Grade 6- Agriculture in Eastern Africa

Agriculture It is the growing of crops and keeping of livestock. Large scale farming is practised in large track of land

Farming involved large scale production which requires large amount of capital

A. Large Scale Crop Farming In East Africa

• Farming is the growing of crops and keeping of livestock.

• Large scale farming is the growing of crops and keeping of livestock in large estates.

• Large scale farming is also called large commercial farming.
  

The animals kept in large scale farming

• Cattle

• Camels

• Sheep

• Goats

Crops that are mainly grown in large scale farming include

• Coffee

• Wheat

• Sugarcane

• Tea

• maize

Characteristics of large scale farming

1. Crops are grown in large estates called plantations.

2. One type of crop is grown in large estates.

3. Crops are grown for sale or for commercial purposes.

4. Some large-scale farming requires use of machines like sugarcane, wheat and maize.

5. Chemicals such as herbicides, fungicides, fertilizers are used.

6. It requires large capital to operate.

Contributions and Benefits of Large Scale Farming

1. Creates job opportunities to many people

2. Products from large scale farming are exported and earn the country foreign exchange.

3. It is a source of income to the farmers.

4. It earns the country domestic revenue through taxes

5. Promote trade which stimulate economic development

6. Some of the crops are sources of food. This creates food security.

7. Source of raw material for agro- based industries

Different crops are grown in large scale in the following countries

Sugarcane - Sudan

Coffee - Kenya and Ethiopia

Tea - Kenya

Wheat - Kenya

Maize - Kenya and Tanzania

Sisal - Kenya and Tanzania

B. Beef farming in Eastern Africa

Beef farming is the keeping or rearing of cattle for meat or beef production.

Beef cattle includes; Abadeen Angus, Charolais, Hereford, Zebu, Boran.

Beef farming can be influenced by;

1. Presence of large grazing land

2. Beef farming requires large land

3. Absence of tsetseflies and other pests

4. Availability of pasture

5. Flat land which enables easy movement of cattle while grazing.

6. Favourable climatic conditions

7. Moderate rainfall that can enable grass to grow.

Contributions of beef farming to the economy of Eastern Africa

1. Beef farming provides beef as food.

2. Creates job opportunities to many people.

3. It is a source of income for many people.

4. Earns the country foreign exchange.

5. It is a source of revenue to the government through taxes

6. Has led to the improvement of transport and communication.

Importance of contribution of large-scale Farming to the economy of Eastern Africa

1. Reduce cost of food

2. Improve the peoples living standard individuals

3. Development of good transport and communication network

4. Growth of towns

5. Improved social amenities such as schools and hospitals

6. Establishment of factories

7. Control rural- urban migration

BEEF FARMING

It is an activity where farmers keep cattle to be sold for meat.

Beef farming is usually practise on a large - scale where cattle are kept on large farm. The farms are usually called ranches.

Beef farming is largely practised in areas where crop farming is not widely spread

Factors influencing beef farming in Easter Africa

1. Climate

2. Availability of large piece of land

3. Demand for beef

4. Capital availability

5. Government policy

Area where beef farming is practised in Eastern Africa

• Kajiado in Kenya

• Machakos in Kenya
  

Contribution of beef farming to the economy of East Africa

1. Source of income

2. Source of food

3. Development of industries

4. Earns the country foreign exchange

5. Source of employment

Challenges facing beef farming in Eastern Africa

1. Lack of water and pasture due to prolonged drough

2. Attacks by pests and diseases

3. Lack of capital to purchase the modern facilities

4. Cattle rustling

5. Overstocking

6. Poor means of transport and communication

7. Lack of veterinarian services

Possible solutions to challenges facing beef farming in Eastern Africa

1. Drilling boreholes and digging wells to provide water.

2. Investing more capital or money in beef farming.

3. Providing veterinary services.

4. Establishing more slaughterhouses.

5. Reducing the number of stocks to solve the problem of overstocking.

6. Improving the quality of livestock through cross breeding.