Agricultural Production Systems - Essay Example

Agricultural Production Systems Introduction: The natural vegetation, characteristics of the soil, the crops that are grown and the methods of farming employed in various regions across the world are different. Climate is the significant cause for the divergent nature of vegetation and soil, crops that are grown and farming systems that are used. The primary factors that are responsible for climate anywhere are the planetary pressure belts and the systems of winds and associated air masses that result from it. Among these factors of climate, precipitation of rainfall and the rate of evaporation and transpiration have the greatest impact on the agricultural production systems, determining the system that is suitable for each region and the productivity of the system. A look at some of the climatic regions of the world and the significance of rainfall on the different crops that are grown and the farming systems that are employed gives the importance of climate in the story of agriculture. The African Agricultural Scenario: Agriculture plays a dominant role in the economies of many of the African countries outside of those that are blessed with oil. The climate that dominates the continent of Africa is predominantly tropical in nature and thus is broadly divided into three climatic zones humid equatorial climate, dry climate and humid temperate climate. The amount of rainfall that is received in these different zones has played a large part in the choice of agriculture and thereby the farm techniques employed. The Humid Equatorial Climate Zone: The humid equatorial climate zone lies between five degrees north and south of the equator and the annual precipitation of rainfall is between two hundred to three hundred centimetres. This large amount of rainfall is fairly well spread throughout the year. The precipitation in this climatic zone is thus more than the evapotranspiration. The climate of this zone, which is similar to the tropical belts in Asia and South America, shows very little temperature variations and is hot, humid and wet throughout the year. These climatic conditions are responsible for the evergreen forests that are common in these equatorial climates and the agricultural system employed here bears a semblance to this in that there is no marked season for agricultural production. This is because the rainfall is fairly continuous and there is no extended dry period. The problem however is that the soil fertility is affected by the heavy rainfall. The heavy rainfall tends to leach the soil of its nutrients and thereby effect the production from this zone, as deficiency of trace elements is commonly seen. Another difficulty that the heavy rain causes is that removing of weeds is difficult and the presence of these weeds in between the agricultural crops are one of the reasons for the reduction in the productivity of the agricultural crops in this zone. The crops that are grown here have been chosen for their suitability to such heavy precipitation and also their lack of requirement of a dry period for harvesting. The commercial crops consist of perennials like rubber, oil palm, banana, coconut and cocoa. Crops that need a dry period for harvesting or cooler temperatures are not grown in this zone. It is for this reason food crops like rice and maize have limited preference in this zone and are found in areas of this region where there is a limited dry period that allows the crop to ripen for harvesting. The common and more important food crops are yams, cassavas, cocoyams, dasheen and tannia. These food crops are the staple food of the people of this zone as growing of cereals is not easily done in this zone of heavy precipitation. Thus the choice of cash crops and food crops in this zone has been done through the experience of successful growth and productivity of these crops in areas of heavy precipitation, where the precipitation nearly exceeds the evapotranspiration over any given period of time. This is the same experience in any of the heavy precipitation areas in the tropics. Dry Tropical Climate Zone: In many regions around the world that lie between the fifteen degrees and thirty degrees north and south of the equator the hot and arid climates are experienced. This almost lack of precipitation has given rise to the deserts in these regions and this is true of Africa in the form of the Sahara Desert. In such desert areas with no precipitation there is no significant agricultural activity. This clearly indicates the importance of precipitation in the possibility of agricultural activity. Humid Tropical Temperate Zone: This a zone of significant agricultural activity around the world and lies approximately five degrees to 15 degrees north and south of the equator, except for Asia where it extends to 25 degrees north and south of the equator. These are the areas that experience monsoon rainfall. There are rainy periods as well as dry periods over the year. The wet