3.

1 Food demand factors:

1. Population size
● China- the most populous country
● 1.3 billion (2010)
● population growth rate declined gradually in recent decades
● due to effective family planning
● One-Child Policy (1979-2016)
● Two-child Policy (since 2016)
● might end family size rules in the future
● local consumption will remain large
2. Income levels
● Ppl of higher income grps consume more meat and dairy products
● but fewer staple foods
● large amount of crops are needed to feed animals as fodder crops
● intensified pressure on food security in China
● per capita consumption of food is high
● food is supplied by ① local farm production ② imports
● part of the food produced is exported
● used for generating biofuels eg. corn, sugar cane, soybean and potato
● Food supply cannot meet the food demand ➩ food shortage occurs

● When a place produces enough food for its population

● has food self-sufficiency
● rate of it in China - high
● maintain better food security ➩ China had a certain amount of imports of food
● HK - doesn’t have enough local production to meet their food demand
● relies heavily on imports
● has a low rate of food self-sufficiency
● cuz food supply > food demand ➩ China has a lower risk of food shortages

3.2
1. Characteristic of local farms in HK
- smaller in size
- grow mainly vegetables, flowers and fruits
- intensity is high
- small livestock farms raise chickens and pigs
- products are sold in local markets
- are located in northern New Territories
2. Heavily reliance on imports from overseas
- USA, Brazil Japan, Thailand
3. Our largest fresh food supplier in China
- close to HK
- relatively cheap
- have a well-developed farming sector
Farming system
- Farming is the growing of crops and rearing of livestock for food and new materials -
agriculture
1. Physical inputs
● sunshine, rainfall, air temperature, land, soil seeds
2. Cultural inputs
● Labour, Capital, Machines, Pesticides Fertilizers
3. Processes
● Ploughing, sowing, weeding, applying fertilizers, harvesting, irritating, milking, shearing
4. Useless outputs
● Unwanted waste (sewage, crop residue)
5. Useful output
● Farm produced (vegetables, chickens, dairy products)
● ➪ market ➪ $
Main types of farming
1. Types of outputs
① Arable farming ② Pastoral farming ③ Mixed farming
● eg. ① Rice farming ② Cattle rearing ③Wheat-sheep farming
● Region: ① Guangxi ②Inner Mongolia ③ SE Australia
2. Uses of outputs
① Subsistence farming ② Commercial farming
● Uses: ① Family use ② For sale in the market ➪ $
● eg. ① Small-scale farms of vegetables and rice ② Market gardening
● Countries: ① Halti (LDCs) ② Netherlands (MDCs)
3. ① Intensive farming
● higher inputs (smaller farm area)
● eg1: Rice farming
● fragmented rice farms
● rely on manpower
● no/small machines
● countries: Thailand, South China
● eg2: Market gardening
● small farms or greenhouse
● rely on chemical fertilizers and pesticides
● places: Netherlands, HK
② Extensive farming
● lower inputs (larger area)
● eg1: wheat farming
● huge wheat farm
● rely on a few large machines - combine harvesters
● very few labour
● countries: NE China, USR
● eg2: Cattle rearing
 ● a huge ranch
● very few labour
● X chemicals
● countries: Brazil, Inner Mongolia
4. Level of technology
(1) High-technology farming
● eg. Market gardening
● places: Netherlands
(2) Low-tech farming
● eg. rice farming, cattle rearing
● South China and Brazil
A. Market gardening in Netherlands
● the growing of cash crops
● eg. flowers and vegetables
● farm: usually small
● greenhouses and computers - commonly used
● mainly for sale
B. Rice cultivation
● simple tools & traditional farming methods
● farm size: small
C. Wheat-sheep farming in SE Australia
● grow wheat and rear sheep on the same farm
● use modern farming tech.
● after harvesting the wheat ➩ used to feed sheep
● wool and mutton are produced
D. Dairy farming in NZ
● for making cheese and butter
● size is large
● machine is often used
E. Livestock rearing in Argentina
● for meat, milk, hides
● founded on large areas of farmlands
F. Wheat farming in USA
● used to make bread, noodles and cakes
● grown in large farms
● large farm machines are commonly used

3.3 Factors affecting farming activities

1. climate
● annual rainfall decreases from South to North China
● abundant rainfall favours crop growing
● at dry places, crops can only be grown around oases or after a short rainy season
● air temperature of region affects the length of growing season
● too short growing seasons discourages arable farming activities
 ● eg. air temperature <0 prohibit plant growth ➩ only pastoral farming can be carried out
● the growing period of crops - larger in Southern China
● X freezing day in SC ; yes in NC
● Sheep rearing: highest ability to withstand coldness
● Wet rice farming: lowest ➩ suitable to grow in hot and wet climate
2. Relief
● arable farming activity need gentle relief w/ thick and fertile soil
● plains and basins ➩ ideal location
● mountain ranges and plateaus with infertile and thin soil ➩ pastoral farming
● China - decreasing h from plateaus and mountain ranges in the W to coastal plains in
the east
● Soil is fertile in SE - ⅔ arable land located there

