Agriculture

Topics Unit 8: Agriculture (brief) Unit 9: Shifting Cultivation Unit 10: Wet Rice Production Unit 12: High Tech Farming

Key Questions: When and why did agriculture come

about? How did it impact human populations? What are the differences in agricultural

practices around the world today? What are the impacts of these practices? Is our current rate of production enough

to feed the world?

WHEN AND WHY DID

AGRICULTURE COME ABOUT?

Early humans used to live a nomadic lifestyle. They would hunt and gather food for a living. It was hard work and it made it difficult for our numbers to grow.

15,000 years ago

This went on for a few thousand more years. They became so good at hunting that most of the large animals which they depended on died out.

This went on for a few thousand more years. They became so good at hunting that most of the large animals which they depended on died out.

At this point in time, they had two options: they could either move (yet again) or stay and find a way to survive on plant life.

Eventually, many of these ‘banded societies’ grew tired of moving around and decided to stay and settle down.

At this point in time, they had two options: they could either move (yet again) or stay and find a way to survive on plant life.

No one knows for sure how they discovered how to grow food. Whatever the case, once we discovered how to make our environment work FOR US, there was no turning back.

From this…

With the abundance of food, tribes grew into villages, villages grew into cities and cities became…

…to this

…and then this!

…centres of great civilizations!

This took place almost simultaneously at various places around the world.

Impact on humans…The advent of agriculture started: the formation of permanent human settlements,

the domestication of animals

the use of metal tools for the first time in history

trade and cooperation

division of labour, class and social status

Agriculture… …is the most important trigger for the

building of human civilization Today, 2.5 billion people are still

employed in the agricultural sector! 1/3 of all land on Earth is used for

agricultural purposes!

Key Questions: When and why did agriculture come

about? ✔ How did it impact human populations?

✔ What are the different agricultural

practices around the world today? What are the impacts of these

practices? Is our current rate of production enough

to feed the world?

What Are The Different Agricultural Practices Around The World Today?

Types of farming: Arable farming:

Farms that only grow crops (i.e. plants) Livestock farming:

Farms that only rear animals Mixed farming

Farms that produce both crops and animals.

Types of farming: Subsistence farming:

Crops are grown for farmer’s own use and consumption

Commercial farming: Farming that produces cash crops

Low-tech farming Farmers here use simple tools and knowledge

to grow their crops High-tech farming

Farmers here use advanced machines and computers to grow their crops

Topics covered Unit 9: Shifting cultivation

Unit 10: Wet Rice Cultivation

Unit 12: High-Tech Farming

SHIFTING CULTIVATION

Shifting cultivation Also known as slash-and-burn A type of farming in which small plots

of land are cleared and razed to grow crops.

Traditionally small in scaleand subsistencein nature

Places that practice shifting cultivation

Also the oldest form of agriculture. This way of life can be traced back to Africa, most of South East

Asia, India and the Americas.

Shifting Cultivation Why do people practice this?

Because it is cheap and does not require expensive machinery

Burning helps to kill weeds and pests Ashes from the burning also help to

provide nutrients and fertilize the soil

Rice

Tapioca

Maize

THE CYCLE OF ACTIVITIES

First, a small plot of land is selected and then cleared using simple tools. Then, the felled trees and leaves are left to dry for a few months.

After 1 - 2 months, the area is razed and cleared. This usually lasts for a few days or couple of weeks.

Then land is then left to rest again until the rainy period when the soil becomes cool and moist.

After 1 - 2 months, the area is razed and cleared. This usually lasts for a few days or couple of weeks.Seeds are usually sown into the ground by hand or using simple tools.

Crops are left to grow for a few more months before harvesting. After 2 – 3 years, the soil will lose its fertility and the process will have to be repeated on a new plot of land

Shifting Cultivation Traditionally…

…this has always been done on a small scale by pockets of indigenous tribes living in the forest

…the entire process can take up to half a year (!) which made it unsuitable for commercial farming.

Environmental impact was minimal and carefully contained.

Confined ImpactContrary to what many people believe, shifting cultivation does less harm to the environment than the deliberate burning down of thousands of hectares of forest by loggers to gain access to timber, and by plantation operators to expand farmland. The burning of forests in shifting cultivation is usually confined to small plots of land of about 1 to 2 hectares, and the natural vegetation is left to regrow when the shifting cultivators move on to another plot of land.

p.10

Shifting Cultivation However…

…big timber companies are now using this practice to cut costs

Plots of land are now being razed on a much LARGER SCALE

As a result, fires are harder to contain, leading to problems such as HAZE and widespread habitat destruction

Heart of DarknessBy journeymanpictures

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kF175irSZvY

Shifting Cultivation What are the problems?

Burning releases a lot of carbon smoke which causes pollution, contributes to global warming and is harmful to humans

Soil erosion due to over-cultivation Fires can spread if not properly

managed, burning more land than originally planned

In SummaryWhat is it? Why do people

practice it?What are the

impacts- Slash and

burn- Subsistence- Low output

- Cheap- Efficient- Fertilizes the

soil

- Air pollution- Global

warming- Uncontrolled

fires- Soil erosion

and infertility

Self-Assessment Name TWO countries where shifting

cultivation is practiced. Benefits of burning the land are…? However, some problems include…? With global populations increasing, do

you think shifting cultivation a sustainable practice?