Agricultural Geography (SSE112) PDF

AGRICULTURAL Geography Introduction Definition: Agricultural geography studies the spatial relationships between agricultural practices, the environment, and how societies shape land use. Significance: Understanding agricultural geography helps explain food production, resou...

AGRICULTURAL Geography Introduction Definition: Agricultural geography studies the spatial relationships between agricultural practices, the environment, and how societies shape land use. Significance: Understanding agricultural geography helps explain food production, resource management, and the economic development of regions. Origin of Agricultural Geography Beginnings of Agriculture: - Transition from hunting and gathering to farming about 12,000 years ago during the Neolithic Revolution. -Key Regions: Fertile Crescent (Middle East), Nile Valley, Yangtze and Yellow River in China, and Mesoamerica. - Impact: Enabled the establishment of permanent settlements and the growth of civilizations.  Agriculture in Less Developed Countries Characteristics of Agriculture in LDCs: - Subsistence Farming: Farmers produce food primarily for their own consumption. - Low Technology Use: Limited access to modern machinery, fertilizers, and genetically modified seeds. - Labor-Intensive: Farming relies heavily on manual labor, with limited mechanization. - Challenges: Food insecurity, land degradation, limited market access, and vulnerability to climate change. - Examples: Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia.  Traditional Agricultural Practices in LDCs 01 02 03 Slash-and-Burn Shifting Cultivation: Pastoral Nomadism: Agriculture: Clearing Fields are used Livestock farming land for cultivation by temporarily, then where communities cutting and burning abandoned for natural move to find pasture. vegetation. regeneration.  Agriculture in More Developed Countries Characteristics of Agriculture in MDCs: - Commercial Farming: Large-scale farming with the primary goal of profit. - High Technology Use: Extensive use of machinery, irrigation systems, chemical fertilizers, and pesticides. - Capital-Intensive: Focus on high productivity with less labor but more financial investment. - Examples: United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe.  Types of Commercial Farming in MDCs Mixed Crop and Livestock Farming: Combination of growing crops and raising animals (e.g., US Midwest). -Dairy Farming: Predominantly found in colder climates like northern Europe. - Grain Farming: Large-scale production of wheat, corn, and barley. - Livestock Ranching: Raising animals for meat in vast, arid regions.  The Green Revolution The Green Revolution refers to the period in the 1960s and 1970s when agriculture saw a dramatic increase in production due to high-yield crop varieties, chemical fertilizers, and advanced irrigation techniques. - Key Innovations: - High-Yield Varieties (HYVs): Development of genetically modified crops such as rice and wheat. - Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides: Boosted crop growth and protected against pests. - Mechanization and Irrigation: Expanded water access and reduced labor intensity.  Impact of the Green Revolution Positive Effects: - Significant increase in food production, particularly in Asia and Latin America. - Reduced global hunger and improved food security. - Negative Effects: - Environmental degradation from chemical use. - Social inequalities—small-scale farmers in LDCs couldn’t afford Green Revolution technologies. - Loss of biodiversity due to monoculture practices.  Future of Agriculture Sustainable Agriculture: - Organic farming, crop rotation, and agroforestry. - Reduced reliance on chemical inputs and a focus on environmental stewardship. - Technological Advancements: - Precision agriculture using AI, drones, and GPS to optimize farming practices. - Genetic engineering and CRISPR for crop improvement.  Conclusion Agriculture has evolved significantly from its origins to modern-day practices in both LDCs and MDCs. - While technological advancements like the Green Revolution have solved some food production challenges, there are still ongoing environmental and social issues to address. - Future agriculture must focus on sustainability, innovation, and inclusivity to ensure global food security.  REFERENCES Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2020). The state of food and agriculture 2020: Overcoming water challenges in agriculture. FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb1447en Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2018). Shifting cultivation, livelihoods and food security. FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/i9195en Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. (2022). Agricultural innovation for climate change adaptation. FAO. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb9121en -Norman Borlaug. (2000). The green revolution revisited and the road ahead. Special 30th Anniversary Lecture. https://www.normanborlaug.org/pdfs/publications/the-green- revolution.pdf OECD. (2021). Agricultural policy monitoring and evaluation 2021. OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/2d810e01-en United States Department of Agriculture. (2022). 2022 annual report on U.S. agricultural productivity and practices. USDA. https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2022-agricultural-report.pdf World Bank. (2019). Addressing food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa: Agricultural resilience solutions. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/33399 World Bank. (2021). Climate change and agricultural development in South Asia. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36075 World Bank. (2022). Agriculture and food security: Global insights and future strategies. World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/37654 Thank you