F.

2 Geography C3 Food Problem

C3 Food Problem — Can we feed ourselves?

Name: Rexanne Hui ( 08 ) Class: 2B Date: 2023.9.15

Farming system, types and farming in Hong Kong

1.1 What is farming?  Refer to textbook P. 4-5

Concept: Farming • Definition and farming system

1. What is farming?
Farming refers to the activity of growing crops and rearing livestock
for food and raw materials.

2. What is a farming system? farming cycle 🔄

Inputs Process Outputs

Physical inputs  Sowing Useful outs

 Sunlight  Irrigating  Vegetables

 Rainfall  Fertilising  Fruits

 Land  Harvesting  Staple food

 Soil  Feeding livestock  Livestock

Human inputs Useless outputs

 Labour  Chemical residues

 Capital  Weeds

 Machinery  Crop residues

 Fodder

Sell the useful farm produce at

the market to earn money

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1.2 What are the major types of farming?  Refer to textbook P. 6-7

Concept: Farming • Classification and types

Classification Type Description

a. Intensive farming
 Smaller farm size
 More inputs per unit area
 Lower outputs per labour
 Higher outputs per unit
area

1. Amount of
inputs per
unit area b. Extensive farming
 Larger farm size
 Less inputs per unit area
 Higher outputs per labour
 Lower outputs per unit
area

a. Arable farming

2. Type of  Crops as the major

outputs type of outputs

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Classification Type Description

b. Pastoral farming

 Livestock as the
major type of outputs

2. Type of
outputs c. Mixed farming

 Crops and livestock as

the major type of outputs

a. Subsistence farming 給

 Outputs provide food for

the family

3. Use of
outputs b. Commercial farming

 Outputs are sold for profit

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1.3 What is farming in Hong Kong like?  Refer to textbook P. 8-9

Concept: Farming • Distribution of farmlands, types of outputs and characteristics

Farming in Hong Kong

Distribution Types of outputs Characteristics

 Mainly found on the  vegetables
Mainly grow ___ ___,  Intensive farming
low-lying flat land in the _fruit trees
_____ and flowers
 (Large / Small) in scale
northern and northwestern
 Small livestock farms that
New territories
_________________  Use modern technology
_________________
raise ___poultry ___ and
like greenhouse planting
 Such as Kam Tin, Fanling pigs
to improve crop yields
and Sheung Shui

Put a  in the correct box(es).

What are the

favourable factors  A. Gentle relief
for farming?  B. Near roads
 C. Near rivers
 D. Near universities

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

1.4 Where does our food come from?  Refer to textbook P. 10-11

Concept: Food • Food demand and supply, new farming methods

1. How is the food demand and supply in Hong Kong?

Food demand in Hong Kong is (larger / smaller) than food supply. Self-sufficiency
is low.

2. Where does food in Hong Kong mainly come from?

 Hong Kong mainly Import food from other places.
 Most of our fresh food comes from the Mainland . We also import food
from countries such as the USA and Japan.

3. What are the new farming methods in Hong Kong? What are the benefits of these methods?

a. Rooftop farming b. Hydroponics

 Planters are placed on rooftops  Nutrient solutions are sent directly to the
roots of the plants

c. Aquaponics

Benefits of these three new farming

methods:
 Increase local food supply
 Allow a better use of land
resources
 Fish excretions provide nutrients for the
plants while plant roots help clean the
water
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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Check the meanings of the following geographical terms using a dictionary and fill in the blanks.
 Farming

Farming 農業 Livestock 禽畜
Crop 作物

 Farming system

Raw material 原料 Fertilising 施肥

Labour 勞動 Harvesting 收割
Capital 資 Feeding 鍡飼
Machinery 機械 Staple food 密封食物
Fodder 飼料 Chemical residue 殘餘農藥
Sowing 播種 Crop residue 作物殘株
Irrigating 灌溉 Ploughing 耕作

 Types of farming

Intensive farming 集約式經營 Mixed farming 混合農業

Extensive farming 粗放式經營 Cattle ranching 牧 農業
Netherlands 荷蘭 Wheat-sheep farming 小麥牧羊業
Market gardening 園藝農業 Subsistence farming 給性農業
Arable farming 耕作農業 Commercial farming 商業性農業
Pastoral farming 畜牧業 Uganda 烏干達

 Farming in Hong Kong

Kam Tin 錦田 Lam Tsuen 林村

Fanling 粉嶺 Greenhouse 溫室
Sheung Shui 上水

 Food in Hong Kong

Self-sufficiency rate 給率 Rooftop farming 天台種植

Import 進口 Hydroponics 水耕種植
Proximity 鄰近 Aquaponics 菜共

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 F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Farming regions in China

2.1 Where are the major farming regions in China?
 Refer to textbook P. 12-13

Concept: Farming regions • Distribution and characteristics

A farming region is an area where the types of farming activities and farm produce
are similar.

