C.S.E.

C Geography School Based Assessment

Name: Francine Getten

School: Green Island High School
Candidate #: 100041
School Centre #: 100041
Teacher`s Name: Mrs. P. Bahadur Calame

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Title: What are the problems that farmers are facing in my community that is
causing farming to decline?

Table Of Contents
Sections Pages
Introduction 3

Aim Of Field Study 4

Location Of Field Study 5-7

Methodology 8

Presentation of Data 9-12

Quality of data 13

Analysis and Discussion 14

Conclusion 15

Bibliography 16

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 INTRODUCTION
Farming is a activity or business of growing crops and raising livestock.
Economic factors such as subsidies, commodity prices, labour and immigration
laws, cost of land etc affect the rate of farming. Farming has declined in my
community over the years. Persons are rearing less crops and livestock than
before. I choose this topic because I would like to know the solution to this topic
so I can suggest a few solutions to the farmers in my community, so our farming
rate can increase because it is a living for some of our residents.

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 AIM OF FIELD STUDY
In investigating my topic and carrying out my research on the “ The problems that
farmers are facing in my community that is causing farming to decline”, I hope to
achieve a full knowledge on farming and the factors affecting farming activities;
both in practical field study and in research. During my lucubration on my SBA, I
hope to achieve more knowledge in different fields of Geography.

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 LOCATION OF FIELD STUDY AREA
Richmond is a rural community located in Hanover, and the area of my field
study. My field study area is located near a river and a highland below 500
meters. It is in a rural community enclosed with mostly farming areas. It is well
suited for farming because it has a rich soil and in a tropical area which
experiences average rainfall and temperature.

Map fig 1.

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Map of Jamaica showing parish where study area is found.

Map fig. 2

Map of parish (Hanover) showing where study area is found.

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Map fig. 3

Map of community(Richmond) showing the study area.

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 METHODOLOGY
This research was carried out using questionnaire research; which includes
handing them out residents in my community to collect data.

The location that my research was done in is Richmond, in the parish of

Hanover. I handed my questionnaires to the people in my community including
farmers. This was done to get information and opinions from each residents to
conduct my research.

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 QUESTIONNAIRE
Residents Of Richmond Hanover

Instructions: Please reply with a tick in the box or write on the lines
provided. Thank You.
1. Gender: □ Male □ female
2. Age Group: □ 16-20 years □ 21-40 years □ 40-60 years □ 60 years and
over
3. How long have you been a resident of the Richmond community? □ 1-10
years □ 10-30 years □ 30 years and over
4. Does farming have an impact on your living? □ yes □ no
5. Do you think there is a major problem that farmers are facing? □ yes □ no
6. What do you think are some of these problems? □ Stealing of crops\
praedial larceny □ Irrigation problem □ Animal disturbance □ Commodity
prices □ Cost of land
7. How many years have you been farming? □ 1-5 years □ 5-10 years □ 10-
15 years □ 15 years and over
8. Are you a peasant farmer? □ yes □ no
9. Do you think that the climate of the environment have an effect on your
farming?
10. What do you think is the major problem that is causing farming to decline?
□ less persons is interested □ Farmers are not making enough profit □
high rate of praedial larceny □ Other
11.How does climate change affect your crops? □ disrupt food availability □
Reduce access to crops □ food quality □ others
12.What do you think the government can do to increase the rate of farming
in your community?

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 PRESENTATION OF DATA
Pie Chart show the problems that farmers are facing in
the community of Richmond

Animal disturbance 35%

Praedial larceny 25%
Commodity of prices 15%
Cost of Land 10%
Irrigation problem 15%

Fig.1

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 PRESENTATION OF DATA
BAR GRAPH SHOWING THE MAJOR PROBLEMS THAT IS CAUSING FARMING
TO DECLINE.
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8
7
6
5
4
3
2
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Fig. 2

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 PRESENTATION OF DATA

Table showing the residents responses on how climate change

affect their crops.

Climate Change affection Number of Residents

Disrupt food availablity 5
Reduce access to crops 3
Disrupt food quality 9
other 3
TOTAL +20
Table.1

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 QUALITY OF DATA
The data for my project was collected in my community, with the help of the
residents. I collected information regarding my topic. I pursue my topic in obtaing
field study and research. I visit my study area and take necessary information.
Then analyze all the data that I collected to finish my project.

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 ANALYSIS AND DISSCUSSION OF DATA
Figure 1. Is a pie chart showing the problems that farmers are facing in the
community of Richmond. 35% of the residents said that animal disturbance is the
major problem that they are facing. 25% said praedial larceny while the other two
15% said irrigation problem and commodity prices. Because Richmond is a rural
community, a lot of residents raised animals but don’t keep them protected. In
observing my study area, I noticed that the farm was not fenced; allowing animals
to have access to them. Also when farms are not fenced, this will allow person to
have more access an increase the rate of praedial larceny. The area is well suited
with rivers an experiences average rainfall so water should not be a problem but
less use of containers to store water will cause this problem.

Figure 2. Is a bar graph showing the major problems that is causing farming to
decline. Eight (8) of the residents said that less people are interested. Most young
person growing up is not interested in farming an thinks that it is for the older
generation. The next problem in line is that farmers are not making enough profit.
This is because most farmers don’t have their own land an have to be paying rent
so their profit is less than the money they are spending on seed, cost of land etc.
Praedial larceny is also a issue due to the fact that their farms aren`t fenced.

Table 1. is showing how climate change can affect farming. The major effect that
climate change have on crops is that it disrupts food quality. This is because some
crops can`t adopt to certain climate and can change the quality or taste of the
crop. Five (5) residents states that it disrupts food availbilty.

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 CONCLUSION
After my research was completed it can be concluded that animal
disturbance is the major problem that farmers in Richmond district is facing.
Praedial larceny is also a problem. Farming is declining because most persons is
not interested and because farmers are not making enough profit. Climate change
is also affecting farming since it disrupts the food quality.

I think farmers should ensure that they fence their farm to prevent animal
disturbance and praedial larceny. To reduce irrigation problem, they should make
drums available on their farm an have a hose to transport water from the river to
the farm. Most young person should be involved in farming because it have a
great impact on our life. Farmers should study the weather and read information
to know which crop to plant and in the right season.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Berson J. Michaels .DR (2011) Social Stidies

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt School Publishers

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