Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 1 Unit 7: Agriculture

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UNIT 7 Syllabus 2019 – 21

(a) Agricultural systems
 Understand how small-scale

AGRICULTURE
subsistence farming, cash crop
farming and livestock farming
operate as systems made up of
inputs, processes and outputs.
(b) Crops and livestock
 Identify on a map the main areas
where cotton, rice, sugar cane and
O Level wheat are grown, and the main areas
where buffalo, cattle, goats, sheep
Pakistan Studies and poultry are reared
 Recognise (from photographs) fields
(Geography) of cotton, rice, sugar cane and wheat;
recognise (from photographs) buffalo,
cattle, goats, sheep and poultry
 State the uses of the crops
Javed Kausar named above
 State the main products of the
livestock named above and the uses
of those products
 Identify the main areas for the
cultivation and growth of each of the
following: apples, apricots, bananas,
dates, maize, mangoes, millet,
oilseeds, oranges, pulses,
tobacco and vegetables. Know why
they are grown there and state an
important use of each.
(c) Factors affecting production
Natural factors: Topography, climate (for
both kharif and rabi crops), soils, pests
and diseases Human factors: capital,
labour, size of holdings, farming practices,
irrigation (types and methods),
waterlogging and salinity (including
solutions), governmental actions to
increase production
 Explain how natural and human
factors affect production on small-
scale subsistence farms, including:
– Rice grown using traditional
methods of ploughing,
transplanting, irrigating, harvesting
and threshing on small,
fragmented holdings using family
labour
– Wheat grown in areas dependent
upon rainfall (barani farming
Sale Point: Shop # 25-28 Lower Ground Floor, areas)
Haadia Haleema Centre, Ghazni Street, – dates and vegetables grown using
Urdu Bazar, Lahore. karez irrigation in a desert oasis
Tel: +92 42-35714038
 Explain how natural factors,
Cell: +92 336-5314141
including climatic requirements, and
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human factors affect the production of
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cotton, rice, sugar cane (kharif crops)

and of wheat (a rabi crop) under the
cash crop farming system
 Explain how natural and human
factors affect livestock farming
(poultry farming, the keeping of
buffalo and cattle, the keeping of
livestock) on small-scale
subsistence farms and the
keeping of cattle, goats and sheep on
a nomadic or semi-nomadic basis,
including transhumance
 Describe the different types of
irrigation and explain the
advantages and disadvantages of
each for small-scale subsistence
farming, and for the growing of cotton,
rice, sugar cane and wheat:
– Canal irrigation – karez,
inundation and perennial canal
– Lift irrigation – persian wheel and
tubewell
– Understand the roles of dams,
barrages, link canals, distribution
canals, field channels and bunds
 Explain the causes of waterlogging
and salinity, and:
– Explain how land damaged by it
can be restored
– Evaluate how agricultural practice
and water management can be
improved to prevent it happening
 Understand how government action
has helped to increase production
through land reforms, the promotion of
training and the use of machinery,
chemicals, improved seeds and other
means
 Understand and evaluate the
possibilities for and problems of the
development of agriculture and its
sustainability.
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UNIT-7: AGRICULTURE

Primary Industry
GDP – 25%
Labour force involved – 44%
Inputs:

Physical/Natural Human/Economics

Process
Irrigation, sowing, threshing, shearing wool
Weeding, ploughing, breeding, slaughtering
Fertilizing, harvesting, milking Pastoral

Pasture
Crops Tree Crops Livestock

Rice Apple eggs
Meadows
Sugarcane Apricot meat

Maize Mangoes Wool Range land
Wheat Citrus fruits Hides

Shamilat
Waste

 Chaff/husk/hay use as Grazing field
fodder and in the construction of mud houses
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 Fallen seeds as fodder

 Cow dung as fuel and fertilizer

Output Output
For For
Sale use Sale out
Profit
Goes to Input

Primary activity: Obtaining raw materials from ground for consumption or for further processing

