farming development has been the increase in properly surfaced roads throughout Kerala. This has allowed farmers to sell their produce.

Question 28

Why are more high-priced crops grown?

Answer 28

There are more hotels needing them as well as more people in Kerala with the money to buy food. There are also more greenhouses available in which to grow them.

Question 29

Why is less rice grown now?

Answer 29

It is too costly to grow because it needs extra casual labour and wages are much higher now. Also needs more and more chemicals to grow well. If farmers sell the rice the price is too low because so much cheap rice is imported such as subsidised rice from the USA.

Question 30

Why is less organic farming taking place?

Answer 30

More agrochemicals are now available and more farmers have money to buy them.