O-LevelGeographyEconomic development2217/12 · May/June 2011 · Q525 Marks

(a) Study [Figures 7A and 7B], which show a subsistence farm and a commercial farm.

(a)(i)What is the difference between subsistence and commercial farming?[1]
(a)(ii)What is meant by: A irrigated, B labour intensive farming?[2]
(a)(iii)Identify an input, a process and an output of the commercial farm shown in [Figure 7B]. input process.. output[3]
(a)(iv)Explain how the climate of an area influences the ways in which a farmer uses the land.[4]
(b)(i)Describe three ways in which the farming system has changed between 1980 and 2010.[3]
(b)(ii)Suggest how the quality of life of the farmer and his family may have been improved by the changes which have occurred.[5]
(c)For a named area or country which you have studied which suffers from famine, explain why there is a shortage of food. Name of area or country[7]

This question uses a diagram from the original paper, which isn't shown here. Open the full paper from the past papers archive to see it.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (May/June 2011). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

[1] Subsistence farming is producing products for family only Commercial farming is when products are for sale
[2] A = when crops are watered artificially/given extra water B = using large amounts of worker/manualwork/farmwork using no machines 2 @ 1 mark
[3] Inputs: tractor/pesticide/fertilizer/manure/water/seeds/fodder crops etc. Processes: ploughing/applying fertilizer/spraying pesticide/planting crops/harvesting/feed cattle/irrigate crops etc. Outputs: wheat/milk/beef etc. 3 @ 1 mark
[4] Ideas such as: temperature determines crops grown; crops need to be grown where there is an adequate growing season; there must be sufficient rainfall for crops to grow/irrigation needed if insufficient rain; cereal crops/vines need sunshine to ripen; too much rainfall may waterlog/flood crops/require a drainage system; in areas with frost/long winter hardy animals may be kept; if it is windy wind breaks are needed etc. 4 @ 1 mark
[3] Changes such as: subsistence changed to commercial; crops exported rather than sold in country; more use of fertilizers etc.; higher yields; crops sold through marketing organisation rather than directly by farmer etc.; farmer now buys food from local market rather than growing it himself. 3 @ 1 mark
[5] Ideas such as: more money available/he can buy possessions or examples; with which the farmer can improve his farm/or examples; money can be used to send children to school; or pay for regular health care; pay for electricity to be installed; or water pipes/sewage disposal etc.; family will be better fed etc.; 5 @ 1 mark or development
[1-3] Statements including limited detail which explain why there are food shortages. (e.g. Drought, flooding, hurricanes/cyclones/typhoons, poor farming practices, exhaustion of soils, soil erosion, wars/conflict, lack of investment/poverty, lack of agricultural technology; low crop yields; rapidly increasing population etc.)
[4-6] Uses named example. More developed statements which explain why there are food shortages. (e.g. drought reduces yields of crops, overcultivation as fields are not given fallow time, overgrazing due to keeping too many cattle, lack of investment in irrigation/fertilizers, still using traditional farming practices such as ploughing up and down slopes, poverty prevents them buying fertilizers/pesticides etc.) (NB MAX 5 if no named example)
[7] Uses named example (e.g. Ethiopia). Comprehensive and accurate statements, explain why there are food shortages, with some place specific reference. (e.g. drought which extended into neighbouring Eritrea reduces yields of crops, overcultivation as fields are not given fallow time, overgrazing due to keeping too many cattle especially in the northern region of Tigray, lack of investment in irrigation/fertilizers, still using traditional farming practices such as ploughing up and down slopes, poverty prevents them buying fertilizers/pesticides etc.)