Let’s Read

UNIT 2: Meeting 5-7

I. Read the text carefully

BAKGROUND: AGRO-INDUSTRIAL PARKS – EXPERIENCE FROM INDIA

Food Security for Expanding Populations

The food needs of a country depend upon the growth of the population and the changing
socio-economic development of local communities that may bring changed lifestyles. This
normally raises demand for more food and for alternative foods. The population of the world
is increasing rapidly, and particularly in most developing countries where annual growth
rates may typically be 2–3 percent. This causes the food needs of these countries may double
or triple during the next 20-30 years. During the same period, per capita land available for
food production is expected to decline to less than half that of current levels. It follows that
self-sufficiency and food security will come increasingly to depend upon systems of food
production that will be more intensive. The continuity of much subsistence will no longer be
maintained, and higher levels of food production will become essential for survival. In order
to feed populations growing at >2 percent per year, a minimum target growth of 4 percent
or more must be set for food production during the same period – and achieved.
As incomes increase the demand for foods changes. This is a trend already seen in most
newly industrializing countries, where demands have shifted towards animal proteins and
imported cereals and other foods that are not always grown locally. There is frequently a
shift away from many traditional foods as people become more prosperous. For example, the
extra income in the household results in higher consumption of vegetable oils and temperate
fruits – whether fresh or processed – the substitution of wheat for rice, and meat for cereals.
There is a demand for more convenience foods; as a result, poultry meat - in particular - has
become a popular urban food in many countries.

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Adding Value and Creating Wealth
If agricultural production continues to expand as expected and fiscal policies are not in
place to manage the growth of the downstream processing and trading industries, the result
will be reduced prices at the farm and in the primary market. Thus the initial growth will not
be sustainable and the confidence of farmers will be lost. Growth and expansion, therefore,
has to be managed to meet with current industrial opportunities, and this requires
competent planning by governments. For the issues are complex and demanding, it needs an
understanding of the way in which industries can be introduced and encouraged to grow. It
depends on the availability of markets, and the way in which these can be exploited for a
range of fresh or processed goods.
The post-harvest practices – the way in which foods/materials are collected, handled and
transported into store or factory – determine the efficiency of post-production systems.
Distribution mechanisms have to be improved in order to reduce the high levels of loss that
becomes the characteristics of much of production. If the infrastructure is poor – limited
roads, non-specialized transport, limited care when handling, inadequate packaging, etc. -
then fresh product will deteriorate. The climate is also an issue. Losses of the order 50
percent, for example, are found for soft fruits when shipped in an open truck from farm to
town during the day due to the heat of the day. In another case, losses are insignificant for
cut flowers shipped overnight by air from East Africa to the Netherlands. The differences are
those of 1e and packaging, and access to experienced management and dedicated transport
equipment and facilities. In other words, the losses will be minimized if good handling and
marketing facilities are well-utilized.

Taken and Adapted from:

Rao, K. Laxminarayana. 2006. Agro-industrial parks - Experience from India, pp. 1-2.
Rome: FAO

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ll. Check whether the statements below are correct or incorrect. Correct the
statements if they are incorrect.
1. Traditional foods are often left as people are getting rich.
2. Fiscal policies must be in line with the expansion of agricultural production to manage the
growth of the downstream processing and trading industries so that the growth will not
be sustainable.
3. In the next 20-30 years, per capita land available for food production in developing
countries is expected to expand to more than half that of current levels.
4. In order to properly handle growth and expansion of agricultural production and
industries, governments need to set up competent planning.
5. The rising demand for more food and for alternative foods is influenced by the growth of
the population and the changing socio-economic development that results in changed
lifestyles.
6. Poultry meat has become a popular urban food in many countries due to the demand for
more conventional foods.
7. It needs an understanding of the way in which industries can be introduced and
encouraged to grow due to the simplicity of the issues on agricultural production and
industries.
8. Intensive systems of food production will determine self-sufficiency and food security.
9. The efficiency of post-production systems is not affected by the post-harvest practices.
10. The quality of distributed products is determined by distribution mechanisms.
11. In most new industrializing countries, demands are addressed towards animal
proteins, imported cereals and other foods that are often grown locally.
12. The climate is a factor that causes losses if it is not taken into account.
13. A minimum target growth of 4 percent of food production for feeding populations
growing at >2 percent per year need to be met.
14. Experienced management and dedicated transport equipment and facilities are
crucial to ensure the maximum losses of agricultural products.
15. The increasing population in most developing countries causes the food needs of
these countries may double or triple during the next ten years.

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 Language Focus

I. Active and Passive Sentence

Example:
Active
The growth of the population determines
the food needs of a country.
The changing socio-economic
development of local communities may
bring changed lifestyles.
Passive
The food needs of a country are
determined by the growth of the
population.
Changed lifestyles may be brought by the
changing socio-economic development of
local communities.

II. Complete the following table

Active Passive
The growth of population normally raises
demand for more food.
The population of the world is expected to
increase rapidly.
Annual growth causes the increasing food
needs.
The continuity of much subsistence will not
be maintained.
Incomes have created demands on animal
proteins and imported cereals and other
foods that are not always grown locally.
A minimum target growth of 4 percent or
more must be set for food production.

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 The extra income in the household has
triggered higher consumption of vegetable
oils and temperate fruits.
Poultry meat has been consumed by urban
families.
Fiscal policies managed the growth of the
downstream processing and trading
industries.
Growth and expansion has to be managed
to meet with current industrial
opportunities.
Growth of agricultural production requires
competent planning.
Industries can be introduced and
encouraged to grow.
The post-harvest practices determine the
efficiency of post-production systems.
The availability of markets can be exploited
for a range of fresh or processed goods.
The government has to improve
distribution mechanisms in order to reduce
the high levels of loss.

III. Make an active and a passive sentence from each of the following “verbs”.
demand maintain set expand determine
expect feed achieve reduce characterize

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 Write It Out!

Cause-Effect Patterns
Causes and effects are part of our daily lives. Therefore, this pattern is found very often in
history books, science texts, and novels. It is important to recognize the cause-effect pattern when
you read. Some words can signal which part is a cause or effect. Otherwise, you need to identify if
the cause-effect relationship exists. The above text, “Background: Agro-industrial Parks –
Experience from India”, is a an example of cause-effect pattern. If you read the text carefully, there
are “signal words” (as, cause, if…then, in order to, if, result in) that call your attention. In general, the
pattern employs the following signal words:

because if...then as a result of for this reason

since since in order to for
consequently accordingly due to cause
this led to...so because of as result in
Etc.

Work in a group and write a one-page-maximum Cause - Effect paragraphs.

Speak Up!

Work in pair. Plan a short conversation on the reason why you chose to study at UB,
why you chose to study at FTP, and/or why you chose to study at your study program.
Perform the conversation in front of your friends.

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