The northern and i

northwestern regions
Pastrol farming

The southern eastern and northern

regions-Arable farming

cn .hnaeedpain mg

un
titi hess Plateau
Middleton

aegg Plain  Northern arid and semiarid region
Northeast China Plain
 
Huang-Huai-Hai Loess Plateau
 Qingzang Plateau 
Middle-lower Chang Jiang Plain
 
Sichuan Basin and surrounding regions 四川 Southern China

Yunnan -Guizhou Plateau 雲南貴州

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

2.2 What are the factors affecting the distribution of farming regions
in China?  Refer to textbook P. 14-17

Concept: Farming regions • Factors

Factor Distribution pattern Description

 There are five climatic types in

China.

 They determine the types of crops

tem
grown and the length of the High
growing season .

1. Climate  Decrease from the southeast  High temperatures and

to the northwest abundant rainfall are
favourable for crop growing.
 As a result, the southeast is hot and
humid, while the northwest is cold  Therefore, arable farming
and dry. is well developed in southeastern
China.

 Affect the size of farmland

and soil fertility in an area

 The relief is rugged in the

west. The farmland is (larger /
2. Relief smaller) and the soil is infertile .
 Altitude decreases from the west to
the east  The relief is gentler in the

 Forms a three-step staircase east. The farmland is (larger /

pattern smaller) and the soil

is fertile .

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Check the meanings of the following geographical terms using a dictionary and fill in the blanks.
 Factors affecting the distribution of farming regions in China

Growing season 生長期 Basin 盆地

Arid 乾旱 Plain 平原
Semi-arid 半乾旱 Hill 丘陵
Xinjiang 新疆 Altitude 海拔

Hami 哈密 Qingzang Plateau 青藏高原

Shandong 山東 Southeast Hills 東南丘陵
Qingdao 青島 Inner Mongolian Plateau 內蒙古高原
Guangxi 廣西 Loess Plateau 黃土高原
Nanning 南寧 Sichuan Basin 四川盆地
Relief 地勢 Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau 雲貴高原
Soil fertility 壤肥 Alluvial plain 沖積平原
Plateau 原

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Food production and limitations in China

3.1 Can China produce enough food to feed its growing population?
 Refer to textbook P. 22-23

Concept: Food production • Supply, demand and concerns

1. How is the food supply and demand in China?

 China’s total food supply is enough to meet its total food demand.
 However, the amount of food produced locally is slightly (higher / lower) than the total
demand. Thus, China has to import food to fill the gap.

2. What are the concerns of China about food production?

Concern Description

率  The food self-sufficiency rate of China has

a. Decreasing food self-suf ciency rate fallen below the world’s standard since
2012.

 With rapid economic development and

better standards of living, the demand
for meat , dairy products
and biofuels has risen.

 More farmlands are used to grow fodder

and fuel instead of food.

b. Increasing reliance on imported food  China has been importing more food,
especially soybean and grain .

 Relying heavily on food imports makes

food supply becomes unstable when
there are changes in the global supply
and prices of food. This may even
trigger food crisis .

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

3.2 What are the physical factors limiting food production in China?
 Refer to textbook P. 24-25

Concept: Limitation • Physical factors

Physical factor Description

1. Lack of arable land

 Arable land is land suitable for farming. In China, 13%
of its land is arable.

 With a huge population, however, arable land per capita

of China is far below the world’s average.

2. Water shortage  Low water resources  Many farmlands lack

per capita irrigation water.

 Mainly found in the south

 Uneven
 Northeast China
distribution of water
where most food is produced
resources
is short of water

3. Frequent natural hazards

 Most of the damages are caused by droughts .

 Natural hazards destroyed farmland and led to an

serious loss.

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

3.3 What are the human factors limiting food production in China?
 Refer to textbook P. 26-29

Concept: Limitation • Human factors

Human factor Description Impact on food production

1. Rapid urban development

a. Land use changes

 Many farmlands have been
 Strong Competitions
changed into urban land
for land resources have
uses, such as houses ,
resulted in a loss of
factories and
farmlands.
roads.

