Topic 2: Questions and Answers

• Answer the questions below.
• Give yourself one hour.
• Check your answers afterwards and do corrections.

Questions

1. Name five main concerns in Agricultural Economics. (5)
2. Discuss four modern challenges faced in agriculture. (12)
3. Over the past four decades there has been a shift in the eating patterns of South Africans. In what ways did these eating patterns change and why
   did they change? (10)
4. Describe the three models of land ownership in South Africa. (9)
5. Name three important laws that affect agriculture. (6)
6. Name the main three agricultural organisations in South Africa and briefly describe the main functions of each. (9)
7. Give four differences between scientific knowledge and indigenous knowledge (IK). (8)
8. Name three indigenous medicinal plants.
9. Discuss four advantages to using IK in agricultural production. (8)

[Total marks: 70]

Answers

1.                    
   • The money earned by this sector of the economy
   • Planning with regard to food security
   • Population growth
   • The International and local conditions
   • Land issues
   • Laws (Any five).
2.                  
   • Degradation of land: This is due to injudicious and unscientific farming methods and poor decisions about siting of cities, dams, etc. that use agricultural land. This results in damage to the soil, vegetation and water.
   • Climate change: Global warming and climate change, due to massive release of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses, has an impact on the productivity of agricultural land.
   • Population increase and population shift: Population increase and urbanisation put pressure on the land and agricultural practices and production. To meet the expected growth in world’s population by 2050, food production must rise by at least 70%, from a declining land area. Agriculture needs to use more scientific and sustainable methods of production, including more intensive production methods.
   • Globalisation: It is becoming more important to produce more cheaply and efficiently to compete against imported products. Plants, animals and their products are easily and quickly moved all over the world. This increases the introduction of diseases and parasites or unwanted weeds from one country to the next.
   • Decreasing number of farms: There is a need for higher production. Small farms are being consolidated into bigger units.
   • Urbanisation: Due to industrial development, urbanisation is speeding up. This leads to land and water pollution. (Any 4)
3. Due to urbanisation, and increase in wealth and education, people are more aware of healthy eating habits:
   • Less fat and more fresh fruit and vegetables; white instead of red meat.
   • The consumption of white meat has more than doubled.
   • The consumption of red meat has declined by more than a third.
   • The consumption of eggs has almost doubled.
   • Protein intake per person per year has increased about 20%.
   • There has been a shift from red meat to white meat and eggs.
4.                        
   • Private land: Private ownership or private tenure is by a titlehold and is a right protected by our Constitution. Private land may be used, bought and sold as the owner wishes, so long as other laws such as environmental laws are adhered to. A title hold of private property may be for three types of property: an urban residential site, a smallholding / agricultural holding and large land holdings (farms).
   • State land: This is land held for the people by the government and is used for national parks, state run irrigation schemes and forestry. Only government departments or those with the permission of the government may utilise this land.
   • Communal land: This is a form of state-owned land that has been allocated to certain communities in a form of leasehold tenure where the communities have certain rights administered by a traditional leader.
5.                      
   • the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Act No. 75 of 97
   • the Employment Equity Act, Act No. 55 of 1998
   • the Skills Development Act and Skills Development Levy Act, Act No. 97 of 1998.
   • the Communal Property Association Act, Act No. 28 of 1996
   • the Extension of Security Tenure Act, Act No. 62 of 1997
   • the Agricultural Products Standards Act, Act No. 119 of 1990
   • the Marketing of Agricultural Produce Act, Act No. 47 of 1996
   • the National Water Act, Act No. 36 of 1998
   • the National Veld and Forest Fire Act, Act 84 of 1998 the Fencing Act, Act No. 31 of 1963
   • the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, Act No. 43 of 1983
   • the Subdivision of Agricultural Land Act, Act No. 70 of 1970
   • the Conservation of agricultural Resources Act (CARA)
   • the Meat Safety Act, Act No. 40 of 2000
   • the Animal Diseases Act, Act No. 35 of 1984
   • the Animal Health Act, Act No. 7 of 2000
   • the Veterinary and Para-veterinary Professions Act, Act No. 19 of 1982
   • the Genetically Modified Organisms Act, Act No. 15 of 1997
   • the Fertilisers, Farm Feeds, Agricultural Remedies and Stock Remedies Act, Act No. 36 of 1947
   • the Medicines and Related Substances Act, Act No. 101 of 1965
   • the Animal Protection Act, Act No. 71 of 1962
   • the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Act No. 169 of 1993. (Any 3)
6.                
   1. Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
      • It is the main research institution in South Africa and aims at contributing to a better quality of life and to ensure resource conservation. It coordinates the agricultural research done by the state.
   2. National Agricultural Marketing Council (NAMC)
      • Provide policy and strategy recommendations regarding marketing to DAFF
      • Improve the strategic position of SA in the global market
      • Supply information on the marketing of agricultural products.
   3. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
      • The main functions of the CSIR are research and technical innovation.
7.                         
   

   Scientific knowledge	Indigenous knowledge
   Modern (couple of hundred years)	Old (thousands of years)
   International	Local
   Not necessarily suitable for African conditions	Developed in Africa for local conditions
   Written and accurately recorded	Passed on by word of mouth (verbal)
   Proven by scientific testing	Determined by observation
   Accurate analyses and dosing	Dosing determined by trial and error
   In some cases, may place stress on environment	Generally adapted to the environment
   Suitable for mass production	Only suitable for sustainable harvesting

8.                       
   • Hoodia gordonia (bitter ghaap)
   • African potato (Hypoxis hemerocallidea / inkomfe)
   • Cancer bush (phetola)
   • Fever tea (Lippia javanica / inzinziniba )
   • False paperbark (Albiza adianthofolio / umhlandlothi) (Any 3)
9.                      
   • An indication is given on where to look and what research to do to prove or disprove the claims.
   • The gene pool has not been interfered with, so it is broader than that of ‘developed’ European breeds. This ensures the benefits of biodiversity are there when we need them. For example, it is only recently that the genes for resistance to ticks in indigenous cattle have been recognised and used in cross breeding to reduce the damage caused by ticks to our national herd.
   • Local breeds are better adapted to our local environment, therefore they do better under local conditions and they have a less severe effect on the environment.
   • The use of indigenous crops benefits biodiversity, counters malnutrition, and improves food security and soil fertility.

[Total marks: 70]