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Geo Agric Part Notes 1 (1) (1)
Geo Agric Part Notes 1 (1) (1)
Semi-commercial DEF: Farming refers to the growing of crops and /or the keeping or
rearing of livestock. Farming can be classified into three major criteria according to
purpose of farm produce farming this is when bulk of the farm produce is sold at the
market but the farmer reserve a small amount to feed his or her family
Subsistence farmingit isa system of farming involving the growing of crops and /or the
keeping of livestock/animals for the family consumption of the farmerand his family.
Semi-subsistence farmingthis is when bulk of the farm produce is reserved for the farmer
and his or her family consumption and a small surplus is sold
Intensive farming itinvolves farming on a small piece of land withhigh inputs such as
machinery, fertilizers, labour, manure etc. to maximise output. Yields per unity area are
high.
Extensive farming It involves farming on a large piece (large scale) of land with relatively
fewer inputs per unity area. Yields per unity area aregenerally low. It involves the use of
large scale machinery and growing of one or two crops e.g.plantation farming.
Farming can be viewed as a system involving inputs, processes and outputs as elements of
the system. Inputs are the initial things needed to carry out something eg land knowledge,
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capital. Processes is the work done, manipulating the inputs in order to produce items.
Outputs are the end products from the work /processes done.
HUMAN FACTORS
All farming activities need either human labour or machines to do the work. Some farming
use very little labour e.g. sheep farming, others require large labour forces e.g rice farming
or tobacco farming. Availability of labour may influence the type of farming. The farm
wages, the skills and family labour affect farming.
Demand/Market.
This is the customer who buys farm products.Farmers need to sell their crops and animals
to make a profit. The higher the demand the higher the price of the product: and the lower
the demand, the lower the price. The price of the produce and availability of the market are
important factors that affect farming.
Finance /Capital.
This is money for the payment of wages, purchase of farm inputs/ or imports. This can
affect the type and state of farming. Some crops are capital intensive e.g. money to set up
irrigation facilities etc. Money can be in the form of loans from banks or grants from the
government or capital saved by the farmer.
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Government (Political)
Government provide subsidies and loans or inputs to encourage new farming practices but
they also place limits on production to prevent food surpluses. Government influence
farming through its police or through infrastructural development and support services eg
providing tillage facilities through DDF.
Transport
This is needed for the transportation of inputs to the farm and outputs to the market. In
Zimbabwe and Zambia commercial farming is concentrated along main roads.Colonial
government made efforts to provide the white commercial farmers with efficient transport
services e.g. compare Burma Valley and Bocha, Buherae.t.c.Transport network eg roads
and the type of transport affect farming activities.
Technology
Irrigation and machinery are two examples of expensive technology which increase yields.
Genetic engineering allow new plants to be grown, this reduces diseases and droughts and
give higher yields. Computercontrol in green houses provides suitable conditions for good
quality crops. Type and availability of equipment and service affect farming activities.
Physical factors
Climate
Soils
Crops grow best on deep, fertile, free draining soils.Soil type and fertility influences the
types of crops that can be grown, the yields per unit area and the cost of production.
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Aspect
The direction a slope faces. In the extreme northern hemisphere south-facing slopes are
best for growing crops and in the southern hemisphere north facing slopes are best for
crop production. (Why?)
These affect workers; crops and animals. Farmers have to fight them in order to avoid
disastrous effects. Pests which affect crops include locusts, Birds, boring insects, worms.
It is a subsistence cultivation system involving the clearing a piece of land and its
cultivation for a few years (5 to 10 years) and abandon it for a new area as soil
become infertile to allow regeneration of vegetation and fertility.
It is practiced in northern Zambia in Luapula District by the Bemba-Ushi people,
parts of Mozambique, Malawi and Tanzania and in the Amazon forests
In Zimbabwe no longer practised.
It is practiced where population is very space.
It involves the following stages.
Cutting down trees and stark to dry.
Burning and ash is sprinkled in the field.
Cultivation using simple tools like hoes and digging sticks
Crops grown include, millet, sorghum, ground nuts,
some maize, pumpkins, cassava.
When yield decreases normally between 5 to 10 years,
the land is abandoned and a new piece is cleared.
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SHIFTING CULTIVATION AS A SYSTEM
Nomadic Pastoralism
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The climate is too extreme i.e. semi-arid and arid which does not support settled
agriculture
Nomads depend on their animals for food and raw materials to make shelter tools
and household utensils.
They can exchange animal products for maize, wheat and other food crops
Located in Kenya and occupy the Rift Valley floor from south of Namibia into
Tanzania.
The areas are dry and hot, rainfall 500-600mm per year and average 25 oC of
temperatures.
Movements of the Masai are seasonal, controlled by variations in rainfall.
Dry season- they move their animals to mountain ranges.
