Module 1 Flashcards
(54 cards)
1
Q
what is agriculture?
A
this is the rearing of plants and animals to produce food for human use and consumption, animal consumption and raw materials for industry
2
Q
what are some inputs of a farm system?
A
- water
- minerals (from soil or some other substrate)
- agrochemicals
- light (sunlight or artificial)
- labour
- people
- technology
- seed or cutting
3
Q
what are the 3 main agricultural systems in the Caribbean? (based on use of output)
A
- commercial farming: all products are sold
- subsistence farming: all products are used by the farmer and their families
- peasant-commercial farming: some products are used by the farmer and the surplus is sold
4
Q
what are the scales of operation for the following agricultural systems?
- commercial farming
- subsistence farming
- peasant- commercial farming
A
commercial farming: large scale- large areas of land are required for cultivation of plants and rearing of animals
subsistence farming: smaller areas of land used than commercial farms and larger areas of land used than peasant-commercial farms
peasant-commercial farming: small scale- small areas of land are required for cultivation of plants and rearing of animals
5
Q
what are the classifications of agricultural systems based on output?
A
arable farms- produces plants
pastoral farms- produces animal products
mixed farms- produces plant and animal products
6
Q
what is the yield?
A
this is the term used to describe the output of a farm. eg. 1000kg/ha (1000kg per hectare)
7
Q
what is aquaculture?
A
aquaculture is the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, crustaceans, molluscs and aquatic plants.
8
Q
what is intensive aquaculture?
A
this requires heavy inputs of fertilisers and feed, has high stocking densities (number of organisms reared on a given unit area) and produces high yields per unit area
9
Q
what is extensive aquaculture?
A
this requires low stocking densities and does not require supplemental feed or inputs of fertiliser
10
Q
what factors have contributed to an increase in aquaculture in the Caribbean?
A
- rising cost of fishing operations due to increased fuel prices
- a decrease in the production of marine fish by countries dependent on fishing in their own territorial waters or in the territorial waters of other countries
- to provide additional employment for fishermen and under-employed farmers
- a demand for higher cost species like shrimp and prawns in developed countries
- a need to increase the foreign exchange earnings of Caribbean countries
11
Q
what are the goals of aquaculture in the Caribbean?
A
- production of species to support recreational fishing
- development of industries that can create a production surplus for export which increases foreign exchange earnings
- production of protein rich, digestible and nourishing human food benefiting the population by providing plentiful food supplies at an affordable cost
- providing new species and strengthening stocks of existent fish in natural and man made water bodies through artificial recruitment and transplantation
12
Q
what is mariculture?
A
this is a form of aquaculture where marine organisms from their natural environment are used to produce food. Mariculture is growing in popularity in the Caribbean due to the increased demand for seafood.
13
Q
What are some features of mariculture? (4)
A
- it is conducted in brackish water or in the marine environment, depending on the species cultivated
- organisms grown feed on naturally occuring food sources like plankton and algae which reduces production costs
- organisms grown are spared human-induced stressors since there are no transfers between the artificial and natural environments
- requires large areas of the sea or coastal environment if the venture is to be economically viable
14
Q
what are some advantages of mariculture?
A
- requires small inputs of food, machinery, time and energy compared to commercial operations
- provides high yields of fish protein at a low cost and can be sustainable
- provides an alternative source of protein from marine species even as the cost of production from commercial operations increases
- it is an excellent opportunity for Caribbean countries to provide protein for citizens while generating a surplus to generate revenue
- provides a source of income for Caribbean citizens and combats unemployment
15
Q
what are some disadvantages of mariculture?
A
- excess organic matter settles on the seabed which results in an increase in bacterial growth which could be detrimental to other species
- an increase in organic matter results in eutrophication
16
Q
how does genetic engineering benefit agriculture?
A
genetic engineering has led to the identification of genes that determine favourable characteristics in crops and livestock. genetic engineering can produce crops that are able to tolerate certain climates and may be resistant to pests.
