World Agriculture

Farming

This term refers to the practice of growing crops and rearing animals for subsistence or commercial purposes.

Farming as a system

Farming is regarded as a system because it consists of inputs, processes and outputs

a.      Inputs

These are the factors that the farmer considers before carrying out farming activities. They include seeds, soil, water, sunshine, fertilizers, pesticides, labour, ploughs (hoes), capital (finances/money), animals etc

b.      Processes

These are the activities that are involved in production such as land preparation, planting, weeding, crop spraying, harvesting, feeding animals etc

c.      Outputs

These are the produce such as crops, animals

The diagram below shows farming as system

Fig 1: farming as a system

Factors that influence farming

Farming is influenced by a number of factors. The factors are categorised into Physical factors (climate, topography, soil, biotic factors), human factors (ownership and inheritance of land, government policies, religion and culture), economic (market, capital) and technological factors (mechanisation and use of chemical fertilizers).

a.        Climate

This factor consists of temperature, rainfall, wind, humidity.

i.        The flourishing of crops is dependent on the distribution of temperature. As some crops do well in hot regions such as sugarcane, cocoa, others do so in cold regions such as wheat, oats, burley etc. Apart from that plants do not grow when temperature drop below 6⁰C because the subsoil becomes frozen. This is why it is impossible to cultivate crops in Polar Regions.

ii.      The crop growth is also influenced by the amount and distribution of rainfall. Some regions receive more rains than others and therefore favour specific crops. For example, rice does well in regions which receive a lot of rains whereas cassava does well in regions which receive little rains. Besides that some regions which include desert regions do not favour the growth of crops due to scanty rains they receive.

iii.    Some climatic conditions such as frosts, summer storms, periodic droughts and wind affect crops adversely.

b.      Topography

This refers to the landforms. Some regions are mountainous others are generally flat. Some crops do well in mountains regions such as tea, coffee while others such as sugar rice, rice require a flat area. Besides that flat areas allow the use of machinery, thereby increasing production.

c.       Soil factors

Different types of soil are suited to different crops. For instance wet rice grows well in clay soils while coconut trees grow well in sandy soils. Besides that crops do well in fertile soils.

d.      Biotic factors

These include parasitic plants, diseases and insect pests. They damage crops thereby reducing production.

e.       Ownership and inheritance of land

A farmer is able to cultivate crops if he/she owns or subleases a piece of land other than the one who does not have.

f.        Government policies

Some government policies are deliberately formulated in order to increase production such as subsidy of inputs, provision of free inputs etc

g.      Religion and culture

Some religions do not allow their members to be engaged in production of crops or animals. For example Islam does not allow the keeping pigs. Moreover, in some cultures especially in Africa, farming is dominated by women as a result production is relatively low.

h.      Capital

This factor allows a farmer to purchase inputs, hire labour, and transport the produce to markets and construct storage facilities. It is difficult for a farmer to realise high yields without the enough capital.

i.        Market

Farmers are encouraged to grow a crop which has readily available market other than the one that does not have a market.

j.        Mechanisation

A farmer who uses machinery is able to realise more yields than the one who does not.

k.      Use of chemical fertilizers

The use of fertilizers helps a farmer to realise high yields.

Types of farming

a.       Subsistence farming

This is the type of farming in which crops are cultivated for consumption purposes

b.      Commercial farming

This is the type of faming in which crops are cultivated for commercial purposes.

These farming types may fall into intensive or extensive categories.

a.       Intensive farming

This is the farming that involves application of huge labour and capital on relatively small piece of land and high yields per hectare are realised.

b.      Extensive farming

This is the farming that involves low application of labour and capital to a relatively large piece of land but low yields per hectare are realised.

Agricultural Systems of the World

The following the agricultural systems of the world

i.        Shifting cultivation

ii.      Extensive wheat farming

iii.    Intensive rice farming

iv.    Polder farming

v.      Irrigation farming

vi.    Dairy farming

vii.  Ranching

viii.Plantation agriculture

The map below shows regions where the systems of farming mentioned above are practised.

World map: Agricultural systems

Shifting cultivation

This is the system of farming which involves cultivating crops for three to four on a piece of land which is later abandoned for another due to loss of fertility.

It is a good example of subsistence farming

It is practised by primitive people in different parts of the world in which it is known by different names such as:
Ladang in Malaysia
Taungya in Burma
Cainguin in the Philippines
Milpain Zimbabwe
Chitemene in Zambia

Crops which grown include hill rice, tapioca, millet, sweet potatoes, cassava, maize, sorghum, yams.

