Introduction to Agriculture

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Questions and Answers

What are some disadvantages of excessive grazing on land?

It can destroy vegetation, cause erosion, expose animals to predators, and lead to disease outbreaks like anthrax.

List two essential inputs required for successful farming.

Labour and machinery are two essential inputs for successful farming.

What is arable farming and what conditions are necessary for it?

Arable farming involves growing crops on suitable land, requiring fertile soil, balanced moisture, and a warm climate.

How do human factors influence the success of farming?

Human factors like access to capital, labor markets, and government agricultural policies greatly influence farm profitability. Signup and view all the answers

What outputs can be derived from farming, particularly animal farming?

Outputs include profits, meat products, wool, milk, and waste such as animal excrement. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes pastoral farming from arable farming?

Pastoral farming focuses on rearing animals, while arable farming involves growing crops. Signup and view all the answers

How does mixed farming benefit a local community?

Mixed farming combines the rearing of animals and the cultivation of crops, providing a diverse food supply and source of income. Signup and view all the answers

What is subsistence farming and how does it relate to food shortages?

Subsistence farming involves growing or rearing just enough food to meet the needs of the farmer's family, which can lead to food shortages for wider populations. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the significance of soil fertility in arable farming.

Soil fertility is crucial in arable farming as it determines the types of crops that can be successfully grown. Signup and view all the answers

What role does irrigation play in farming practices?

Irrigation provides necessary water to crops, especially in areas with low precipitation, ensuring healthy growth and high yields. Signup and view all the answers

What are the main natural factors that can lead to food shortages?

Soil exhaustion, drought, floods, tropical cyclones, pests, and disease. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how shifting cultivation works and its impact on food production.

Shifting cultivation involves moving farming practices to different locations every few years to allow soil recovery, impacting long-term food production stability. Signup and view all the answers

How does malnutrition impact the physical and intellectual potential of individuals?

Malnutrition reduces people's capacity to work and makes them more susceptible to diseases. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways can commercial farming contribute to food shortages?

Commercial farming often prioritizes profit over local needs, which can lead to the neglect of food production for local populations. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three types of food aid mentioned, and who are they aimed at?

Relief aid for individuals in crisis, programme food aid for governments, and project food aid for specific groups. Signup and view all the answers

How are food and the environment interconnected in the context of farming types?

Different farming types, such as mixed or subsistence farming, utilize resources in various ways that can either help sustain or degrade the environment and food production capacity. Signup and view all the answers

What is 'the Green Revolution' and what changes did it bring to agriculture?

The Green Revolution introduced high-yielding varieties of crops, improving agricultural productivity. Signup and view all the answers

What role do economic and political factors play in food shortages?

Factors like low capital investment, rapidly rising population, and conflict situations contribute to food scarcity. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways can livestock deaths impact food shortages during times of crisis?

Livestock deaths reduce the availability of meat, eggs, and milk, worsening famine conditions. Signup and view all the answers

How does conflict over resources relate to food and water scarcity?

As food and water resources decline, conflicts are likely to increase among tribes and countries vying for survival. Signup and view all the answers

How does food shortage negatively affect education?

Food shortages force people to travel further for resources, impacting attendance and the quality of education. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Agriculture

Agriculture is the practice of growing crops on cultivated land and rearing animals.
It is subdivided into Field Crops Cultivation and Horticulture.

Field Crops Cultivation

This involves growing crops like maize, beans, potatoes, coffee, tea, and cotton.

Horticulture

It involves the cultivation of perishable crops with high value.
It's further subdivided into Floriculture, Olericulture, and Pomoculture.
Floriculture: Growing flowers
Olericulture: Growing vegetables
Pomoculture: Growing fruits

Agriculture as a Science

Agriculture, as a science, involves experimentation and application of scientific knowledge.
This includes soil analysis, pest and disease control, farm machinery and structures, and crop and livestock breeding.

Agriculture as an Art

Agriculture, as an art, involves using learned skills.
This includes tilling the land, construction, measurement, and harvesting of crops.

