Agricultural GeographyKey Issue #4: Why Do Farmers Face Economic Difficulties?

Challenges for Commercial

Farmers

Overproduction in Commercial Farming

They are capable of producing more food than is demanded by consumers

Food supply has risen, but demand remains constant

The U.S. government’s three solutions:1) Farmers should avoid producing crops that

are abundant2) The government pays farmers when prices

are low3) The government buys surplus productionThe U.S. spent $25 billion in 2005 on subsidies

Sustainable Agriculture This practice preserves and enhances

environmental quality Generates less revenue, but the cost is

less

Three Principal Practices of Sustainable Agriculture

1. Sensitive Land Management – the soil is protected

• Ridge tillage – planting crops on ridge tops; the crops are planted in the same ridges year after year

Three Principal Practices of Sustainable Agriculture2. Limited Use of

Chemicals – very few herbicides and pesticides are used

Three Principal Practices of Sustainable Agriculture

3. Integrated Crop and Livestock – both are done on the local farm level; animals consume crops grown on the farm and are not confined to small pens

Challenges for Subsistence

Farmers

Choosing Crops Because of rapid population growth in PINGs, the

need for food has grown

Because of international trade, farmers who wish to advance must grow crops for trade rather than consumption

Subsistence Farming and Population Growth Ester Boserup – says that subsistence

farmers increase the supply of food through intensification of production Land is left fallow for shorter periods New farming methods More weeding, manure, water, terraces,

and irrigation

Subsistence Farming and International Trade To expand, subsistence farmers need:

higher yield seeds, pesticides, machinery

To buy supplies, PINGs must sell to PEDs Dilemma for PINGs: more land devoted

to export crops, less is devoted to consumption

The Dilemma cont… Export crops that are chosen = drugs 60% of the world’s opium – the Golden

Triangle of SE Asia (Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam)

The rest is grown in Afghanistan and Pakistan

Bolivia, Colombia, and Peru – produce the coca leaf

Alternative Solutions to Increase Food Supply

Expanding Agricultural Land Historically, food production increased

as the amount of farm land increased Desertification Too much water Urbanization

Through Higher Productivity The same amount of land produces

more The Green Revolution – improved

agricultural techniques of the 1970’s and 1980’s

Two Main Practices of the Green Revolution

1. The introduction of new higher-yield seeds – in the 1950’s scientists developed the “miracle wheat seed”

• 1960’s – rice• More recently - corn

2. The expanded use of fertilizers – nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium

• Farmers need machinery and irrigation to get the most out of the seeds and fertilizer

• PINGs can’t afford all of this – governments in PEDs subsidize some of the improvements

Continuing the Green Revolution

Scientists have made higher yield hybrids that are adapted to environmental conditions in various regions

Identifying New Food Sources The sea provides only a small

percentage of the world food supply Some species of fish have been

harvested too quickly

Higher Protein Cereals People in PEDs get protein from meat People in PINGs rely on wheat, corn, and

rice Scientists are experimenting with

hybrids of cereals that have a higher protein content

Improve Palatability of Rarely Consumed Foods Soybeans – mostly used for animal food

Tofu and sprouts are examples of soybean products

Krill – could be an important resource from the ocean..…yum!

Increasing Exports from Other Countries

Export more food from countries that produce surpluses

Three top export grains: wheat, maize, and rice 60 million Indians were fed by U.S. grains in 1966

and 1967 when monsoons failed The U.S. is the largest grain exporter; though it has

declined over the last 25 years

Africa’s Food Supply CrisisThe situation: Africa is

losing the race to keep food production above population growth

Production of the three main grains tripled

Population growth increased six-fold

40 million Africans face famine

The Crisis is especially severe in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan)

Causes of Mortality of Children Under 5 Years; Ethiopia, 2000

How Africa Got to This Point Traditionally, Africa has

supported limited agriculture With population growth, herd

size increased to a level that the land could not support

Animals died of hunger Farmers exhausted the land Soil Erosion Droughts in the 1970’s, 80’s,

and 90’s

Government Response Governments aggravate the problem They keep agricultural prices low for

urban residents This leaves little profit or motivation for

more productivity on the farms