Higher Geography-Rural
Types of Agriculture
The types of farming we will study:
Read pages 230 and 231 of Higher Geography
and write definitions of:
Shifting Cultivation
Intensive Peasant Farming
3. Commercial Farming
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2.
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Types of Agriculture
Higher Geography-Rural
Read pages 230 and 231 of Higher Geography and write
definitions of:
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Arable Farming =
Pastoral Farming =
Mixed Farming =
Subsistence Farming =
Commercial Farming =
Shifting Cultivation =
Intensive Farming =
Extensive Farming =
Organic Farming =
Arable Farming = Outputs are crops
Pastoral Farming = Outputs are livestock
Mixed Farming = Outputs are crops and Livestock
Subsistence Farming = Feed local people without surplus
Commercial Farming = Surplus is made to sell.
Shifting Cultivation = Also known as ‘slash and burn’. Plots
cultivated then abandoned
Intensive Farming = Limited area is farmed. Capital input is
low.
Extensive Farming = Large area is farmed. Capital is high.
Organic Farming = No chemicals or technology are used e.g.
fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides.
Shifting Cultivation
(Subsistence Farming)
1.
Shifting Cultivation
Shifting Cultivation
is the most
extensive form of
subsistence farming,
and is still practised
in the rainforests of
South America, SE
Asia and Africa.
Tropic of
Cancer
Amazon
Basin
Central
Africa
Indonesia
and PNG.
Equator
Tropic of
Capricorn
Global
Global Distribution
Distribution of
of Shifting
Shifting Cultivation
Cultivation
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What is Shifting Cultivation?
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A small area of land is cleared and the vegetation
burned, providing a source of nutrients from the
ash.
For a few years the soil remains sufficiently fertile
for the tribe to grow crops.
When the soil's fertility is exhausted, the tribe
moves on and clears another small area of forest.
The original area is regenerated, as it receives
nutrients and seeds from surrounding vegetation.
As no lasting damage occurs, this method of
agriculture is sustainable.
It is sometimes called 'slash and burn' agriculture.
The main crops are maize, manoic, yucca,
yams and cassava. Yields are low and
protein is added to the diet through
hunting, gathering and fishing.
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Practiced in the Tropical
Rainforests of the world,
such as Amazonia, central
Africa and south east
Asia, where population
density is low.
It is a small-scale,
primitive but sustainable
(environmentally friendly)
form of agriculture in
which a small plot of land
is used but a large area is
required. A typical family
unit of 20 people uses
around 120 hectares.
Shifting Cultivation
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Shifting Cultivation
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So this system is perfect…..
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Or indeed was perfect……..
An estimated population exceeding 250
million people derive subsistence from the
practice of shifting cultivation, and
ecological consequences are often negative,
but are not as severe provided new forests
are not invaded.- Concept of ‘Slash and
Burn.’
Two changes
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A) Change to the environment- The forests
in which shifting cultivation is practised are
now seen by the countries which control
them as a source of wealth to be used to
benefit the whole country, not just the
people who live there.
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Example:Brazil
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government in Brazil
now see the Rainforest as
a stimulant for the rest of
the country’s economy.
So…..
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The result….
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The result is the
destruction of the
rainforest, and the pushing
back of the shifting
cultivators, so they have
less and less land. This
means that the soil is not
allowed sufficient chance
to regenerate, and the
fertility declines.
The Effects
Increased population has meant:
 Land is fallow/fertile for a shorter period of
time.
 Crops are being grown on a larger area of
land
 New villages are being created
 Crops and timber are being sold to buy
more food
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Amazonia is rich in minerals needed in the
factories in the South.
Timber is needed both at home and to sell abroad.
Poor people from the North East need farmland
People need beef, and cattle ranches can be carved
out of the forest.
These empty lands are to be secured against
colonisation from Brazil’s neighbours, e.g. Peru
Two changes
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B) Change to the people- Within
communities themselves, changes are
having an impact on the agricultural system.
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Improvements in communications have led
to an increase in health-care, and this has
had an unforeseen effect.
Summary of Shifting Cultivation
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1) Natural Forest is
cleared. Trees which
provide food crops, as
well as large trees used to
shelter ground crops are
allowed to remain.
The felled trees dry out
and are burned. This kills
off weeds, and provides a
layer of fertile ash. This is
where the term ‘slash and
burn’ originates.
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Summary of Shifting Cultivation
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2) The village is built
and crops are grown
for use of the people
that live within it.
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Remember, shifting
cultivation is
subsistence farming!
Summary of Shifting Cultivation
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4) After a few years
the clearing is
abandoned, and the
people have to move
elsewhere.
Therefore, stages 1-3
will repeat in a
different area of the
rainforest.
Summary of Shifting Cultivation
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Summary of Shifting Cultivation
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6) After a few years,
the clearing has
integrated into the
forest.
Overall, this cycle has
repeated itself over
time, and has only
ran into
complications with
recent developments.
5) The clearing is
recognised by plants,
both by the trees
which survive and
from the surrounding
forest. Thus, the area
will over a period of
approx. 25 years
‘regenerate itself’.
Main Characteristics of
Shifting Cultivation
Summary of Shifting Cultivation
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3) The soil begins to
lose it’s fertility as
now the nutrient cycle
has been broken by
human interference.
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Clearings are made in the rainforest by cutting down
and burning trees.
Cultivation refers to the practice of growing crops in
the clearing, using ash as fertiliser.
Shifting refers to the practice of moving to another
clearing as the soil becomes exhausted. This is due
to the shortened fallow period.
It is a ‘subsistence’ method of farming (only enough
crops are grown to support the population)
This farming system is labour intensive and only
supports low population densities.
Hunting and gathering also practiced to provide
protein to the diet.
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