Von thunen theory of agricultural land use

Prepared by Wesley Meli

1. GEOG326: AGRICULTURAL GEOGRAPHY VON THUNEN’S MODEL OF AGRICULTURAL LAND USE A PRESENTATION PREPARED BY WESLEY MELLY 1 Prepared by Wesley

2. BASIC TERMINOLOGIES Agriculture : T he science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products . Land use : the use of land for particular propose (agriculture, settlements, forest ) Intensive farming : Intensive farming or intensive agriculture is a kind of agriculture where a lot of capital and labor is used to increase the yield that can be obtained per area. The use of large amounts of pesticides for crops and of medication for animal stocks is common. 2 Prepared by Wesley

3. CONT…….. Extensive farming : Extensive farming or extensive agriculture (as opposed to intensive farming) is an agricultural production system that uses small inputs of labor, fertilizers, and capital, relative to the land area being farmed . Isotropic : Same. Bid rent : how much someone is willing to pay for a particular piece of land. 3 Prepared by Wesley

4. INTRODUCTION The agricultura l land use model was developed by JOHANN HEINRICH VON THEUNEN (1783-1850) in early 1800’s (19 th century) b ut it wasn't translated into English until 1966. He was a German skilled farmer having knowledge about economics. His model is also known as “concentric rings theory of agricultural land use.” The model has 4 rings which developed around the central city. Each ring shows a different type of agricultural land use. Von Thunen’s model was created before industrialization, highways, railroads, factories, etc. came into light. 4 Prepared by Wesley

5. VON THUNE’S MODEL 1 5 Prepared by Wesley

6. VON THUNEN’S MODEL 2 6 Prepared by Wesley

7. CONT…… According to Von Thunen’s model, the relative cost of transport for different agricultural commodities to the central market determines the agricultural land use in the city. The most productive activities will be closest to the center market and the activities not productive enough will be located away from center city. 7 Prepared by Wesley

8. ASSUMPTIONS The land must be isotropic with no river, mountain etc. The isolated state is surrounded by an occupied wilderness. The soil quality and climate are consistent throughout the state. The transport cost is proportional to the distance. All farmers have equal access to transport. All the farmers are economically rational. All farmers have equal information regarding market demands, cost of production and they all attempt to maximize profits. 8 Prepared by Wesley

9. EXPLANATION OF VON THUNEN’S MODEL There are four rings of agricultural activity surrounding the city. Dairying and intensive farming occur in the ring closest to the city. The related products (vegetables, fruit, milk and other dairy products) have the highest profits, but also the highest transportation costs because they are vulnerable and perishable. Timber and firewood will be produced for fuel and building materials in the second zone. Before industrialization (and coal power), wood was a very important fuel for heating and cooking. Wood is very heavy and therefore difficult and costly to transport. 9 Prepared by Wesley

10. CONT……… 3 . The third zone consists of extensive field crops such as grains for bread. Since grains last for longer periods than dairy products and also lighter than wood, their transport cost will therefore be lower allowing its production to be further from the city. 4. Ranching is located in the final ring surrounding the central city. Animals can be raised far from the city because they are self-transporting and thus have low transport costs. Beyond the fourth ring lies the unoccupied wilderness, which is in a greater distance from the central city for any type of agricultural product. 10 Prepared by Wesley

11. BUT IT ALWAYS DOESN,T LOOK SAME Prepared by Wesley

12. BID RENT CURVE (Economic R ent ) Ø NB: As distance from the city center increase, the cost of the land reduces 12 Prepared by Wesley

13. CONT……….. The model compares the relationships between production cost, the market price and the transport cost of an agricultural commodity and is expressed as follows: R= Y(p-c)- Yfm R = Rent per unit of land. Y = Yield per unit of land. p = market price per unit of yield. c = Average production costs per unit of yield. m = Distance from market (in kilometers or miles). f = Freight rate per unit of yield and unit of distance. 13 Prepared by Wesley

14. EXPLANATION All agricultural land users are maximizing their productivity (rent), which in this case is dependent upon their location from the market (Central City). The role of farmer is to maximize his profit which is simply the market price minus the transport and production costs. The most productive activities (gardening or milk production) or activities having high transport costs (firewood) locate nearby the market. 14 Prepared by Wesley

15. CRITICISM ON MODEL Different transportation costs. Example: boats are the cheapest. mode of transportation . variations in topography. S oil fertility . C hanges in demand or price of the commodity. The invention of refrigeration has largely diminished the importance of the perishability factor . Not only physical but social, political and cultural factor also affect agricultural location. 15 Prepared by Wesley

16. CONCLUSION Even though the Von Thunen model came into light in time before introduction of factories , highway and even railroads, it is still an essential model in geography. The Von Thunen model is an excellent illustration of the balance between land cost and transportation costs. As one gets closer to a city , the price of land increase. Farmers should balance the cost of transportation, land and profit and focus on producing the most cost-effective products for the market so as to receive greater profits. 16 Prepared by Wesley

17. Prepared by Wesley 17 REFERENCES What is the Von Thunen Model? WorldAtlas.com https://www.worldatlas.com › what-is-the-von- thunen -model Theories of Agriculture: Locational Theories of Agriculture www.yourarticlelibrary.com › geography › theories-of-agriculture-location.. Learn About the Von Thunen Model – ThoughtCo https://www.thoughtco.com › Humanities › Geography › Urban Geography The Von Thünen Model of Agricultural Land https://is.mendelu.cz.eknihovna.opory. zobraz ..cast

18. Prepared by Wesley 18 THE END THANK YOU