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UNIT 12:AGRICULTURE IN THE WORLD
Key unit competency: The student-teachers should be able to explain the
impact of agricultural activities on the sustainabledevelopment of different countries in the world.
Introductory activity
Look at the photographs above and answer the following questions
1. How can you associate the above photographs with the word “agriculture”
2. Identify the contribution of agriculture in socio-economic development of Rwanda.
3. Describe different types of crop cultivation.4. Discuss the main challenges facing agriculture?
Agriculture refers to the growing of crops and rearing of animals either forsubsistence or commercial purposes.
12.1. Crop cultivation
Agriculture is practiced in different parts of the world. It is categorized as a
primary activity since it involves the production of raw materials that can be
used by other industries. The following are the main types of crop cultivation.
The common types of crop production with their characteristics are briefly
described in the following pages.
12.1.1. Subsistence farming
Learning activity 12.1
1. Identify different crop cultivation methods used in farming
2. How does small subsistence farming differ from large scale farming?
Subsistence farming is an advanced form of primitive agriculture. This type of
farming refers to the growing of crops for domestic consumption. It is defined
as a self-sufficiency farming system in which the farmer focus on growing
enough food to feed themselves and their families.
Subsistence farming is commonly practiced in developing countries in Africa,
Asia and amazon basin in South America.
Characteristics of subsistence farming
The following are the main characteristics of subsistence farming:
• It involves the use of members of the family as labour force.
• Subsistence farming implies rudimentary tools like hoes, pangas to
cultivate and sometimes use of animals.
• Multi-cropping (growing many crops in the same field) is practiced. .
• The cultivated land is most of the time small.
• The production is mainly used for family consumption.
• There is limited or no use of technology in form of seeds, manure and tools.
• Organic manure and mulching are sometime applied on the land to
improve its fertility ,
• The common crops grown in Africa (African staple food) are: maize,cassava, millet, beans, sunflower, fruits and vegetables.
Advantages and disadvantages of subsistence farming
The following are the main types of subsistence farming toe considered :
(i) Shifting cultivation
Shifting cultivation, known as non-sedentary cultivation, is an agricultural
system in which plots of land are cultivated temporarily, then abandoned and
allowed to revert to their natural vegetation while the cultivator moves on toanother plot.
Shifting cultivation is practiced especially in tropical region of Africa (example:
Chipanga in Zimbabwe, Chitemene in Zambia and Masole in DRC), Central
America (Milpa) in Mexico and South East Asia (Ladang in Malaysia).
The main crops planted under shifting cultivation are mainly starchy foods
such as cassava, sweet potatoes, maize, millet, yams, etc.
Characteristics of shifting cultivation
• The farmers grow enough food to feed themselves and their family
• Practiced by remote tribal people residing in forests.
• The land to be cultivated usually is cleared from virgin forests.
• The farmer use fire in the process of clearing of land for cultivation.
• The pieces of land cultivated are usually very small. They rarely reach
beyond 1-2 hectares.
• The plots of land cultivated are isolated from each other. Such are
separated from one another by patches of forests.
• Traditional tools are used. These include digging sticks, pangas, and
simple hoes.
• The farmer usually uses family members as labour force.
• The farmer abandons the piece of land when the crop yields decline
and goes to a new part of forest to cultivate.
• The yields produced hardly support the food demands of the family.
This calls for supplementing the crop yields with fruit gathering and
bush meant from hunting.
(ii) Bush fallowing
Bush fallowing is a system of farming whereby the farmer cultivates one piece
of land for some years and leave it thereafter with the aim of restoring naturally
its fertility. Meanwhile, the farmer will be cultivating another piece of land since
the farm is divided into clear plots.
Bush fallow farming practically occurs mainly in the humid tropics of Africa,
South and Central America, Southeast Asia, and parts of Oceania.
Characteristics of bush fallowing
• It is mainly practiced by peasant farmers due to lack of agricultural inputs.
• Simple tools are used.
• The family is the main source of labour.
