5.1 Introduction to Agriculture

Physical Geography: Africa is made up of multiple plateaus. One of which houses the Highveld. According to "Wikipedia" it is stated, "The Highveld (Afrikaans: Hoëveld, where veld means "field") is the portion of the South African inland plateau which has an altitude above roughly 1500 m, but below 2100 m, thus excluding the Lesotho mountain regions to the south-east of the Highveld. It is home to some of the country's most important commercial farming areas, as well as its largest concentration of metropolitan centres, especially the Gauteng conurbation, which accommodates one-third of South Africa's population" (Highveld).

Landforms: South Africa has multiple volcanic mountains. This can actually make for a good environment for farming. "British Geological Survey" states, "Volcanic environments can be good locations for farming. Volcanic deposits are enriched in elements such as magnesium and potassium. When volcanic rock and ash weathers, these elements are released, producing extremely fertile soils. Thin layers of ash can act as natural fertilisers, producing increased harvests in years following an eruption. In response to frequent eruptions, some farmers have adapted their crops and farming styles to suit different types of ash" (Living with volcanoes).

Climate: South Africa has a generally warm temperate climate. It's subtropical and has warm days and cool nights. South Africa is semiarid, which means it's relatively dry. This dryness can affect their agriculture. "Science Direct" states, "South Africa is highly susceptible to drought impacts on agriculture, given its high water reliance. Drought risk varies substantially between irrigated and rainfed agricultural systems. The most extreme drought for rainfed croplands is observed in Northern Cape, North West and Limpopo" (Drought risk for agricultural systems in South Africa...).

Climate change is said to affect South Africa's agriculture in the future. "Global Change Institute" states, "Experts warn that we are likely to see more intense rainfall, heatwaves and dry spells in SA. The main effects that climate change is expected to have on agriculture include decreased soil fertility, the need for changes in farming infrastructure, unpredictable weather patterns and lower ground and surface water availability amongst others" (7 Impacts of Climate Change on South African Agriculture).

Intensive agriculture is when large amounts of labor and capital are invested into a smaller amount of land. "SouthAfrica.co.za" states, "Production is mechanised and associated with higher inputs, such as fertiliser and pesticides. The farms tend to be smaller and more expensive than farms used for intensive production and are generally located closer to the market. Shade net and tunnel production are examples of extreme intensive crop production systems. Animal husbandry in this system is characterised by high stocking densities as is the norm with poultry and pig production. Dairy production in the Swartland is a good example, with cows being kept in housing and fed premixed rations" (Extensive versus Intensive Production Farming Methods in South Africa).

Extensive agriculture is when Small amounts of labor and capital are invested into a larger amount of land. "SouthAfrica.co.za" states, "Extensive production is practiced on vast areas of lands, such as in the Karoo where farmers will keep a thousand sheep or more over an area of one to a few thousand hectares. The number of livestock kept, will depend on the carry capacity of the land because the aim is to buy as little feed in as possible. The carry capacity may be increased through the planting of pastures. Additional feed and supplements may be provided as necessary, depending on the time of production. These farms are usually situated far from the market, with prices per hectare being generally lower than intensively produced farms depending on the location. Buying one of these farms is nevertheless still expensive, as you need many hectares to make a living from it. Dairy production in the Southern Cape is an example of extensively produced dairy cattle, as the cows are raised on pastures. They receive additional feed while being milked" (Extensive versus Intensive Production Farming Methods in South Africa).