Intensive agriculture

Definition

Intensive agriculture is a farming system characterized by high levels of input and output per unit of agricultural land area. It often involves the use of advanced technologies, fertilizers, and irrigation systems to maximize crop yields and productivity, making it distinct from extensive agriculture, which relies on larger areas with lower inputs. This approach allows for more efficient use of land and resources, supporting larger populations and enabling the development of urban centers.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Intensive agriculture typically involves practices such as double cropping, where two crops are grown in a single year on the same land, enhancing productivity.
2. This form of agriculture is often associated with large-scale operations and commercial farming, leading to increased food supply for urban populations.
3. The reliance on chemical inputs and technologies in intensive agriculture can raise concerns about environmental sustainability and soil degradation.
4. Intensive agriculture has played a critical role in meeting the food demands of rapidly growing populations around the world.
5. Countries with intensive agricultural practices often invest heavily in research and development to improve crop varieties and farming techniques for better yield.

Review Questions

• How does intensive agriculture differ from extensive agriculture in terms of land use and productivity?
  • Intensive agriculture differs from extensive agriculture primarily in its approach to land use and productivity. Intensive agriculture focuses on maximizing output per unit area through high inputs of labor, technology, and resources, resulting in significantly higher yields compared to extensive agriculture, which spreads its efforts over larger areas with lower inputs. This efficiency allows intensive farming to support larger populations and urban centers, highlighting its role in modern food production.
• Discuss the environmental impacts associated with intensive agriculture and how they contrast with those of extensive agriculture.
  • Intensive agriculture often leads to various environmental impacts such as soil degradation, loss of biodiversity, and increased pollution due to chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In contrast, extensive agriculture generally exerts less pressure on the environment as it uses fewer inputs and maintains a greater diversity of crops over larger areas. However, while intensive farming can produce more food efficiently, it raises concerns about long-term sustainability and ecosystem health, emphasizing the need for balanced agricultural practices.
• Evaluate the role of intensive agriculture in addressing global food security challenges faced by an increasing population.
  • Intensive agriculture plays a crucial role in addressing global food security challenges as it allows for the production of higher quantities of food within limited land resources. As the global population continues to grow, especially in urban areas, intensive farming provides a solution by maximizing agricultural outputs through advanced techniques like improved crop varieties and efficient water management. However, while it helps meet immediate food demands, reliance on intensive practices must be carefully managed to mitigate negative environmental impacts and ensure sustainable long-term food systems.

Related terms

extensive agriculture: A farming system that uses larger areas of land with lower inputs of labor and capital, typically resulting in lower productivity per unit area compared to intensive agriculture.

monoculture: The agricultural practice of growing a single crop or plant species over a wide area, which can lead to higher efficiency but also increases vulnerability to pests and diseases.

green revolution: A period of agricultural transformation that began in the mid-20th century, marked by the introduction of high-yielding crop varieties, chemical fertilizers, and advanced irrigation techniques that significantly increased food production.