SMALL SCALE SUBSISTENCE FARMING CASH CROP/ COMMERCIAL FARMING

 Growing crops for own use.  Cash crop farming is for sale and
 Surplus is sold in the market. earning profit.
 Small farm size.  The motive is to maximize yields profits
 Whole family works in the field e. g. by employing human inputs (machines,
women looking after animals, children skilled labour, preventive and curative
grazing animals. measures, fertilizers, irrigation)
 Most of the work is done by hands or  Use machines to speed up processes
animal power. so he is not at the mercy of nature to an
 Usually some of the family members extent.
may have to work in cities or labourers  Large area, no limit on size.
to earn extra.
 They are dependent on nature (insects,
rainfall, floods etc.).
 Most of the inputs are results of farming
processes at the farm.

Support Price
Support price is the price of cash crops fixed by the government to safe guard the farmers against the
market mechanisms of supply and demand. If the prices of the cash crops fall below the support price
government agencies like Cotton Export Corporation (CEC), Pakistan Agricultural Supply and Storage
Corporation (PASSCO) buy the produce of the farmer so that farmer is safe from loss and can
reinvest in the farming process. Government may fix the prices of cash crops (cotton, wheat, rice,
sugarcane) as incentive to farmers to increase cropped area, profits, achieve self-sufficiency.
Types of Crops
The crops that are sown before the start of the winter season (October-November)
Rabi Crops and harvested in early summers (April-May) are known as Rabi Crops. e.g. Wheat,
barley, grams, oil seeds, pulses.
Kharif crops are sown in summers (April-June) and are harvested in early winters
Kharif Crops
(October-November). e.g. Cotton, rice, sugarcane, millet, maiz.

RABI KHARIF
Wheat, Barley, grams, pulses, and oil Rice, cotton, sugarcane, millet, maiz
Oct – Nov Sowing period April –May
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 5 Unit 7: Agriculture
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Dec – March growing Period June – Oct

April – May harvesting time Oct – Nov

Barani Lands
These are rain fed regions which only depend on rain. Output of these areas is low. e.g. Potwar plateau
Curative and Preventive Measures
To increase yields we take both measures. Treating seeds before sowing is a preventive measure
which increases germination. Treating plants against viruses, insects and pests is curative measure.
Crop Rotation
Crop rotation and green manureing is done to utilize the fertility of different depths of soil (wheat
followed by cotton) and sow such crops which add nitrogen in the soil which is used by following crop.
The crops which add nitrogen are grams, barseem and some pulses. Farmers churn/crush and bury
green crops which decompose and increase humus in the soil increasing fertility and water and
nutrient holding capacity.
HYV (High-yielding Variety)/GM (Genetically Modified) Seeds:
 Part of Green Revolution of Ayub Khan in the 1960’s.
 Need grew due to a rapidly growing population.
 Lesser yield from the ‘Desi’ variety of seeds.
 Nayyab for cotton; Mexipak for wheat and Irripak for rice.
 Later more varieties introduced.

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Increase crop yield significantly.  Expensive, so cannot be afforded by poor
 Drought-resistant, pest-resistant and farmers.
insect-resistant.  Need more irrigation and chemical
 Ensure a longer and stronger stem that can fertilizers
withstand stormy winds.
Size of Farm:
Uneven distributions of land holdings in Pakistan.
A small percentage of rich land owners possess huge land holdings.
Most of the poor farmers have fragmented holdings.
Research cannot be conducted on fragmented holdings; loans cannot be taken against them; use of
machinery and canal irrigation is not possible on them.
In order to ensure a fair distribution of land holdings, the land reforms of 1959, 1972 and 1979, were
introduced.
Under the reforms, an upper limit of landownership was fixed: land ceiling; similarly, fragmented
holdings were joined together under the Land Consolidation Act.
Poor rate of success of land reforms due to the powerful social position of the rich landed aristocrats
many of whom are always members of the Parliament; for the same reason, rights of the tenant
cultivators could not be implemented fully.
Factors affecting farming
Human Factors Natural Factors
1. Irrigation Facilities 1. Land and Soil
 Semi-arid to arid climate in Pakistan; need  Flat land of the Indus plains and valley
of irrigation for cash crop farming. areas facilitate large scale/cash crop
 Reclamation of desert lands of Punjab farming; subsistence farming in the
and Sindh has increased the agricultural mountains and plateau regions; terrace
area. farming on hill slopes in GB province.
 With modern irrigation crops can be grown  Rich alluvial and loess soils suitable for
twice/thrice a year; a variety of vegetables farming.
can be grown 10 times a year.  The IRS (Indus River System) spreads
 Extension of irrigation to some parts of rich alluvium in the Indus plains.
Balochistan, e.g, Lasbela plains: cotton  Lack of organic matter (nitrogenous
cultivation is possible. compounds etc.) in Pakistani soils is
overcome by adding fertilizers.
2. Water and Climate
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 Northern Punjab, e.g, Potwar Plateau and

