School Based Assessme0nt

Geography

Name of candidate: Andrea Kuardat

Candidates Number:
Centre number:
Territory: Guyana
Name of School: Hope Secondary School
Year of Examination: 2017
Teacher: Sir Douglas

Content Page
Strategy sheet
Research question
Introduction..
Purpose of study
Location of study area
i) Map of Guyana showing the location of Hope...
ii) Map of Hope
Methodology..
Presentation, analysis and interpretation of data
Conclusion.
Bibliography
Appendices

| Page
 Candidates name:
Andrea Kuardat
General topic of interest:
Farming
Possible question to be investigated:
- What are the similarities and differences between a commercial arable farm and a peasant
farm at Hope East Coast Demerara Guyana?

Strategy
a) What is the purpose of the study?
- To find out what are the similarities and differences between a commercial arable farm and a
peasant farm at Hope East Coast Demerara, Guyana.

b) How was the data obtained?

- Interview (scheduled)
- Taking pictures
- Draw a sketch map
- Questionnaire

c) How do you intend to present the data and findings in your report?
- Tables
- Charts
- Graphs

Location of the study area:

The study area is located about nineteen (19) miles away from Georgetown.
Equipment/ resources required:
Ruler, pen, pencil, easer, notebook, camera, pages, Geography text book, internet (computer).
Anticipated challenges:
Rainfall (heavy), flood, improper facilities.

| Page
 Introduction
The first people to have settled in Guyana had practiced shifting cultivation in agriculture; this falls
under peasant farming. When the Europeans came to the country, they abducted the people to work
on their plantations as slaves. The Europeans practiced commercial arable framing with the persons
being enslaved. When slavery endure abolishment, the persons kept as slaves no longer did so, they
began to work as Indentured labourers on the commercial arable farm/plantations. After
Indenturship had ended, the now former indentured labourers dispersed and started peasant farming
of their own. As time progressed both the peasant farming and commercial arable farming
persevere within the country.
Found in Geography text books, are the history of both peasant farming and commercial arable
farming; how they started and developed from then. The topic chosen was to identify the
development, similarities and differences between these two types of farming.

Methodology
To carry out the research a few methods were used, the methods are as follows. A prepared
questionnaire was distributed to both a commercially arable farmer and a peasant farmer for them to
fill up. A sketch map was drawn to show the situation and location of the farms. Pictures were also
taken of the areas using a cameras so as to show the farms.
| Page
The research was done on Tuesday, 15th March, 2016 at 09:30-2:00 hours at Hope, located 19 miles
East of Georgetown about half mile South about the main road to get to the farm.

| Page
 Analysis
Capital
1) When asked whether capital was difficult to access to start their farms, both the peasant
farmer and the commercial arable farmer responded yes.

2) When the farmers were asked of the source/s of their capital, the peasant farmer said from
own savings whereas the commercial arable farmer gave multiple responses; own savings, the
bank and non-governmental organizations (NGO). This variation is because the peasant
farmer utilizes less than the commercial arable farmer financially and as such the commercial
arable farmer needs more capital which is obtained from multiple sources.

3) i) The farmers were asked if a large capital was needed to start the farm. The peasant farmer
said No and the commercial arable farmer said Yes. The reason for this is because the
peasant farm is smaller than the commercial arable farm and less capital is required in the
startup of the farm.
ii)The farmers were asked to approximate the amount of capital to start their farms. The peasant
farmer stated an amount of one hundred thousand dollars, however, the commercial arable farmer
stated one million dollars. The significant difference is because the commercial arable farm is one of
large scale and ma so purchases machinery/equipment that the peasant farmer does not require (e.g.
combine harvester). Moreover, the peasant farm is self-sufficient and does not require as much
machinery.

Land
4) The farmers were asked the amount of plot on which they cultivated. The peasant farmer said
one while the commercial arable farmer said three. This is due to the fact that commercial
farmers initially tend to cultivate much more crops than the peasant farmer. The commercial
arable farmer may have on his farm, a large amount of animals to rear and produce large scale
crops, therefore
5) utilizing more plots.

