Unit 4.2 Commercial Farming

Question 1

What is MDG 1 ?

Answer 1

To eradicate poverty and hunger

Question 2

Define food security

Answer 2

The situation where a country can produce enough food to feed its own population.

Question 3

What is the main subsistence crop of China, India & SE Asia?

Answer 3

Rice

Question 4

Explain why a shift from subsistence farming to commercial farming is needed to feed the world’s population.

Answer 4

1. The world’s population is growing.

2. Subsistence farming cannot supply adequate nutrition to millions of urban dwellers.

Question 5

What is a paddy field?

Answer 5

A place for growing rice, often found tiered on hillsides.

Question 6

Why might it be difficult to increase the growing area for crops such as rice?

Answer 6

There are other demands on land use, water and labour from housing and other commercial crops.

Question 7

What is selective breeding?

Answer 7

Picking out the crops with the best characteristics (or animals) to breed with one another. E.g the tallest plants or one’s with the most fruit. The strongest cattle or one’s with the most meat.

Question 8

What is meant by a MUTATION

Answer 8

Change in a living thing that produces a different variety.

Question 9

What does the acronym HYV stand for?

Answer 9

High Yield Variety

Question 10

What was THE GREEN REVOLUTION?

Answer 10

A development in the 1960’s where crops were selectively bred to achieve the most grain production.. This helped reduce malnutrition and child mortality.

Question 11

List 4 problems with the green revolution

Answer 11

1. Difficulty in getting farmers to adopt new techniques.
2. Higher costs for farmers
3. Increased use of fertilisers & pesticides caused environmental problems
4. Fewer varieties of rice were grown which meant they could be wiped out by pests.

Question 12

Explain the process by which fertilisers used on land can cause fish to die

Answer 12

1. Fertilisers are washed off the land into water bodies
2. More algae grows
3. Algae blocks out sunlight
4. This prevents the growth of other plants
5. Algae dies & decomposes which uses up oxygen in the water.
6. Fish die

Question 13

How can pesticides be damaging for the environment?

Answer 13

Pesticides kill insects (pests & also harmless insects) this removes them from the food chain and so other animals have little food.
They can also kill bees which are needed for pollinating plants.

Question 14

How can governments ensure that the yield that farmers get from their crops is as bug as researchers suggest it could be.

Answer 14

1. Promote research into varieties suitable for different conditions in different parts of the country.
2. Provide government advisers to introduce techniques to farmers.

Question 15

What are GENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM) CROPS?

Answer 15

Scientists select particular genes from one crop and use these to create new crops with chosen characteristics.

Question 16

List 5 arguments IN FAVOUR of GM crops

Answer 16

1. They are the only way to feed a growing population
2. The genes being transferred are all natural and safe for humans.
3. The use of pesticides and herbicides will be reduced
4. GM crops that need less water can provide food in dry areas
5. The method used is not that different from traditional breeding
6. GM crops could be bread with better storage quality
7. There is a possibility to increase nutrient levels and remove allergens.
8. Biofuels based on GM crops could replace fossil fuels

Question 17

List 5 arguments AGAINST GM crops

Answer 17

1. Insect resistant plants may harm insects that are beneficial to plants eg bees
2. New varieties might breed with native varieties producing unknown effects.
3. Effects on biodiversity may not be known for years.
4. Once a GM variety is released there is no way to stop it spreading to wild populations
5. People may not want to eat GM crops
6. Organic farmers are worried about cross-pollination

Question 18

Name the two main producers of Cocoa

Answer 18

Cote D’Ivoire & Ghana

Question 19

What is meant by ‘SLASH AND BURN’?

Answer 19

A method of clearing forests by felling and burning the vegetation before sowing seeds

Question 20

What are the main features of a ‘vicious cycle of deforestation’?

Answer 20

1. Deforestation
2. Soil degradation
3. Decline in yields
4. Decline in income
5. Need to clear more forest
6. Deforestation………

Question 21

What does SAN stand for?

Answer 21

Sustainable Agricultural Network

Question 22

What is the acronym RFA?

Answer 22

Rainforest Alliance

Question 23

List the 4 standards set by the SAN

Answer 23

1. Conservation of ecosystems
2. Reduction of water use
3. good conditions for workers
4. Emphasis on the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle)

Question 24

What are the benefits to a farmer adopting the SAN standards?

Answer 24

1. They become SAN certified

2. They can receive a higher price for their cocoa

Question 25

What is a ‘premium’ to a farmer?

Answer 25

A payment above the ordinary price

Question 26

sustainable cocoa growing involves planting trees WITHIN a carefully thinned forest. Name 3 benefits of this

Answer 26

1. Tree roots reduce soil erosion
2, Rotting leaves enrich the soil
3. Trees keep soil moist
4. Nut and fruit trees provide shade for cocoa trees
5. Trees provide income and food

Question 27

List 3 benefits of extending the area of cocoa production under sustainable management

Answer 27

1. Improve income for rural areas
2. Supply the cocoa industry with a sustainable product
3. Increase biodiversity

Question 28

What is meant by organic crops?

Answer 28

No artificial fertilisers, herbicides or pesticides are used.
Instead natural compost, manual hoeing, mulching and crop rotation are favoured.