mountain valleys in KPK and GB province
receive good amount of rainfall; Barani
farming/rain fed agriculture is possible.
 South of these areas irrigation is essential
for large scale farming due to ineffective
rainfall.
 Heavy Monsoon and glacial melting feed
the rivers that flow to the Indus plains;
reservoirs on theses rivers are needed.
 High summer temperatures suitable for
Kharif, and mild to low temperatures of
winters suitable for Rabi’ crops.
3. Pests, Insects and Diseases
 LCV (Leaf Curl Virus) and other harmful
insects and pests may destroy the crop.
 Usually subsistence farmers are more
vulnerable as they cannot afford modern
pesticides.
 On commercial farms a long term
preventive and curative strategy is
adopted to deal with pests and diseases.

Land reforms
Redistribute land more equally/more fairly/ceiling on land holdings
Take land away from large landowners/landlords and give it to the tenants/poor
farmers /protect tenants from eviction

Advantages of land consolidation

Economic units
Use of machinery/modern methods
Easier to supervise
Better irrigation
Better opportunity for investment/easier to get loans
Opportunities for research
Bring more land into cultivation

Farming and the environment

Fertilizers (usage (why) and affects on water table, rivers, ponds & lakes)
Pesticides. (workers ,immune system, diseases,)
Deforestation (erosion of top soil)
Irrigation (Waterlogging & Salinity)

Geographical Requirements Of Major Cash Crops

Wheat (Rabi Crop Oct/Dec – May/June) Maxipak (HYV)
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 7 Unit 7: Agriculture
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GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS
Moderate temperature of 10 °C – 20 °C at the time of sowing and throughout the
Temperature
growing season. Warm temperatures 25 °C – 30 °C at the time of harvesting.
Moderate around 250 mm. Rainfall 15-20 days before harvesting swells the grain
Rainfall size increasing yields. In Pakistan wheat is dependent on irrigation. In parts of
Potwar Plateau and NWFP wheat is sown as barani crop (rain fed).
Moderate stiff loamy and clayey soils. Do not grow in waterlogged soils. Well
Land &Soils drained soils. Flat land is required for irrigation and use of machinery in cash crop
farming.
Rain in the months of October and November makes soil soft which makes
ploughing easy. Rain throughout the growing season from Western Depressions
Climate
(reducing the cost of irrigation) and no or less rain during ripening and harvesting.
Rainfall before harvesting swells grain size increasing production.
Ploughing and leveling the land by tractor or draft power. Sowing by seed drills or
spreading seed by subsistence farmers. After sowing fertilizer is applied and
irrigation is done. When wheat crop is about 6” tall weeding is done by tractor/draft
Cultivation
power. Irrigation may be done 3 to 4 times as the need arises (weather).
Harvesting is done by machines/human labour. Grain is separated from chaff by
threshing (combine harvesters and draft power).
Several parts of the upper and lower Indus Plains (Punjab and Sindh); Valley
Growing
areas of KPK, e.g. Bannu, Swat and Peshawar; also Nasirabad and Jaffarabad
Region
districts of Balochistan.
Wheat is a staple food. Its demand is increasing with the increasing population.
Importance Low grade by-products of flour are used as feed for livestock. Wheat when grown
in surplus is exported to earn foreign exchange.
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Wheat Regions

Barani Method of wheat farming

 Sowing in early winter: October – December.
 Crop grows with the increasing rainfall, 15 – 40 mm from Western depressions.
 Mild temperatures suitable for growth: 4 – 19 degree Celsius.
 Grain begins to swell with a higher rainfall, 80 – 100 mm in March – April.
 Ripening of crop with gradually rising temperature, 12 – 25 degree Celsius.
 Harvesting in spring/early summer: April – May.
 Farmers make arrangements for storage of rainwater.

