Rural Geography

Rural Geography You will study 2 different rural landscapes, showing 2 different types of agriculture. Commercial Arable farming in the UK (Developed country example) Intensive Subsistence farming in India (Developing country example)

Types of Farming The growing of crops – Arable Farming The rearing of livestock – Pastoral Farming Or a combination of both – Mixed Farming Subsistence Farming – to feed the local people without having a surplus Commercial Farming - to produce a small surplus for sale at local markets, or a large surplus often for distance markets

Farming Types Subsistence Farmers may lack modern capital and modern technology but their efforts involve a high degree of skill and are labour intensive. Commercial Farmers make use of all kind of technology (Mechanical, Chemical and Biological,) need much capital and are dependant on efficient transport links.

Farming Types Most types of farming are sedentary, with both the farmland and permanent settlement is in fixed locations.

Intensive and Extensive Farming Intensive arable farming is usually on a small scale. A limited area of land is farmed, involving high input of labour and skill but often with a low input of capital. Extensive Farming – Much capital is invested, high inputs of all the agricultural technologies are needed to farm very large grain farms extensively.

Livestock In Livestock farming the fattening of cattle on feedlots and battery poultry units are examples of intensive farming; whereas hill sheep farming or a cattle ranch exemplify extensive farming.

A growing number of farms in the UK are becoming organic farms This means they have stopped using chemical technology – fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides.

Farming System All types of farming can be seen as systems, with inputs, processes and outputs. The location of different types of agriculture at all scales; local, regional, national and global are the result of the interaction between: The physical environment, economic, political factors and cultural (human factors)

The Farming System Inputs Outputs Processes Physical Human Economic/political

Inputs Physical Climate Length of growing season (6oC) Precipitation Soil Altitude/relief Aspect (direction a place faces) exposure

Human inputs Farm buildings Labour Transport Technology – pesticides, machines etc Economic/political Quotas/subsidies Loans from banks Market Capital Farm tenure

Processes Decision making Plough fields Plant seeds Harvesting Build/maintain fences Milk

Outputs Crops Meat Dairy products Fodder crops

Farmers use their experience and understanding of these factors to make a decision on how best to use their farmland. Where neighbouring farmers reach similar decisions a particular pattern of land use emerges in that area, (although there are always exceptions!) Different types of inputs vary according to level of development. Variations in inputs result in different types of farming throughout the world.