17
Q
what is the food security?
A
this is the state of having reliable access to a sufficient amount of affordable and nutritious food
18
Q
what are the 5 components (5 A’s) of food security?
A
- accessibility: addresses the physical and economic access to food at all times
- availability: implies that there are sufficient quantities of food for everyone at all times
- adequacy: access to food that is nutritious and safe and produced in environmentally sustainable ways
- acceptability: about access to culturally acceptable food which is produced and obtained in ways that do not compromise people’s dignity, self respect or human rights
- agency: refers to the policies and processes that allow food security to be achieved
19
Q
what are some factors affecting food security?
A
- decline in the productivity of land, labour and management which often reduces the capacity to produce agricultural products at competitive prices
- a decline in earnings from traditional export crops
- trade regulations and other policies that affect the global marketplace for agricultural products
- a growing dependence on imported food and cheap agricultural products resulting from the inability to produce food locally at competitive prices
- inefficient use of agricultural inputs
20
Q
what is agro-processing?
A
this involves turning agricultural produce into products which can be marketed locally, nationally or exported
21
Q
how does agriculture contribute to livelihood and income-generating activities?
A
- provides direct employment like on-farm labour
- provides indirect employment which is employment at any facility that uses raw agricultural products.
- employment and generated income for those who work in the manufacture and repair of agricultural machinery, produce and supply agrochemicals, veterinarians etc.
- lack of employment in farms in rural areas leads to migration into the city where agricultural demand increases
22
Q
how does agriculture contribute to foreign exchange earnings?
A
- export of raw agricultural products or processed agricultural products (termed ‘value added products’) help generate foreign exchange for Caribbean countries
23
Q
how does agriculture contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)?
A
- exportation of agricultural products earn foreign exchange which contribute to the GDP of a country. Less developed countries have lower GDPs and usually have large percentages of people working in the agricultural sector
24
Q
what are some technological innovations that have benefitted agriculture in the Caribbean?
A
- agrochemicals
- mechanisation
- genetic engineering
25
How has technology impacted agriculture in the Caribbean?
- heavy reliance on agrochemicals to increase productivity and prevent pests and diseases
- heavy reliance on extensive inputs of water and energy
- intensive soil manipulation to maintain soil productivity
26
what are some disadvantages to these technological innovations that have benefitted the agricultural sector?
agrochemicals
- constant use can make pests and diseases resistant to the effects of agrochemicals
- contributes to eutrophication
mechanisation
- encourages monoculture which increases the risk of pest outbreaks
- leads to farm specialisation which eliminates less profitable crops and leads to farm amalgamation
- constant use of heavy machinery leads to soil compaction
27
what is soil compaction?
the process in which the pores present in soils is reduced, reducing the amount of water and air that can pass through the soil.
28
why is soil compaction a problem?
- prevents soil roots from penetrating the soil in order to get water and nutrients
- reduces drainage causing soils to become waterlogged reducing room for oxygen which inhibits plant growth and decomposition of organic matter
- prevents water from percolating through the soil, leading to surface runoff and soil erosion
29
what was the "Green Revolution?"
The term Green Revolution refers to the renovation of agricultural practices
30
what are some health and environmental risks associated with agriculture?
- over application of fertilisers can increase pollution through runoff into water bodies, infiltration of aquifers and evaporation into the air. Nitrates and phosphates from fertilisers can cause health problems.
- waste runoff from fertilisers that causes eutrophication and bacterial growth in streams
- runoff carrying sediments, nutrients and pesticides enter water bodies and damage aquatic organisms and their habitats which reduces native biodiversity
- bioaccumulation and biomagnification
31
what is bioaccumulation?
this is the accumulation of persistent (non-biodegradable) toxins in plant and animal tissues over time
32
what is biomagnification?
this is when the accumulation of toxins in the tissues of plants and animals increase in concentration at higher trophic levels
33
what is 'land take'?
this involves the clearance of land for agricultural practices
34
what are some impacts of land take on the environment?