 Large amounts of industrial,

commercial and domestic  The water quality

b. Pollution sewage have has become too poor for

been released into rivers and irrigation.
lakes.

 The soil is contaminated.

 Industrial activities produce This reduces the
heavy metals . productivity of farmlands
and lowers food production.

 Many farmers move to

c. Shortage of rural
 Urban development has cities to seek better jobs and
labour force
widened the income gap higher income.

between the urban and rural  rural -urban migration

populations. has led to a reduction in
rural labour force.

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Human factor Description Impact on food production

2. Improper farming methods

Over-cultivation

Soil nutrients are depleted.

Over-cultivation  Farms in China are Soil fertility (increases /

a.
cultivated intensively decreases).
to maximise crop yields. 

 Sometimes, even marginal Loose soil is easily carried

land is opened up for away by wind and rain .

farming. 

Soil erosion is serious .



Crops cannot grow in dry

and infertile soil.

Overuse of  The excessive use of

b.
groundwater groundwater has resulted in
 Many farmers use
the decline of the
groundwater to irrigate their
water table .
farmlands.
Groundwater resources may
even be exhausted .

3. Low levels of
mechanisation  Farmers in China mainly  The low adoption of
rely on simple machines to advanced technology
carry out farm work. affects farming efficiency

 The use of large machinery and crop yields cannot be

is uncommon. greatly raised.

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Human factor Description Impact on food production

4. Low prices of
 Local farm produce is
imported food
 In China, locally produced
less competitive .
food is usually more
 Many farmers give up
expensive than imported
farming, which further
food even though tariffs
reduces local food
are imposed.
production.

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Check the meanings of the following geographical terms using a dictionary and fill in the blanks.
 Concerns about food production

Biofuel 物燃料 Fuel crop 燃料作物

Fodder crop 飼料作物 Food crisis 糧 危機

 Physical factors limiting food production in China

Arable land 可耕地 Typhoon 颱風

India 印度 Frost 霜凍
Water resource 資源 Pest 蟲害
Natural hazard 然災害 Wildfire 森林大火
Drought 旱災 Yunnan 雲南
Flooding 氾濫 Zhejiang 浙江

 Human factors limiting food production in China

Labour force 勞動力 Over-cultivation 過度耕作

Land use 地利 Nutrient 養分
Pollution 污染 Soil erosion 壤侵蝕
Sewage 污 Groundwater 地下水
Heavy metal 重金屬 Water table 地下水位
Productivity 生產力 Mechanisation 機械化
Rural-urban migration 城鄉遷移 Tariff 關稅

 Farming in Huizhou

Zhujiang Delta Region 珠三 地區 Diesel 柴油

Huizhou 惠州 Agrochemical 農業化學品
High value-added 高增值 Air pollutant 空氣污染物
Chemical fertiliser 化學肥料

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Pros and cons of scientific farming methods

4.1 What are the scientific farming methods used in China?
Refer to textbook P. 36-37

Concept: Scientific farming methods • Type and use

Scientific farming method Function Use in China

1. Using Agrochemicals
Chemical fertilisers
農業化學品 Agrochemicals are
improve soil fertility. applied extensively

農藥 Pesticides and but the amount of

化肥fertilisers has
除草劑Herbicides kill chemical

pests and weeds begun to decrease in

recent years.
respectively.

2. Using farming machinery

Machines such as tractors
and combine harvester
The number has
raise farming efficiency
increased.
and reduce the need for
labour.

3. Installingirrigation system
Improve water supply
and efficiency
Irrigation systems
Allow crops to grow
have become popular.
during the dry season and
in arid areas

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Scientific farming method Function Use in China

4. Planting in greenhouses
Greenhouses protect crops Greenhouses are
from natural hazards widely used,
and pests . north
especially in
Growing conditions China and

are controlled so that along the middle and

farming can be carried out lower courses of

in harsh environments. Chang Jiang.

5. Improving Crop species

New species with better

quality and higher yields
Crop improvement
can be produced by
technologies have
cross-breeding two
become more mature.
different crop species.

Genetically modified Research on hybrid

wheat has also begun
crops using biotechnology
in recent years.
are fast-growing and of
higher quality.
i

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

4.2 What are the effectiveness and limitations of scientific farming

methods? Refer to textbook P. 38-39

Concept: Scientific farming methods • Effectiveness and limitations

Scientific farming methods

Various farming problems are eased, such as the lack of arable land, labour
Effectiveness force and irrigation water.
Farmland production and productivity have increased.