• Farmers are settled but the farms are the ones which are rotating.
• Bush fallowing is practiced where population density is very low.
• Farmlands are left to fallow after one or two years of cultivation.
• Farming is based on permanent and semi-permanent settlements.
• Farming depends on natural conditions for example rainfall,
temperature and soil.
(iii) Small holder farming
This is a type of farming that is practiced in densely populated areas of the
tropics. It is a more advanced form of subsistence farming where the lands are
frequently cultivated and the community stays permanently in one spot. Croprotation, melding, inter cropping, application of fertilizers etc. are applied.
Characteristics of small holder farming
• It is practiced in densely populated areas of the tropics
• Both food crops and cash crops are grown intensively on the same
piece of land as well as rearing of very few animals.
• Farm plots are very small and fragmented
• As the land is small, crop rotation is practiced to preserve soil fertility
as well as mulching techniques.
• Use of better farming techniques like irrigation farming on small scale,
pesticides and herbicides. Manure as well as artificial fertilizers is
applied on the plot.• Available land is subdivided into small uneconomical plots to cultivate.
12.1.2. Cooperative farming and Plantation farming
Learning activity 12.2
1. Using your own words, what does cooperative farming means?
2. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of cooperative farming
3. Examine the main features of plantation farming.
a. Cooperative farming
This is a system of farming where farmers with similar interests pull their
resources together to increase production and benefits. Individual farms
remain intact and farming is a matter of cooperative initiative. The object of
this organization is to help each other in agriculture for their common interests.
There is collective ownership of land. The farmers are also registered and
governed by laws.
Characteristics of cooperative farming
• There is collective ownership of resources such as factories, stores,
and means of transport.
• Labour is provided by the members themselves.
• Profits and losses are shared equally by members.
• Credits facilities are available to the members from the funds collected.
• The members are educated and informed about new developments
from time to time.
• The farms are either scattered or consolidated into one big unit.
• Land ownership may be on collective basis.
• Marketing of the produce is done collectively.
• Cooperatives are officially registered and governed by laws and regulations.
• There is quality control of the products.
• There is easy access to credits facilities to the members from thecollected funds.
Advantages and disadvantages of cooperative farming
b. Plantation farming
Plantation farming is a form of commercial agriculture where a single crop is
grown on a large area for profit. Countries that have plantation farming are
those usually experiencing high annual temperatures and receive high annual
rainfall. It is very distinctive type of agriculture which is practiced within thetropics especially in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Among the most important crops found on plantations are coffee, tea, rubber,
oil palm, cocoa, sugarcane and wheat. Besides, fruits such as pineapples and
bananas as well as fibers like cotton, hemp, jute and sisal are examples of
plantation agriculture.
Characteristics of plantation farming
• A huge labour force is required comprising of skilled, semi-skilled and
unskilled workers.
• A selected crop is grown on large estates covering thousands of
hectares and run by a large company or under government.
• Plantation farming requires heavy capital investment to purchase
machinery and establish infrastructure.
• Production is mainly for the market and not for the farmers’ consumption.
• There is specialization of labour.
• Plantations are scientifically managed. They use machineries, selected
improved seeds, weed control, application of fertilizers etc. which
results in high yields.
• Plantations are mainly owned by foreigners, large companies, the
government or cooperatives which have the capital required to inject
in the business.
• The crop is processed where it is grown for example sugarcane grown in Kabuye.
• There is less wastage of crop, e.g. from sugarcane we get sugar, sweets,
animal feeds, cardboards, fertilizers, etc.
• Plantations cover large scale of land/area at least over ten hectares
• The plantation farms have well developed networks of transport
connecting plantation areas, processing industries and markets.• Plantations are normally established in sparsely populated areas.