Farming region - an area growing the same major types of crops and livestock using similar
farming methods
Regions: N, NE, NW, S China
-determined by growing seasons and relief

1. N and NE China
● Climate: warm to cold; dry
● Relief: Lowlands are mainly found in Huabei Pingyuan in the lower course of Huanghe
and Dongbei Pingyan
● other areas are hilly
● Farming activities: wheat and corn are major crops
● extensive wheat growing is carried out
● farm size ➩ large
2. NW China and Qing Zang Gaoyuan
● Climate: hot summers and very cold winters
● short growing season
● very low annual rainfall, short rainy reason
● relief: most of the lands are mountainous
● eg. Tibetan Plateau, Himalayas
● farming activities: meat and dairy products - major output
● extensive pastoral farming
● eg. cattle rearing, dairy farming
● in some small and scattered oases or irrigated sites, wheat, cotton and fruits are grown
3. Middle and Lower Changjiang Region, S and SW China
● Climate: warm to hot
● wet throughout the yr
● long growing season
● relief: lowlands are mainly found in Sichuan Basin, Middle and Lower Chang Jiang Basin
and Pearl River Delta
● farming activities: rice is the major crop
● water demanding crops
 ● sugar cane are grown
● intensive farming and market gardening are carried out
● 2-3 crops of rice can be grown in a yr
● farm size: small and scattered
● labour input per unit is high
3.4 Physical factors affecting food supply
1. Extreme climate in some parts of China
● growing season is short in N& NE China
● deserts regions in NW China - too dry for farming
2. Shortage of people water resources
● distributed unevenly in China
● NC- has 20% of all water resources; 64% farmland is located
● water shortages serious in NC
3. Relief
● Highlands and mountains in WC are not suitable for farming
● soil is thin and infertile on steep slopes
● productivity is low
4. Frequent natural hazards
● Drought, flooding, typhoon, earthquakes and pests - locusts
● ➩ interrupt agricultural activities and affect food production.
● lowered crop yields causes economic loss ➩ crop failure
● food supply ↓

Human factors
1. Loss of arable land
(a) Urban development
● large area of arable land ➪ residential and industrial land uses
● more public facilities and infrastructure
● eg. highways and railways are built at the expense of arable lands
(b) environmental pollution
● arable land can’t be used due to soil pollution
● Mining, industrial dev., urban dev. produced sewage and heavy metals
● Excessive use of agrochemicals
● eg. fertilisers and pesticides ➪ disturb soil acidity, bacteria action and soil structure
● water and air pollution may affect chemical reactions in soil
c. soil erosion and desertification
● soil erosion: soil nutrient or soil particles is removed
● perhaps washed away by rain or blown away by wind
● Marginal land: not suitable for farming
● grassland and semi-arid areas in desert margins
● eg. Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia
● soil is poor and climate is dry
● carrying capacity is sufficient for extensive pastoral farming
 ● X arable farming
● Human activities on marginal lands
● cutting trees for fuelwood, farming and grazing
● ➩ over-cutting, over-cultivation and over-grazing
● when marginal lands cannot support regeneration of vegetation cover
● ➩soil particles are loosen up
● soil particles - removed by wind and rain ➩ soil erosion
● form a vicious cycle of land degradation
● Desertification occur
● Farm productivity can’t be restored easily
2. Shortage of farm labour
● rural-urban migration
● young farmers move from rural to urban as migrant workers in China
● ① have lower and less stable income in rural areas
● ② have a better living standard in urban areas
● ③ more job opportunities in urban areas
● active labour force in rural areas declined
3. Low mechanization level
● Use of technology in farming is low
① farmers have limited capital
② have insufficient knowledge; don’t want to learn new tech. or farm strat.
③ have small-scale farming on fragmented farmlands
➩ lower farm efficiency