It is characterised by the following:

        i.            Small pieces of land

      ii.            Use of rudimentary techniques such as hoes, sickles, machete, digging sticks etc

    iii.            Use of ashes as fertilizers

    iv.            Practice of slash and burn practice in which trees are cut down and burnt to produce ash.

      v.            Use of family labour

    vi.            Low yields are realised

It is practised in regions which have low population where vast land is available

Problems of this form of farming include:

        i.            It hinders development of villages, towns

      ii.            It contributes to environmental degradation as forests are cleared for farming

Ranching in Argentina

Ranching is the term which refers to the practice of rearing cattle on a piece of land mainly for beef. As such ranches are the farms where cattle are kept. In Argentina, ranches are referred to as estancias.

Ranching is dependent on availability of natural pastures. As such it is practised in regions which are generally grasslands such as the pampas in South America, veldt in South Africa, downs in Australia, steppes in Asia and prairies in North America.

In Argentina, ranching is practised on the pampas. The map of South America below shows location of Argentina.

Map of South America and Argentina: Ranching

It is influenced by the following factors:

a.       Increased access to railways which provides cheap transportation of animal products to markets

b.      Availability of markets both (internal and external markets)

c.       Availability of canning industries

d.      Availability of refrigeration facilities

e.       Conducive climate: favourable temperatures which do not fall below freezing point.

On estancias, the following activities are practised: pasture management, rotation grazing, pest and disease control and breeding activities. These are aimed to increase production.

The following types of cattle are raised on the cattle farms (estancias) Hereford, Aberdeen Angus, Shorthorn.

Ranching involves fattening that is done in camps which are located near urban areas. Cattle (calves) which are ready for fattening are transported to fattening camps when they are nine months old.

When the animals are fattened enough, they are slaughtered in butcheries called frigorificos. Some meat is canned, the other is exported in frozen form. 

Argentina exports meat products to USA, Canada, Germany, France and Spain.

Importance of ranching to Argentina

a.       It provides employment opportunities

b.      It contributes to Argentina’s economy through exports

c.       It promotes the growth of other industries

Problems facing ranching

a.       Fluctuation of prices of animal products on world market

b.      High costs of fence construction and their maintenance

c.       Cold spells in winter and drought

Cattle farming in Malawi

Cattle farming is unevenly distributed in Malawi. Over 50% of cattle is found in Central region, 33% in the Northern region and the rest in the Southern region.

The Zebu is the important type of cattle raised in Malawi. This type is characterized by dew-lap (skin under the neck) and the hump at the back. This is the adaptation for sweating and regulating body temperature in the face of climatic conditions of Malawi which include drought and high humidity. Mostly the zebu is used as draught animals.

Cattle farming in Malawi is influenced by:

a.       Availability of pasture and water

b.      Prevalence of diseases such as east coast fever, red water fever and gall sickness

c.       Availability of alternatives of means of earning the income.

d.      Social values of cattle farming which is basically for prestige

In Malawi, a large proportion of cattle farming is done by the households and only a small proportion of cattle is raised on farms and ranches which constitute 3%.

The following factors led to the growth of cattle industry in Malawi:

a.       Provision of veterinary services which include pests and disease control through provision of dip-tank facilities, market organisation

b.      The availability of cattle markets in urban centres Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu

Problems facing beef industry in Malawi

a.       Seasonal availability of pasture and water

b.      Prevalence of pests and diseases. The common pests include ticks while the common disease is east coast fever.

c.       Poor quality of meat since animals (cattle) are small, bony and strong. As such the meat is measly and tough.

Extensive wheat farming in Canada

Extensive farming is the type of farming which involves cultivation of large piece of land with high capital investment and large labour application

In Canada wheat is grown extensively in large farms which are located in three major regions of Manitoba, Alberta and Saskatchewan. These regions are found on the prairies. The map below shows wheat growing regions of Canada.

Map of Canada: wheat growing regions

Conditions favourable for wheat farming in Canada

a.       The regions have a good network of railway transport which is vital for transporting wheat to markets. The most important railways are the Canadian Nation Railway and the Canadian Pacific railway.

b.      Canada’s wheat enjoys internal and international markets

c.       The climatic conditions suitable for growing wheat include low temperature whose average is 16⁰C and low rainfall which ranges from 305 to 1015. Moreover, there are 100 frost free days within which wheat grows to mature and can be ready for harvest.

d.      The region has generally flat area which provides for mechanization and construction of railways

e.       The region has fertile and well drained soils.

