5.2What are the factors affecting agricultural production?

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Part 5 Combating famine―Is technology a panacea for food shortages?

5.25.2 What are theWhat are the factors affectingfactors affecting agriculturalagricultural production?production?

Part BPart B



What are the factors affecting agriculture?

A B

C

Which of the places is/are suitable for

farming? Why?

Which of the places is/are suitable for

farming? Why? Flat lowland

River (irrigation water supply)



What are the factors affecting agriculture?The location of different farming system is determined

by the interaction of physical and cultural factors.

Physical factors

1 Climate 2 Land

A Temperature

B Rainfall

C Wind

A Soil

B Relief

C River

Physical factors strongly affect where a particular crop or type of livestock will be found.



What are the factors affecting agriculture?The location of different farming system is determined by

the interaction of physical and cultural factors.

Cultural factors

1 Labour

2 Capital

3 Technologies

4 Market

5 Transport

6 Institutional factors

Cultural factors refer to variables from the socio-economic environment.



Let’s look at the example of vegetable farming in L

am Tsuen Valley.

How do these factors shape the characteristics of farming in an area?Physical and cultural factors interact and produce the distinctive characteristics of farming.

Physical factors

Sunshine

Around 1,948 hours a year

Temperature

High monthly mean temperatures

Water supply

Total annual rainfall: 2,214 mm

River: Lam Tsuen River

Land

Lowland or gentle relief

Alluvial soils

Cultural factors

Captial

Labour

Farmer and his/her family

Technology

Carrying out research and applying new technologies

Transport

By lorry

Market

Tai Po Market or Cheung Sha Wan Wholesale Food Market



How do these factors shape the characteristics of farming in an area?

How do these factors contribute to the characteristics of vegetable farming in Lam Tsu

en Valley?

How do these factors contribute to the characteristics of vegetable farming in Lam Tsu

en Valley?

Interplay of physical and cultural factors

Farming characteristics in Lam Tsuen Valley

Type of farming

( Intensive / Extensive ) commercial farming

Farming skill

( Primitive / Semi-modern / Modern )

Farm size

( Small / Large )

Level of mechanization

( Low / Medium / High )

Farming method

( Labour-intensive /

Capital-intensive )

Outputs

• 6-8 crops of vegetables

• Waste materials



1 ClimateA Temperature

________________ refers to the period of a year when farming is possible.

Crops can only grow at ____°C or above.

Under favourable temperatures, plant growth is active.

At the freezing point, frost may appear and destroy crops.

The longer the frost-free period, the ( shorter / longer ) the growing season.

Growing season

6



1 ClimateA Temperature

Frost-free periods of the world

What is the relationship between

the length of the frost-free period and

latitudes?

What is the relationship between

the length of the frost-free period and

latitudes?



1 ClimateA TemperatureTemperature affects world patterns of agriculture.

Wheat is grown in areas with a ( low / moderate / high ) mean temperature

Wet rice is grown in areas with a ( low / high

) mean temperature



1 ClimateB Rainfall

Annual rainfall determines the types of crops grown and the size of the production.

In areas with abundant rainfall, the number of crops grown in a year can be ( less / greater ).

Wheat is grown in ( drier / more

humid ) areas

Wet rice is grown in areas with

abundant rainfall

In South China, double cropping or triple cropping of rice is practi

sed each year



1 ClimateB RainfallSeasonal variations in rainfall, the intensity and duration of rainfall can have a great influence on crops.

Prolonged drought could be disastrous to agriculture

Unusual precipitation patterns may damage crops and cause huge economic losses to farmers:• Rainstorms• Hailstorms• Frost• Drought

Unusual precipitation patterns may damage crops and cause huge economic losses to farmers:• Rainstorms• Hailstorms• Frost• Drought

Frost can kill crops



1 ClimateC Wind

Wind may bring positive and adverse effects on crops.

Positive effect

Crops

Sea

Onshore wind brings moisture to coastal areas, lengthening the growing season.

Onshore wind

Adverse effect

Strong winds may

increase ___________ rates and cause soil erosion;

evaporation

damage crops.