3.5 Scientific methods

1. Irrigation system
● Large-scale irrigation systems: canals and aqueducts
● transport water from rivers and reservoirs to farmlands
● small-scale irrigation system: sprinkler irrigation
● half of the country’s arable land is irrigated
① improves water supply in dry areas & + farming area
② provides a stable supply of water throughout the year
➩ lengthen the growing season in dry areas
③ regulating the amount of irrigation water
➩ more choices of crops are available
➩ intensity of farming can be + if
2. Greenhouse
● help control air temperature, sunlight, wind speed, humidity and water supply
● extend the growing season
● prevent natural hazards like pests and rainstorms
● construction costs of greenhouse ➩ expensive
➩ mainly used for cash crop growing
3. Mechanical advances
● tractors and combine harvesters: + farm efficiency and raise productivity
 ● help relieve labour shortage in rural areas
● farm side is small in China
➩ Chinese farmers use small farm machines
4. Chemical advances
● Agrochemicals - chemical can be applied in farms
● Chinese farmers rely heavily on agrochemicals
● Chemical fertilisers: make soil rich
● Pesticides: kill and control pests
● Herbicides: weeds
● help to maintain or improve productivity and improve crop quality
5. Biotechnology
● Genetic engineering helps modify the genes of crops
● produces genetically modified crops. It improves the crops by
① quickening the growth of crops
② improving the productivity of crops
③ enhance the resistance to salt, diseases
④ enhance the tolerance to harsh env.
- eg: dryness, coldness
● 1970s: China developed hybrid ice through genetic engineering to boost the paddy
output
● the use of vaccines and antibiotics to deal with diseases among livestock - common in
China

the above farming methods can

① extend farming areas into dry or cold areas
② ↑ productivity
③ ↑ efficiency
④ extend the growing season
⑤ reduce loss from natural hazards

3.6 limitations of scientific methods

1. Lack of capital
● Scientific farming methods may involve huge expanses
① Construction costs
● eg. construction cost of canals and infrastructure such as fresh water pipelines and wells
② Fuel costs
● rising prices of electricity and fossil fuels + the costs of using machines and
greenhouses.
③ Maintenance costs
● Repairing costs of machines and greenhouses of irrigation system
● eg. dredging of mud
● can be expensive
④ Patent costs
 ● Farmers have to buy the patent of GM seeds every yr ➩ renew their rights to use GM
seeds
● Farmers in China have low income
● lack incentives to have long term investment on machines and greenhouses
2. Low education level
● construction of greenhouses and large-scale irrigation systems and use of large-scale
machines need knowledge
● use of GM seeds may involve adaptation to another farming cycle and the use of specific
weedicides
● farmers in China ➩ low educated
● may not accept and learn scientific farming methods
● their children may not be able to receive high edu. too
● forms a vicious cycle of poverty and low edu. lv
3. Small farm size
● makes the use of large machinery and irrigation system difficult
● only small-scale of mechanization of farming can be done
Negative impacts of scientific farming methods
1. misuse of machines
● lead to soil compaction
● damaged the soil structure
● by hardening the topsoil ➩ less space for root penetration, lower infiltration rate and less
O in soil
● fewer microorganisms in soil
● use of fossil fuels in machines ➩ release greenhouse gases and intensity greenhouse
effect
2. over-irrigation
● groundwater contain dissolved salt ➩ irrigation water in semi-arid areas may be salty
● hot and dry climate in semi arid areas ➩ high evaporation rate of salty irrigation water
● salts are left in the topsoil after evaporation
● salty soil hinders the growth of crops
● toxic to plants in extreme cases
3. Overuse of chemical fertilizers
● farmers in China rely heavily on it
● excess chemical fertilizers may be washed into rivers by rainfall and irrigation water
● excess nutrient for algae
● eutrophication
● algal bloom: algae grow rapidly in streams and rivers polluted with chemical fertilizers
● use up the oxygen in water
● block out the sunlight
● blue-green algae may release toxins
● destroy marine ecosystem in rivers and lakes
● eg. Tai Hu
4. Overuse of pesticides
● excess pesticides left on crops ➩ food safety problems
 ● kill predators of pests
● spiders & birds
● upsets the nature’s control on the amount of pests
● lead to water pollution ➩ upset marine habitat
● abuse of pesticides ➩ resistances in pests
● superbugs: pesticide-resistant pests
● more powerful pesticides need to be developed
● leads a vicious cycle
● greater harms to the env.
5. Doubts on GM crops
● ecological impacts and food safety problems of GM food ➩uncertain
● China allows the import of GM soybeans and growing of few species of GM crops
● forbids the sale of GM rice
3.7.
A. Sustainable farming
● practices that are economically, socially and environmentally desirable
● satisfy the needs of present and future generations
Soil conservation methods
① Crop rotation
● different crops use different nutrient
● cycles of growing different crops on different parts of farmlands prevent soil depletion
② Fallowing
● farming conditions - not good ➩ leave the fields for natural recovery
③ Mixed farming
● grow crops and rear livestock in the same field
● manure from livestock provides nutrients to the soil
● may help to control pests
● weeds and crops may be useful for livestock
● eg. rice-duck farming
Water conservation methods
① Careful irrigation
● precise amount of water is dripped onto the roots through small holes on irrigation tubes
● chemical fertilizers can be added into water to allow precise control on the dosage
Organic farming
① Organic fertilizers and pest repellents
● used in farms
● eg. dead plants, manure of livestock - produce compost ➩ replace chemical pesticides
● grow crops eg. chilies and spring onions with strong smell ➩ repel pests & replace
chemical fertilizers
B. Better lane use management
① Prime farming
● central gov. reserves 104 million hectares of farmland
● for food production and restrict dev. on it
② Land use farming on marginal land
 ● farming activities or any dev. on ecologically fragile regions need prior permission of
local gov.
● eg. Inner Mongolians are relocated from marginal land next to Gobi Desert
③ Grain-for-green
● farms in marginal lands are restored into woodland or grassland
● vegetation are replanting on eroded slopes or degraded desert margins
C. Encourage farm specialization
● means to grow only 1 type of crop in large scale.
● It can
① raise the skill lv of farmers
② raise productivity of farms
③ enjoy discounts and higher profits in bulk purchases of seeds, agrochemicals and machines
● the central gov. provides a subsidy of RMB 2 billion to new large-scale specialized farms
D. More gov. support
● different local government have different support to agriculture dev
● eg. provide subsidies and training programmes on the use of farming tech.
● improve transport and water facilities
● eg. irrigation canals and reservoirs
3.8
- Many ppl suffer from hunger and malnutrition
- some even face the problem of famine ➩ a situation in which many people die cuz of
severe food shortages
- food shortages are found in countries with low income
- LDCs

