Rural Unit Developing countries

Question 1

What are the advantages of biofuels

Answer 1

1. Biofuels create employment opportunities as people are needed to grow and process plants
2. Biofuels are a much cheaper alternative to fossil fuels this means more farmers can afford them to run their machines they are also environmentally friendly
3. Trees do not have to be cut down to provide fuel. This helps to reduce soil erosion as trees bind soil together and keep it in place
4. Using biogas reduces deforestation to find firewood. Biogas also provides a cleaner fuel reducing smoke from open fires and improving living conditions in houses

Question 2

What are the disadvantage of new technology

Answer 2

• Farm machinery is very expensive to purchase and maintain, many people in developing countries cannot afford this
• The use of fertilisers and pesticides cause nearby rivers to be polluted and contaminate local drinking water
• Using new technology means less jobs are required, many people find themselves unemployed and they have to move to a city to find a job which leads to rural depopulation
• Because irrigation channels allow 2 to 3 harvests per year the land is constantly in use so the soil quality becomes poorer over time, making it hard for crops to grow

Question 3

What are the advantages of new technology

Answer 3

1. An AI-backed app called AgriPredict allows farmers to receive information on weather patterns and plant diseases instantly. In the past farmers would have to get an agriculture expert to come and examine their crops to find out what is wrong with them. It could take days for the expert to go to the farmers field. But now the farmer can use the app to find all the information they need in an instant
2. Irrigation tunnels have also been useful as ditches have been dug to store water for use in the dry season. This allows two to three harvests to be grown per year because of a continuous water supply