Intensive Agriculture

Definition

Intensive agriculture is a type of farming that involves high levels of labor and capital relative to the area being farmed. It aims at maximizing the output from small plots of land.

Analogy

Think of intensive agriculture like cramming for an exam. You're putting in a lot of effort (labor) and resources (like study materials, which represent capital) into a small amount of time (the land) to get the best grade possible (maximize output).

Related terms

Monoculture: This is when one crop is grown on a large scale, similar to how intensive agriculture focuses on maximizing yield from a single crop.

Green Revolution: This refers to the period when new agricultural techniques were developed to increase yield, much like what happens in intensive agriculture.

Crop Rotation: This is a method used in farming where different crops are planted in the same area over different seasons. It's often used in intensive agriculture to maintain soil fertility.