How natural factors help in the cultivation of wheat crop.

Flat land makes ploughing, irrigation and use of machines easy.
Temperature 10°C-20°C is available at the time of sowing, growing and 25° C-30° C at the time of
ripening and harvesting.
As it is a Rabi crop it does not require much sunlight.
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Rice (Kharif Crop May/June – Oct/Nov) Irri Pak, Basmati Super

GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS
At the time of sowing average temperatures of 20°C-30°C is required. A warm dry
Temperature
sunny period for harvesting.
About 1270mm. is needed but over 2000mm. is ideal. Needs rainfall throughout
Rainfall the growing period. Since maximum amount of rainfall received is not more than
750mm. so it needs a lot of irrigation.
Level land is required to facilitate use of machinery and irrigation. Soils should be
Land & Soils
loamy or clayey and water retentive.
Rice seeds are initially sown in beds in nurseries (May). When the plant is about
9” tall it is transplanted into fields (ploughed, weeded & flooded). Rice field is
flooded throughout the growing season and a lot of fertilizer and insecticide are
Cultivation used. Rice fields are drained before harvesting. After harvesting threshing is done
depending on size of farm machines or human labour is used. After threshing rice
is taken to rice husking mills where rice husk is separated, rice is polished and
packed.
North-Eastern districts of Punjab; Sailkot, Shekhupura, and Gujranwala; in Sindh,
Growing
districts of Larkana and Dudu mainly; on small scale in Peshawar and other valley
Region
areas of KPK.
It is used with wheat as a major food product. Rice is a major export of Pakistan.
Importance Rice husks are used for making cardboard or covering roofs of house after mixing
it with mud and water.
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Rice Regions

Cotton (Kharif Crop May/June – Oct/Nov) Pak Upland, desi, HYV: Nayab 78, B-557,
149-F

GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS
The ideal temperature for cotton cultivation is 25 oC – 30 oC. Mild 10 oC – 20 oC
Temperature temperatures during nights are best for development of cotton bolls. During cotton
picking 25 oC – 30 oC are best with dry sunny period. No frost.
About 1000 mm. of rainfall with dry sunny period in between showers. In Pakistan
Rainfall it is cultivated with help of irrigation. Rainfall at the time of harvesting spoils cotton
bolls.
Medium loam is best. Natural manure or chemical fertilizers and crop rotation are
Land & Soils
practiced to maintain soil fertility.
Land is ploughed and levelled. Soft soil helps in germination and levelled land in
irrigation and use of machinery. Cotton seeds are sown directly in the soil with the
Cultivation
help of seed drill. After sowing, fertilizer and irrigation is applied. When crop grows
to a height of 12” weeding is done. As the need arises fertilizers and irrigation are
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applied. If there is pest attack pesticides are used and insecticides are used.
When cotton is ready for picking it is picked and transported to cotton ginning
mills. Where cotton and seed are separated.
Central and Southern Punjab: Faisalabad, Khanewal, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar,
Growing
Multan; Sindh: Sanghar, Nawabshah; Balochistan: Lasbela, a recently discovered
Region
new area for cotton cultivation.
It is used for making clothes and industrial fabrics. Backbone of textile industry. It
Importance is widely used textile fibre in Pakistan. It is used for exports. Leaf Curl virus is a
major disease for cotton.

