Agriculture and Livestock: Essential Practices

Item 10: Agriculture

Agriculture is the cultivation of land to obtain food for human and animal consumption and raw materials for industry.

Agricultural Continuous Evolution: Very fast change of ownership patterns and land work.

Agricultural Development: In underdeveloped countries, agriculture represents a high percentage of production (80%) due to low-tech and traditional farming, resulting in low productivity. Only 5% of the population is dedicated to agriculture.

Physical Factors of Agriculture

• Weather: Each plant needs a certain humidity and temperature. Plants generally grow between -10ºC and +45ºC.
• Relief: Altitude and slope of terrain condition agricultural activity. Temperature decreases with altitude.
• Soil: Each plant requires specific soil characteristics.
  • Fine grain (clay): Clay soils are rich in nutrients but flood easily. Good drainage systems are needed to avoid damage.
  • Sandy: Large-grained soil that does not hold the necessary plant nutrients.
  • Loam: Compact grain, medium and poor for agriculture because it retains water and necessary nutrients.

Human Factors of Agriculture

• Population Volume: The need to feed a large population leads to a larger cultivated area.
• Farming Techniques: The use of techniques determines land performance. Developed countries use advanced techniques thanks to technology and increased production methods. Underdeveloped countries use traditional techniques.
• Production Destination:
  • Subsistence Agriculture: The produce is consumed by the family that cultivates it.
  • Market Farming: Specializes in only one product intended for sale.
• Agricultural Policy: Governments influence the evolution and characteristics of farming through laws, such as hydraulic plans that permit water to new lands, and economic aid contributions.
• Fee: Maximum amount allowed for the production of a good.
• Import: Entry of foreign production into a country.
• Agricultural Landscape Parcel: Each of the parts of an agricultural space.
• Openfield: Open field.
• Bocage: Closed field.
• Minifundio: Small cultivation.
• Latifundio: Large cultivation.
• Rainfed Agriculture: Water only from rain.
• Irrigated Agriculture: Water from rain and any other source.
• Market Agriculture: For greater gain.
  • Specialization of production.
  • Mechanization of field work.
  • Application of modern technologies.

Types of Agriculture

• Itinerant Farming: Intertropical areas, subsistence, low production.
• Savanna: Tropical countries, subsistence, extensive dry farming, low productivity, polyculture, crop rotation.
• Monsoon: Summer monsoon, rice, intensive.

Item 11: Livestock

Livestock: Animal breeding to utilize meat, wool, milk, eggs, etc. Cattle, sheep, and pigs are common species.

• Extensive Livestock: Natural grasslands, large holdings, low investment, and low production.
• Intensive Livestock: Specialized farms, large investments in research, high production.

Fishing

The capture of fish and other marine animals in seas, rivers, or lakes.

• Coastal Fishing: Takes place near the coast, in small boats with or without motors, and using artisanal methods. It is for self-consumption and is important in underdeveloped countries.
• Nearshore Fishing: Done in boats near the coast, for periods longer than one day.
• Deep-Sea Fishing: Uses large offshore boats equipped with modern technology to detect the size of the fish.