Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of consumption, the average farm family will consume 21 to 31 kg per person each
year. In the Philippines, about 90 percent of the fish produced in ponds will be sold.
The remaining 10 percent are consumed by the family or given to neighbors.
Average yields for tilapia in the Philippines are around 8 tons per hectare for a
single harvest. Two harvests per year can yield nearly four times more net income
than two crops of rice. Note that these yields are for a pond 1 ha in size. Most ponds
are 0.1 to 0.5 ha and the family income must be reduced accordingly.
Larger fish farmers utilize more intensive management methods and have a
lower cash cost of production. They also harvest large amounts of fish, giving them
access to higher paying markets. In most cases these producers also sell to middlemen
who then resell the fish to wholesalers in large cities. In industrialized countries, the fish
are harvested, cleaned, and packaged on the farm. This decreases chances for develop-
ment of off flavors due to spoilage.
7.9
OTHER FARM ANIMALS
A wide variety of animals have been domesticated by humans. The preceding descrip-
tions of farm animals only cover the most numerous species cultivated on two or more
continents. Following is a short description of species less numerous but still domesti-
cated by farmers.
7.9.1 Alpaca (Vicugna Pacos) and Llama (Lama glama)
Both the alpaca and the llama are related to the camel. They are native to the
Andean region of South America but have spread to North America and Australia.
The alpaca is primarily kept for its very fine wool. An alpaca sweater rivals the
famous cashmere sweater in warmth and light weight. The llama is used more for
a beast of burden, carrying loads along narrow trails at high altitudes. They are
well adapted to altitudes of 4000 m and more. Llamas are very territorial. When
threatened, they become very nervous and will discharge nasal fluids and, even-
tually, gastric juices upon the unlucky animal or person. This is described as the
“spitting” of the llama.
7.9.2 Camel (Camelus dromedarius and Camelus bactrianus)
There are two distinct species of camel used by farmers in the world. The most
common is the Arabian, or dromedary, camel. This is often described as the “one-
humped” camel, though in fact it actually has two humps. The front hump is much
less developed than the large rear hump. The “two-humped” camel is the bactrian
camel. The Arabian camel is widespread through North Africa and the Middle
East. The bactrian camel is found mainly around the Gobi Desert in western
China. The humps of both types are fat storage tissues to enable them to survive
for 2 to 3 weeks without water. Farmers use them as draft animals, to carry loads
long distances, for milk, meat, and even to race.