Advantages and disadvantages of plantation farming
The following are advantages and disadvantages of plantation farming:
12.1.3. Market gardening, Horticulture and Truck farming
Learning activity 12.3
1. How does Market gardening differ from horticulture?
2. Describe the main features of truck farming.
a) Market gardening
A market garden is a form of farming that is relatively small-scale specializing
in cultivation of fruits, vegetables and flowers as cash crops, frequently sold
directly to consumers and restaurants. This form of farming is an example of
intensive commercial farming as far as it involves growing of crops on small
plots of land which are scientifically managed.
Most of market gardens are located near the cities or outside the city suburb
areas. This practice is best developed in in densely populated industrial and
urbanized countries such as the Netherlands, U.S.A, Germany, Denmark,Belgium, Canada etc.
Characteristics of market gardening
• Farms are generally small.
• The land is intensively farmed, i.e., getting maximum yield from limited land
• Vegetation may be grown in field or under glass
• Fertilizers and manures are applied to improve on the fertility of the soil.
• It is carried out mostly in urban and semi urban areas.
• The products are sold while still fresh to avoid risk of perishability.
• The products have high demand especially in urban centres.
• A lot of capital is invested and used in the farming activities.
• Much attention is given to the crop and most of the work is done by
hand labour. it is therefore labour intensive.• Irrigation is always practiced.
Advantages and disadvantages of market gardeningThe following are advantages and disadvantages of market gardening:
b) Horticulture
Horticulture may be broadly defined as the science and art of growing fruits,
vegetables and flowers and crops like spices condiments and other plantation
crops. The word Horticulture is derived from the Latin word “Hortus” meaning
enclosure (garden) and culture meaning cultivation. Thus Horticulture means
culture or cultivation of garden crops. The horticultural activity involvesplanting and tending of domesticated ornamental and food plants.
This type of agriculture is well developed in densely populated industrial
districts of North West Europe, north eastern United States of America and the
Mediterranean regions. The Netherlands specializes in growing of flowers and
horticultural crops especially tulip.
Characteristics of horticulture
• Most of the work on the farm is done manually while machines are
used in some case where farms are fairly large.
• Modern tools of crop production are used to ensure high yield.
• The farms are relatively small in terms of size and are located where
there are good transportation links with the urban centre where high
income group of consumers is located.
• The land is intensively used in order to reap maximum produce.
• Irrigation is highly recommended in this farming.• There is use of greenhouse and artificial heating in colder regions.
Advantages and disadvantages of horticulture
The following are advantages and disadvantages of horticulture:
c) Truck farming
Truck farming is a horticultural practice of growing one or more vegetable
crops on a large scale for shipment to distant markets. It is usually less intensive
and diversified than market gardening. At first this type of farming depended
entirely on local or regional markets. The common crops grown include apples,
asparagus, cabbages, Irish potatoes, string beans, cherries, and lettuce. Truck
farming is another term for market gardening. So it has nothing whatsoever to
do with trucks, although farmer may need a truck to carry his/her produce to the market.
Advantages and disadvantages of truck farming
12.1.4. Collective agriculture and Commune farming
Activity 12.4
1. In your own words, explain what collective agriculture is
2. Agriculture is the best motor of growth for many countries especially
developing ones
i) State two forms of farming adopted by Russia and China respectively
ii) Analyze the main features of commune farming system
a) Collective agriculture
Collective farming is cooperative organization in which farmers joined together
to collectively raise crops on land worked in common. This form of farming
Characteristics of collective farming
• Farms are merged to form a larger farm unit either voluntarily or
compulsorily;
• The types of crops grown are specified;
• On the farms, there is a use of machines;
• Farms are managed communally or selected committees;
• The proceeds from the sale of farm produce are shared among the members;
• The marketing of the produce is under control of the state;
• Farmers are allowed some limited are for their own crops and livestock.
is practiced in communist countries such as Russia, Poland and Bulgaria. It
involves the voluntary or compulsory grouping of land into large units with thepurpose of increasing and modernizing agriculture.
b) Commune farming
A commune word literally means a large gathering of people sharing common
life. Communes were formed in the late 1950s as Chinese president named Mao
tried to force rural people to live a more communist way of life. The Chinese
commune is not merely an agricultural commune. Instead it standards for
“unified management and deployment of labour power and means of production
on a larger scale”
The structure of the commune was such that households were organized into
teams, then teams formed brigades, and brigades formed the commune. Each
level of organization was responsible for certain activities.
