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Types of farming and food

Subsistence and commercial farming, crops, livestock and the kinds of food our farms produce. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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For the family or to sell?

Subsistence farmingCommercial farming
AimFood for the own familySell for a profit
SizeSmall, a few fieldsVery big
ToolsSpades, hoes, sometimes oxenTractors and machines
WorkersThe family itselfMany workers
The harvest goes toThe family’s tableShops and factories
A small family farm and a big commercial farm.
A small family farm and a big commercial farm.
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Crops, livestock or both

  • Crop farming: plants such as maize, wheat, fruit and vegetables.
  • Livestock farming: animals such as cattle, sheep and goats.
  • A mixed farm grows crops and keeps animals.
  • Poultry farming is chickens for eggs and meat. Free-range chickens walk around outside; battery chickens stay in cages inside.
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What grows where in South Africa?

FarmWhereWhy
SheepThe KarooSheep eat the dry Karoo bushes
OstrichesOudtshoorn (Klein Karoo)Dry climate and lucerne for feed; they give meat, leather, feathers and eggs
Sugar caneKwaZulu-Natal coastWarm and wet
Bananas and mangoesLimpopo, the Mpumalanga Lowveld and the KwaZulu-Natal coastHot with no frost; subtropical fruit
MaizeFree State, North West and MpumalangaSummer rain and good soil; our main grain, for pap
WheatSwartland (Western Cape) and the Free StateGrows in the cool season; becomes flour for bread
Beef cattleFree State, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and LimpopoLots of grass for grazing
Dairy cowsKwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Eastern Cape and the southern Cape coastGreen grass and good rain; milk, cheese and butter
Meerkat tip

Farms are often near rivers and dams, because farmers need water for crops and animals.

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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Subsistence farming: a family grows food to eat themselves, on a small piece of land.
  • Commercial farming: big farms with machines grow food to sell.
  • Crop farming is with plants, livestock farming with animals, and a mixed farm does both.
  • Poultry farming gives eggs and meat; dairy farming gives milk, cheese and butter.
  • Sheep for the dry Karoo, ostriches at Oudtshoorn, sugar cane on the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Subsistence farming = for the family’s supper. Commercial farming = for cash.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

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