A farm/family plot can be viewed as a system. Image credit mg.co.za

ZIMSEC O Level Geography Notes:Agriculture:Farming as a system

  • A farm is a tract of land on which crops and often livestock are raised for livelihood
  • A farm can be viewed as a system
  • A system is a set of interacting or interdependent component parts forming a complex or intricate whole.
  • The farm is a system with inputs, elements, characteristics, processes and outputs.
  • This system may be closed or open, depending on location and level of production.
INPUTSLANDPROCESSESOUTPUTS
natural inputs include:
sunshine
temperature
soil (land)
moisture/rainfall/water
human inputs include:
labour, capital, machinery, seeds, fertilisers and insecticides
size
site
layout
ownership
division and farm buildings
ploughing
planting
weeding
harvesting
transporting
storing
rearing
milking
food crops
industrial crops
meat
milk
hides
bones
hooves
waste materials eg crop stalks
residues and manure

To access more topics go to the O Level Geography Notes page