Wet season (Nov-April they move animals to the lower/valley areas.
Animals kept- cattle, goats, sheep, donkey, and camel.
The Masai obtain their food from their animals, donkeys provide with transport,
and most of their raw materials come from the animals.
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Availability of capital for inputs is a problem.
Draught power is provided by animals.
A system ofmonoculture is practised.
Crops grown, maize, millet, sorghum, groundnuts, round nuts, rapoko and
sunflowers.
Livestock include cattle, goats, sheep, donkeys, pigs and chicken.
Cash crops such as sunflower, etc. provides the farmer with direct cash for school
fees.
Low producer price and lack of market Higher producer prices, more market
players, build depots and ensure quick
payment of farmers.
Poor road network and accessibility Upgrade and build roads and increase the
number of marketing depots.
Late distribution and unavailability of Early distribution of inputs such as
agricultural inputs financing, tillage, fertilisers and seeds.
Lack of information on producer prices. Producer prices to be announced early, for
example in June or July
Lack of drought power leaving to land being Practise zero tillage, practise mechanisation
left fallow or uncultivated. and access to Ddf ploughing units.
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DAIRY FARMING: THE KINTRYE ESTATE.
This is farming system whereby cows are kept for milk production as at Kintyre dairy farm
near both Harare and Norton along the Harare- Bulawayo road. OrGushungo Dairy Farm
in Mazowe area.
Dairy farming is practised near urban areas or around cities or towns so that milk is
transported while fresh. (Why)
Dairy farms are found along/near roads so that transportation of milk will not be a
problem and also inputs and other requirements from urban areas will be easy and
cheap to obtain.
Dairy farms are located where there is reliable water supply since dairy farming needs
a lot of water i.e. near urban areas.
Dairy farms are located near urban centres because there is high demand for dairy
products i.e. the Kintyre farm near Harare.
In Zimbabwe dairying occurs around Mutare, Chipinge and Chimanimani and around
Harare, Marondera and Kadoma
Market gardening/Horticulture
It is a system of commercial farming involving the growing of vegetables fruits and flowers
for sale.
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Location of market gardening
Located/practised near urban areas or cities i.e. close to the market demand is high.
Found near roads for fast transportation to the market- produce are perishable.
Near a reliable water sully for irrigation
Small plots
Intensive method of farming
Large inputs of fertilizers and chemicals to maximise yields
Labour intensive
Use of greenhouse to control pests and for quality produce
Practised all year round
Capital intensive for chemicals, fertilizers, labours.
Most of the produce are perishable hence should reach the market whilst fresh.
Irrigation facilities to ensure a constant and reliable supply of water.
Near roads for easy transport of produce and inputs.
PLANTATION AGRICULTURE
It is a large scale system of commercial farming involving the growing of perennial crops
e.g. tea, sugarcane, over a large piece of land on monoculture basis.
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Factory
Irrigation facilities
Water supply e.g. river, dams
Out growers
Monoculture
Schools, clinic, accommodation
Extensive road network
Entertainment facilities.
Climatic characteristics
Organisation
Production of tea
Planting stage
It is grown from seeds or cuttings in nursery beds, seeds takes a longer period
before it is ready for harvesting 2-3 years
Cuttings takes a short period
Growing from cuttings ensures high quality
When ready seedlings are transplanted into prepared fields (when about 15 cm high
Constant weeding, and pruning to allow the bush to grow outwards
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Harvesting
Starts after 2-3 years if grown from seeds or 9 months if from cuttings.
Done by both females and males
Hired labour is required during this period
2 leaves and a bud is plucked and loaded into baskets
The baskets are offloaded into a tractor.
Harvesting is done at intervals i.e. after 5-7 days in the dry period.
The tea leaves are transported to the factory for processing.
Tea processing
Withering- tea enters into heated whither and loose weight by 25%
Extracting rubbish by machine
Fermentation- leaf cells are broken oxidation changes the colour from green to
brown then blackish
Drying- tea goes into drying trays
Extractors remove fibre
Sorting- black tea is sorted into sizes or grades
Package- done by machines
Market
Local market- wholesalers, shops, e.t.c
Export
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Monoculture leads to soil exhaustion and erosion.
Most produce/profits are sent overseas to the parent countries.
Most crops are cash crops not food crops. Local population have to improve food
stuffs.
DISCUSSION AREAS
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For each describe where it is grown growing conditions and how it is grown and
processed.
What problems are being faced by Zimbabwean farmers?
With the aid of a map/diagram describe and explain the agricultural regions of
Zimbabwe.
What measures can be taken to reduce the effects of drought?
What measures can be taken to reduce the problem of winter frost?
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of land inversion/occupation of
commercial areas.
Discuss the resettlement programme in Zimbabwe.
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