Agriculture & Livestock of World Notes with PDF
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Global Agricultural Production & Rankings
Cereals & Staples
| Crop | Key Facts | Leading Producer | Other Notable Producers / Rankings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice | – Highest Productivity: Japan (yield/hectare) – Largest Cultivation Area: China – Hybrid Rice Cultivation: Most popular in China – Gene Bank: Located in the Philippines – Biofertilizer: Blue-green algae (e.g., Azolla-Anabaena) is used. |
China | 2. India |
| Wheat | – High-Yielding Varieties: First developed in Mexico. | China | Ranking: 1. China, 2. India, 3. USA, 4. Russia |
| Maize (Corn) | – Used as a staple food in Middle Africa. | (Not specified) | China ranks 2nd in world production. |
Sugarcane & Sugar Crops
| Crop | Key Facts | Leading Producer | Other Notable Producers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugarcane | – The statement that it is a major plantation crop of Malaysia is incorrect. | Brazil | 2. India – Sugar Bowl of the World: Cuba |
| Sugar Beets | – Germany produces sugar from sugar beets only. | France & Russia | – Highest Export %: Mauritius exports the highest percentage of its sugar production. |
Fibers & Commercial Crops
| Crop | Key Facts | Leading Producer | Other Notable Producers / Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotton | – Highest Productivity (Yield/Hectare): Israel (as of 2014) – Highest Per-Acre Yield (among listed): China – Principal Export of Chad. |
India | |
| Jute | – Major production zone is the Ganges delta (India/Bangladesh). | (Not specified) | |
| Silk (Raw) | – Note: The statement that Italy is the largest producer is incorrect. | (Not specified) | India ranks 2nd in global silk production. |
| Natural Rubber | – ~1/3 of world’s production comes from Thailand. – Largest Cultivation Area: Amazon and Zaire basins. – A major plantation crop in Malaysia. |
Thailand | 2. Indonesia |
Beverage Crops
| Crop | Key Facts | Leading Producer | Other Notable Producers / Facts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | – Large Plantations in Brazil: Called Fazendas. – Variety: Robusta is produced in Africa. – Historical Note: Cultivation abandoned in Sri Lanka due to Leaf Rust disease. – Principal Export of Rwanda. |
Brazil (largest % of global production) | Ranking: 1. Brazil, 2. Vietnam, 3. Colombia, 4. Indonesia – 2nd Largest Exporter: Vietnam – Mocha Coffee: Grown in Yemen. |
| Tea | – Contains: Theanine, Caffeine, Tannin (does not contain Morphine). – Soil Requirement: Fertile soil with high humus. – The statement that there are no tea plantations in Africa is false (e.g., Kenya). |
(Not specified in production) | – Largest Exporter: Kenya – Other major exporters: China, Sri Lanka. – Sri Lanka is famous for tea production. |
| Cocoa | – Cultivation is popular in Ghana. | (Not specified) | Major producers: Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast (Latvia is not a major producer). |
Fruits, Nuts & Other Crops
| Crop | Key Facts | Leading Producer |
|---|---|---|
| Bananas | India | |
| Coconut | – A plantation crop. | Indonesia |
| Castor Oil | India is the largest producer and exporter of castor-oilseeds. | India |
| Citrus Fruits | Production is well-developed in the Mediterranean regions. | (Not specified) |
| Groundnut | – Main crop of Gambia. – Native to Brazil. |
(Not specified) |
| Saffron | Iran | |
| Grapes | – Commercial Viticulture: Specific to the Mediterranean Region (85% for winemaking). – Also prominent in California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley. |
(Not specified) |
| Jowar | India | |
| Soybean | Brazil | |
| Tobacco | China | |
| Catechu | Made from the wood of the Khair tree. | (Not specified) |
| Alfalfa | A kind of grass. | (Not specified) |
General Fruit Production: India is the second-largest fruit producer in the world.
Fruit Types:
- Tropical: Coconut, Cashewnut.
- Temperate: Walnut, Apple.