The table below shows the climate of Manitoba’s town of Winnipeg

Month	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Temp (0C)	-19	-18	-10	0	13	17	20	17	12	0	-8	-17
Rainfall (mm)	25	25	32	36	57	76	75	62	61	37	27	25

Adopted from F.R. Phiri

Activities on wheat farms

The table bellows shows the summary of activities that occur at wheat farm on the prairies of Canada

Month	Season	Activity
October	Autumn	Ploughing and fertilizer application
November – March	Winter	Repairing and maintaining equipment and farm structures
April – May	Spring	Sowing wheat and potatoes
June – July	Summer	Weeding and spraying of pesticides, harvesting towards the end of summer
September	Early autumn	Harvesting potatoes

The harvested wheat is threshed and carried to the storage facilities known as elevators. These are located along the railway lines.

Wheat from the prairies is exported through the Great Lakes and the west coast of North America where there are Seattle and Vancouver. These are two important sea ports

Importance of wheat to Canada

a.       It contributes to Canada’s economy through the earning of foreign exchange 

b.      It provides employment opportunities through which nationals earn their living

c.       It provides food

Problems facing wheat farming in Canada

a.       Fluctuation of prices

b.      Rust disease

Other wheat producers

Russia, US, China and France

Plantation farming

This is the type of farming which involves the cultivation of perennial crops such tea, coffee, cocoa, oil palm, banana, sugarcane and rubber for commercial purposes. This is a type of farming practised in tropical regions.

It is characterized by:

a.       extensive farms although smallholder farming is also possible for some crops such as tea and cocoa

b.      heavy capital investment

c.       application of scientific management aimed to produce quality of products

d.      monocropping

e.       intensive labour

Despite being expensive to establish and operate the estates, plantation farming is advantageous for involving the local labour which receives training in various aspects of plantation farming. It also takes advantage of cheap labour to carry out farm activities in good time and effectively such as harvesting. Apart from heavy costs, plantations are susceptible to droughts as a problem.

Cocoa farming in Ghana

Cocoa farming in Ghana is significant for its contribution of two thirds to the nation’s economy. It is mainly grown in regions of Agogo and Kumasi which are located in Southern Ghana. The map below shows cocoa growing region in Ghana.

Map of Ghana: cocoa growing regions

 Conditions necessary for growing cocoa

a.       Fertile and well drained soils

b.      Suitable climate: temperature of at least 21⁰C and well distributed rainfall of not less than 2000 mm in a year, absence of winds, high humidity.

Cocoa is grown by smallholder farmers. The table below shows the activities which the farmer does on cocoa farm

Month	Season	Activity
January -  February	Dry season	Cutting and burning the undergrowth forests
March	Rainy season	Sowing cocoa seeds
October – January		Harvesting in June and October (main harvest)

It should be noted that it takes 6 – 9 years to start producing pods for harvesting. 

The diagram below shows cocoa processing after harvested

Cutting the pods open

Drying the seeds

Grading

The cocoa beans are sold to cocoa board which exports them to USA, UK, Sweden, Italy, France and Germany.

Problems facing cocoa farming in Ghana

a.       Fluctuation of prices on world market

b.      Poor road network between the cocoa producing regions and the markets

c.       Smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring countries where good prices are offered

d.      Poor standard of cocoa trees

e.       Shortage of labour due to rural-urban migration by the youths

Tea farming in Malawi

map of Malawi: tea growing regions

Tea is grown in Nkhatabay, Thyolo and Mulanje. The map below shows tea growing areas in Malawi.    

Condition which necessitate tea farming in Malawi

a.       Suitable climatic conditions: the areas receive high amount of rainfall which ranges from 1150 to 1500 mm and they are hot areas whose average temperature is 21⁰C.

b.      Soils are well drained loamy type

c.       Humidity is high which produce morning dew or mists.

d.      Availability of cheap labour

Activities at tea farm

Tea farming involves growing the cuttings or raising seedlings in nurseries which are transplanted to open fields. Three or four years later they tea bushes are pruned and topped in order to produce a spreading hedge along each row.

Tea is ready for harvesting at the completion of 3 years. It is usually reaped during rainy season which runs from November to March.