1. Lack of capital Farmers in China are generally poor,

especially those in West China where
economic development
ó
is slow.

oin
Many farmers cannot afford large machines,
irrigation systems or the cost of energy .

2
The relief of China is steep 斜 in the
west and hilly in the east.
2.Small and
fragmented farmland
hiyo
Farmlands are usually small and
破碎fragmented . The use of large machines

Limitations or irrigation systems is difficult.

勞
Farmers can only rely on manual labour
or simple tools.

low levels of
Farmers in China are in general poorly
3.
education
educated.
ciities
Many young people have moved to the cities.

The elderly farmers left behind are more

conservative and less willing to change.
They also lack the knowledge and skills to use
new farming technologies.

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 F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

4.3 What are the environmental impacts of scientific farming methods?

Refer to textbook P. 40-41

Concept: Scientific farming methods • Environmental impacts

1. Environmental pollution

Overuse of agrochemicals pollution

Produces large amounts of residues of fertilisers and pesticides

Pollute soil and water Enter water bodies

1
resources

富營養化Eutrophication occurs

Lead to algal bloom

Algae uses up oxygen in the water

Other organisms die

2. Land degradation
Farming activity Impact
實的
The soil is 壓 compacted by the use of large machines. This
Constant use of
limits the entry of water and air into the soil.
large machines
Soil erosion is intensified and productivity decreases.

Waterlogging in the soil causes crops to die due to the

process of soil
salinisation lack of oxygen.
Over-irrigation also leads to soil solinsation in dry
regions where evaporation is rapid.

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 F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Process of soil salinisation

Irrigation water seeps The water table Salt builds up in the top soil

into the soil rises after the water evaporated .

Soil
salinity increases. Dissolved salts are
Crops may die. brought to the surface.

3. Ecological disturbance
Farming activity Impact

Overuse of
agrochemicals Excessive use of pesticides
May kill non-target species
Pests may become to pesticides
May lead to

GM crops
GM crops may alter the genes of their wild relatives
through .

Animals that depend on these may

lose their food sources.

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Scientific farming method

Scientific farming method Irrigation system
Agrochemical Greenhouse
Pesticide Cross-breeding
Herbicide Genetically modified (GM)
Tractor Biotechnology
Combine harvester Hybrid rice

Effectiveness of scientific farming method

Effectiveness

Negative impacts of scientific farming method

Eutrophication Land degradation
Algae
Algal bloom

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Other ways to increase food production in China

5.1 Are there other ways to increase food production in China?
Refer to textbook P. 42-45

Concept: Food production • Other ways

Ways to increase food

Description Benefit
production
1. Promoting sustainable farming methods

a.
Cut slopes into narrow
strips of steps (Increase / Reduce) the
area of farmland
Commonly found in the
areas of Conserve soil and water
China

b.
Protect the soil from
Cover farmlands with direct sunlight, wind, and
or rain, mulching helps
crop residues reduce
and prevent

c. With the use of

water-saving irrigation
Reduce water loss
technologies such as
through evaporation and
, water
prevents
and fertilisers can be
directly applied to the
of crops.

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Ways to increase food

Description Benefit
production
d.

Take turns to grow Help prevent certain

different crops on the from
same piece of farmland being used up

e.

Leave a piece of farmland

unplanted for a certain Allow the soil to rest and
period of time, typically a restore its
year

f. Protect soil and water

An environmentally resources
friendly farming method
Maintain ecological
that avoids using
and
Enhance food security in
the long run

120 million hectares of

farmlands are reserved
2. Better planning and
Those of high quality are
management of farmland
designated as
Protect farmlands from
where development is not urban development
allowed.
More
on the illegal use of
farmlands are carried out.

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Ways to increase food

Description Benefit
production

Offer Improve farming

and infrastructure.
3. More government support
Provide
Improve
to educate farmers on the
use of technology

Crops are grown based on

Promote
the physical and cultural
characteristics of a region

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F.2 Geography C3 Food Problem

Other ways to increase food production

Sustainable farming method Fallowing
Terraced field Organic farming
Longji Land use planning
Infiltration Permanent basic farmland
Mulching Subsidy
Drip irrigation Loan
Crop rotation Specialisation

Farming technology
Precision farming Shenzhen
Automated technology Beijing
Vertical farming

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