Geography - Rural

• Land reform means rural families own their own land giving them security and freedom over their crops.
• Farmers are better educated to maximise yields.
• Increased rice yields have allowed more cash crops e.g. coconuts and bananas to be grown, increasing income. Mechanisation has replaced labour.
• Fertilisers and pesticides are more expensive increase farmers' debts.
• Farming has become less sustainable.
• HYV's increased food production and increasing self sufficiency.

• Larger farms for larger machinery due to removal of hedgerows.
• Increased use of fertiliser, however overuse may damage landscape.
• Reduced subsidies to reduce overproduction in the EU.
• Increase in set-aside land to keep subsidy. 15% of land out of cultivation. Paid not to produce crops.
• Improvements in technology reduces need for labour. Introduction of computers that control irrigation.
• GM crops can increase yields and increase resistance to disease.

Created in 1962 to secure food supplies at a fair price and to improve the standard of living for farmers in Europe. Each EU member pays in to fund this policy. The money is then paid back to farmers through loans, grants, training and subsidies. It develops agriculture in Europe into a more efficient and productive industry. 

• Ensure farmers get a reasonable income e.g. guarenteed prices
• Ensures there is enough food at a reasonable price

Effects

• Larger farms                                                                                    
• Removal of hedgerows to use larger machines.
• Fewer labourers
• Wildlife habitats have been lost
• EU is self sufficient in many food products e.g. cereal
• Surpluses of milk, butter and wine.
• Cap is become more expensive 

To reduce surpluses: introduction of quotas, growth in other crops, land for other purposes, set-aside land.

No artificial chemicals e.g. pesticides and fertilisers. Instead, organic farmers rely on techniques such as crop rotation, green manure, compost, and processed fertilisers e.g. seed meal. 

Advantages

• Employ more workers than conventional farms
• Sustain the health of soils, ecosystems and people by using natural processes to provide nitrogen, phosphorus and micronutrients to the soil. Healthy yield and more productive soil for future crops.
• No synthetic pesticides which could infiltrate the food chain.
• Less money spent on fertilisers and pesticides.

Disadvantages

• Smaller yields
• No scientific evidence organic food is better for humans
• Higher cost making it harder in developing countries
• Due to organic food being more expensive, people may eat less fruit and vegetables than they should.

Diversification

• More valuable crops grown due to increased demand from cities as more people can afford them.
• Improved infrastructure allows more commercial selling
• Less rice grown as too costly and needs labour - now imported.
• More agrochemicals available so less less organic.

Landscape

• Low tech equipment
• No hedgerows
• Fertile soils
• Mostly food crops
• Labour intensive
• Small villages
• Tiny field size.

Basic Machinery

• Increases efficiency e.g. tractors, rice paddy sowing planting machinery

HYV

• Shorter stem means more resistance to disease and less prone to wind damage, thus increasing yields.

Agro-chemicals

• Artificial fertilisers aid growth, and pesticides and fungicides kill pests and diseases, increasing yield.

Greenhouses

• Control climate so crops grow all year and more harvests.

Irrigation

• Reservoirs give reliable, all-year water supply.

Fuels made from organic matter

Pro's

• renewable
• less air pollution
• produced locally meaning accessible for isolated communities

Con's

• Uses up valuable farmland
• Increases deforestation