Food shortage in the Sahel

Climate
● tropical semi-arid climate
● high temperatures throughout the yr
● low annual rainfall
● rainfall is unstable ➩ can be high or low
● Mopti, Mali
Soil: thin and infertile
Vegetation: Grass, shrubs and isolated trees
Major types of farming:
● subsistence farming in the south where rainfall is higher
● pastoral farming in the north where rainfall is lower
Level of econ. dev. : Low, agriculture takes up about 40% of the Sahel’s GDP
Political condition: unstable, wars, racial and religious conflict ➩ frequent

Cause of food shortages in Sahel

1. Natural hazards
● drought, flooding and pests are frequent in Sahel
 ● cause crop failure
2. Unfavourable climatic conditions
● High temperatures, a high evaporation rate and low and unreliable rainfall
● resulted in bad harvests
3. Poverty
● more ppl in Sahel are engaged in farming
● have low income
● don’t have enough $ to buy food from market
● food shortages worsen when food prices are high
4. Low farming technology
● farmers in Sahel have low edu. lv.s
● can only use simple and traditional farming methods
● local food production is low
5. Poor gov. practices
● some countries in Sahel have corrupt governments
● may sell the food aid to obtain wealth
● some refuse food aid for their ppl
● ➩ ppl suffer from food shortages
6. Wars and conflicts
● frequent in Sahel
● farm production is disrupted
● crops are destroyed
● local food production is low
7. Rapid population growth
● population is large in Sahel
● its growth rate is fast
● creates a great demand for food
● food supply is unable to meet food demand

Solutions
1. food aid
● the most direct and immediate solution to food shortages
● help save lives
2. help the poor increase food production and incomes
● necessary to reduce poverty
● improve food production and + people’s income
A Improving farming methods
● adopting water and soil conservation methods
● dig small pits in the field to catch water
● build stone bunds as barriers ➩ slow down the run-off and allow rainwater to seep into
the soil
● leave crop residues on the field as cover crop
● carry out crop rotation: farmers rotate millet with cassava and sorghum
● grow trees and bushes which help improve soil fertility and increase crop fields
 ● use dung, peanut oil and vegetable matter as compost
● tree growing: helps increase ppl’s income
● by producing fruits and branches for sale
B Developing the rural economy
● setting up small-scale industries
● eg. fruit-processing factories in rural areas
● help increase jobs and diversify sources of income
C Building rural infrastructure
● can support econ. dev.
● eg. with better transport facilities between urban and rural areas
● farmers can transport and sell their produce in the market to earn $
● with a reliable electricity supply
● rural areas can develop industry
● fruit-processing industry
3. Birth control
● lowering the birth rate can reduce the pressure on local food production

● the root problem of food shortage is poverty

● best way: develop the rural economy
● political stability is important
● only politically stable env. can farmers farm continuously
● apply improved farming methods to increase food supply