Agricultural Trade & Exports
| Commodity | Key Facts / Leading Exporter |
|---|---|
| Rice | – Largest Exporter: India (as per 2019 data). – Export Dependency: Thailand accounts for ~2/3 of its export earnings from rice. |
| Coffee | – 2nd Largest Exporter: Vietnam. |
| Tea | – Largest Exporter: Kenya (by value and quantity). |
| Sugar | – Highest Export %: Mauritius. |
Country-Specific Principal Exports:
- Chad: Cotton
- Niger: Uranium
- Rwanda: Coffee
- Benin: Petroleum
Agricultural Systems & Terminology
Types of Farming
| System | Description | Examples / Local Names |
|---|---|---|
| Plantation Agriculture | – Monoculture (single crop on large scale). – Located in tropical regions, often near coasts. – Crops: Coffee, Rubber, Coconut, Tea, Cocoa, Spices. |
|
| Intensive/Oriental Farming | – High labor input on small-sized holdings to maximize yield. | |
| Shifting Cultivation | – Land cleared, cultivated, then abandoned. – A form of subsistence farming. |
– India: Jhooming – Central America: Milpa – West Africa: Fang – Note: Fazenda (Brazilian plantation) is not shifting cultivation. |
| Other Systems | – Alley Cropping: Crops grown between rows of trees. – Taungya: Agroforestry system practiced in Myanmar. |
Scientific Nomenclature
- Apiculture: Production of honey.
- Viticulture: Production of grapes.
- Floriculture: Cultivation of flowers.
- Horticulture: Umbrella term for cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and ornamental plants.
- Pomology: Sub-branch for fruit cultivation.
- Olericulture: Specific term for vegetable cultivation (correcting the provided data).
- Agronomy: Science of crop cultivation.
Geographical Associations & Regions
| Region / Location | Associated Crops / Activities |
|---|---|
| Sao Paulo Plateau (Brazil) | Coffee |
| Ganges Delta (India/Bangladesh) | Rice, Jute |
| Yangtze Plains / Yangzi Jiang Basin (China) | Rice |
| Prairies Plains (North America) | Wheat |
| Huang He Basin (China) | Wheat |
| Candy Basin (Sri Lanka) | Tea |
| Kenya | Tea, Coffee |
| Ghana & Ivory Coast | Cocoa |
| Mediterranean Region | Citrus Fruits, Olives, Viticulture |
| Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley (USA) | Viticulture, Citrus Fruits |
| Hawaii (USA) | Coffee |
| Amazon & Zaire Basins | Rubber (largest cultivation area) |
| Italy | Olives |
| Mauritius & South Africa | Sugarcane |
| Iran | Saffron |
| Golden Crescent | Region for Opium/Heroin production (Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan; Iraq not included). |
Livestock, Fertilizers & Miscellaneous
Livestock & Animal Products
- Milk Production:
- Largest Producer: India.
- Ranking: 1. India, 2. USA, 3. China, 4. Russia.
- Productivity: Highest milk yield per cow in Netherlands, Great Britain, Denmark (higher than in India).
- Livestock Population: India has the world’s largest livestock population.
- Cattle Rearing in Australia: Done more for meat than milk.
- Beef Industry: Mad Cow Disease damaged the image of beef in Europe and America.
- Shahtoosh Wool:
- Considered the most attractive, warmest, and lightest wool.
- Produced in China.
- Made from the hairs of the Chiru antelope.
Fertilizers & Plant Nutrition
- Biofertilizers:
- Azolla-Anabaena: Used for Rice.
- Nostoc: A cyanobacterium used as a biofertilizer.
- Note: Agaricus (mushroom) and Spirogyra (algae) are not typically used as biofertilizers.
- Plant Nutrients:
- Nitrogen: Essential for green leaf growth. Deficiency causes stunted growth and pale/yellow leaves.
Soils & International Agreements
- Podzol: Soil found in the Coniferous forest region.
- Green Box (International Agreements): Includes assistance for Agricultural Research and Plant Protection. Does not include assistance for Fertilizer and Irrigation.
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