Topic 5: Geography of FoodChapter 12: Intensity of Food ProductionIntensification of Food Production: It is the finding of ways to grow more crops on the same piece of land or allowing more cycles of planting and harvesting in a year.

Productivity: It can be measured in terms of labour per unit area of output per unit areaLabour per unit area is the number of workers on a unit area of land. The productivity is said to be high if the labour per unit area is lesser to produce the same amount of crop.Output per unit area is the amount of food produced on a unit area of land. The productivity is said to be high if it produces a higher output when compared to another piece of land with the same area and number of workers.

Factors Affecting Productivity: Physical Factors:

Relief:Refers to the physical height and slope of the land.Gentle or flat land is good for farming as the water is less likely to run quickly.Low relief will allow farmers to easily transport their crops and also be able to operate heavy and new machines, to increase productivity.Terraces are made on steep slopes to retain water so as to grow more crops. Only manual labour can be used.Tea grows well on sloping land as it is well drain.

Soil:Fertility of soil also affects the productivity. Fertility depends on the amount of air, water and nutrients present. Fertile soil is usually found on floodplains, deltas or areas near volcanoes. This area have constant deposition of minerals from time to time, hence the output per unit area is higher. Less resting period is needed hence, more crops could be produced.Type of soil also affects the productivity. Wet & clayey soil is suitable for growing rice, hence can be found at floodplains and river deltas.

Climate:Generally, high temperature & rainfall leads to higher productivity, as these conditions are more favourable for plant growth.However, some plants needs less water or lower temperature for growth.

Social Factors: Land Fragmentation:

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Topic 5: Geography of FoodChapter 12: Intensity of Food Production

In tradition, the father will divide his land equally among his children. Over generations, the resultant plot from all the division will be very small.Since it has limited output, machines are not used as it is unprofitable. The labour per unit area is higher, hence lower productivity.

Land Tenure: Land is either own by government or someone who is rich. Money is collected or portion of crops is collected as rents.Much of the harvest would go to the government or to the landlords. Hence the farmers feel that it is not worth investing on modern machineries to increase the productivity if the plot of land.

Economic Factors: Demand:

A high demand for food will encourage the food producers to increase their output & productivity, so they can earn more.

Capital:With a larger capital, money can be used to buy machineries, fertilizers & pesticides to increase the productivity of the farm. Large amount of money is being pump into research & development to improve the productivity of food. Some species of crops may be drought resistant.

Political Factors: Government Policies:

In Singapore, traditional farming is replaced with high-tech farming in a move to maximise land usage. Less space is needed, and less labour is needed. Hence there is a decrease in labour per unit area and an increase in output per unit area. Hence a total increase in productivity.In Malaysia, farming facilities are built, loans and subsidies are provided and also land cleared for the farming of crops, to encourage greater productivity. Roads are also built to increase make it easier for the transportation of crops.

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Topic 5: Geography of FoodChapter 12: Intensity of Food Production Technology Factors:

The Green Revolution:It helped the LDCs to increase their production of food crops through the use of modern technology.High yielding varieties: Improved strains of rice such as those that are resistant to pest and take shorter time to grow. Thus leading to a increase in productivity greatly.Modern irrigation methods: It is the practice of supplying water to the land through artificial means.This allows farmers to control water supplies to the crops, therefore, during dry seasons, farmers still can grow their crops. Modern irrigation methods allow farmers to grow their crop throughout the year.Use of chemicals: On the same piece of land, crops cannot be continuously cultivated on the same piece of land as the nutrients are limited. Fertilisers can be added to increase the nutrient content of the soil to continue cultivating crops.Pesticides and herbicides can be used to kill/poison insects or animals harmful to the crops. Fertilisers may encourage the growth of weeds hence, herbicides can be used to remove the weeds.

Positive: Negative:Less poverty, higher income, hence lesser starvation

Groundwater receding faster than being replenished by rainfall

Wheat and rice are cheaper Increase income equality gap between the rich and the poor.

Increase food productivity Environment damageLesser land use Inequitable asset distribution for small

farmers.

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Topic 5: Geography of FoodChapter 12: Intensity of Food ProductionThe Blue Revolution:

It is started to protect marine life and to ensure sufficient seafood.Blue revolution encourages fish farmers to rear fishes in tanks.In the fisheries, research and laboratories can be set up to help develop ways to increase the fertility of fishes & to increase their resistance to diseases.Hence there is a significant increase in the amount of fishes available.

Positive: Negative:Fish yields increase for short term Increase mangroves being cut downMore efficient production process Increase red tides-growth of toxic algaeIncrease profits Environment degradation Decrease fish price Fish diseases spread to those in the sea

Increase income equality gap between the rich and the poor.

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