Smallholder tea farming

In Malawi, tea is grown under smallholder tea scheme which comprises of 4500 smallholder farmers for the following reasons:

a.       Tea is high yielding crop which does not require large land holdings

b.      To provide farmers an alternative for earning income

c.       Tea farmers have knowledge of tea growing since they once worked in tea estates.

In order to ensure proper management of tea farmers, Smallholder Tea Authority (STA) was established. Among other things the STA plays the following roles:

a.       It provides farm inputs such as fertilizers at low prices

b.      It collects tea from farmers for processing

The most prominent contribution of the STA is the establishment of Malawi Tea Company (MATECO) and tea processing factory.

Processing tea

There are two ways of processing tea.

a.        The diagram below shows how black tea is processed

The tea leaves are withered to reduce moisture content, crushed into small pieces and fermented to change its colour from green to copper, heated to stop fermentation process. Then tea is graded and packaged for distribution. Out of this process black tea is produced.

b.      The diagram below shows green tea is processed

In this tea processing, tea leaves are not fermented but other processes are similar to the above process. As such green tea is produced. This tea has more flavour than black tea.

Importance of tea industry to Malawi

a.       It generates foreign exchange. Malawi exports 98% of tea to South Africa, United Kingdom, USA and other European countries

b.      It provides employment to many Malawians

Challenges facing tea industry

The following challenges have led to low tea production since 1990s

a.       Farmers are erratic paid for their tea

b.      Bonuses are no longer give to farmers

c.       Fluctuation of tea prices on the international markets

Dairy farming

Dairy farming refers to type of farming which involves rearing of cattle mainly for milk production. The main dairy breeds include Friesian, Jersey, Milking shorthorn, Aryshire, Guernsey and Brown Swiss.

Characteristics of dairy farming

a.      It is commercial kind of farming

b.      It is capital intensive since installation and maintenance of milk storage facilities are costly 

c.        Dairy farms are small as such it follows intensive farming methods which include high application of manure, mineral fertilizers and scientific management systems

Factors influencing dairy farming

a.       Availability of rich green pastures such as silage, alfalfa

b.      Mild and wet climatic conditions which encourage the growth of pasture and fodder crops

c.       High standard of sanitation

d.      Proximity to urban areas which provide readily available market since milk is perishable

e.       Good network of transport for fast transportation of milk to markets before it goes bad.

Important dairy breeds include Ayrshire, Holstein, Guernsey, Jersey, Fresian, Alderney, Brown Swiss.

Shangko, settle, cue-mate, minitude, bioniche animal health and cheese are some of dairy products.

Dairy farming in Denmark

Map of Denmark: Physical and political

Denmark is a European country which is almost surrounded by seas. It consists of mainland called Jutland and four islands of Zealand, Fyn, Lolland and Falster. It shares borders with Germany, Norway and Sweden. Below is the map of Denmark which shows physical features

Conditions that necessitate dairy farming in Denmark

a.       Cool summers and warm winters

b.      Infertile sandy soils in western Jutland for cultivation of crops

In Denmark, dairy farmers form cooperatives which among other things the play the following roles:

a.       Purchasing farm inputs such as seeds, feedstuffs and mineral fertilizers in bulk which are distributed to farmers

b.      Collecting, processing and selling milk products on behalf of farmers

c.       Providing loans to farmers

d.      Providing expert advice on farm activities

With cooperatives, dairy farmers benefit more because they get inputs at low cost, they use equipment which belongs to the cooperative of they cannot afford to buy as an individual.

The Red Danish are a dominating dairy breed on farms in the Denmark

Activities on dairy farm

The table below shows activities that occur at the dairy farm in Denmark

Month	Season	Activity
November – February	Winter	Stall feeding; maintenance of building and equipment
March – April	Spring	Ploughing; sowing of grain crops such as oats, barley and wheat, growing of grass; applying manure
May – September	Summer	Making hay and silage
August – September	Summer	Harvesting of crops

Dairy farming in Malawi

Dairy farming is practised in the following areas: Katete farm, Mzuzu dairy plant, Blantyre dairy plant, Lilongwe dairy plant, Ndaka farm and capital city. However, it is not well-developed due to the following reasons:

a.       Farmers lack capital to buy dairy breeds

b.      Farmers find it difficult to access loans to boost their capital

c.       The local breeds do not produce sufficient milk as compared to hybrids

d.      Farmers do not afford animal feed because it is expensive

e.       Farmers do not have opportunities of accessing scientific techniques because there are few trained personnel in dairy farming

f.       Poor road infrastructure connecting dairy farms in rural areas to markets in urban areas

Polder farming

A polder refers to the reclaimed land. The land can be reclaimed from shallow areas of the sea or lakes and marshes.