 A – north /north-east / Upper Sindh

 B – south / south-west / Lower Punjab / Upper Indus Plain
Sugarcane (Kharif Crop May/June – Oct/Nov) HYV: JN 088, Thatta - 10

GEOGRAPHICAL REQUIREMENTS
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Require 25 oC – 35 oC temperature during the growing period. Tolerant to frost for

Temperature
short period.
About 1520 mm is needed but dependent on irrigation, as the rainfall is less than
Rainfall
required amount.
Loamy or clayey soils and water retentive soils. Sugarcane is a rattoon crop so a
Land & Soils
lot of fertilizer is used. (nitrogen, phosphorous, potash)
Sugarcane stalks 30 cm. long are planted in spring in March and April. A distance
of 30 cm. is kept between them. The crop is frequently irrigated and fertilizer is
Cultivation
applied throughout the growing season. The crop can be rattoned for two to three
successive years.
Sugarcane stalks are cut above the roots, the stalks are tied in bundles and
loaded on trucks and trolleys. Sugarcane is immediately transported to sugar mills
as sugarcane losses its weight and sugar content. At mills it is weighed, and then
scrubbed with chalk to remove dirt and smell. It is washed and then crushed in
rollers to extract juice. The products at this stage are sugarcane juice and
Harvesting
bagasse. Bagasse is burnt, heat is used to produce electricity and heat sugarcane
juice. Juice is boiled and molasses is separated. It is centrifuged and sugar
crystals are collected and packed and sent to market. Molasses is a raw material
for chemical industry. Bagasse is also used as a raw material in chip board
industry. Subsistence farmers may use leaves of sugarcane as fodder for animals.
Several parts of Punjab including districts of Kasur, Okara, Faisalabad and
Growing
Rahimyar Khan; districts of Sindh including Nawabshah, Nausharo Firoz and
Region
Hyderabad; also, Peshawar and Mardan in KPK.
It is used to make sugar, brown sugar and gur. Molasses is used to make
chemicals. It is used for citric acid, cattle feed, baker’s yeast, synthetic rubber.
Importance Bagasse is a fibre to make paper, chipboard, animal feed. It is also used for fuel in
sugar mills. Boilers are used to produce steam for generation of power to run
machinery.

 A Peshawar/Charsadda/Nowshera
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 B Faisalabad/Sargodha/Jhang/Kasur/Lahore/Gujranwala/Sheikupura
 C Badin/Sanghar/Hyderabad/Mirpur Khas

Minor Crops
Maize, Millets, Tobacco, Pulses, Fruit, Oil seeds,

Tobacco
Major growing area is in KPK (about 60% - Peshawar and Mardan Districts)
Punjab –Gujranwala and Sialkot are major regions in Punjab
Balochistan –is postiod districts

Millets
 Jawar (Barley), Bajra (Millet) used as folder for animals and chicken, food crop
 Can grow in poor sandy soils, 30oc – 35oC, less rain fall
 Major areas are Potwar Plateau, Khushab, Attock and Rawalpindi Districts.
 Bajra in tharparkar districts in Sindh

Maize
 Used as food grain, raw material for edible oil production, manufacture of corn flower, custard
powder and other processed foods
 Fodder for animals and poultry
 Rainfall 50-500mm, 35 oC – high temp, can be grown in porous soil

Maize Regions
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Pulses
 Includes grams, peas, beans, Mash, Mung, Masoor
 Fixed Nitrogen in soils
 Can be grown with low preparations
 Grown in North East Punjab, Sialkot, Khushab, Mainwali, Bhakkar

Pulse Regions
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Oilseeds
N-Sindh – Jacobabad, Shikarpur
 Includes, linseed, sun flower, soya bean, rape seeds rai, sarson, sesame and castor seeds, mustard
 Seeds are used to extract edible oil
 Linseeds and castor oils are used in many industries.
 Most of oils are imported as local production is not sufficient.
 S.E Punjab –Sialkot Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar

Oilseeds Regions
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FRUITS
Sindh Nawab shah, khairpur, Sanghar, Nawsharo Firoz

MANGOES: BANANAS:
 Grown in south eastern Punjab and Sindh  Grown mostly in South and East of
 Recently, exports have increased. Hyderabad
 Best mango (smell + taste) improvement
in each
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DATES Apples, apricots, plums, almonds

