Human Environments 5

RURAL
INDIA

National 5
Geography

Rural - India

Within the context of Developing Countries:

In the context of rural areas:

1.changes in the rural landscape related to modern developments in farming such as:

1. GM crops

2. Impact of new technology

3. Biofuels

The Ganges Valley is in north India

Rice is the staple crop for the majority of the world’s population.

Wet rice cultivation is also practiced in South East Asian countries e.g. the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia.

https://www.twigscotland.com/film/feeding-the-planet-1263/
3.14 minutes

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zgfj6sg/revision/7
3.47 minutes

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Features of Wet Rice Cultivation

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Flooded padis to allow wet rice cultivation

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Traditionally this is subsistence farming (not for profit but to feed the family)

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Farmers transplanting seedlings by hand from the nursery fields into the main padis.

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Bunds keep the water in the field.

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Farms are small – usually less than one hectare due to inheritance laws.
High inputs of manual labour are required.

Animals such as water buffalo are needed to plough the fields.

Hillsides are terraced to make flat land to grow the rice.

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The Green Revolution

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The Green Revolution involved the introduction of new technology such as tractors, and chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

As well as the use of HYVs (high yielding varieties) of crops, although not GM crops at the time these are now being used.

The Green Revolution had a number of advantages and disadvantages.

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Impact of New Technology

Impact of GM crops

Biofuels

Biofuels are any kind of fuel manufactured from living things or from waste.

Biofuels are a more environmentally friendly and sustainable source of fuel and they are a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels.

The oil can be used after extraction as it does not need to be refined. The oil– biodiesel- is used to power diesel generators and engines, for example, in tractors.

Impact of Biofuels

What benefits and problems have changes such as those shown in the diagram brought to Developing Countries?
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Marking Instructions

Advantages:
Fertilisers can result in increased crop yields (1), which results in a healthier population (1). Irrigation makes farming possible in dry areas (1) and can also help combat drought (1).
Machinery allows the farmer to farm a larger area of land (1), speeds up the farming process (1) and saves the farmer money in not having to hire extra labour (1).

Disadvantages:
Increased use of fertilisers can destroy soil structure (1). Run-off can result in pollution of water sources (1), which can affect fish and wildlife (1). Many farmers cannot afford these changes (1). 
Farmers may not know how to operate the machinery (1). Spare parts may be difficult to get (1). Increased use of machinery may result in workers being laid off (1). 
Increased use of irrigation can make soil salty (1) or waterlogged (1).

RURAL INDIA 1

Look at Diagram.

Describe, in detail, the effects of recent changes in farming on people and the landscape in developing countries.
You must mention at least two recent changes.

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