Question

approaches of agricultural geography

Answer 1

A legion of literature has been produced about the nature, methodol­ogy and approaches of agricultural geography. If one review the mounting literature on agricultural geography, two major approaches to the subject matter can be detected (Ilbery, 1979):

Empirical (Inductive) Approach:

The empirical approach attempts to describe what actually exists in the agricultural landscape. It gives special privilege to empirical ob­servations. According to empiricists, “the facts speak for them­selves”. In this approach explanation of the patterns is sought by in­ductive methods and generalizations are made on the basis of results from numerous studies.

For example, for the delineation of crop combinations of a given region, crop land use data is gathered from the farms and villages over a period of time. This data is processed and plotted on maps and then an explanation of the combinations is made which ultimately lead to generalization and model building.

Answer 2

Ways to deal with Agricultural Geography

• An army of writing has been delivered about the nature, methodol­ogy and approaches of agrarian topography. On the off chance that one survey the mounting writing on farming topography, two significant ways to deal with the topic can be distinguished (Ilbery, 1979):

Observational (Inductive) Approach:

The observational methodology endeavors to depict what really exists in the farming scene. It gives extraordinary benefit to exact ob­servations. As per empiricists, "the realities represent them­selves". Right now of the examples is looked for by in­ductive techniques and speculations are made based on results from various examinations.

For instance, for the depiction of yield mixes of a given area, crop land use information is assembled from the homesteads and towns over some undefined time frame. This information is prepared and plotted on maps and afterward a clarification of the mixes is made which at last lead to speculation and model structure.

Regulating (Deductive) Approach:

• The regulating or deductive methodology is increasingly worried about what the horticultural scene ought to resemble, given a specific arrangement of as­sumptions. This methodology prompts the inference and testing of hy­potheses and, hypothetically, to the advancement of a perfect model of farming area. The model of von Thunen in which a few as­sumptions, as isomorphic surface, financial rancher, secluded state, and so forth., have been made depends on deductive methodology.

• These two methodologies have never truly blended, reflecting both the complexities of the dynamic procedure in farming and the various occasions at which every ha been mainstream inside geology. It is basically from the standardizing (deductive) approach that models of rural area have risen and indeed model producers have worked along one of two lines, with the later creating out of disappointment with the previous.