5.2A Land and land use Notes

Land as a Finite Resource in a Growing World

Global Limits on Land Availability

1. Only 29 percent of Earth’s surface is land, the remainder being ocean
2. Of this land, 71 percent is habitable, while the rest is barren or glaciated
3. 46 percent of habitable land is used for agriculture, showing heavy pressure on limited space
4. Most high-quality soils are already in use, meaning expansion options are limited

How Agriculture Uses Land

1. Around 70 percent of ice-free land is used for agriculture and forestry
2. Livestock farming occupies nearly three-quarters of global agricultural land
3. Crop cultivation is concentrated on more fertile soils
4. Marginal land with steep slopes, shallow soils, or nutrient-poor substrates supports pastoral farming

Rising Population and Increasing Food Demand

1. Global population increased from 3 billion (1961) to 8 billion (2022)
2. Agricultural land per person has decreased across all regions
3. Growing middle-income populations drive nutrition transition, increasing demand for meat, dairy, and processed foods
4. Intensification, not expansion, has driven most increases in food production
5. Intensification includes fertilizers, irrigation, mechanization, and high-yielding varieties

Vulnerability of Marginalized Groups in Land-Use Decisions

1. Land-use decisions focus on economic growth, commercial agriculture, and industrial development
2. Indigenous peoples, women farmers, low-caste groups, and low-income communities often lack secure land rights
3. These groups rely on land for subsistence crops, livelihoods, cultural practices, and resource access
4. They are easily displaced by large-scale agriculture, urban projects, and biofuel plantations

Gender Inequality in Land Use

1. Women often lack rights to own or inherit land
2. Women provide 50 percent of agricultural labour in Sub-Saharan Africa and South-East Asia
3. Lack of access to credit, education, technology, and market access reduces productivity