3.2: Food Production (Paper 1 and 2) Flashcards
1
Q
Explain the inputs of a typical agricultural system: (8)
A
- Land (1)
- Energy (1)
- Labour (1)
- Machinery (1)
- Administrative and organisational costs (1)
- Fertilisers (1)
- Pesticides (1)
- Seeds (1)
2
Q
Explain the processes of a typical agricultural system: (9)
A
- Preparing land (1)
- Ploughing (1)
- Harrowing (1)
- Manuring (1)
- Sowing (1)
- Fertilizing (1)
- Weeding (1)
- Pest control (1)
- Harvesting (1)
3
Q
Explain the products of a typical agricultural system: (3)
A
- Main product: wheat grain for sale for further processing. (1)
- By-product: Straw bales for animal feed. (1)
- Waste product: Stubble, burned or ploughed in to enrich soil for next year. (1)
4
Q
Explain the following farming types: (7)
- Arable (1)
- Pastoral (1)
- Mixed (1)
- Subsistence (1)
- Commercial (1)
- Extensive (1)
- Intensive (1)
A
- Arable: Cultivation of crops and not involved with livestock and could concentrate on one crop or a range of different crops. (1)
- Pastoral: Involves keeping livestock such as dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheeps and pigs. (1)
- Mixed: Involves cultivating crops and keeping livestock together on a farm with some part of the crop production being used to feed livestock. (1)
- Subsistence: The most basic form of agriculture where the produce is consumed entirely or mainly bt the family who work the land or tend the livestock. (1)
- Commercial: The objective is to sell everything that the farm produces in order to maximize yields to achieve high profits. (1)
- Extensive: A relatively small amount of agricultural produce is obtained per hectare of land, so such farms tend to cover large areas of land where the inputs per unit of land are low. (1)
- Intensive: Characterized by high inputs per unit of land to achieve high yields per hectare. (1)
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5
Q
Explain the physical factors affecting agricultural land use: (6)
A
- Temperature is a critical factor as each type of crop requires a minimum growing temperature and a minimum growing season. (1)
- Latitude, altitud and distance from the sea have major influences on temperature (1)
- Precipitation is important as crops need water (1)
- Soil type and fertility are important for the growth of plants and crops (1)
- Aspect and angle of slope may also be important factors deciding how to use the land. (1)
- Water is vital for agriculture with irrigation being an important factor in farming. (1)
6
Q
Explain the economic factors affecting agricultural land use: (5)
A
- The cost of growing different crops or keeping different livestock varies, the prices for agricultural products will vary from year to year. (1)
- The necessary invstment in buildings and machinery can mean that some changes in farming activities are very expensive and it is not easy for farmers to react to consumer demand. (1)
- In most countries, there has been a trend towards fewer but larger farms, where economies of scale can operate which reduces the unit costs of production (1)
- The cost of transporting farm produce to market can be a big influence on what is produced on a farm. (1)
- The status of a country’s agricultural technology is vital for its food secuirty and other aspects of its quality of life. (1)
7
Q
Explain the social/cultural factors affecting agricultural land use: (3)
A
- When a farm has produced in the past can be a significant influence on current farming practices due to tradition. (1)
- There may be laws which have an impact on the size of farms. (1)
- In most societies, women have very unequal access to, and control over, rural land and associated resources. (1)
8
Q
Explain the causes of food shortages: (7)
- Natural factors (4)
- Economic and political factors: (3)
A
Natural Factors:
- Drought (1)
- Floods (1)
- Tropical storms (1)
- Pests (1)
Social Factors:
- Low investment (1)
- Poor distribution/transport difficulties (1)
- Wars (1)
9
Q
Explain the effects of food shortages: (8)
A
- Undernutrition: people do not consume enough calories (1)
- Malnutrition: people’s diet lacks the correct nutrients to keep them healthy. (1)
- Wasting: when people have low weight in relation to their height. (1)
- Rising food prices: When there is increased demand and reduced supply the prices increase. (1)
- Underdevelopment/loss of productivity: If a country’s workforce is suffering from food shortages, they will be less productive, and development will slow or even reverse. (1)
- Soil erosion and desertification: Farmers may over cultivate and overgraze the land in an attempt to increase the amount of food available. (1)
- Social unrest: Food shortage may lead people to riot and loot. (1)
- Migration: People migrate to other countries or to urban areas where the food supply is better which can impact those areas with the development of illegal settlements. (1)
10
Q
Explain the possible solutions to food shortages: (7)
A
- Food aid: The aid is given by MEDCs often through organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) as well as by Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as Oxfam and Save The Children. (1)
- Irrigation: The artificial watering of crops using pipes. (1)
- Genetically Modified Crops (GMOs): When the genetic material of a crop is altered to make them disease/pest resistant, have higher yield or be drought resistant. (1)
- Green Revolution: Involved in the development of high yield varieties of main food crops including wheat, maize and rice. (1)
- Education of farmers: Education for farmers about sustainable farming methods. (1)
- Mechanization: Use of tractors and other machines to complete farming tasks (1)
- Fertilizers/pesticides: Fertilisers are added to increase yields through adding nitrogen and pesticides are used to kill or deter pests from eating crops. (1)
11
Q
Define the term system: (1)
A
A practice in which there are recognizable inputs, processes and outputs. (1)
12
Q
Define the term irrigation: (1)
A
Supplying dry land with water by systems of ditches and also by more advanced means. (1)
13
Q
Define the term economies of scale: (1)
A
The reduction in unit cost as the scale of an operation increases. (1)
14
Q
Define the term agricultural technology: (1)
A
The application of techniques to control the growth and harvesting of animal and vegetable products. (1)
15
Q
Define the term land tenure: (1)
A
The ways in which land is or can be owned. (1)
