Question

Give a geographical reason:

Extensive agriculture is a commercial type of agriculture.

Answer 1

In agricultural economics, extensive agriculture pertains to a method of crop production that utilises minimal labour and capital relative to the size of the farmland. The crop yield in extensive agriculture is mainly determined by the land’s natural fertility, location, weather conditions, and water supply. Since extensive agriculture generates lower yields per land unit, it requires a substantial land area for commercial use. Extensive farming has several benefits, particularly its environmental friendliness compared to intensive agriculture. This method requires minimal input and preserves a significant portion of the natural ecosystem in a given area without costly or complex protection measures. The following are the system’s three key features:

1. Agricultural farms are large, covering hundreds of hectares.
2. Machines perform most agricultural tasks involving only a few human hands.
3. The majority of the crops are exported because there is a production surplus.

Answer 2

1. Extensive agriculture uses a large farm.
2. Capital is intensive, and there is more use of modern machinery. 
3. The machineries are used from sowing to harvesting.
4. It is also monoculture. Wheat and maize are the major crops. 
5. Cultivation and commercial animal husbandry are done together.
6. Per-hectare yield is low, but per capita income is high.
7. This type of agriculture has been done in extensive areas of the temperate grassland-Steppes, Prairies, Downs, Pampas, Velds.
8. Hence, extensive agriculture is a commercial type of agriculture.