6) The farmers were asked the total acreage of land that they cultivated. The peasant farmer
responded with one acre whereas the commercial arable farmer said fifty acres. This is
because the commercial arable farm is larger and so cultivated more plots the peasant farm to
facilitate the many crops that were produced on that farm.

7) The farmers were asked who owned the lands on they cultivated. Both farmers said that they
farmed on land leashed from the government. This costs lest on the farmers.

| Page
 8) The questionnaire revealed that both farmers had fairly fertile land. Since both farms are
located within the same area then they share the similarity of soil. The land may have been
originally fertile, the fertility is likely to have been depleted by decades of continuous cropping.

9) The farmers were asked how far away their homes from the farm are. Only the commercial
arable farmer responded. The response was half mile away from the home. Since the farm
lands were leashed from the Government therefore it will not be where the farmer resides.

10) The farmers were asked whether they had planned to extend their farms. Both farmers
responded yes. All farmers are desirous to expand their farms and become somewhat
successful; but the peasant farmer stated the reason for wanting to expand is to aid in planting
other crops.

11) The farmers were asked whether they left their lands to farrow. The peasant farmers
said yes whereas the commercial arable farmer said no.

Equipment/Machinery
12) The farmers were asked which hand tools were utilized within their farms. Both
farmers selected all of the options, which were cutlass, fork, shovel and hoe; however the
peasant farmer gave another response which was spray can. The commercial farmer is less
likely to use a spray can.

13) They were asked to select the equipment that are used on their farms. Both farmers
selected tractor, water pump and motor blower. However, the commercial farmer selected
combine harvester. This is because as a rice farmer a combine harvester is vital. Since arable
farming includes extensive acres, advanced forms of machinery are necessary to plant and
harvest the product.

14) The farmers were asked to select the equipment/machinery that they owned. Both
farmers said water pumps and motor blower (spray can) however only the commercial arable
farmer owned a tractor. This may be so because the peasant farmer is financially incompetent
to purchase certain machinery and as a result they borrow.

Fertilizer/Chemicals

| Page
 15) The farmers were asked which type of fertilizers they use on their farms. The peasant
farmer said both organic and inorganic whereas the commercial arable farmer said only
inorganic.

16)
17) They were asked to state the type/s of chemicals used on their farms. The farmers
jointly gave the same response; they both use weedicides and pesticides on their farms.
However the peasant farmer also said limestone. This is not a practice with large scale rice
farmers.

18) The peasant farmer and the commercial arable farmer was questioned to what type of
labour were used on their farms. The peasant farmer used family labour. This is because of
the duties, skilled workers are not a necessity for the farmer. Using family labour also lowers
the cost. However the commercial arable farmer used both family and hired labour; unlike the
peasant farm, the commercial arable farm needs skilled workers on the other hand not all
workers are to be skilled.

19) The farmers were asked how many they spend on their farms. The peasant farmer
spend 3-4 hours daily on his farm however the commercial farmer spend 7-8 hours. The
reason for this is because the peasant farm had much less acreage than the commercial farm
hence less time were spent on it.

20) The farmers were asked what duties they use hired labour for. The peasant farmer
didnt respond to this question since he uses only family labour. Nevertheless the commercial
arable farmer used hired labour in land preparation, spraying, fertilizing and reaping. This is
because these jobs requires skilled workmanship.

21) The farmers were questioned whether they had another, they both said yes. The
commercial arable farmer planted cash crops whereas the peasant farmer did security job. The
extra jobs serve as supplemental income for the farmers and also to take up their spare time.

Crops and Animals

22) The farmers were asked what the crops that they grow are. The peasant farmer grows
only vegetables whereas the commercial arable farmers grows ground provision, vegetables
and rice. This accounts for the variation in acreage.

| Page
 23) The question asked for the number of animals which each farmer reared. The peasant
farmer reared 4 cows on his farm. Moreover the commercial arable farmer reared on his 4
cows, 50 chickens, 40 ducks, 2 donkeys and 1 horse.

24) The question asked the farmers for why they reared animals. Both the peasant and the
commercial arable farmer rear animals for home use but the arable farmer also reared animals
for sale; as with the ducks and chickens.

