PRT 2008 Lecture 6. Basic agricultural resources.

PRT 2008PRT 2008

Lecture 6Lecture 6

Basic agricultural resourcesBasic agricultural resources

ResourcesResources

• WaterWater

• Soil Soil

• AirAir

• Genetic resourcesGenetic resources

AgricultureAgriculture

Crop production, animal Crop production, animal husbandry, aquaculturehusbandry, aquaculture

RequirementRequirement

Plant, animal and fish require Plant, animal and fish require enough water to survive. enough water to survive.

Agriculture expands in areas Agriculture expands in areas where the climate is suitable.where the climate is suitable.

ClimateClimate

It includes water and temperature. It includes water and temperature. Crops and animals survive in area Crops and animals survive in area

where water is available and where water is available and temperature is suitable.temperature is suitable.

TropicalTropical

Water and temperature are high. Water and temperature are high. Plant can grow throughout the Plant can grow throughout the

year. Water is available and year. Water is available and temperature is suitable for temperature is suitable for

agriculture. Here we can have oil agriculture. Here we can have oil palm, rubber, cocoa, aquaculture.palm, rubber, cocoa, aquaculture.

TemperateTemperate

Have summer and winter. Crops Have summer and winter. Crops are usually grown in summer. are usually grown in summer. Wheat and corn are grown in Wheat and corn are grown in

temperate region. But crop can be temperate region. But crop can be produced in greenhouse in winter.produced in greenhouse in winter.

TundraTundra

Very cold areas of the world. Near Very cold areas of the world. Near the poles. Plenty of water. the poles. Plenty of water.

Agriculture is limited by low Agriculture is limited by low temperature.temperature.

DesertDesert

Water is scarce. Temperature is Water is scarce. Temperature is high. Soils contain too much salt. high. Soils contain too much salt. Irrigation is necessary. But desert Irrigation is necessary. But desert

can be turned into good can be turned into good agriculture land if properly agriculture land if properly

managed. Can produce date, managed. Can produce date, orange.orange.

Agricultural productionAgricultural production

Agriculture needs water. Water Agriculture needs water. Water can be obtained via rainfall or can be obtained via rainfall or

irrigation. Without sufficient water, irrigation. Without sufficient water, crops and animals cannot survive. crops and animals cannot survive. Water is needed for germination. Water is needed for germination.

It is also needed for growth.It is also needed for growth.

Cont.Cont.

In the old days people could go to In the old days people could go to war to get water. Agriculture war to get water. Agriculture

thrives in the plains where water thrives in the plains where water is available (Tigris, Nile). These is available (Tigris, Nile). These are the centers of civilization of are the centers of civilization of

the past era.the past era.

MalaysiaMalaysia

Crop pattern depends on water Crop pattern depends on water availability. In the south the availability. In the south the

rainfall is about 3000 mm/year. rainfall is about 3000 mm/year. This is good for oil palm.This is good for oil palm.

Cont.Cont.

In Kedah-Perlis, the rainfall < In Kedah-Perlis, the rainfall < 2000 mm/year. This is good 2000 mm/year. This is good

for rubber and mango. for rubber and mango.

Cont.Cont.

Paddy need a lot of water. Paddy need a lot of water. Most of the time irrigation is Most of the time irrigation is

needed, e.g. MADA, KADA and needed, e.g. MADA, KADA and Tanjung KarangTanjung Karang

Impact of climatic change and Impact of climatic change and pollutionpollution

When climate changes, plants When climate changes, plants and animal change. In other and animal change. In other

words, agriculture depends on words, agriculture depends on climate.climate.

Climatic changeClimatic change

Desertification is for real. Desert Desertification is for real. Desert increases in size. Human is being increases in size. Human is being blamed for this calamity. Areas for blamed for this calamity. Areas for

agriculture then decreases agriculture then decreases (Africa).(Africa).

Cont.Cont.

Global warming. Due to industrialization Global warming. Due to industrialization and excessive use of fossil fuel. and excessive use of fossil fuel.

Greenhouse gas (methane) can be Greenhouse gas (methane) can be produced by agriculture. Temperature produced by agriculture. Temperature

rises. Weather changes. We have rises. Weather changes. We have typhoon and hurricane. Ice in the polar typhoon and hurricane. Ice in the polar regions melt, flooding lowland areas of regions melt, flooding lowland areas of

the world.the world.

Environmental pollutionEnvironmental pollution

Acid rain. Due to industrialization. Acid rain. Due to industrialization. Water from the rain fall contains Water from the rain fall contains acid. These destroy crops and acid. These destroy crops and

animals.animals.

Cont.Cont.

Heavy metal. Phosphate rock Heavy metal. Phosphate rock contains some cadmium. Can contains some cadmium. Can

accumulate in soils and plants. accumulate in soils and plants. This heavy metal is toxic to This heavy metal is toxic to

human being.human being.

Cont.Cont.

Excessive use of pesticides. Excessive use of pesticides. Happens to vegetables in Happens to vegetables in

Cameron Highlands. Bad for Cameron Highlands. Bad for human consumption.human consumption.

Cont.Cont.

Nitrate and nitrite pollution. Happens in Nitrate and nitrite pollution. Happens in areas under intensive agriculture. Not areas under intensive agriculture. Not serious in Malaysia. It does happen in serious in Malaysia. It does happen in The Netherlands. Groundwater in that The Netherlands. Groundwater in that

area is not fit for drinking.area is not fit for drinking.

Human requirementHuman requirement

• Agriculture need workersAgriculture need workers

• The need for labor can be reduced by using The need for labor can be reduced by using machinerymachinery

• In Malaysia, mechanization is limited by the lack of In Malaysia, mechanization is limited by the lack of money. Also due to terrain (sloping land).money. Also due to terrain (sloping land).

• Thus, we have to import labor – loss of foreign Thus, we have to import labor – loss of foreign exchangeexchange

• Agriculture can expand in areas where they are Agriculture can expand in areas where they are heavily populatedheavily populated

• We also need people to work in far distant places We also need people to work in far distant places (plantations in remote areas)(plantations in remote areas)