spells or monsoon rain period and dry spells are clear and have fairly definite periods of time in the year making it possible to plan the type of agricultural activity and the crops suitable for the zone. The spell of precipitation is slightly different over the spread of the zone. In the areas closer to the tropics there are two spells of precipitation, which are separated by a brief dry or reduced rainfall period. Here perennial crops like coffee, oil palms, cocoa and bananas find scope for agricultural productivity as well as crops like cotton. In addition to the yams, and cassavas as food crops, pulses and maize also are productive agricultural crops here. This diversity in the nature of agricultural crops is made possible by the brief dry spell that allows ripening and harvesting of agricultural crops like cotton, pulses and maize. In the areas further from the tropics, there are still two rainy spells interspersed by a dry spell, but the difference is that the dry spell is extended and the two wet spells are of shorter duration. This change in the precipitation has necessitated a change in the agricultural crops that are suited for this area. Perennial crops give way to crops that are more suited for the less precipitation. Only drought resistant cashew and sisal as perennial crops are seen in these areas. The common food crops are maize, cassava, sorghum, groundnuts, finger millet, sweet potatoes, beans and pulse crops. In these areas grasslands are possible and with that the possibility of raising cattle as a farming activity becomes a reality. Thus the spell of limited or no precipitation coupled with spells of heavy precipitation in these regions increase not only the diversity of crop activity in this zone, but also create the conditions necessary for the productive rearing of livestock to augment the productivity of the Zone. These different kinds of agricultural activities in the varied climatic zones in Africa have contributed to the economy of the continent in a large manner. It is estimated that nearly thirty percent of the GDP of Africa comes from agricultural activity. Nearly seventy percent of the population of the African continent are dependent on agriculture as the means of livelihood. The agricultural productivity in this region is low and it is not due to the lack of precipitation, but more because of poor farming techniques. The dependence on precipitation for the agricultural productivity of this continent is so high, that there are alarm bells ringing due to the warning of climate change and its effects on the climate and rainfall of this continent. (Welcome to Climate Change and Agriculture in Africa). Agricultural Production Systems: The impact of climate on the development of agriculture becomes clear from the look at the crop patterns in the continent of Africa. This has also led to the development of different agricultural production systems to make best use of the land available based on the climatic patterns and especially with relevance to the precipitation in the area. Pastoral Nomadism: In arid lands where rainfall is scant, agriculture is not a feasible proportion. Fodder for the livestock is also limited with the grasslands being scarce. The limited fodder available has to be utilised in such a manner that they remain sustainable in these areas of sparse precipitation. The term pastoral nomadism, suggests the wandering in search of fodder for the livestock, which in these areas is usually sheep and goat. This movement is not just looking for fodder but a means to sustain the grasslands and fodder that is available. Overgrazing in any particular area could lead to the grass and fodder in that area being so used up that it may be lost forever in these lands of low rainfall. Therefore in an attempt to conserve this valuable source of food the farmer moves from one area to another to feed the flock of sheep and goats. This method of farming is most suited to these lands with limited rainfall, as the best use of the available vegetation is accomplished without the destruction of the vegetation and with time the vegetation rejuvenates to provide grass and fodder for yet another occasion. Thus pastoral nomadism is an agricultural production system that has the ingredients of integration of cropping systems, management of domestic animals and conservation of the limited natural resources and is an agricultural production system best suited for the arid lands. (Koocheki, A. and Gliessman, R.S. (2005). Abstract. Pastoral Nomadism, a Sustainable System for Grazing Land Management in Arid Areas). Slash And Burn Or Shifting Agriculture Production System: Moving from the arid lands to the lands of rain forests we come across another agricultural production system that is also transient. The rain forests are large tracts of land covered with thick vegetation and as the name suggest lands of heavy rainfall. Land is plentiful and it is also productive, but it is covered by forest and the farmers here cut down