Characteristics of commune
• Land was collectively owned by the members of the commune.
• Work on the land was done collectively. All members worked together
to plough the land, plant, weed and harvest.
• Preparation of meals for the members of work-team was done in one
place and serving was by cafeteria method, kitchen utensils were
owned collectively.• Returns from the farm were shared equally by all members of the team.
Advantages and disadvantages of communes in China
Application Activity 12.1
Using your knowledge and skills acquired in the previous lessons,
1. Examine the effects of rapid population growth on small scale agriculture.
2. Using geographical document and internet, discuss on the use of
cocoa and rubber.
3. Collectivization in Russia was set as possible solution to the foodcrisis. In your view, did this system resolve the problem?
12.2. Factors for increasing the agricultural production
and associated problems in the developing countries
Activity 12.5
1. Discuss on factors that contribute to the increase of agricultural
production.
2. Explain the major challenges facing agriculture in developing
countries.
12.2.1. Factors for increasing the agricultural production
Many factors act together to influence the productivity and profitable income
from the agriculture.
• Relief: The farming system adopted depends on the relief of the area. So
relief may influences the increase of agricultural production in different
way:
─ Lowlands, such as flood plains, are more productive agriculturally.
─ Steep slopes are obstacles to the machinery use and have thinner
soils; on the other hand gentle slopes are less prone to soil erosion.
─ For some crops like Tea and coffee crops do well in the well-drained
soil on hill slopes
• Soil: The type and characteristics of soil in a certain area determines the
type of farming to be practiced. Areas with fertile soils encourage crops
farming, while places with poor, thin soils discourage crop growing and
favour rearing of animals.
• Drainage: Market gardening and horticulture prefer swampy areas just
because of the presence of permanent water.
• Climate: A prolonged drought season leads to drying of crops and pasture
for animal leading to poor yield. On another hand, a reliable rainfall in an
area is a vital for crop growing.
• Capital: Capital is the money the farmer has to invest in agricultural
activities; it is useful to increase the amount of different inputs into the
farm which have a direct effect on the production.
• Technology: Advance in technology development play a big role in
agriculture. Proper use of technology helps in extending the area of optimal
conditions and maximizes the expectations of farmers.
• Market: The wish of any farmer is to grow crops which are in demand and
change to meet new demands.
• The Government policy: The government may influence a particular
agricultural practice, it may also influence the crops grow through
regulations, subsidies and quotas.
12.2.2. Problems affecting the agriculture in the developing countries
Here are some problems facing farmers in developing countries:
• Harsh climate: Despite the great advances that have been achieved
in technological development, people do not have any control over
climate. Example, they cannot increase rainfall in the deserts nor they
cannot prevent the rivers of the temperate regions from freezing. So
agriculture is affected by the seasonal nature of rainfall which makes
agricultural planning more difficult.
• Infertile soil: Soil is a medium in which plant grow. Large areas of the
tropical region have infertile soils. This reduces crop productivity.
• Relief: It refers to the general appearance of the landscape. Very
high mountainous areas hinder agricultural activities because of the
extreme low temperature, thin soils and steep slope which limit the
agricultural mechanization.
• Lack of information: Most of small scale farmers in Africa miss out on
new and improved methods of farming. Even in cases where there is
some access to information, most poor farmers are unable to discern
due to illiteracy which is high in rural Africa.
• Limited capital: Most farmers in Africa are poor financially making it
almost impossible for them to adopt new farming practices. Financial
support enable farmers to grow, expand, and maintain their yields by
purchasing farm machinery, agro-chemicals, fertilizers, better seed
varieties and to open up irrigation system and other agricultural inputs.
• Poor transport system: This is a major challenge facing not just
agriculture but the economy in general throughout Africa. Most of the
farm produce in Africa just go to waste in the remote areas and it is
mostly because farmers find it very difficult to transport their farm
produce to the market to sell.
