Food production

• system

  A practice in which there are recognisable inputs, processes and outputs.
• Irrigation

  Supplying dry land with water by systems of ditches and also by more advanced means
• Economies of scale

  The reduction in unit cost as the scale of an operation increases.
• Agricultural technology

  The application of techniques to control the growth and harvesting of animal and vegetable products.
• Land tenure

  The ways in which land is or can be owned
• Green revolution

  The introduction of high-yielding seeds and modern agricultural techniques in developing countries
• Inputs 


  Land

  energy

  labour

  machinery

  fertilisers

  pesticides

  seeds
• Processes 


  Preparing land

  ploughing

  harrowing

  manuring

  sowing

  fertilising

  weeding

  pest control
• Outputs

  main product

  by product

  waste product
• Arable farming

  Cultivation of crops and not involved with livestock. An arable farm may concentrate on one crop (monoculture), such as wheat, or may grow a range of different crops.
• pastoral farming

  Involves keeping livestock such as dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep and pigs.
• Mixed farming

  involves cultivating crops and keeping livestock together on a farm. Usually on a mixed farm at least part of the crop production will be used to feed the livestock.
• Subsistence farming

  The most basic form of agriculture where the produce is consumed entirely or mainly by the family who work the land or tend the livestock.
• Commercial farming

  The objective is to sell everything that the farm produces. The aim is to maximise yields in order to achieve the highest profits possible.
• Extensive farming

  A relatively small amount of agricultural produce is obtained per hectare of land, so such farms tend to cover large areas of land. Inputs per unit of land are low.
• Intensive farming

  Characterised by high inputs per unit of land to achieve high yields per hectare. Examples of intensive farming include market gardening, dairy farming and horticulture.
• Organic farming

  Does not use manufactured chemicals, so production is without chemical fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides. Instead, animal and green manures are used along with mineral fertilisers such as fish and bone meal.
• Physical factors 


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• Economic factors 


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• Social and cultural factors

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• Political factors 


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