Agriculture

3 types of agriculture

• Wet rice cultivationWet rice cultivation

• High-tech farmingHigh-tech farming

• Shifting cultivationShifting cultivation

Agricultural systems

InputsInputs ProcessesProcesses OutputsOutputs

Wet rice cultivation

• In pairs, describe what you see in the picture.

Wet rice cultivation

• Inputs: water, sunlight, nutrients Inputs: water, sunlight, nutrients (fertilisers), soil(fertilisers), soil

• Process: labour intensive, rice is grown on Process: labour intensive, rice is grown on flooded field in clayey soil. Mainly flooded field in clayey soil. Mainly subsistence farming which is permanent. subsistence farming which is permanent. Technology used may be low-tech or high Technology used may be low-tech or high tech.tech.

• Outputs: wet riceOutputs: wet rice

Case Study: Thailand

• Climate - high rainfall in wet seasonClimate - high rainfall in wet season - Irrigation is used in dry season- Irrigation is used in dry season• Alluvial soil is fertileAlluvial soil is fertile• Rivers provide cheap way of transportRivers provide cheap way of transport• Large numbers of workers availableLarge numbers of workers available• Labour intensiveLabour intensive• Farmers use machines, fertlisers and high-Farmers use machines, fertlisers and high-

yielding seeds recently to increase outputyielding seeds recently to increase output

• Impact of rice cultivation on environmentImpact of rice cultivation on environment– Soil will be infertile if land is cultivated Soil will be infertile if land is cultivated

continuouslycontinuously– Fertilisers and pesticides need to be usedFertilisers and pesticides need to be used– Some chemicals may dissolve in ground Some chemicals may dissolve in ground

water or washed into riverswater or washed into rivers– Pollute environment and kill living thingsPollute environment and kill living things

• Impact of rice cultivation on environmentImpact of rice cultivation on environment– Rotting stalks and leaves release methane to Rotting stalks and leaves release methane to

the air leading to global warmingthe air leading to global warming– High rates of evaporation in the field during High rates of evaporation in the field during

dry season causes salt to accumulate in water dry season causes salt to accumulate in water and soiland soil

– Soil becomes saline and infertileSoil becomes saline and infertile

High tech farming

Egg farm which uses technology and automation

Aquaculture – grow fishes, prawns

High-tech farming

• For e.g. aeroponic farmingFor e.g. aeroponic farming• Inputs: water, sunlight, nutrientsInputs: water, sunlight, nutrients• Processes: Use of technology to increase Processes: Use of technology to increase

value and quality of crop. Not labour value and quality of crop. Not labour intensive, usually on limited land in intensive, usually on limited land in populated areas. High cost commercial populated areas. High cost commercial farming which is permanent. farming which is permanent.

• Outputs: high value crops e.g. hydroponic Outputs: high value crops e.g. hydroponic vegetables, eggsvegetables, eggs

Where?

• Near cities in countries with high level of technology e.g. Singapore

– Lim Chu Kang, Nee Soon, Loyang

• BenefitsBenefits– Releases farmland for other uses when Releases farmland for other uses when

Singapore has limited and expensive land Singapore has limited and expensive land – Use of technology leads to high quality and Use of technology leads to high quality and

quantity of productsquantity of products– Increase in income for farmersIncrease in income for farmers– Meet demands of Singaporeans and to enable Meet demands of Singaporeans and to enable

Singapore to increase self-sufficiencySingapore to increase self-sufficiency

• ChallengesChallenges– High cost of setting upHigh cost of setting up– Shortage of trained workersShortage of trained workers– Competition from cheaper imports from Competition from cheaper imports from

MalaysiaMalaysia

• Impact on environmentImpact on environment– Less fertilisers used Less fertilisers used – More land resources conservedMore land resources conserved– Less fuel used because crops not transported Less fuel used because crops not transported

for long distancefor long distance– Crops grown in controlled conditions to meet Crops grown in controlled conditions to meet

demand of people to minimise wastagedemand of people to minimise wastage