• Poor market: Lack of market facilities and poor government
regulations make it almost impossible for farmers especially small
scale farmers to market their farm produce. Another issue is low
prices paid to farmer for their harvest which sometime discourage
some farmers.
• Poor technology: Farmers in developing countries are still using
simple tools like hoes, axes, pangas and digging sticks which results
into low yielding per unit area.
• Limited research: research is a key to develop high-yielding crop
varieties. In many developing countries, carrying out research in
agriculture is limited due to insufficient financial support and scarcity
of technical personnel to conduct the research.
• Rapid population growth: Population pressure on land results into
land scarcity, fragmentation and overexploitation of land leading to soil
exhaustion, which ultimately results, into environmental degradation
and poor crop yields.
• Natural hazards: Many risk and uncertainties are involved in
agriculture such as flood, landslides, drought, and heavy rainfall
destroying crop yields. Ultimately, poor harvests led to famine.
• Political instability: Some countries in Africa and Asia do not
experience enough security due to alternate and continuous conflict
in their region. This results in abandonment of farms as people are
constantly fleeing wars. The wars destroy farm machinery and does
not allow a long term planning necessary to develop and improve the
agricultural sector.
Application Activity 12.2
1. The African land can provide all that people need to survive.
Unfortunately, much of this land is untapped. What can people do
to improve agricultural productivity?
2. Reference to Rwanda, discuss factors affecting the agriculture inthe developing countries.
12.3. Livestock farming
Activity 12.6
Using knowledge, skills and internet or other geographical documents
answer the following questions:
1. Give the meaning of livestock farming?
2. Identify the major characteristics of nomadic pastoralism
3. Describe challenges facing nomadic pastoralism in Africa
Livestock farming refers to the keeping/rearing of domestic animals such
as cows, goats, sheep and poultry (birds, donkeys). It is practiced for either
commercial or subsistence purposes and it takes a number of forms. The
following are the major types of livestock farming: nomadism, free range,
transhumance, ranching, dairy farming, zero-grazing, tethering, aquaculture,
poultry farming, and apiculture. Some of these are explained below in details:
12.3.1. Pastoralism
Pastoralism is a system of farming where farmers set free their livestock
especially cattle, goats and sheep to graze on natural pasture. The movement
of both people and animals is dictated by the shortage of grass and water in a
given area.
i) Pure nomadism
This is extensive form of animal grazing on natural pasturage, involving constant
or seasonal migration of the nomads and their animals. Nomadic herding is
confined to sparsely populated parts of the world where the natural vegetation
is mainly grass.
It is practiced in West Africa among the Fulani, East Africa among the Maasai
and Karamojong, Ethiopia among Nuba, the Touareg of Sahara and the Hottentos
of Botswana, Mozambique and the Republic of South Africa. It is also found in
Saudi Arabia among the Bedouins, and Central Asia among the Mongols.
Characteristics of nomadic pastoralism
• Nomadism depends primarily on animal rearing rather than crop
growing for survive. Nomads take milk from the animals for food and
skins and hairs for clothing and tent.
• There is seasonal pattern of movement for searching grasses and
water for reared animals. These movements depend on the availability
or lack of grasses and water for animals in a given climatic season.
• Extensive keeping herds of livestock all year round on a system of freerange
grazing.
• It is practiced in the areas of low and unreliable rainfall which typical
dry season.
• Animal are kept for family subsistence and not for sale.
• The ownership of livestock is individual but the land belongs to the
tribe or community as a whole.
• Nomadic pastoralist does not value education.
• Nomadic pastoralist finds prestige and proud in keeping large herds of
cattle with taking into account of the amount of products because the
animals kept are of poor quality and low value.• It takes place where the population is low and scarce.
ii) Free Range farming
Free range denotes a method of farming husbandry where the animal, for at
least part of the day, can roam freely outdoors, rather than being confined in an
enclosure for 24 hours each day.