Farming as a System

Farming can be viewed as a system with inputs, processes, and outputs.
Inputs are things put into the system (e.g., human labor, machinery, seeds, livestock).
Processes are the events that happen to turn inputs into outputs (e.g., planting, harvesting, milking).
Outputs are the products of the system (e.g., crops, milk, meat).
Physical inputs are natural things (e.g., water, sunlight, soil).

Livestock Farming

This branch of agriculture deals with rearing livestock for various products.
It is further subdivided into Pastoralism (rearing mammals such as cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits, pigs, and camels), Fish farming (aquaculture), Beekeeping (apiculture), and Poultry keeping.

Inputs

Inputs to a farming system can be categorized into human inputs (e.g., labor, machinery, buildings, animal feed, fertilizers, pesticides, young livestock) and physical inputs (e.g., soil, water, sunlight).

Processes

Processes in agriculture include rearing animals to maturity, shearing wool, ploughing land, fertilizing soil, weeding, irrigating, cultivating crops, harvesting crops, slaughtering animals, planting seeds, and milking animals.

Outputs

Outputs are the products created by farming activities (e.g., meat, milk, profits, wool, waste products, crops).

Farming Types

Pastoral Farming: rearing animals
Arable Farming: growing crops
Mixed Farming: combining animal rearing and crop growing
Subsistence Farming: producing enough for family use
Shifting Cultivation: moving farm location periodically
Commercial Farming: farming for profit

Types of Farming

Extensive Farming: Relatively few inputs and outputs per hectare of land, typically larger farms, with fewer workers.
Intensive Farming: Relatively high inputs and outputs per hectare of land, typically smaller farms, with many workers.

Agro-ecological Regions of Zimbabwe

Agro-ecological zoning (AEZ) divides an area by characteristics related to climate and production potential.
Zimbabwe is divided into 6 main natural regions based on rainfall differences.
Each natural region (I-V) presents different suitability and characteristics for various farming practices (e.g., cropping, livestock) based on rainfall patterns, soil quality, and elevation.

Natural Regions of Zimbabwe (examples)

Natural Region I: high rainfall, diverse crops, intensive horticulture, tea, coffee, and timber production
Natural Region II: moderate rainfall, various crops like tobacco, maize, wheat, soybeans.

Conditions Favoring Pastoral Farming

Steep slopes: less suitable for machinery and crop farming, better for livestock.
Poor soil nutrition: supports grasses, which benefit grazing animals.
Extreme climates: unsuitable for crops, better for grazing.
Windy regions: creates unfavorable conditions for crop farming, livestock better adapted

Advantages and Disadvantages of Different Farming Types

Advantages and disadvantages of farming types vary based on multiple factors including land type, rainfall, location and market demand. For example, subsistence agriculture is cost-effective, but has limitations on scale and profit. On the other hand, commercial farming can be very profitable, but needs higher initial investment and requires different inputs.

Causes of Food Shortages

Natural causes include soil erosion, drought, floods, tropical cyclones, pests, and disease
Human causes include low capital investment, rapidly increasing populations, poor distribution/transportation difficulties, and conflicts.

Short-Term and Long-Term Effects of Food Shortages

Short-Term Effects: malnutrition, reduced resistance to diseases, impaired physical and intellectual potential
Long-Term Effects: death, conflict, loss of education, and reduced workforce.

Possible Solutions to Food Shortages

Food aid: relief aid in times of crisis, and longer-term development projects.
Green Revolution: introducing high-yielding crop varieties that require less land.

Notes on Different Farming Practices (Examples)

Arable Farming: focused on crops, needing fertile soil, balanced moisture, and suitable conditions for crops to grow well.
Mixed Farming: combines animal rearing with crop production, often diversified to enhance profits, capital intensive.
Subsistence Farming: relies on family labor, produces enough for family needs, little surplus for market, often less capital intensive.
Commercial Farming: requires significant capital, seeks to produce products for sale/export markets, high profit potential, can be extensive or intensive farming.

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Description

Explore the fundamentals of agriculture including the cultivation of field crops and horticulture. This quiz covers the scientific and artistic aspects of farming, as well as the different subcategories such as floriculture, olericulture, and pomo culture. Test your knowledge on agricultural practices and terminologies.