Food Production

Question 1

Give examples of input, process and outputs which take place in a farming system

Answer 1

Inputs
Water, soil, labour, money
Processes
Sowing, weeding, harvesting
Outputs
Wheat, barley, cattle

Question 2

What are physical factors affecting land use?

Answer 2

• temp
• soil type/fertility
• water
• wind
• aspect/slope

Question 3

What are economic factors affecting land use?

Answer 3

• transport
• markets
• capital
• technology
• economies of scale

Question 4

What are social factors affecting land use?

Answer 4

• tenure
• inheritance laws

Question 5

What are political factors affecting land use?

Answer 5

• gov policies, loans, supplements etc.

Question 6

What are possible causes of food shortages?

Answer 6

NATURAL
- drought
- floods
- tropical storms
- pests
- disease
ECONOMIC/POL
- low capital investment
- rising pop
- poor distribution
- conflict

Question 7

What are the effects of food shortages?

Answer 7

• malnutrition, less resistant to disease, more likely to fall ill
• reduces capacity to work, can’t pursue income
• endless cycle of ill-health, low productivity and underdevelopment

Question 8

What are possible solutions to food shortages?

Answer 8

FOOD AID
- relief food aid - time of crisis
- provide to governments to sell in local markets
- targeted at groups of people as part of longer term plan

HYV high yield varieties
- can be provided by other countries