Read the passage and answer the following question.
Market gardening and horticulture specialise in the cultivation of high value crops such as vegetables, fruits and flowers, solely for the urban markets. Farms are small and are located where there are good transportation links with the urban centre where high income group of consumers is located. It is both labour and capital intensive and lays emphasis on the use of irrigation, HYV seeds, fertilisers, insecticides, greenhouses and artificial heating in colder regions.
This type of agriculture is well developed in densely populated industrial districts of north west Europe, north eastern United States of America and the Mediterranean regions. The Netherlands specialises in growing flowers and horticultural crops especially tulips, which are flown to all major cities of Europe.
The regions where farmers specialise in vegetables only, the farming is known as truck farming. The distance of truck farms from the market is governed by the distance that a truck can cover overnight, hence the name truck farming.
In addition to market gardening, a modern development in the industrial regions of Western Europe and North America is factory farming. Livestock, particularly poultry and cattle rearing is done in stalls and pens, fed on manufactured feedstuff and carefully supervised against diseases. This requires heavy capital investment in terms of building, machinery for various operations, veterinary services and heating and lighting. One of the important features of poultry farming and cattle rearing is breed selection and scientific breeding.
Which of the following is NOT the characteristic features of factory farming?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → It requires smaller capital to start factory farming.
The passage states: “This requires heavy capital investment in terms of building, machinery for various operations, veterinary services and heating and lighting.”
Option (1) Mainly practised in the industrial regions of Western Europe. — A characteristic of factory farming. Factory farming is a modern development in the industrial regions of Western Europe and North America.
Option (2) Poultry and Cattle rearing is done in stalls and pens. — A characteristic of factory farming. Poultry and cattle are kept in stalls and pens and fed on manufactured feedstuff.
Option (3) It requires smaller capital to start factory farming. — Not a characteristic of factory farming. Buildings, machines, veterinary services, heating and lighting cost a lot. So factory farming needs heavy capital, not small capital.
Option (4) Breed selection and scientific breeding are very important features. — A characteristic of factory farming. Breed selection and scientific breeding are important features of poultry farming and cattle rearing.
Note: This passage is taken from the section ‘Market Gardening and Horticulture’ in the chapter ‘Primary Activities’ (Fundamentals of Human Geography), almost word for word.