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immigration into the region also led to population increase and demand for more food.
The immigrants also introduced new crops and new methods of farming leading to
agricultural development
b. Scientific research made it possible to improve strains of crops to resist diseases, to
develop superior animal breeds and to develop new food crops e.g. Soya beans into
artificial meat, etc.
c. Mechanization; there was extensive use of machines to improve production e.g. steel
plough, use of reapers, cotton gin etc.
d. The presence of cheap means of transport e.g. Erie Canal, roads, railway, etc speeded
up the transportation of goods and raw materials.
e. The invention of the cotton gin in 1793 led to increased cotton acreage.
f. Environmental influence on the farmers through experience leading to agricultural
zoning e.g. maize in the centre, wheat in the south and beef rearing in the west/Presence
of suitable soils for different types of crops such as tobacco, cotton and wheat.
g. Government recognition of individual land ownership (the Homestead Act 1760)
encouraged settlers to farm.
EFFECTS OF THE AGRARIAN REVOLUTION IN USA
Fuelled by peasants who emigrated after they were driven out of Europe by the land
enclosure movement, USA became the world’s leading producer of agricultural products.
The effects of the revolution were as follows:
a) It led to diversification of agriculture through the introduction of new farm animals
and crops.
b) The new inventions in farm machinery enabled American farmers to bring more land
under cultivation. For example the steel plough invented by John Deere and reaping
machine by Cyrus McCormick.
c) Food production especially of wheat and maize, increased due to the use of new
farming methods like use of fertilizers and hybrid seeds.
d) The agrarian revolution led to expansion of agricultural related industries.
e) Mechanization of agriculture replaced slaves and other labourers at the farms. Many
people went to search for employment in urban areas.
f) The expansion of food production led to increase in trade between USA and Western
Europe thus boosting USA economy.
g) The transport system was improved to enable transportation of farm inputs to farms
and agricultural produce to market.
h) The revolution contributed to the enhancement of research and scientific inventions
especially on the field of agriculture.
FOOD SITUATION IN AFRICA AND THE REST OF THE THIRD WORLD
“Third world” refers to the less developed countries in Africa, Asia and South America.
Many of these third world countries have food shortages and even continue to have weak
economies upto date.