the thick vegetation and burn it to create the land for cultivation. Hence the name slash and burn agricultural production system. The heavy rainfall however makes it unsuitable for long-term cultivation and so the agricultural activity gets shifted when productivity drops to another area of thick vegetation. This is the reason for the second term of shifting agriculture for this agricultural production system. Any attempt of sustained agricultural activity at a fixed location is doomed for failure as this example in Bolivia shows. In 1960 the government of Bolivia offered thirty to fifty acres of forestland free to farmers to clear and cultivate. Several farmers took up the offer, but however had to cultivate rice and cassava because of the heavy precipitation. In a short while the heavy rains in the area leached the lands of their fertility and even this cultivation became close to impossible. The lands were found suitable for livestock, as only grass would grow. (Alternatives to `Slash and Burn Agriculture, Bolivia). Mixed Farming: Mixed farming systems incorporate both agricultural crops and livestock production on the same farm. The advantage of the mixed farming system is that it offers a means to closed agricultural production with a minimal impact on the environment. The crop residues from the agricultural activity become useful to livestock productivity enterprise and similarly the waste products of the livestock activity in the form of farmyard manure become useful for the agricultural crop enterprise. In this manner the waste products of the two enterprises do not put a load on the environment and are used instead to increase the productivity of one another. Such mixed farming agricultural production systems are commonly seen in Asia and in fact are the mainstay of Asian agricultural productivity. In Asia the natural resources of the land, the climate and precipitation leading to large water masses, crops and animals are utilised to reinforce one another in an ecological and economically sustainable manner. The mixed farming systems in Asia show a varied pattern and are dependant on several facts, of which rainfall is one of the most important. In Indonesia, the Philippines and Indo-china there is heavy monsoon precipitation. Thus large water tracts are seen these areas. The farms are also small in size. These factors combine to provide a suitable mixed farming agricultural production system of pig, duck, fish and vegetable systems with each of the elements of the agricultural production system not just contributing to the productivity of the farm, but also utilizing the waste products of the other elements. In the Himalayan region the growing period is limited due to the colder environments and rainfall precipitation is only in the summer months, with snow fall heavy in winter. In this environment, mixed farming as an agricultural production system is seen between animals and subsistence crops. Yaks, goats and sheep are the animals involved in these mixed farming enterprises. These animals provide a variety of benefits including tillage, transportation, milk, meat, fibre or hair for warm clothing, and pack services. Their manure is used in the cultivation of subsistence crops like potato, barley, wheat, millet and fruits. Feed for these animals come from these crop residues but food conservation is a part of the mixed farming system here as the cultivation period is short. In the high rainfall areas the mixed farming agricultural production system differs both in the agricultural crop and the animals that form a part of the system. Rice is the predominant crop in these areas as rice is the staple food over most of Asia. Buffalos form a larger part of the livestock complement in these areas along with pigs. Ducks and poultry form the other part of the livestock in these areas. The food for the buffaloes, pigs, ducks and poultry is supplemented with crop residues of rice and the manure of these livestock supplement the fertilisers used in the cultivation of rice. The productivity of this agricultural production system is reflected in the economic improvement of the farmers and is seen in the increased used of farm implements like tractors. (Devendra, C. Mixed farming and intensification of animal production systems in Asia). Agricultural Production Systems in the United Kingdom: Winds that blow in from the Atlantic Ocean bring with it moist air, which is responsible for the precipitation of rainfall in the United Kingdom and the amount of moisture present in the soil. The winds blow from the west across to the east and so more rainfall precipitates in the western districts of the United Kingdom and hence more grass is found in these districts. The result is that the agricultural production systems vary from the west of the country to the east of the country. The grass growth in the western districts makes dairy farming the preferred agricultural production system in the west of the United