FARMING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Introduction to farming vocabulary

1 To sell 4 To store 2 To harvest 3 To plant 5 Crops 6 To plough

monoculture to pick tea basket

FARMING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Types of farming in developing countries

There are three main kinds of farming in developing countries: • Subsistence agriculture • Intensive subsistence farming • Tropical plantations

Subsistence agriculture • Subsistence cycle – natural hazards – growing population – famine • Low output and investment • Low technology • Whole family producing for itself • Africa, Asia, America • Several crops ( legumes, tubers. . )

Intensive subsistence farming • • • Populated areas Intensive farming Great output Low technology and investment Whole family or community producing for itself Lots of workers SE Asia (China, India) Monoculture (rice) Great improvements after Green revolution

Tropical plantations Commercial agriculture Exportation (multinationals) Great output Great investment Low machinery Lots of workers (salary earners) • America, Africa, Asia • Monoculture (coffee, tea, cocoa) • Heritage from colonial times • • •

FARMING IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Features and problems

Features • Agriculture (arable and pastoral) is the main economic activity in LEDCs (about 70% of workers). • Subsistence agriculture (extensive and intensive). Low output • Commercial agriculture in tropical plantations is for exportation. • Monoculture and several crops • Low technology and investment (except in plantations)

Problems • Poverty trap in subsistence agriculture LOW OUTPUT LOW LEVEL TECHNOLOGY NO SURPLUS NO CAPITAL LOW INVESTMENT

Problems • Famine in Africa • Pressure on the land due to growth of population. Low output and exhausted soils • Green revolution (GR) and GM crops have improved outputs, mainly in rice crops; but population growth in SE Asia is higher than output growth. Many farmers can’t afford the investments required (machinery, fertilisers. . . ) and they migrate to the cities.

Problems • In tropical areas the most fertile lands are used for plantations (exportation) and provide employment in LEDCs. But the salary is low and workers haven’t enough money to live. On the other hand, other farmers have to cultivate less fertile land. As a result of that, there is not enough food and famine occurs in many places (mainly in Africa)