 Many districts of Sindh and kech valley near  Northern Areas, K.P.K and Balochistan,
turbat in Balochistan. (Provide shelter to Mostung valleys, Pishin, Swat and hunza
crops)  Need low sunshine extensively and low temp.
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 Central Balochistan / Khuzdar/Kalat/Mastung

 N/NE Balochistan / Pishin/Zhob/Qila Saifullah/Loralai/Kohlu/Barkhan/Musa Khel
 S/SW KPK/FATA / S Waziristan
 Near boundary of Balochistan and KPK/Waziristan/FATA
 Upper/lower = 0

ORANGES:
Grown in many parts of central and eastern Punjab

LIVESTOCK FARMING
The rearing / taking care / feeding / keeping of animals.
Most common and oldest occupation in rural areas of Pakistan.

LIVESTOCK FARMING

SUBSISTENCE LEVEL COMMERCIAL LEVEL

 Animals are reared and consumed by them  Reared to be sold in market to make profits
(farmers)  Input and processes improve production
 In subsistence livestock farming animals e.g. special diet for animals, shed to
and products (meat, milk, wool, eggs and protect from weather, vets, clean water,
hides) are consumed /used by the people ponds) (milking machines, preservation,
who are rearing them and if there is extra breeding)
it is sold in the market. Inputs/processes
are mainly natural (grazing, water from
ponds, no shed, women and children as
labour) (breeding for draft power/ domestic
need, milking manually, slaughtering and
consuming products).
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Subsistence level
Subsistence level has been divided into three groups
1. Nomadic
2. Transhumance
3. Settled

Areas: Baluchistan, Thar Desert (Cholistan, Nara & Tharparkar)

Features:
Nomads move from place to place in search of grazing grounds and water.
They may stay for a few weeks to graze animals and then move. Usually sheep
and goats, along with poultry and cows, are reared, which provide them with
food (milk, meat). Camels and horses are reared for transportation purposes.

1. Nomadic

Areas: Northern Mountains and Western Mountains.

Features:
The movement of animal and people in winters to the valleys as the grazing
grounds are covered with snow. In summers people move back to the
2. Transhumance mountains where the snow has melted and fresh pastures are ready for grazing.
Animals reared are goats, sheep and cows and poultry. Mules and horses are
reared for transportation. The produce is usually consumed by the farmer and
if there is extra it is sold in the market.
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Areas: Punjab and Sindh.

Features:
This is practiced by subsistence farmers who rear cattle, buffaloes and poultry
besides growing crops. Cattle is used in different farming processes.
(ploughing, threshing, transportation). Whatever extra is produced, it is sold in
the market, e.g. milk, eggs.
Inputs into subsistence farming are usually from nature (water from ponds,
rivers and lakes, grazing in fields or open pastures) besides human labour. All
the processes are done by the farmer as no machines are used. (milking,
slaughtering, sheering and natural breeding) Outputs like milk, meat, wool and
eggs are consumed by farmer. Offspring are sold if not needed on farm.