Kingdom. (FARMING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM). The development of farming systems in the United Kingdom is argued to have started in the mid eighteenth century with the increase in population being the stimulant for it. Areas of farming systems that consisted of fishing and fowling gave way to the more productive farming systems arable land farming more so in the eastern parts of the United Kingdom. (Overton, Mark. (2002). Agricultural Revolution in England 1500 – 1850). The crop mix was also changed for increased productivity. Low yielding varieties were replaced with high yielding varieties of crops like wheat and barley. More and more lowlands were reclaimed for arable farming. Despite the loss of grazing lands, introducing new high yielding and nutritive fodder crops like turnips and clover maintained fodder supplies. The realization of the utility of nitrogen was the next progressive step in the farming systems in the United Kingdom. (Overton, Mark. (2002). Agricultural Revolution in England 1500 – 1850). The realization of the importance of nitrogen in increasing the productivity of cereals came about in the early nineteenth century. As a result legumes were grown to increase the nitrogen availability of the soil. Manure from the livestock was also added to the soil in those areas deficient of nitrogen. The organic farming of the previous years was gradually giving way to farming systems that were based on energy intensive inputs. This efficient and sustainable farming system came under threat with the advent of chemical fertilisers derived from fossil fuels and soon replaced the natural replenishment of nitrogen in the soil of these farming systems with artificial replenishment by the use of chemical fertilisers. (Overton, Mark. (2002). Agricultural Revolution in England 1500 – 1850). Dairy Farming In The United Kingdom: The western parts of United Kingdom enjoy greater rainfall and hence have more grassland. This has made diary farming common in these lowland farms, as diary farming is a grass-based agricultural production system in the United Kingdom. Every farm in these areas in earlier times tended to have diary cows for milk production. Technological advances in the form of milking machines lowered the cost of production in large herds making it more profitable to have large herds. As a result the number of dairy holdings dropped sharply, with the smaller farmers shifting to flocks of sheep of rearing beef cattle. There were 1,70,000 registered dairy holdings in the United Kingdom in 1956, which dropped sharply to around 30,000 in 2002. This did not reduce the production of milk though and to the contrary the volume of milk sold each year increased from 25, 000 litres in 1956 to 4,50,000 litres in 2002. This increase was a result of the increase in number of dairy cows with the large farms and the easier means of milking the cows. Another technological advancement provided a solution for the winter feed problem. In this area of fairly widespread rain even in summer made it difficult to dry grass for the winter. Ensiled or preserved grass or silage was made possible by technology and high quality winter-feed was the result. (Dairy Farming). Mixed Farming In The United Kingdom: In the thirteenth and fourteenth century mixed farming in the form of integrated crop livestock farming originated in Flanders. In the seventeenth century it found its way into the United Kingdom, as a result of the grazing land becoming scarce with the increase in population. It became no easy matter find grazing lands for the livestock and manure from these livestock was necessary to provide the added nutrients for successful crop production. This was the reason that the farmers in the United Kingdom used the integrated crop livestock farming of Flanders as a solution to their livestock grazing problems. The livestock was kept on deep litter and fed on residues from the crops or on crops that assisted in fixing or mobilising nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus. They were fed with legumes that helped in fixing nitrogen and rape crops that helped in mobilizing soil phosphorus. In this manner the farmers in the United Kingdom found a solution to their grazing problems with the added benefit of nutrients for their crop productivity. These farms were also close to towns and villages and this gave the opportunity to the farmers to sell the animal produce to these towns and villages and generate cash. (Successful Mixed Systems). This was the start to the energy efficient farming systems in the United Kingdom. Chemical fertilisers made it possible to further increase the yield of land both in the mixed farming and in arable farming. However mixed farming provided the benefit of reducing the weariness of the land from continuous exploitation with its capacity for natural replenishments through legumes and farmyard manure. These benefits were to see the resurgence of these mixed farms in their new form of organic farms that do not use