The purpose of this form of livestock farming is to reduce feed cost, produce a
higher-quality product, and as a method of raising animals on a relatively largepiece of land.
Characteristics of free range farming
• Free-range poultry farming allows chickens to roam freely for a period
of the day, although they are usually confined in sheds at night to protectthem from predators or kept indoors if the weather is particularly bad.
iii) Transhumance
Transhumance is the practice of moving livestock from one grazing ground
to another in a seasonal cycle. Most of people who practice transhumance
also involve in some form of crop cultivation hence some kind of permanent
settlement. Such type of livestock farming is practiced for instance, in Kenya
and Tanzania by the Massai who are semi-nomadic people.
Characteristics of transhumance
• Transhumance involves constant/ seasonal migration of the nomads
and their livestock in search of pasture and water.
• Livestock are moved between mountain pastures in summer and lower
areas for the rest of the year.
• Herders have a permanent home: this means that only the herds and
the people necessary to tend them travel, the whole family lives in
tents all the year round, moving with the herd.
• Nomads mainly rely on natural vegetation for their pasture.• Large number of herds is kept as a sign of peace.
12.3.2. Factory farming, dairy farming and ranching farming
Activity 12.7
1. Describe the major features of factory farming
2. Discuss on factors favouring dairy and ranching farming
a. Factory farming
The factory farming refers to the type of farming business which keeps animals
at high stocking densities and uses modern technology to facilitate faster animal
growth, lower illness and death rates, and higher production outputs.
The idea of factory farming started because as the population continued to
rapidly increase, food production wasn’t happening fast enough. Therefore,
in order to feed everyone food production need to happen faster. This means
without factory farming in densely populated countries, meat and dairy
products would be rare and extremely more expensive than it would be today.
Its primary objective is to produce the most products and to gain as much profit
as possible. The main products of this industry are meat, milk and eggs forhuman consumption.
Characteristics of factory farming
1. Large numbers of animals are usually held together indoors in closed
confined pens and shed, and often with physical restraints to control
unnecessary movement
2. Under factory farming, huge amount of antibiotics and pesticides are
used to fight the spreading of diseases and bacteria.
3. Factor farms are highly standardized for efficiency. Monocultures
of animals and feed crops are created highly unified through genemanipulation to help yielding consistent production every year.
Factory farms provide many benefits, but they can also lead to several drawbacks:
b. Ranching
Ranching is a modern form of pastoralism aiming of rearing of animals for beef
production on a large scale for commercial purpose. It is an enclosed system of
extensive livestock production. Under ranching, a piece of land called a ranch is allocated.
Ranching is more developed in United States of America, New Zealand, Western
Australia, Argentina, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Kenya,
Tanzania and Uganda.
Characteristics of cattle ranching
• Livestock ranching is the commercial grazing of livestock over an
extensive area which is associated with a very large land requirement,
capital and human resources.
• Ranches have a continuous vegetation cover such as alfalfa, Lucerne
and clovers.
• One type of animals is kept either for beef production. Therefore the
choice of the animals is done very judiciously.
• There is little or no movement from one area to another since animals
are confined in paddocks
• Ranches are scientifically managed through selective breeding, use of
hybrid species, research and control of animal diseases.
• The animals are reared for sale (they are kept for commercial purposes).
• It is carried out in sparsely populated areas and far from urban area
• Ranches are managed run on scientific methods. The animal kept
is guarded by from various disease by its regular vaccination,
crossbreeding and regular attendance of veterinary surgeons to the animals.
• It is practiced in areas where rainfall is low and unreliable to give place
to the crop cultivation.
• The animals in the ranches are kept for highly organized markets thushigh revenue from sale of beef, hides, and dairy products.
Advantages and disadvantages of ranching
c. Dairy farming
Dairying farming is the specialized rearing of cattle to produce milk and other
products like cheese, butter and cream mainly for commercial purposes.
