Agriculture

Agriculture Chapters 6 & 7

Agriculture As a primary sourceInputs, processes and outputs of agriculture-an agriculture systemShifting cultivationWet rice cultivationPlantation agricultureHigh technology farming

Agriculture as a primary activity Primary secondary tertiary

Mining logging manufacturing processing services F&B

Subsistence farming: Majority or all of the outputs are consumed within a family

Commercial farming: Majority or all of the outputs are sold in the market.

Inputs, processes and outputs of Agriculture- an agriculture system

PHYSICAL INPUTS-Rainfall-sunlight-relief flat and fertile land)-soil

HUMAN INPUTS-Fertilizer-capital-Farming tools-seeds-labour-pesticides-herbicides

PROCESSES1) Ploughing2) Sowing3) Irrigating4) Fertilizing5) harvesting

OUTPUTS

Cash earned from the sale of farm produce

Shifting cultivation Also know as the “slash and burn farming” Rainforest is cleared and burned Burned area of land are used to plant crops E.g. rice, maize and

tapioca Farmers abandon the land when the soil fertility is diminished It is practiced by tribes in the hilly areas of tropical rainforests They can be found in: - Amazon Basin of South America - the Congo Basin of Africa - the islands and hilly regions of South East Asia - Papua New Guinea

The cycle of shifting cultivation

(a) When a site is selected, The farmers cut down the trees

(b) The farmers burn the woods and weeds to make a small clearing. The ash left on the land is used as a fertilizer

(c) Simple tools are used to prepare the land for cultivation.

(D) After 3 to 4 years, the soil diminishes in fertility

Kantu tribe Lived in the river valleys Built longhouses

1. Headman of the Kantu tribe selects site for household

2. Begin the stage of slashing or burning of the forests [ ashes behind is fertilizers]

3. Grow mainly dry or hill rice and other many other varieties of rice -root crops -long bean - banana -pumpkin -maize -cucumber -kunyit—medicine -tobacco—smoking and poison against crop pests -serai– attract the rice spirit4. 3-4 years later, soil loose fertility and the Kantus will move to another new plot to

repeat the process

Limited damage to the forest ecology Threat of over-exploitation be various groups [ loggers, plantation companies]

Wet Rice Cultivation Practiced in tropical regions South asia Southeast asia South china

Growing of padi on flooded fields in the lowlands of hot and wet regions.

Process sowing seeds nursing seedlings Transplanting Harvesting Thrashing

Physical and human inputs of wet rice cultivation

Physical inputs

- flat land- Abundant sunlight- Heavy rainfall

Human inputs- Buffaloes used for Ploughing - Animal manure - Chemical fertilizers

Rice cultivation in Thailand

- Udon thani had been selected for its favorable area

-Located at the boundary of Thailand and Laos

- no irrigation nor use of fertilizers and pesticides

Plantation Agriculture It is found in countries or areas within the tropics that

experience : -high temperatures -high humidity -heavy rainfall Examples of countries: -Malaysia -Indonesia -Sri Lanka in Asia -Brazil -Colombia in South America

Plantation Agriculture Crop is grown and sold for cash Usually 40 hectares large Examples of cash crops: -rubber -cacao -oil palm -coconut -pineapple -banana -tea -coffee -sugar cane

Inputs, processes and outputsPHYSICAL INPUTS-climatic conditions suitable for crops-large areas of arable land

HUMAN INPUTS-cheap plantation workers

-labour with management skills-high capital-modern and efficient machinery-processing facilities-fertilizers and pesticides-efficient transport infrastructure0research and development

PROCESSES

Cultivating and processing of crops

OUTPUTS

Semi-processed products

PROFIT(PART OF PROFIT)

Plantation in Peninsular Malaysia It is the most important agriculture type Peninsular Malaysia extends from 1.5degreesN to 7degreesN. The hot and wet conditions together with its diverse relief and

its colonial background, favor the development of plantation agriculture

It had continued to flourish and remains as the country’s dominant agriculture activity.

It is found on the foothills and coastal plains of Peninsular Malaysia

Examples of plantation crops in Malaysia Malaysia earned RM28.6 billion from oil palm in 2005 Oil palm and rubber are the most important.

Oil palm In 1971, Malaysia replaced Nigeria as the world’s largest

producer of oil palm. Processes of oil palm: cultivation and processing Cultivation begins at the pre-nursery with selection of

good oil palm seeds: - soak in water for seven days with daily change of

water - put into plastic bags and kept in germinators for about

80 days - placed in pre-nursery for 2 months

- young plants are transplanted to the nursery for a year - transportation young palms to the field during the early

part of the rainy season

High-technology farming It is the use of modern technology including machinery,

robots, computers and even satellites in agriculture Enable farmers to maximize profits and minimize costs

of production Can be applied to agriculture of different types and

different scales

Agro-chemicals Chemical fertilizers are used to increase farm output per

unit of land. However, chemical fertilizers have negative effect. Pesticides kill pests Weedicides prevent the growth of unwanted plants,

leaving more nutrients for the plant

Irrigation Crops may die if there is insufficient water during a dry

season Productivity will be raised: if irrigation is provided for

second harvest Modern sprinklers are designed to apply the right

amounts of water to the crops This method prevents over-irrigation which depletes

water and leads to soil leeching when soil nutrients are washed away into the ground water

Farm machinery Raise the efficiency of various farming processes Solve the problem of labour shortage Machines replace human labour In farming processes

such as ploughing, sowing and harvesting of crops, even for milking of cows

Trucks used to send he meat or milk to markets are refrigerated to keep the product fresh.

Greater care for poultry and livestock Computers are used to calculate the right amounts of

nutrients that the poultry requires to grow quickly and healthily.

This raises production and results in quality meat, milk and eggs

Farm animals are vaccinated to prevent disease

Improved breeds and seeds Advancements in biotechnology results in healthier

breeds of poultry, livestock and crop Examples: hens and ducks lay more egg, sheep

produces good quality wool Many DCs now utilize technology to increase farm

productivity. Greenhouses trap heat from sunlight through the glass

roofs and walls to help the crop grow

High-technology farming in Singapore High technology farming is essential for small country

like singapore as most land are devoted to urban development.

With scarcity of land, singapore farmers cannot meet with the local demand for food

It is risky to rely solely on imports to meet local demand for food as it makes singapore vulnerable to sudden price increases in food imports or a sudden reduction in supply

Characteristic of high technology farming in singapore The cost of each high-technology farm can vary between

$60 000 to $15 million, depending on the size and types practiced

Most of the capital is invested in machines, technology and research and development to improve the quality and quantity of the output

A highly specialized labour force is needed to keep up with research and development of the output

The high technology farms need to employ laboratory technicians to engage in Research and development to maintain the quality of the products and their competitiveness in the market

Inputs, processes and outputsPHYSICAL INPUTS-sunlight/shade-landHUMAN INPUTS-capital in the range of a few

million dollars -seedlings-nutrient solution-inorganic chemicals -specialized equipment:

computers-Laboratory technicians-technology-rent for farm-research and development

PROCESSES

-Germinating seeds in a dark room

-transplanting to growing trough

-adding nutrient solution to growing troughs using computers (hydroponics)

-spraying nutrient solution to roots (aeroponics)

-monitoring plant growth using computers

-harvesting (manually)

-packaging and refrigerated transport

OUTPUTS

-local leafy vegetables(bayam, caixin and kang kong)

-Temperate and subtropical vegetables, such as butterhead lettuce and Hong Kong kai lan

- Dwarf cabbage

DONE BY: Agnes (1) Rachel lee (13) Jingyi (20) JJ (30)

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