Havrland B. – Kapila P. – Krepl V. – Munoz J.J.O. – Srnec K.:
Geography of World Agriculture.
Textbook ITS, CUA Prague, 2003, 203 p., ISBN 80-213-0941-5

This textbook has been dedicated to the subject of Geography of World Agriculture. Its studies presume good knowledge of Geography at the Secondary school level, idea about the current political situation and certain knowledge from sociology. It has been defined as suitable for the first study year of the Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture study branch.
The textbook main objective is to inform students on the last developments in the global political situation, agricultural policy and trends in the agricultural production and food processing. It is because the future agricultural specialists in the field of tropical and subtropical agriculture have to be well instructed about the world agriculture and actions of international organisations that could intervene in the field of the rural development.
Position of the agricultural and related sectors in the world economy follows whilst resources and sustainability and „agro-meteorology - climate conditions as related to the agricultural and food production complete this first subject section. World food outlook and related indication, world agriculture towards 2010 with another sector description (fisheries as important component of the food energy production chain, forests as important element of the food provision and world agricultural production of raw materials represent the core part of the textbook.
Chapters on agricultural produce prices and trading“ and agriculture, processing and environment in developing countries are also considered as of extreme importance. The subject is concluded with selected parts from environmental aspects of natural resource use in agriculture.
Main characteristics of the Tropical and Subtropical agriculture (TSA) and food processing as well as in other developing countries and new market economies in Central and Eastern Europe are reviewed to give students an overall idea about their position worldwide. The position of agriculture in the world economy, participation in the trade and stocks of foodstuff are also matter in question. The agro-zones characterised by typical climate and soil types have been taken as the base of world agricultural production diversification and food trading. Demographic situation and its trends are confronted with present and forecast future food production and/or trade opportunities with regard to individual regions’ or countries’ economic potential. The climate changes and their impact on the food supply are presented and properly characterised along with other environment problems generated (or not) by different human activities including the agriculture.
Generally: this textbook can hardly be considered as such a milestone. Nonetheless, it is conceived as an attempt to provide students with all kind of knowledge on issues of the world agricultural food provision developments.

J. Jára

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