Characteristics of dairy farming
• Dairy farming aims at raising cattle to produce milk
• Dairying on commercial basis has developed in humid temperate regions,
because cool temperate climate is ideal for cow-rearing.
• Capital intensive techniques of production are used
• Selected cattle breeds which yield a lot of milk are raised. Example, Jersey,
Ayrshire, Alderney and the Friesian breeds.
• Rich and nutritious grasses are sawn to supplement the natural pastures to
feed the animals.
• The farms are scientifically managed and any pests and diseases are controlled
• Benefits are very high due to the input and capital injection.• Many farms own their processing plants or dairies.
Application Activity 12.4
1. Explain why it is necessary to improve livestock farming in your community.
2. Discuss how industrial food impact people’s health.
3. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of technology in agriculture.4. Analyse the economic and social benefits of pastoralism.
12.4. Factors and problems affecting the livestock farming
and ways of improving it
Activity 12.8
1. Describe factors influencing livestock farming
2. Analyse problems facing livestock farming
3. Identify different ways of improving livestock farming
12.4.1. Factors affecting livestock farming
There are many factors that influence livestock farming, but the most
documented are the following:
• Topography: The areas having gentle and undulating terrains
consisting of relatively flat plains and plateaus are favourable for
Livestock farming. This makes it easy for animals to move freely from
one place to another.
• Climate: the main determinant elements of climate are the following:
─ The temperature, its duration and the intensity of sun radiation,
all affect the welfare of animals to a certain extent. The moderate
temperature is favourable for livestock farming.
─ The moisture, whether moderate or high mean annual rainfall is
essential for livestock farming. It ensures an abundant supply of
drinking water and pastures for the animals.
• Soil: The soil, which is composed of a variety of minerals and organic
substances, forms the physical support of plants to be fed the animals.
• Land tenancy: It includes all forms of tenancy and also ownership in
any form. Land tenancy and land tenure affect the livestock farming.
The land in pastoral areas is communally owned. This facilitates
communal grazing and free movement of their livestock.
• Size of Holdings: The large tracts of land in sparsely populated areas
are needed for a pasture. The size of holding and the size of farm decide
the number of animals to be kept in farm.
• System of ownership: The collective ownership is preferable for
having a very large paste and terrain for livestock.
• Labour: The availability of labour, its quantity and quality is
determined by the technology used in livestock farming. Traditional
farming methods require a big number of labourers while advanced
technology requires a few numbers of skilled people.
• Capital: Capital defines limitations to the size and type of livestock
farming to be practiced. All livestock inputs like insecticides, pesticides,
feeding stuffs, purchase of land, machinery, vehicles, buildings, and
veterinary services require capital. All the farmers make their decisions
on the basis of capital to invest.
• Mechanization and Equipment: The levels of technological tools to
be used play a vital role in the selection of livestock to be farmed and
decision making at the farm level.
• Market: Availability of market for the products from livestock farming
is a very important factor influencing livestock farming activities.
• Availability of transport means: A well-developed means of
transport with appropriate equipment to quarry balky products in
very necessary for transportation of animal’s products to the market.
• Pastes and of diseases: Animals farmed may be hampered by diseases,
insect-pests and wild animals. It is better to choose the areas free from
those harmful animals.
• Culture belief: Some types of animals are not grazed by a given society
due to beliefs, customs or personal convictions. For example, Muslims
cannot keep the pigs.
• Government policies: The government policies affect livestock
farming in different ways:
─ Government policies can encourage or discourage modernization
of livestock. Some countries, such as Rwanda and Britain
encourage the productivity and efficiency of farming by a system
of donation and subsidies to farmers.
─ The government determines the ways in which farmers develop
their farming and this may be a help or hindrance to animal
production.
12.5.2. Problems facing livestock farming
The following are some of problems affecting livestock farming:
• Limited rainfall: Unreliable rainfall limits the growth of grasses and
affects the growth rate of animals and the production.
• Population pressure: the world population is increasing incredibly.
This reduces the availability of livestock farming and natural resources.