Land reclamation is the process of getting land from the shallow seas or lakes. It also refers to the process of restoring the productivity of land. Land under water can be reclaimed by draining water away while the land that is heavily eroded by applying various conservation methods.

Land reclamation and polder farming in Netherlands

Land reclamation is very important in Netherlands which has led to 14% land reclaimed from the sea.

In order to claim land reclamation, ring dyke or dam wall is constructed then water is pumped out. Channels or ditches are constructed to drain the remaining water. The diagram below shows how land is reclaimed from the sea. 

Fig 2: how polders are formed

There are two significant reclamation projects in Netherlands. These include the Zuiderzee project which has led to the establishment of the North East polder, North West polder, West polder, East polder and South polder and the Rhine delta project. The map below shows polders which were established by the projects.

Map of Netherlands: polders

The newly reclaimed is saline (salty) and unstable as such grass is grown to neutralize and bind the soil together.

The polders are important for:

a.       Farming: horticulture, arable and dairy farming

b.      Settlement

Problems of land reclamation

a.       The land subsides on drying

b.      It causes ecological disruption which leads to reduction of creatures such as oysters and shrimps

c.       It poses the threat of flooding since the polders and below sea level

d.      High costs of constructing and maintaining dykes and canals

e.       Land becomes saline on drying

Areas where land can be reclaimed in Malawi

Lake Chilwa

Marshes (Vwaza, Ndindi and elephant)

Intensive rice farming in South and South East Asia

Intensive rice farming is practised in such countries as Japan, China, Burma, Vietnam, India and Thailand which constitute South and South East Asia. The map below shows the region where intensive rice farming is practised.

Map of Asia: rice growing areas

Characteristics of intensive rice farming

a.       It involves small land holdings

b.      It is labour intensive

c.       Double or treble cropping is possible in a year

d.      It does not use machinery due to fragmentation of landholdings

e.       It is practised by peasant farmers

f.       In some cases irrigation is applied

Conditions necessary for growing rice

a.       Climate: rice grows well under high temperature with average of 21⁰C and high rainfall of which the rice growing regions receive not less than 2 000 mm monsoon rains.

b.      Soils: rice requires soils with high moisture content as such the region has heavy clay or loamy soils which retain moisture.

c.       Topography: generally flat land is required to allow flooding or irrigation of rice fields. Slopes are therefore terraced for that purpose.

Activities on the rice farms

a.       Ploughing and applying manure before the monsoon rains begin.

b.      Transplanting rice seedlings at the onset of the rains from nurseries to prepared fields

c.       Weeding and thinning

d.      Supplying more water to the rice fields

e.       Draining water to allow ripening of rice before harvesting

f.       Harvesting

Problems of rice farming

-          Rice produces large quantities of methane (a greenhouse gas) which is released into the atmosphere thereby causing global warming

Irrigation farming

Irrigation refers to the application of water onto land to enable crops grow. It is insignificant in regions which have persistent dry conditions or the regions which experience low rainfall or regions which receive rainfall too variable for proper cultivation of crops

Conditions necessary for irrigation farming

i.        Topography

A gently sloping land is required for easy flow of water. Moreover it allows water sink into ground.

ii.      Availability of reliable sources of water such as rivers, lakes that can sustain the supply of water to plants.

iii.    Water retentive soil such as clay is required because it steadily supplies water to plants. It does not also allow leaching, loss of soil fertility

iv.    Arid conditions and occurrence of drought. 

v.      Population growth

Rapid population growth leads to increased demand for land and subsequent scarcity of land for farming. It also leads to high demand for food. To meet the demand, irrigation is used which also ensures maximum use of available land. 

Irrigation methods

a.      Drip (trickle) irrigation

This method uses pipes that are directed to plant stations so that water is directly supplied to plants. The method helps to reduce water loss through evaporation.

b.      Basin irrigation

This method consists of shallow basins which are flooded with water. It is important for growing rice which requires lots of water.

c.       Perennial irrigation

This method uses a network of canals and ditches which carry water to fields.

d.      Furrow irrigation

This method consists of a network of ditches (furrows) in the field which carry water to plants. It is usually supported by machinery in cases of crop cultivation at large scale.

e.      Overhead (sprinkler) method

This is a method in which water is scattered by devices (sprinklers) so that it is supplied to plants in form of showers.