25) The farmers were asked whether they practiced crop rotation. Only the peasant farmer
practiced crop rotation. This was because the commercial arable farmer is likely to continue
producing the same crops.

26) It was asked whether the farmers adopted scientific method of farming and high
yielding varieties of seeds. The peasant farmer said no whereas the commercial farmer said
yes.

Transport
26) They were asked if the roads to and from the farm and markets were good and both farmers
responded with a yes.
27) The farmers were asked of the type of transportation they own. The peasant farmer owned only
a car however the commercial arable farmer owned an animal draw cart and also a tractor.
28) When the farmers were asked if their mode of transportation was both reliable and affordable
both farmers agreed.

Harvesting
29) The farmers were asked to describe their yield per acre; the peasant farmer responded saying
high while the commercial arable farm said it was both high and average.

30) The farmers were asked of the mean by which they harvest their crops. The peasant farmer
harvested by hand since he grows only vegetables however the arable farmer harvested by machine;
this is because he grows crops like provision and rice.

| Page
31) When asked how often the crops are harvested, the peasant farmer responded saying weekly,
this is accounted for by the type of crops grown however the commercial farmer harvested twice
yearly also because of the crops produced.

32) The farmers were asked whether the process their produce. The peasant farmer does whereas the
commercial farmer does not.

Marketing
33) The question asked the way in which the farmers sell their produce. The peasant farmer
producing only vegetables more likely sells his produce retail to housewives however the large scale
commercial farmer sells his wholesale to mills to be processed and to wholesale to huskers.

34) The farmers were asked whether their markets were reliable and they both responded with yes.

35) The farmers were asked how they would describe their profit margins. The peasant farmer said
moderate and the commercial farmer said high. This is because the commercial farmer produces
multiple crops.

| Page
 Presentation of data

Chart showing the acreage of land that each farmer cultivates.

3.5

2.5

1.5

0.5

PEASANT FARMER COMMERCIAL ARABLE FARMER

The chart displays the acreage on which each farmer cultivates. The peasant farmer cultivated on
one (1) acre of land while the commercial arable farmer cultivated on fifty (50). This is so because
the commercial arable reared animals and also cultivated large scale crops.

| Page
Bar graph showing the equpiment used on the farms.

Commercial Arable Farmer

Tractor Water Pump Motor Blower (spray can) Combine Harvestor

Peasant Farmer

The chart above displays the equipment that are used in both peasant farm and commercial arable
farm. The show many similarities excepting the combine harvester. Only the commercial arable
farmer uses a combine harvester. This is because the peasant farmer had no purpose for a combine
harvester since he only cultivates vegetables which are reaped by hand.

| Page
 Pie chart showing the ways in which each farmer sells their produce.

Retail to housewives Wholesale/Mill/Factory Wholesale to Huskers

| Page
 Line graph showing the type of labours used in both farms.
70 1.2

60
1

50
0.8

40
0.6
30

0.4
20

0.2
10

0 0
Peasant Farmer Commercial Arable Farmer

Both Family Hired

| Page
 Conclusion
- What are the similarities and differences between a commercial arable farm and a peasant
farm at Hope East Coast Demerara, Guyana?

In completing the project, it was discovered that both the peasant farmer and the commercial
arable farmer shared many similarities as well as differences. Peasant farming is known to be of a
small scale where more or less likely the farmer is illiterate and uneducated. The farm is usually
small and the farmer cultivates approximately one plot of produce that of which being vegetables.
These are sold to markets and local households. Whereas the commercial arable farm is much larger.
Crops are cultivated on large acreage of land (e.g. fifty acres). Unlike the peasant farmer, the
commercial arable farmer cultivates more than one crop (e.g. rice, provision) which are harvested
mechanically and livestock also reared.
The two farmers do capacitate some similarities, some of which are the same soil fertility, this is due
to the location within the same area. Another is equipment used; both farmers used tractors, etc. but
only the commercial arable farmer owned a tractor. This is because the peasant farmer may not
afford to purchase on.

| Page
 Bibliography
- www.wikipedia.com
- www.google.gy.com

| Page
 Appendix

| Page
| Page
| Page
| Page