Geography Essay
Subsistence and Agro-Industrial Farming in El Salvador
Since the beginning of the agricultural revolution, fertile arable land has been a resource that has become a very sought after resource. Because of the scarcity of fertile land, countries with soil suitable for agriculture experienced a new presence of large industries, seeking to make a profit off of land that produces quality crops, in the shortest amount of time. This posed a huge threat to the country which already relied heavily on subsistence farming. Having a country in which 54 percent of the total population and rural economy remains heavily on traditional subsistence farming (USDOL), followed by the introduction of cash crops, increased the deforestation seen in the country. The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of subsistence and industrial farming on the rainforests, and recommended ways to further prevent this from happening. The introduction of plantations in El Salvador resulted in less land available for poorer families to farm for them selves, forcing them to find new land in which they can harvest their crops. This problem becomes an increasing factor as the density, and size of the population continue to rise. The rise in population results in more land being required for subsistence farming to support families. High poverty levels seen in rural El Salvador result in more children being born into poor families, where they were usually needed for working on family farms. This forces the family to expand their arable land to provide food and shelter for their already existing family and new child. These factors have turned El Salvador into both the most densely populated and the most severely deforested country in the continental Americas (Robert A. Dull)(shown in picture 4). This improper distribution of land between subsistence farmers and agro-industries has resulted in vast deforestation leaving the country with less than 2% of primary forests, making it by far the most
Since the beginning of the agricultural revolution, fertile arable land has been a resource that has become a very sought after resource. Because of the scarcity of fertile land, countries with soil suitable for agriculture experienced a new presence of large industries, seeking to make a profit off of land that produces quality crops, in the shortest amount of time. This posed a huge threat to the country which already relied heavily on subsistence farming. Having a country in which 54 percent of the total population and rural economy remains heavily on traditional subsistence farming (USDOL), followed by the introduction of cash crops, increased the deforestation seen in the country. The aim of this paper is to examine the effects of subsistence and industrial farming on the rainforests, and recommended ways to further prevent this from happening. The introduction of plantations in El Salvador resulted in less land available for poorer families to farm for them selves, forcing them to find new land in which they can harvest their crops. This problem becomes an increasing factor as the density, and size of the population continue to rise. The rise in population results in more land being required for subsistence farming to support families. High poverty levels seen in rural El Salvador result in more children being born into poor families, where they were usually needed for working on family farms. This forces the family to expand their arable land to provide food and shelter for their already existing family and new child. These factors have turned El Salvador into both the most densely populated and the most severely deforested country in the continental Americas (Robert A. Dull)(shown in picture 4). This improper distribution of land between subsistence farmers and agro-industries has resulted in vast deforestation leaving the country with less than 2% of primary forests, making it by far the most