FarmiFarmingngIn South AfricaIn South Africa

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference

Library 2005

Photo: G C Bothma

Photo: G C Bothma

By Sue By Sue BothmaBothma

The science of The science of managing managing plant growth plant growth for human usefor human use

And managing And managing animals for animals for human usehuman use

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Crop Crop FarmingFarming Cultivation of Cultivation of

plants for foodplants for food

Picture: Corel Photo House

Picture: Corel Photo House

Early Crop Early Crop FarmingFarming

Gatherers from the stone age Gatherers from the stone age would cultivate their favourite cropswould cultivate their favourite crops

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Crops in South Crops in South AfricaAfrica

We get sweet corn We get sweet corn and mealie products and mealie products from maizefrom maize

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Crops in South Crops in South AfricaAfrica

We get cereals We get cereals and flour from and flour from wheatwheat

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PotatoesPotatoesPeanutsPeanutsSunflowersSunflowersOatsOatsSugar caneSugar cane

Citrus fruitCitrus fruitTropical fruitTropical fruitMany more…Many more…

Other Crops in South Other Crops in South AfricaAfrica

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Less common cropLess common crop SorghumSorghum

This crop can grow well even This crop can grow well even with little water and poor soil.with little water and poor soil.

Photo: G C Bothma

Photo: G C Bothma

Picture: Corel Photo House

Problems farmers Problems farmers faceface

Pests destroy cropsPests destroy crops Not enough rainNot enough rain Poor SoilPoor Soil

Photo: G C BothmaPhoto: G C Bothma

Poor RainfallPoor Rainfall Low rainfall in Low rainfall in

many regionsmany regions

Farmers have to Farmers have to irrigate the landirrigate the land

Photo: G C Bothma

Photo: G C Bothma

Photo: G C Bothma

Worms destroy cropsWorms destroy crops Photo: G C Bothma

Problem PestsProblem Pests Insects eat the Insects eat the

leaves of cropsleaves of crops Weeds compete Weeds compete

with cropswith crops

Solution to PestsSolution to Pests Plants can be sprayed with poisonPlants can be sprayed with poison

Poison is not good for the environmentPoison is not good for the environmentPicture: Corel Photo House

SolutionSolutionss

Special, tough seeds are developedSpecial, tough seeds are developed Farmers can buy and grow GM seedsFarmers can buy and grow GM seeds

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Poor soilPoor soil Many regions Many regions

have have unsuitable soilunsuitable soil

Compost and fertilizer Compost and fertilizer needs to be addedneeds to be added

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2005

Do we need Do we need farmers?farmers?

Farmers need to make sure that Farmers need to make sure that crops get enough water to growcrops get enough water to grow

Photo: G C BothmaPhoto: G C Bothma

Do we need Do we need farmers?farmers? Farmers need to buy the best Farmers need to buy the best

seedsseeds They need to fight pestsThey need to fight pests

Photo: G C Bothma

Photo: G C Bothma

Do we need Do we need farmers?farmers?

Farmers need to enrich the soil Farmers need to enrich the soil with compost and fertilizerwith compost and fertilizer

Microsoft ® Encarta ® Reference Library 2005

Photo: G C Bothma

Farmers bring us the Farmers bring us the bestbest

Farmers canFarmers can

produce produce good cropsgood crops

Photo: G C Bothma

Picture: Corel Photo House

Farmers are very Farmers are very importantimportant Farmers can fight drought, Farmers can fight drought,

poverty and faminepoverty and famine

Photo: G C Bothma

Photo: G C Bothma

BibliograpBibliographyhy

Photo: G C Bothma

Encarta Reference Library 2005Encarta Reference Library 2005 Montsanto Web Montsanto Web www.montsanto.comwww.montsanto.com Photographs: Mr. G C BothmaPhotographs: Mr. G C Bothma Pictures: Corel Photo HousePictures: Corel Photo House

director SUE BOTHMA

assistant director ANNIE BOTHMA

photography GURLING BOTHMA

special thanks to

Encarta 2005 Reference Library

Corel Photo House

Worms Armageddon

Microsoft Sound Clips

Microsoft PowerPoint

Picture: Corel Photo House