Unit 3 primary sector

Unit 3Arable and livestock farming,

fishing and silviculture

Factors that influence arable farming

Human fators

• Increase in population: requires greater production and more arable land.

• Agricultural policies: Whether national or international, contribute to agricultural development.

• Farming techniques: Subsistence o commercial agriculture.

Physical factors

• Geographical factors: Climate, relief, soil…

Agricultural landscapes I• Types of settlement:

Concentrated rural settlement Scattered rural settlement

Agricultural landscapes II• Plot characteristics depends on:

• Size: Small or large

• Shape: Regular or irregular

• Boundaries: Enclosed or open

Open field: Large holding, regular plot, without boundaries.

Enclosed fields: small and irregular plots separated by hedges.

Agricultural landscapes III• Cultivation systems:

Polyculture Monoculture

• Irrigation systems:

Agricultural landscapes III

Irrigated farming Rainfed farming

Agricultural landscapes III

• Land use:

Intensive Extensive

Subsistence agriculture vs. commercial agriculture

Slash and burn cultivation

Irrigated rice farming

Extensive dryland farming

Subsistence Agriculture

Extensive cereal farming

Plantation agriculture

Mediterranean Agriculture

Commercial Agriculture

Livestock farming

• Traditional• Local consumption

• Complements arable farming

• Small flocks

• Includes nomadism

Commercial livestock farming:Intensive Extensive

- Aims to make the highest possible profit

- Highly mechanised

- Produces for national and international market

Forestry• Silviculture: Cultivation of forests for exploitation in a sustainable way.

• Timber production for:• Construction

• Furniture

• Cellulose

• Primary energy source:• Cooking

• Heating

• Lighting

Forestry

Less developed areas

• Complement to agriculture

Developed areas• Fine cuisine

• Source of food:

The primary sector in Spain I: Farms• Latifundia:

• Large holdings. More than 100 hectares.

• Extensive agriculture

• Mechanised farming.

• Areas: Castilla La Mancha, Extremadura, Andalucía.

• Medium-sized farms:

• Around 30 hectares

• Tend to be family owned

• Oriented towards high quality products

• Areas: Sub-Meseta Norte, and Mediterranean coast

• Agricultural smallholdings:

• Less than 10 hectares

• Intensive and polyculture

• Areas: Northern half of Spain and archipielagos.

The primary sector in Spain II: Agriculture

• Rainfed crops:• Cultivation: Wheat, vines and olive trees.

• Areas:• Central Spain: Wheat

• Atlantic and Mediterranean regions: Vines

• Andalusia, Ciudad Real and Badajoz: Olives

• Irrigated crops:• Cultivation: Citrus, Pome fruits, stone fruits and garden vegetables.

• Areas:• Mediterranean region

• Almeria’s greenhouses

• Guadalquivir valley

The primary sector in Spain III: Livestock

• 2nd country in EU in livestock farming and production.

• Types:• Cattle: For meat and milk.

• Sheep: For meat and meal. Wool production is residual.

• Pigs: For meat.

• Poultry: Meat and eggs. Highly industrialised with high yields.

Livestock farming areas

The primary sector in Spain IV: Fishing• Spanish fishing Industry is one of the biggest of

the EU.

• Overfishing has caused the depletion of many species.

• Fishing regions:• North west: Galician coast has the largest volume of

fishing. Port of Vigo is the most important fishing port of Spain.

• Cantabrian region: Asturias, Cantabria and Basque Country. Important ports of Bermeo, San Sebastian and Gijón.

• Mediterranean: Stand out the ports of Almería, Castellón, Tarragona y Roses (Girona)

• South Atlantic: Coast of Huelva and Cádiz. Valuable species like lobsters and prawns from African coasts.

• Canary Islands: Las Palmas and Arrecife are the most important ports. Deep sea fishing from African coasts.

The primary sector in Spain V: Forestry• Areas:

• Cantabrian coast and mountainous regions Eucalyptus for cellulose and pine for wood and resin.

• Extremadura and west Andalusia: Cork. Spain is the second largest producer of cork in the world.