Tropical cyclones damage crops



2 LandA Soil

Soil quality depends on the following soil properties:

CharacteristicsFavourable soil quality for crops

Unfavourable soil quality for crops

Acidity Slightly acidicStrongly acidic or alkaline

Soil thickness Thick soil Thin soil

Nutrient content/ Soil fertility

High (Fertile soil) Low (Poor soil)

Moisture contentSufficient, stable and well-drained

Insufficient, unstable, wet and poorly-drained



A

B

C

2 LandB Relief

Place ( A / B / C ) is suitable for farming.

Why?Why?

Altitude: It is located on ( lowland / highland ), where temperatures are usually ( lower / higher ).

27°C

6°C

Aspect: It ( is / is not ) facing the sun and have more sunshine. It is on the windward slope which can receive _____ rain.relief

30°C

Gradient of the field: ( Gentle / Steep ) slope and thick soil



A

B

C

2 LandB Relief

30°C

6°C

Place B

Why Place B is not suitable for farming?Why Place B is not

suitable for farming?


Aspect and gradient: Although it is facing the sun and receives ______ rain, its gradient is ( gentle / steep ) and the soil is too ( thin / thick ) for crops.

relief

27°C



A

B

C

2 LandB Relief

30°C

6°C

Place C

Why Place C is not suitable for farming?Why Place C is not

suitable for farming?


Aspect:It ( is / is not ) facing the sun.It ( receives / does not receive ) relief rain. It is in the ____________, which is ( dry / wet ).

rain shadow

Gradient: It is too ( gentle / steep ) for growing crops.

27°C



2 LandB Relief

Soil

Bedrock

Surface run-off is fast on steep slope. Soil erosion is active

Little infiltration

and soil moisture content

Can we still grow crops on

highland? How?

Can we still grow crops on

highland? How?

Original slopeOriginal slope

Surface run-off is slow on flat slopeSurface run-off is slow on flat slope

More infiltration and soil moisture content

More infiltration and soil moisture content

Stone wall helps to stabilize the slope

Yes, we can grow crops on highland by terracing.



2 LandC River

Alluvial soil

Crops

The fertile ________ soil on flood plains is favourable for growing crops.

alluvial

The river provides water for _________ and transporting agricultural produce.

irrigation

River valleys and deltas are favourable locations for cultivation.

e.g. the deltas of River Nile and Ganga River

Cultivation along the Zhu Jiang in Kaiping, Guangdong(Credit: Tsui Chung Pong David)



1 Labour

Is there any difference in the demand for labour in different regions?

Is there any difference in the demand for labour in different regions?

Less developed regions

Asian farmers harvesting rice

The farming systems usually require ( less / more ) labour as they employ traditional and labour-intensive farming methods.

Their yield per unit of land is ( low / high ) but yield per worker is generally ( low / high ).



2 CapitalMore developed

regions

Crop harvesting in a more developed region

The farming systems usually require ( less / more ) labour because __________ are widely used.

machines

Capital is more available. Farming rely more on _______-intensive methods. Production per farmer is ( low / high ).

capital



3 TechnologyThe use of various technologies can help to overcome physical constraints and improve farm production.Means Benefits

Irrigation and drainage

Improve the physical conditions for crop and livestock production

Mechanization Improve farm production, farm efficiency and quality of farm work

Applying chemicals • Fertilizers to improve quality of farmland

• Pesticides to protect the crops from pests

• Herbicides to prevent weeds from competing for nutrients with crops

Biotechnology, better seeds and breeds

Improve the quality of crops and increase the yield of crops or livestock



4 Market

A vegetable market in Thailand

There are two types of markets for farm produce, local and overseas markets.

Market forces affect farmers’ decisions on the types of crops grown or animals reared.



Farmers need transport systems to bring inputs to the farm and send the produceto markets for sale.

Farms with good transport can have more choices for crops.

5 TransportInputs

Produce

With good transport, __________ produce can be delivered to local and

international markets within a short time.

perishable



6 Institutional factorsInstitutional factors include land ownership and government policies on farming.

I own my farmland. I am willing to invest

on a long-term basis.

We receive subsidies from the government.

We can rear more herds at a lower cost.

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5.2What are the factors affecting agricultural production?