chemical fertilisers at all. The mixing of crop production and livestock production in a mixed farm is the basic ingredient of organic farming as organic farming avoids the use of artificial fertilisers and pesticides. Maintenance of soil fertility through natural means is assisted by the presence of livestock in mixed farms. (Organic Food and Farming). Arable Farming In The United Kingdom: A significant portion of the countryside of the United Kingdom is made up of arable land and constitutes thirty four percent of it. The crops that are grown on it are either for human consumption or for the consumption of livestock. There has been an increase seen in the crop production for industrial purposes and the example of this is the increase in rapeseed and linseed production for industrial oil production. The other common crops grown on the arable land in the countryside are wheat and barley. Potatoes, sugar beet, beans and oats are the other crops seen in these arable lands. (Arable Farming). The arable lands are facing a problem in that the soil has been exploited for too long and the productivity is dropping. The solution to this would probably lie in bringing the grasslands under the plough and converting the arable lands to grasslands. Thus rotating the use of land between arable land and grasslands provides the means out of this issue, especially so in the regions of high rainfall in the western parts of the country. (Sir, Stapledon, R. George and Davies Williams,. Ley Farming). The climate of the United Kingdom is temperate and the rainfall precipitation is such that a wide variety of arable and horticultural crops are extremely productive in the United Kingdom, which has developed farming systems to exploit this. The crop yields from crops like wheat, barley, oats and oilseed rape that are grown in the United Kingdom are the highest in the world, displaying the efficiency of the farming systems used. However the threat of climate change due to global warming and its effect on the rainfall precipitation brings fear that this rosy picture could change and the efficient farming systems that have been developed may not be suitable for the changes that may result from climate change due to global warming. (Impact of Climate Change on Crops). Conclusion: The evolution of agriculture and the different agricultural production systems have enabled humankind to meet the challenges of the growing population of the world. All the same the agricultural production systems that have developed in the different regions of the world reflect the climatic conditions of the region and the precipitation pattern that the regions experience. Literary Works ‘Alternatives to `Slash and Burn Agriculture, Bolivia’. in the field. BBC WORLD SERVICE. [Online]. Available at: http://www.nri.org/InTheField/bolivia_s_b.htm. ‘Arable Farming’. Farming. RSPB. [Online]. Available at http://www.rspb.org.uk/countryside/farming/farmingUK/arable_farming.asp. ‘Dairy Farming’. ninemsn.Encarta. [Online]. Available at http://au.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761577829/Dairy_Farming.html. Devendra, C. ‘Mixed farming and intensification of animal production systems in Asia’. [Online]. Available at http://www.fao.org/Wairdocs/ILRI/x5462E/x5462e0i.htm. ‘FARMING IN THE UNITED KINGDOM’. Farming Information. BRANSTONE FARM. [Online]. Available at http://www.iwight.com/branstone_farm/uk_farming.asp. ‘Impact of Climate Change on Crops’. Climate Change & Agriculture. [Online}. Available at. http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/climate/climatechange/section4.pdf. Koocheki, A. and Gliessman, R.S. 2005. Abstract. ‘Pastoral Nomadism, a Sustainable System for Grazing Land Management in Arid Areas’. THE HARWORTH PRESS, INC. [Online]. Available at: http://www.haworthpress.com/store/ArticleAbstract.asp?sid=CBDP4VK8KUS09LFJLRQL48MVQTPWCNQ6&ID=52693. ‘Organic Food and Farming’. Farming. defra. [Online]. Available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/organic/farmers/farm-method.htm. Overton, Mark. 2002. ‘Agricultural Revolution in England 1500 – 1850’. bbc.co.uk. [Online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/society_culture/industrialisation/agricultural_revolution_02.shtml. Overton, Mark. 2002. ‘Agricultural Revolution in England 1500 – 1850’. bbc.co.uk. [Online]. Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/society_culture/industrialisation/agricultural_revolution_03.shtml. Sir, Stapledon, R. George and Davies Williams. ‘Ley Farming’. Small farms. [Online]. Available at: http://journeytoforever.org/farm_library/ley/ley6.html. ‘Successful Mixed Systems’. CORPORATE DOCUMENT REPOSITORY. FAO. [Online]. Available at: http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/DOCREP/004/Y0501E/y0501e09.htm. ‘Welcome to Climate Change and Agriculture in Africa’. Climate Change and Agriculture I Africa. [Online]. Available at: http://www.ceepa.co.za/climate_change/. 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