(a) Differentiate between subsistence farming and commercial farming.
(b) State four features of subsistence farming.
(c) Outlines two positive and two negative effects of mining on the economy of West African countries
Explanation
(a) Subsistence farming: This form focuses on growing food to feed one's family.
Commercial farming: This is concerned with the production of food crops and livestock on a large scale with the aim of making profits
(b) i. It is done on a small scale.
ii. Simple tools like hoe and cutlass are used
iii. Relies solely on the weather.
iv. Little or no pesticides are used.
v. It relies on family labour.
vi. Food crops are mainly Cultivated for home consumption and not for sale.
vii. Mixed farming and mixed cropping are practised
viii. Individual farmers are owners of the fam.
(c) Positive effects:
- It is a source of foreign exchange.
- It serves as employment.
- It is a source of raw material for local industries
- Government generates revenue in the form of royalties.
- Contributes to infrastructural development
- Contributes towards community development.
- Source of energy as e.g. Coal.-
- Avenue for transfer of technology.
ii. Negative effects:
- It leads to loss of farms land
- It leads to pollution of water bodies.
- It leads to the loss of lives when people fall into abandoned pits.
- It increases expenditure for the government in land reclamation.
- Able-bodied young men venture into it and abandon farming
- it destroys animals and tree species
- Contributes to corruption.
- It has led to the neglect of other sectors.
- Depletion t non-renewable resources