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