Factors affecting intensity of
food production and supply
PHYISICAL
CLIMATE: average
condition of the
atmosphere of a
specific plave over a
long period of time,
usually over 30 years.
Temperature: affects rate
of photosynthesis and
seed germination. Fall
below 5 degrees regularly
makes it difficult for
crops to grow.
Temp required for growth
varies: pea, broccolli,
strawberry need cooler
climates. Soya bean,
tomatoes need warmer
Rainfall: varies for different plants
Corn need more water than soy bean
High Temp and rainfall is more conducive.
Tropics allow long growing season(2 or 3
harvest per year) daily temp range
22-32degrees. Average rainfall>2000mm.
USA, CANADA, NETHERLANDS:
Due to short growing season,
greenhouses used because can
control rainfall, temperature
and irrigation so can use
throughout the year.
Cattle and poultry when stressed
by climate more likely to suffer
from infections and produce less
eggs and milk and die. If wet and
moist conditions suffer from
fungal and parasitic diseases.
SOIL AND DRAINAGE
SOIL: top layer of earth surface, made up of
rocks, mineral particles and organic matter.
SOIL FERTILITY: Depends on availability of air, water
and nutrients from minerals in soil. Fertile soil rich
in nutrients needed for plant growth(nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium). Found at floodplains,
along river, deltas, near volcanoes.
MEKONG DELTA, VIETNAM: highly
fertile soils + flat terrain + large water
supply=high production of rice
Soil drainage: ability of soil
to retain or drain of water.
Improper soil drainage
hinder growth of crops
Oats require more sandy soils that
are well-drained. Soils with more
clay and retain large amounts of
water best for rice.
RELIEF: slope and
altitude of a land surface
Terracing: The cutting of
steps into a hillside to
create flat land for
cultivation.
Steep: rain more
likely to remove top
soil(rich in nutrients)
as it becomes less
stable when
saturated with water
and gets washed
down the slope.
Suitable for grapes,
tea, coffee(grow in
well-drained soil)
Altitude:
>altitude,<temperature.
Suitable for cool climate
crops(strawberry)
LAND TENURE:
system agriculture
land is allocated
and supplied.
LDC: Rent land from
landowners. Lack of
security, unsure whether
can keep the land=lack
incentive to make
improvements and care
for land(max. short-term
profit)=land degredation
LAND FRAGMENTATION:
division of land into
many smaller plots over
successive generations
of farmers.
Land becomes very
small=lower crop
yield, unprofitable
to use machines
TIVLAND NIGERIA: Land
fragmentation=smallholder farmers
operate small scattered
farms=insufficient crop produced
despite large amounts of arable
land.
ECONOMIC
PURPOSE
SUBSISTENCE
Purpose: Feed
farmer and family.
Land: Small (1-3h).
Labour: Family.
Capital: Simple
farming tools,
seeds from
previous harvest.
Crop Yield: Low.
Sub-saharan Africa,
grow corn and
cassava
COMMERCIAL
Purpose: cash crops(large
scale production for sale).
Land: Large(30-thousands).
Labour: Hired. Capital:
Machinery. Crop yield: High.
CHINA: >corn needed for livestock
due to increasing demand for meat by
larger, wealthier pop. China >import
from USA etc.=global production of
meat increase, USA increase
production of corn for export to China
TRADE: Import and
export of goods
and services
FREE TRADE:
Form of
international
trade where
trade barriers are
removed(e.g. not
imposing tax on
imports).
+ve: Allow food products more competitively priced.
-ve: Benefit wealthier countries more. LDCs
more dependant on imported food=local food
industry develop less due to competition.
-ve: Trade expansion=large
companies producing
>export crops instead staple
food develop more affecting
food production because
>land for exports(soya bean,
coffee) than staples
SUDAN: land
increasingly
farmed for animal
feed replacing
staple grain
crops(sorghum)
AGRIBUSINESS: Large farming
companies involved imost
industries along food supply
chain(farming, processing, retailing)
Scientific, business principles more importance,
invest research developments of food crops
Withstand changes in environment(damage to
crops due to pests, flooding) vs farmers.
>financial capacity to absorb losses=continue
farming. + more investments in food production
POLITICAL
GOVERNMENT POLICY: Plan of action by govt to change a specific situation
FOOD SECURITY: all people able to obtain
sufficient quantities of safe, nutritious food
to maintain healthy and active lifestyle
AGRICULTURAL POLICY: Pertaining to
domestic and agriculture. Decide how
limited resources(land, $, etc.) influence
intensity of food production. Eg. choose
channel resources into educating farmers
on more efficient ways of farming.
FOOD POLiCY: Decision
made by govt affect how
food produced,
processed, distributed,
purchased and packaged.
STOCKPILING; setting aside and storage of food
ensure food security during emergency.(food
shortage, price increase of food items). Ensure
stable supply, readily available
Diversify food source
by importing from diff.
sources= > countries
buffer food shortage
and price fluctuation
SG: Large portion of veg
from China, USA, etc.
Encourage local companies
place contracts directly
with farmers for agreed
amount of price of food
products. NTUC Fairprice
Co-operative Ltd. purchase
veg through contracts with
Indonesian farmers.
ASEAN
OCT 2011: The ASEAN Plus Three
Emergency Rise Reserve(APTERR)
Agreement commitment for big rice
producers to supply rice for reserve for
disasters. China 300,000 tonnes,
Thailand 15,000, Singapore US$107,500.
2012: Thailand programme to intensify rice
production in SEA. Work with Cambodia
increase efficiency in rice production.
Help 14mil farmers
increase productivity:
assist restructuring
farms > prod.,
subsidies for
produce, import
taxes on food
products from
outside region
2012: wheat yields increased in original
six member states from 3 tonnes per
hectare 62' to 7 tonnes in 08'
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
GREEN REVOLUTION: rapid increase in productivity of agriculture
through science and tech
High-yielding varieties(HYV): improved
strains of crops increased growth rate
Cross-breeding crops favourable
characteristics(>resistance, grow in
shorter growth season= >harvest)
Wonder Rice growing season of 100 days vs 120 days. IR36
maturation period 105 vs 130(previous HYV) vs 150(normal rice)
IR8 twice as much grain. 1990 INDIA: 70% rice and wheat
were HYVs. 1970 to 2010, rice production x2. wheat x4
FERTILISERS: Substances added to soil
provide nutrients for healthy plant growth
Nutrients depleted gradually no chance to
fallow, fertiliser help increase crop yield
PESTICIDE: Chemical
substances used to kill
insects small animals
that destroy crops
High level pest damage
when single crop cover
wide area, crop yield
Malathion in California
IRRIGATION:
Supplying water to
land other than by
natural means.
FLOOD IRRIGATION:
delivered to whole
surface(rice fields).
CENTRE PIVOT
IRRIGATION: overhead
sprinkler-pipes-pipes
moved around central
point mechanically
creating sprinkling
pattern cover large
area.
LIBYA 91': Great
Man-made River allow
crops grow in Sahara.
Network draw water
from aquifers
channelled to coastal
cities for agri,
domestic, industrial.
MECHANISATION
more
advanced
machinery
perform
manual
tasks
Combine
harvester=<labour
GM: Food derived
from crops modified
genetic make-up.
Golden Rice:
infused Vitamin A,
prevent blindess
Bt-cotton: Gene Bt
natural pesticide against
heliothis caterpillar
130mil acres, 13
countries(
Argentina, Canada,
USA) Africa greatest
hope for reducing
food shortage