Food Resources
Gateway 2Part 2
Human factors affecting intensity of food production & supply
Social factorsEconomic factorsPolitical factorsTechnological factors
Social Factors
Land tenure is a system of allocating and occupying agricultural land.
Farmers do not own the landFarmers pay a sum of money or crops to gain
access to use of landFarmers only wish to maximise short term
profits.Farmers lack incentives to make improvements
to their land.
Social FactorsLand fragmentation:
The division of land into many smaller plots over successive generations of farmers.
What is the disadvantage of this system?
Economic Factors: Purpose of farming Type of farming system Subsistence farming Vs Commerical farming How does the different type of farming
system affect the intensity of food production?
Economic Factors:Purpose of farming
Demand What factors determine the demand for a
crop?Eg: Increase in cultivation of coffee and tea
Economic Factors:Purpose of farming Advantages of free trade
More competitively priced food products More variety for consumers
Disadvantages of free trade LDCs more dependent on cheaper imported food Discourage the growth of local food industry
Economic Factors:Agribusiness Large farming companies which are involved
with most industries along a food supply chain.
Economic Factors:Agribusiness Advantages:
Investment in research and development of food crops
Able to withstand environmental changes. Eg: flood, drought, pests
Greater financial capacity to absorb losses Disadvantages:
Competition for small-scale farmers
Political Factors:
Government policies: Plan of action by the government Eg: Agricultural policyPunjab Agricultural
Department started an education programme for its wheat farmers.
Eg: Food policyImporting food from diversed food sources, Stockpiling
Political Factors: Regional organisations
Eg: ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Oct 2011, ASEAN signed an agreement with China,
Japan and South Korea to ensure food security for it members.
Eg: CAP of the EU ( Common Agricultural Policy of the European Union)
Encourage better agricultural productivity Ensure consumers have stable and affordable food
supply Encourage sustainable farming practices.
Factors affecting productivity Economic Factors:
Capital Study the two
photographs and describe the benefits of the technology use
Technological factors Green revolution
The rapid increase in the productivity of agriculture through the use of science and technology Spread worldwide in 1960 Characterised by
High Yielding varieties (HYVs) Use of chemicals Improved Irrigation Mechanisation
HYVs Improved strains of crops that have an
increased growth rate Characteristics
Increased resistance to pest and diseases Ability to grown within shorter growing season Require more water and nutrients
Use of chemicals Fertilisers to provide nutrients for healthy
plant growth Pesticides to kill insects and small animals
that destroy crops Herbicides used to kill weeds and other
undesirable plants that compete with the crops for resources
Irrigation and mechanisation Irrigation is the method of supplying water to
the land through artificial means. Eg: Underground pipes, canals, wells,
reservoirs Mechanisation is the use of advanced
machinery on the farm to reduce farm labour. Eg: Combined harvester
Machinery
Irrigation
Technological factors Genetically Modified food
Food derived from crops that had their genetic make-up modified.
Eg: Golden rice infused with Vitamin A to prevent blindness
Eg: Bt-corn infused with a natural pesticide (Bt) to protect the crop from pest