- deforestation which leads to increased levels of carbon dioxide
- increased soil erosion
- increased levels of sedimentation (sediments entering water bodies) which leads to decreased water quality
- increased flooding
- habitat destruction which leads to habitat fragmentation (habitat fragmentation occurs when a habitat is split into parts that are so small that species numbers in each part are too low to be sustainable)
- loss of biodiversity
35
what is soil erosion?
this is the wearing away or removal of soil from land
36
what are the main agents of erosion?
wind and water
37
what are the effects of soil erosion?
- reduces fertile topsoil in an area which limits plant growth
- removes nutrients and organic matter which make soil fertile
38
what is acidification?
this is the buildup of hydrogen cations which decreases soil pH
39
when does waterlogging occur?
waterlogging occurs when soils are very wet and there is not enough oxygen in the pores of the soil for adequate respiration of plant roots. this causes decomposition of root tissues which affects plant growth and can eventually cause plants to die
40
what is salinisation?
this is an accumulation of salt in the topsoil. excessive salt accumulation can lead to a decrease in quality of soil and plant growth. excess salts in the root zone of plants prevent water and nutrient uptake
41
what is the difference between soil erosion and sedimentation?
- soil erosion is the movement of soil from its original position
- sedimentation is the movement of soil off the original field to a non-field environment. Only the smallest and lightest particles leave the field.
42
what are the effects of increased sediments in water bodies?
- increased turbidity (cloudiness) of water
- suffocates aquatic organisms
- coats aquatic organisms
- hampers reproduction of aquatic organisms
- destruction of coral reefs
- causes flooding
43
what is land degredation?
this refers to a decline in land quality mainly due to human activity
44
what are the limitations to hillside farming?
- susceptibility to erosion
- difficulty in mechanisation
- dependence on rain-fed irrigation
45
what is slash and burn agriculture?
this is a form of subsistence agriculture where the natural vegetation is cut and burned as the land is cleared for cultivation. when the plot becomes infertile, farmers move to another one
46
what are the advantages of slash and burn?
- ashes from burnt vegetation provide nutrients to the soil
- the cleared area is used for a short amount of time before being left alone so vegetation can regrow
- this method allow farmers to farm in areas where it would not be possible otherwise eg. forests
- fire destroys pests
47
what are the disadvantages of slash and burn?
- erosion and nutrient loss occurs when fields are slashed and burnt because there are no roots
- loss of biodiversity due to habitat disruption and death of organisms
- temporary loss of forest cover if vegetation is not allowed to regrow
48
define climate change
this is a change in climate directly or indirectly linked to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere which is observed over comparable time periods
49
what are agricultural methane emisssions?
these are emissions from rice production, animals, animal waste and the burning of agricultural waste
50
how do methane emissions contribute to climate change?
methane leaves the atmosphere through oxidation, forming water vapour and carbon dioxide. carbon dioxide is a green house gas which traps heat and warms up the earth
51
what is sustainable agriculture?
this is based on the premise that we must meet the needs of the current generation without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their needs
52
how must the Caribbean achieve sustainable agriculture?
stewardship of natural and human resources must be a priority.
stewardship of human resources implies:
- meeting social requirements, such as adequate working and living conditions
- considering the needs of rural communities
- considering consumer health and safety both in the present and future
53
what does sustainable agriculture take into account?
sustainable agriculture takes into account the needs of society, the environment and the economy
54
what are the features/principles of sustainable agriculture?
- ecological integrity
• placing emphasis on the use of renewable resources
• engaging in practices that minimise soil and water degredation
• utilising efficient soil management techniques
- social integrity
• respecting all forms of life
• nurturing and preserving the cultural and spiritual integrity of societies
- economic viability
• enabling people to gain sufficient income to compensate for labour costs and other inputs
• encouraging people to engage in practices that promote conservation of resources
- adaptability
- social justice and equity
