3.1+-+Agricultural+Systems

__From the syllabus__
Candidates should be able to:


 * Describe in general terms the main features of an agricultural system: inputs, processes and outputs.
 * Describe the influence of natural and human inputs on the processes and outputs of the two agricultural systems listed in the syllabus (a largescale system of commercial farming and small-scale subsistence farming).
 * Studies should include natural inputs (relief, climate and soil) and human inputs (economic, social and sometimes political). Their combined influences on the scale of production, methods of organisation and the products of each system should be studied. Reference may be made to an example such as plantation agriculture or extensive commercial cereal farming or extensive livestock production etc, to illustrate a large-scale system of commercial farming.
 * Examples such as intensive subsistence rice cultivation or shifting cultivation etc could profitably illustrate a system of small-scale subsistence farming. Other illustrations might be selected rather than the above. In each case reference should be made to a detailed case study.
 * Recognise the causes and effects of food shortages.
 * Shortages of food may be related to natural problems such as soil exhaustion, drought, floods, tropical cyclones, pests, disease etc.
 * There should be an awareness of the effects of these natural problems on selected areas within LEDCs.
 * Economic and political factors and their effects upon food shortages should be noted, for example low capital investment, poor distribution/transport difficulties, wars etc.
 * The effects of food shortages in encouraging food aid and measures such as those of the ‘Green Revolution’ to produce more food should also be considered.


 * Demonstrate the need for sustainable development, resource conservation and management in different environments
 * Identify and describe the benefits associated with the development of agriculture
 * Describe how these developments may also pose threats to the environment when natural ecosystems are interfered with including: soil erosion, global warming, and pollution (air, water, noise and visual).
 * Identify areas at risk from these threats to the environment and describe attempts made to maintain, conserve or improve the quality of the environment.

____Case studies____

 * Subsistence rice farming in the Ganges Basin (India and Bangladesh) (textbook p. 112)
 * Large–scale commercial farming in Denmark (textbook p.102)
 * The Green Revolution (as a means of raising production, also environmental effects) (texbook p. 113)