3. Settled

Commercial livestock farming

1. Private Owners
2. Govt. Ownership

Private Owners Govt. Ownership

 Bulk of the livestock products are still  There are Australian designed dairy farms
supplied by small-scale private owners, for Islamabad and Karachi, the
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though they do not use all the scientific Government Dairy Farm for Quetta and
methods. many other military farms in other cities.
 Urban supplies of milk still come mainly  To boost livestock production scientific
from buffalo herds in the cities themselves. breeding methods, such as cross-breeding
 Commercial dairy farms are set up on to increase fertility rates, and better
vacant plots but often lack appropriate nutritional diets are in use on many of such
drainage or water supplies, constitute a farms.
land use making them incompatible with  Early weaning diets have also been
modern hygienic city life. introduced for rearing buffalo and cow
 Fodder usually brought from the nearest calves to save milk for human
crop growing area, often by heavily consumption.
overloaded lotties.  To improve veterinary facilities, specially
 Cattle dung is collected and dried in circular hired staff is trained and new methods are
cakes plastered on any convenient wall used on selected farms.
and sold to the market to be used an
manure or domestic fuel.
Importance of Livestock
 Draft Power used at subsistence farm.
 Food.
 Inputs for different industries
 Exported
 Contribution to GDP.
Problems/Disadvantages of livestock farming:
 Lack of grazing grounds for livestock; more overgrazing.
 Grazing the unirrigated fields causes soil erosion during dry season.
 High prices of animal feed, especially near major cities; gap in prices of livestock products in
rural and urban areas acts as limiting factor for further investment in rural areas.
 Inefficient marketing of dairy products due to lack of support by the government; lesser
investment and lesser profits.
 Primitive breeding methods lead to poor quality breeds.
 Poor facilities for storage and processing of the livestock output, e.g. meat and milk; serious
power shortage crisis since the 1990’s has also created difficulties for storage of meat and
processing of milk.
 Keeping animals in unhygienic conditions helps spread of diseases.
 Lack of veterinary care experts, vaccination facilities and research institutes; failure in getting
healthier varieties with greater yield of milk; poor control of the outbreak of veterinary diseases,
e.g. in recent years bird flu led to serious problems for poultry farming.
Main Livestock Resources
 Most common farm animals.
 Assisted by camels and mules to plough, carry fodder and workers from
one place to another on the farm.
 Supply meat and milk and dung that is used as a cheap fuel by poor
1. Cattle
farmers.
 Traditionally, cattle rearing is a matter of pride and prestige for farmers.
 Mainly reared in areas of Punjab, Sindh and KPK that include Sargodha,
Multan, Gujarat, Tharparkar and Lasbela (Balochistan).
 Main source of milk and meat; their dung is a cheap fuel for poor farmers.
 Not important as work animals.
 Famous breeds for a good yield of milk include: Nili Bar, Kundi and Ravi.
2. Buffaloes
 Produce about 70% of the total milk supply.
 Prefer to remain in water most of the time and so are mainly found in the
canal irrigated areas of the Punjab and Sindh.
 Sure-footed animals, capable of surviving in the rugged terrain and
harsh climatic conditions of mountains and deserts.
3. Sheep and Goats  Reared extensively throughout in Pakistan including GB in the Northern
Mountains, KPK, rural and urban areas of Punjab and Thar, Cholistan
and Thal deserts; kept by the nomadic people of Balochistan.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 22 Unit 7: Agriculture
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 Rapidly growing industry in all parts of Pakistan due to growing

population.
 Growing popularity of white meat (chicken and fish) over red meat
(mutton and beef) because of its health benefits: white meat has lesser
amount of cholesterol.
4. Poultry
 Lesser investment required for a poultry farm.
 With growing awareness and concerns about the breeding and feeding
of the modern farm chicken, many people have started consuming the
“Desi” variety of chicken just as they do for the products of “organic”
farming.
Problems of livestock
Non-availability of Vet and hospitals
Lack of grazing grounds/ overgrazing (soil erosion, stall fed)
Poor conditions of animals (hygienic, health)
Non-availability of feed and prices in areas of demand
Problems of keeping in cities
Breeding (milk, meat)
Inefficient marketing of meat and dairy products
Less prices in rural areas, leads to low investment.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 23 Unit 7: Agriculture
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Sample Question
Define the term ‘livestock farming’.
 The rearing / taking care / feeding / keeping of animals.

State two uses of livestock on farms.

 Pulling a cart / draught power;
 Ploughing / preparing field / threshing;
 Irrigation / Persian Wheel;
 Milking;
 Herding;
 Carrying loads / transporting goods / people;
 Breeding;
 Producing of manure / (natural) fertiliser.

Photographs showing different types of livestock.

Identify and name the type of livestock shown in each figure.

(A) (B)

 (A) – Cows / cattle;

 (B) – Sheep / lambs.

Name two products from the livestock shown in (A)

 Milk / cream / cheese / yoghurt / ghee;
 Meat / beef;
 Skin / leather.

