Chapter 10 Key Issue 2

Transcription

1 Human Geography By James Rubenstein Chapter 10 Key Issue 2 Where Are Agriculture Regions in Less Developed Countries? April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 1

2 LDC Agricultural Types 1.Shifting cultivation 2.Pastoral nomadism, and 3.Intensive subsistence with wet rice 4.Intensive subsistence without wet rice 5.Plantation (discussed in the third key issue). April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 2

3 Shifting Cultivation Practiced in Humid Low-Latitude climate regions, with high temperatures and abundant rainfall. Called shifting cultivation because "agriculture" implies greater use of tools and animals and sophisticatedly modified landscape. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 3

4 Shifting Cultivation A form of subsistence agriculture in which people shift activity from one field to another; each field is used for crops for a relatively few years and left fallow for a relatively long period. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 4

5 Characteristics of Shifting Cultivation 1. Farmers clear land for planting by slashing vegetation and burning the debris 2. Farmers grow crops on a cleared field for only a few years. 3. Live in small villages 4. Grow food on the surrounding village controlled land. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 5

6 Slash-and Burn Agriculture Another name for shifting cultivation, so named because fields are cleared by slashing the vegetation and burning the debris. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 6

7 Slash and Burn April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 7

8 The Process of Shifting Cultivation 1. Villagers identify area for planting. 2. They cut most of the trees. 4. The debris is burned. 5. Ashes provide needed nutrients. 6. Cleared land can support crops about three years or less. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 8

9 Swidden A patch of land cleared for planting through slashing and burning. Also known as ladang, milpa, chena, and kaingin. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 9

10 Swidden April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 10

11 If area outside of the village is too small to provide food for its members, some will move and establish a new village or temporarily establish another settlement in a remote area. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 11

12 Crops of Shifting Cultivation Rice in Southeast Asia. Maize (com) and manioc (cassava) in South America. Millet and sorghum in Africa. Yams, sugarcane, plantain, and vegetables also are grown in some regions. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 12

13 Most families grow only for their own needs, so one swidden may contain a large variety of intermingled crops. Families may specialize in a few crops and trade with villagers who have a surplus of others. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 13

14 Ownership and Use of Land in Shifting Cultivation Traditionally, land is owned by the village as a whole. Shifting cultivation occupies approximately 25% of the world's land area, while only 5% of the world's population engages in it. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 14

15 Future of Shifting Cultivation The % of land devoted to shifting cultivation is declining in the tropics at the rate of about 40,000 square miles, or 1% per year. The amount of Earth's surface allocated to tropical rain forests has already been reduced to less than half of its original area. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 15

16 Tropical Rain Forest April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 16

17 Future of Shifting Cultivation Shifting cultivation is being replaced by logging, cattle ranching, and cultivation of cash crops. Until recent years the World Bank supported deforestation with loans to finance development schemes that required clearing forests. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 17

18 Criticisms of Shifting Cultivation 1. Can support only a small population without causing environmental damage. 2. At best a preliminary step in economic development. 3. Should be replaced by more sophisticated agriculture that yields more per land area. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 18

19 Defense of Shifting Cultivation 1. Other forms of agriculture may damage soil, cause severe erosion, and upset balanced ecosystems. 2. Large-scale destruction of the rain forests also may contribute to global warming. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 19

20 Defense of Shifting Cultivation 3. The burning and decay of great numbers of trees release large volumes of CO Elimination could also upset the traditional local diversity of cultures in the tropics. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 20

21 In Brazil's Amazon rain forest, deforestation is increasing. A 1997 U.S. government study placed deforestation... at 58,000 square kilometers (22,000 square miles) per year. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 21

22 Pastoral Nomadism A form of subsistence agriculture based on herding domesticated animals. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 22

23 Pastoral Nomadism Pastoral refers to sheep herding. Occurs where dry climates make planting crops is impossible. Only about 15 million people are pastoral nomads, but occupy about 20% of Earth's land area. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 23

24 Characteristics of Pastoral Nomadism Dependence on animals rather than crops for survival. Animals provide milk, and their skins and hair are used for clothing and tents. Consume mostly grain rather than meat. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 24

25 Choice of Animals Nomads select the type and number of animals for the herd according to local cultural and physical characteristics. The choice depends on the relative prestige of animals and the ability of species to adapt to a particular climate and vegetation. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 25

26 Movements of Pastoral Nomads Each group controls a piece of territory and will invade another group's territory only in an emergency or if war is declared. Migration patterns evolve from intimate knowledge of area's physical and cultural characteristics. Some practice transhumance. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 26

27 Transhumance The seasonal migration of livestock between mountains and lowland pasture areas. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 27

28 Grass or other plants grown for feeding grazing animals, as well as land used for grazing. Pasture April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 28

29 The Future of Pastoral Nomadism Once considered less advanced than settled farmers. Now generally recognized as a practical way of surviving on semi-arid land. Today in decline; partly a victim of nationalistic governments and modern technology. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 29

30 Shifting cultivation and pastoral nomadism are found in regions of low (population) density. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 30

31 3/4 ths World are LDCs Intensive subsistence agriculture is needed to feed most of them. Agricultural density is so high in parts of Asia, families must produce enough food for their survival from a very small area of land. Intensive subsistence farmers waste virtually no land. Roads are kept as narrow as possible to minimize the loss of arable land. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 31

32 Intensive Subsistence Agriculture A form of subsistence agriculture in which farmers must expend a relatively large amount of effort to produce the maximum feasible yield from a parcel of land. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 32

33 Subsistence and Commercial Agriculture April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 33

34 Intensive Subsistence/ Wet Rice Dominant Wet rice occupies a relatively small percentage of Asia's agricultural land but is the region's most important source of food. Intensive wet-rice farming is the dominant type of agriculture in Southeast China, East India, and much of Southeast Asia. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 34

35 Rice Production April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 35

36 Rice planted on dry land in a nursery, then moved to a deliberately flooded field to promote growth. Wet Rice April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 36

37 Malay word for wet rice, commonly but incorrectly used to describe a sawah. Paddy April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 37

38 Sawah A flooded field for growing rice (incorrectly referred to as a rice paddy. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 38

39 Chaff Husks of grain separated from the seed by threshing. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 39

40 Threshing To beat out grain from stalks by trampling it. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 40

41 Winnowed To remove chaff by allowing it to be blown away by the wind. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 41

42 Hull The outer covering of the seed. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 42

43 Wet Rice Growing Process 1.A farmer prepares the field for planting, using a plow drawn by water buffalo or oxen. 2.The plowed land is flooded. 3.Terraced hillsides provide additional land. 4. Double cropping allows land to be more intensively farmed. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 43

44 Double Cropping Harvesting twice a year from the same field. Normally, double cropping involves alternating between wet rice and wheat, barley, or another dry crop, grown in the drier winter season. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 44

45 Terraced hillside April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 45

46 Intensive Subsistence/ Wet Rice Not Dominant Climate prevents growing wet rice in portions of Asia, especially where summer precipitation levels are too low and winters are too harsh. Wheat is the most important crop, followed by barley. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 46

47 Climate Regions April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 47

48 In milder parts of the region, more than one harvest can be obtained some years through skilled use of crop rotation. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 48

49 Crop Rotation The practice of rotating use of different fields from crop to crop each year, to avoid exhausting the soil. April 19, 2013 S. Mathews 49