Case study 1: Irrigation in Israel

Physical divisions of Israel  

Israel is divided into four physical regions

i.        The Mediterranean coastal plain

This is the western region. It is flat and has fertile soils due to deposition of sediments from highlands

ii.      Hilly of central country

This is the central region whose altitude is high. It consists of Judea hill. It is semi desert, highly eroded. It has poor soils. It receives annual rainfall between 25 mm and 75 mm per annum. Annual evaporation ranges between 1200 mm to 1400 mm per annum.

iii.    Galilee region

This is the northern region. It lies 210m below sea level. It consists of Lake Kinneret (Lake Tiberias/sea of Galilee). It experiences dry summers, wet winters, annual rainfall that exceeds 75 mm and high evaporation rate of less than 1200 mm per annum.

iv.    The Negev desert

This region is located to the south. It receives annual rainfall which is less than 25 mm whereas its annual evaporation is about 2700 mm. It has poor sandy soils called arid sols.

Map of  Israel: physical

Factors that influence irrigation in Israel

a.       Flat terrain in Negev desert provides for a suitable area for irrigation

b.      Temperatures in Negev desert are high which enhance evaporation rate, hence the need to  use irrigation

c.       Negev desert receives rainfall (less than 25 mm) too low for cultivation of crops, hence irrigation

Sources of water

Water for irrigation in Negev desert is obtained from Lake Kinneret, River Yarkon and Mediterranean Sea.

There is a good network of canals and pipes called Negev Conduit which carry to Negev desert. Pipes are used on the basis of two points:

        i.            They help reduce loss of water through evaporation

      ii.            They carry water through a high altitude from Galilee to Negev.

The method irrigation used in drip because it reduces rate of evaporation

Crops grown under irrigation in Israel

Sugar beet, apples, spring potatoes, cotton, sunflower, tomatoes, citrus fruits

Problems facing irrigation farming in Israel

i.        Salinity of water

The water which is used contains salts which create conditions not conducive for plant growth. This problem is sorted out by desalination. Desalination refers to removal of salts from water. It occurs at Eilat, Haifa and Hadera.

    iii.      High evaporation rate due to high temperatures. Pipes are used to reduce the loss of water

    iv.      Sources of water are inadequate

Case study 2: Nchalo sugar irrigation scheme

Location of Nchalo

Nchalo is located south of Chikwawa, at latitude 16⁰ 10’ S, longitude 34⁰ 53’ E.

The map below shows the location of Nchalo

Physical description of Nchalo

a.       Topography: It is generally flat

b.      Soil: it has rich, well drained alluvial and clay soils

c.       Climate: it is hot area whose temperatures range from 20⁰C to 32⁰C. It receives low rainfall which ranges from 500 mm to 800 mm per annum.

Conditions necessary for growing sugarcane

i.        Flat topography allows easy irrigation and mechanisation

ii.      Labour is readily available for activities such as planting, weeding and harvesting since it is highly populated

iii.    High temperatures (20⁰C to 32⁰C range) allow the growth of sugarcane which requires temperature range 21⁰C -30⁰C.

iv.    The soils are rich and well drained

v.      The reliable source of water, the River Shire which supplements to low rainfall as sugarcane requires an amount of about 2 000 mm of rains.

vi.    There is a good road network which carries sugar to markets.

Source of water and method of irrigation

Water is obtained from River Shire.

The two methods of irrigation are sprinkler and canal

Harvesting sugarcane

Before sugarcane is harvested, fire is set in fields in order to:

  i.            Scare away animals such as snakes

ii.            Increase the concentration of sugar in canes

Sugarcane is harvested by cutting using panga knives. The canes are transported by tractors of light railways to factories for processing.

Problems facing sugar irrigation farming scheme

        i.            High costs to purchase and maintain the machinery used on the farm. The problem can be solved by growing high quality of sugarcane in large quantities in order to offset the high costs of inputs

      ii.            Water pollution due to disposal of wastes from factories into River Shire.

    iii.            Theft of pipes is rampant. In order to solve the problem many security guards are employed to improve security.

    iv.            Insufficient irrigation in some parts of the estate

      v.            Inadequate drainage in some parts of the estate

Importance of sugar irrigation scheme to Malawi

        i.            Source of employment

      ii.            Source of foreign exchange

    iii.            Provision of raw materials for making alcohol, fuel and animal feed

    iv.            Source of food (sugar)

      v.            Provision of revenues to government through taxation.