Describe the benefits of rearing the livestock shown in (A) and (B).
 Cattle / cows seen as pride / prestige for farmers;
 Can be reared in most areas / in arid areas / in marginal areas;
 Food source / meat for families / subsistence;
 Wool used to make clothes / rugs / leather to make belts / shoes;
 Animal products sold for money / profit / contributes to GDP / export ;
 Waste / manure fertilises land / manure burnt as fuel;
 Sheep are sure footed and can survive in mountainous areas;
 Do not need large grazing fields;
 Can eat thin grass;
 Sheep preferred over goats / sheep less likely to overgraze;
 Nomadic people can travel with their sheep / cattle / can use in transhumance / easy to move;
 Can use products all year round.
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A map showing the main regions of Pakistan where buffalo are kept.

Using Fig and your own knowledge, describe the distribution of buffalo in Pakistan.
 Only in Sindh and Punjab;
 Mostly in a line along the eastern border of Pakistan / mostly in Punjab / in eastern Punjab;
 One region in south east / Central Sindh / around Hyderabad;
 Upper Indus Plain;
 Along rivers / canals / near named rivers;
 On flatter land / where land not rugged.

Suggest two reasons why buffalo are kept in these regions.

 Prefer to be in water most of the time / can cool down in water;
 Canal irrigated areas / areas where water plentiful;
 Lowland climate / mild temperature / where climate is not too extreme / cold / hot;
 Where higher demand for buffalo products / examples of products;
 Buffalo cannot climb hills / survive in mountainous / hilly areas / rugged landscape.

Explain how natural factors can create problems for buffalo farmers. You should develop your
answer.
Natural factors such as:
 Weather / climate – cannot tolerate cold weather so buffaloes die;
 Availability of water – like to spend most of their time in water, otherwise will dehydrate / give
poor quality meat and milk;
 Topography – limits where buffalo can be reared;
 Poor soils – will produce poor quality grazing / buffalo become undernourished;
 Disease – cost of vaccination / vet fees;
 Flooding – results in drowning / loss of animals;
 Lack of tree cover – no shade for animals and farmer has to build sheds / plant trees.
Etc.

The government has encouraged the growth of commercial poultry farming since 1964. There
have been some challenges but different strategies have been introduced to further develop this
type of farming in Pakistan.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 25 Unit 7: Agriculture
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Evaluate the extent to which commercial poultry farming in Pakistan has overcome its
challenges and developed further. Give reasons to support your judgement and refer to
examples you have studied. You should consider the challenges and the strategies used in your
answer.
Challenges
 Increased demand for poultry products – reasons for this, e.g. increased population / preference
for white meat;
 Diseases;
 Air pollution / methane;
 High production costs / feed;
 High prices of meat / falling demand;
 Power shortages;
 Closure of farms;
 Ban on poultry export to Afghanistan.

Strategies
 Government help through;
 Improving power supply;
 Legislation / guidelines for rearing poultry;
 Securing international markets / free trade agreements;
 Vaccination programmes to prevent disease;
 Incentives for farmers;
 Lowering price of feed;
 Use of poultry manure for fertiliser / in fish farms.
Etc.

Photographs A and B showing a buffalo farm in Lodhran district, Punjab.

How do the photographs show that these buffalo are being kept in good living conditions?
Photo A
 Covered shelters / shade / roof / shed etc.
 Brick / concrete / will not collapse
 Fodder / food
 Feeding trough
 Brick standing by troughs
 Clean conditions / dung cleared away

Photo B
 Water for bathing / washing / cooling /drinking
 Concrete pool
 Clean water / water from well
 Organised storage of fodder / dung

Suggest why buffalo farms can often be found around urban areas.
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 26 Unit 7: Agriculture
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 Food (for urban population) / demand for milk or meat

 Must be fresh / deteriorates quickly
 Can make deliveries / supplied on a regular basis
 Products for processing, e.g. milk, ghee, butter
Geography O-Level P-2 Notes by Javed Kausar 27 Unit 12: Population
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