MEDITERRANEAN AGRICULTURE

It is found in the Mediterranean areas, a climate that is characterized by dry summer and cool wet winters.

This has enabled them to grow a lot of fruits and therefore is referred to as “the orchard lands of the World” and “the heart of the world wine industry”.

• The Mediterranean areas include N. western Tip of Africa for example Tunisia, Morocco
• South western Tip of Africa
• South western, Europe for example Spain and Italy, France
• South western part of USA in California
• South eastern European in Turkey / Bulgaria

MAIN FEATURES

1. Orchard farming.

It has been a traditional occasion of these areas. They grow a lot of citrus fruits which include oranges, lemons and limes, they also grow other fruits like Apples, olives, Pears and Figs

Most of these fruits have long wide spreading roots, few leaves and fruits with thick skins which are best adapted to a climatic condition of low rainfall and long summer draught.

In some areas, irrigation is practiced for example in California, France and Italy. In North America, where all the above crops can’t do well due to the desert conditions, dates are dominant.

1. Viticulture (grape cultivation).

This is done an intensive on intensive basis and it’s a especially of these areas, vines require a lot of personal attention, fertile soils, a lot of moisture and warm temperature.

All these conditions are favorably made in most Mediterranean areas. Therefore these areas produce most of the wine in the world. The inter aria grapes dried and exported as raisings.

Cereal and vegetable cultivation.

Cereal crops are grown over large areas especially the winter wheat serves as a food crop,. It is grown on highly mechanized holdings (firm lands).

The sunny climate also favours the growth of wide range of vegetables like carrots, beans, tomatoes and so on.

Limited animal husbandry.

The natural vegetable does not favour animals keeping. It is practiced on the irrigated field where closer, Alfatta and other legumes are grown such areas include the San Joaquin valley on California and the Ebro basin in Spain.

INTENSIVE COMMERCIAL FARMING

It is the growing of crops and keeping of animals on a small piece of land and is maximum utilized in order to get high produce.

It is highly developed in areas like North Western Europe, east of N. America and some parts of the former Soviet Union.

This farming system includes market gardening, mixed farming and Diary farming.

MARKET GARDENING AND HORTICULTURE (TRACK FARMING) 

It’s mainly the growing of fruits, vegetables and flowers for urban market. Its well developed in Netherlands, Denmark, Britain, Germany and north east of united states of America.

It requires a lot of capital inputs a lot of capital and it’s an expensive method of farming hats why it’s dominant in Europe and America.

  MAIN FEATURES:

• The farms are very small and usually found in near urban areas.
• The land is very intensively funk led and irrigation is often used.
• The farms are usually very labour intensive because the crops need a lot of attention.
• The labour is usually skilled.
• The farms are scientifically managed using selected seeds and pesticides when necessary.
• They also have green houses in order to obtain maximum yields and large profits, in some countries the crops are grown under glass to ensure production throughout the year e.g., in Netherlands.

It is practices far from the urban areas, there must be good efficient top systems to deliver the produce to the urban centers. Sometimes our top is used or refrigerated trucks

• They require soils which are fertile and easy to work where the soils are poor, manure or artificial fertilizers are applied.