IV.

Study Question

1. Productivity of food and fiber tremendously increased in the last decade. Where
do we attribute this?
- We attribute this due to the new technologies, mechanization, increased in
chemical use, specialization, and government policies that favoured
maximination of production.

2. The increased in productivity did not have only positive effects but, also negative,
or significant costs. Enumerate some of these and explain why or how did it
impact agriculture.
 Water – it has an important role in agriculture it is the main needs of a
farmer to grow a plant or crop in the field without water crop will die or
maybe it will grow but less produce of products.
- Water Supply and Use
If agriculture has to expand in drier regions, water supply and use must be
improved.
 Soil (land) – it is the primary needs in agriculture to grow a crops.
- Soil Erosion
Soil erosion continues to be a serious threat in agriculture, thus constrains
our ability to produce adequate food.
- Land Use Conversion
Conversion of land to other uses (especially to urban and commercial
uses) is a particular concern nowadays. Existing farmland conversion
patterns often discourage farmers from adopting sustainable practices and
a long-term perspective on the value of land
 Energy - It is a fact that modern agriculture is heavily dependent on non-
renewable energy sources especially petroleum. The continued use of
these energy sources cannot be sustained indefinitely, yet to abruptly
abandon our reliance on them would be economically catastrophic.
 Air - We know that many agricultural activities affect air quality. These
include smoke from agricultural burning.
 Wildlife - Another way in which agriculture affects water resources is
through the destruction of riparian habitats within watersheds. If wild
habitats are converted to agricultural lands, this will result to erosion,
sedimentation, diversion of water, removal of riparian plants, etc. which
will affect the fish and other wildlife.

3. Sustainable agriculture is being advocated as a possible solution to agricultural

development, Explain its goals and how it will be implemented

 Environmental health - it refers to aspects of human health (including quality

of life) that are determined by physical, chemical, biological, social and
psychosocial factors in the environment.
By providing clean water and sanitary facilities, lowering exposure to air
pollution in homes and villages from biomass burning, and improving
environmental quality for the poorest populations with the highest burden
of environmental diseases, environmental health can be integrated into
sustainable development.
 Economic profitability - is a measurement of efficiency and ultimately its
success or failure. A further definition of profitability is a business's ability
to produce a return on an investment based on its resources in
comparison with an alternative investment.
There are four key areas that can help drive economic profitability. These
are reducing costs, increasing turnover, increasing productivity, and increasing
efficiency. You can also expand into new market sectors, or develop new
products or services.

 Social and economic equity - is defined as the fairness and distribution of

economic wealth, tax liability, resources, and assets in a society.

Both the person must pay the same amount of tax, and there should be no
discrimination between the two. Thus, the type of economy demands a
system of tax where there is no discrimination, and no special treatment is
given to individuals or companies.