Food Resources

Gateway 2Part 1

Gateway 2What are the trends and challenges in the production of food crops?

• Population growth vs Food production

• Global food production must increase by 70% from 2012 to 2050 to meet the needs of the increasing population.

Million of people

How do you measure productivity of food production?

• Labour per unit area = Number of workers/Land area (hectares)

• Crop yield = Amount of food produced (tonnes)/ Land area (hectares)

• 1 tonne = 1000kg• 1 hectare = 10000m2

Describing distribution shown in choropleth map

• Refer to TB Pg 122• Describe the distribution of the top rice

producing countries.

• Describe the distribution of world wheat production.

Factors affecting intensity of food production and supply

Factors affecting intensity of food production and

supply

Physical

Social

TechnologicalPolitical

Economic

Climate

• Climate is the average condition of the atmosphere of a specific place over a long period of time; usually 30 years.

• It determines the :• - type of crop grown• - the amount of output• - the productivity of the land

Climate

• Areas with high temperature (220C-320C) and rainfall (greater than 2000mm)

• Tropical Climate = higher output. E.g. wet rice, tropical fruits

• Long growing season enables farmers to have 2-3 harvests in a year.

• Some crops do not require so much rainfall grow well in temperate climates. E.g. wheat and potatoes.

Climate and Animal Rearing

• Climate also affects fish and livestock farming.• Climate must be suitable for the rearing of

animals.• E.g. cool temperature is needed for salmon to

reproduce and growth.• Salmon farms commonly found in temperate

countries such as Australia and U.S.A

Climate Constraints

• In areas with poor climates such as desert areas (too hot) or tundra areas (too cold)

• Greenhouses may be used to create optimal conditions for plant growth.

Climate Constraints

• Agriculture technology • - techniques and methods used in the Green

and Blue Revolutions.• - Greenhouses, irrigation systems.• - fertilisers • - special seeds that can grow in harsh climate

conditions

Climate

• What are the suitable conditions for cultivation of crops?

• What techniques are used in areas where climate is not ideal for cultivation?

Soils and drainage

• Fertile soils are found on floodplains, river deltas and in areas surrounding volcanoes.

• Alluvium and volcanic ash are rich in minerals -> fertile for farming.

• Output per unit in these areas are high.• E.g. Ganges River Delta (India)• E.g. Mt Mayon region (the Philippines)

Fertile Soil

• Minerals such as phosphorus, zinc and iron are helpful for plant growth.

River Deltas

Soil Types

• Productivity depends also on the soil types.• Soils must be suitable for the crops to grow.• E.g. wet rice grows well in wet and clayey soil.

So it can only grow on floodplains and river deltas where this soil is found.

Soil Fertility

• What are the types of minerals found in the soil that is suitable for farming?

• How to ensure continuous soil fertility?

Relief

• Refers to the slope and altitude of a land surface

• Terracing is the cutting of steps into a hillside to create flat land for cultivation.

• Eg: Longji rice terraces in China, Sapa in Vietnam

What type of relief is suitable for cultivation?

• Sloping land suitable for crops such as grapes, tea and coffee. They grow best in well-drained soil on sloping land.

• Higher altitude suitable for growing strawberries, cabbage.

• Flat land suitable for growing rice.

Food for thought

• Why is land for farming decreasing?

• How do we increase more land for agriculture?

• Is food production heavily dependent on physical factors?