• Shortage of water: the facts that the surface of water for livestock is
limited; this is a serious problem leading to death of animals in some
parts of Africa and poor quality products.
• Disease and pest infection: Shortage of supply of skilled labour that
• Capital: Capital defines limitations to the size and type of livestock
farming to be practiced. All livestock inputs like insecticides, pesticides,
feeding stuffs, purchase of land, machinery, vehicles, buildings, and
veterinary services require capital. All the farmers make their decisions
on the basis of capital to invest.
• Mechanization and Equipment: The levels of technological tools to
be used play a vital role in the selection of livestock to be farmed and
decision making at the farm level.
• Market: Availability of market for the products from livestock farming
is a very important factor influencing livestock farming activities.
• Availability of transport means: A well-developed means of
transport with appropriate equipment to quarry balky products in
very necessary for transportation of animal’s products to the market.
• Pastes and of diseases: Animals farmed may be hampered by diseases,
insect-pests and wild animals. It is better to choose the areas free from
those harmful animals.
• Culture belief: Some types of animals are not grazed by a given society
due to beliefs, customs or personal convictions. For example, Muslims
cannot keep the pigs.
• Government policies: The government policies affect livestock
farming in different ways:
─ Government policies can encourage or discourage modernization
of livestock. Some countries, such as Rwanda and Britain
encourage the productivity and efficiency of farming by a system
of donation and subsidies to farmers.
─ The government determines the ways in which farmers develop
their farming and this may be a help or hindrance to animal
production.
12.5.3. Ways to improve livestock farming
Livestock can be improved through the following ways:
• Settling the nomads: In many African countries and the rest of the
world, nomads hold a large number of cattle, the government should
make an effort and encourage settling nomads so that they can get
essential veterinary services to keep their cattle healthy.
• Empowering animal keepers through education: Efforts should be
put in place and enlighten livestock farmers on new innovations and
technology that will bring a high quality animal productivity.
• Government support: Government should be an initiator for livestock
farming support by establishing adequate infrastructure, easy access
to the loan to boost the livestock farming. this will benefit the country
and farmers in general
• Adoption of modern livestock farming methods: Through
motivation and other government support, efforts needs to be put in
place to convince rural farmers to switch from traditional livestock
farming to modern livestock farming which is more profitable.
• Provision of livestock healthcare: Extending veterinary services to
all the areas where the livestock keeping is practiced is a good step to
improve livestock farming. This will help to reduce the incidence of
pest and diseases.
• Encouraging tree planting on pasture land: This minimizes the
dangers of environmental deterioration in addition to provision of
shelter to animals. This will also help in improvement of grazing and
watering management.
• Adequate livestock feeds and nutrition: The provision of feed that
is adequateboth in quality and quantity is an extremely y good for
livestock farming
• Introduction of crossbreeding: To achieve this is by replacing the
local breeds of animals with the exotic to increase the output andenhance the off springs’ economic value.
Application Activity 12.5
1. Examine the impact of livestock farming on environment.
2. Discuss the importance of livestock farming3. Suggest ways problems of livestock farming can be solved
Skills lab
Move around your village and make a research on the types of agricultural
practices in the village and suggest ways in which agriculture can benefitindividuals and the village as a whole.
End unit Assessment
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
The university of Lincoln is physically located in the centre of the United
Kingdom’s agri-business industry. Recently, 25 students had an internship
and farm experience in different African countries. In Gabon, They found
farmers burning forests as a way of preparing land for crops growing,
in Kenya farmers grow tea for sale and livestock farmers in the North
of Kenya keep large number of local cattle in an open land where they
always move with while in Rwanda, most cows remain inside the stall.
1. Describe the type of crop farming practiced in Gabon.
2. How the above practice affects the environment?
3. Analyse the economic importance of crop cultivation cited in Kenya.
4. The above livestock farming mentioned in Kenya faces many
problems. Suggest possible solutions.
5. Pastoralism affects the environment in different ways. Suggest
measures to prevent overstocking and overgrazing in areas of pastoralism.