5.1 Introduction to Agriculture

Identify the agricultural practices used in your country along with the climate associated with that agricultural practice.  

Agriculture plays a significant role in Nicaragua, engaging as much as one-third of the labor force and producing about one-fifth of the total national income. The valleys of the western central mountains yield about one-fourth of the national agricultural production. Major crops for domestic consumption include corn (maize), beans, rice, sorghum, plantains, and cassava (manioc). Various fruits and vegetables are also produced for local consumption. Cattle are significant as a source of hides, meat, and dairy products in the west and of meat in the east. Other livestock include goats, hogs, horses, and sheep.

Nicaragua, located just north of the Equator, has a tropical climate, hot all year round. Temperatures are quite stable; however, there is a relatively cool winter from November to January, a hot spring from March to May, and a sultry and rainy summer from May to October. In the Pacific lowlands, including cities such as Managua, it is hot and humid with an average temperature of 26 °C to 32 °C. The dry season lasts from November to April, while the rainy season, influenced by monsoon winds, lasts from May to October. This climate is conducive to the growth of the crops mentioned above and supports the traditional and CSA farming practices employed in the country.

Identify if the practice is intensive or extensive and whether it is commercial or subsistence. 

The practice is intensive commercial

High Level of Inputs: Intensive farming involves significant inputs of labor, machinery, fertilizers, and other resources compared to the land area being farmed. In the case of Nicaragua, a large portion of the labor force is engaged in agriculture, suggesting a high labor input.

Maximization of Output: The goal of intensive commercial farming is to maximize the production of crops or livestock for sale in the market, as opposed to subsistence farming where the primary goal is to feed the farmers family. In Nicaragua, agriculture contributes to about one-fifth of the total national income, indicating that a substantial portion of the agricultural output is sold in the market, making it commercial.

Crop Variety: The variety of crops grown such as corn, beans, rice, sorghum, plantains, and cassava, and the production of various fruits and vegetables for local consumption, suggest an intensive approach to maximize the use of available land.

Livestock Farming: The significant role of cattle as a source of hides, meat, and dairy products also points to intensive commercial farming. The rearing of goats, hogs, horses, and sheep further diversifies the agricultural output.