by Edward Currie

Created on: July 05, 2008

A quarter acre (one decare) of land will feed one man and his family for a year as the old adage goes. At a time when world food prices are soaring why should this not be as true today as in the past, especially in the UK where we have 18.4 million hectares of agricultural land under cultivation not including household gardens! We have all heard the official reasons biofuels, more demand from the populations in developing countries as they become richer however these reasons seem to miss the point; perhaps we are growing too many of the wrong crops and rearing too many of the wrong animals.

Let us look at how the UK's 18.4 million hectares (2002 figures, the latest available) is being used but keep in mind the situation is reflected in many other Western countries however the UK has an above average area of land given over to agriculture (67.8 per cent over 46.4 per cent) when compared with the other EU core member states. We will then compare it to the variety of production from a one decare plot.

Crop and livestock production (millions tonnes):
Wheat 1.99 ha, Barley 1.01 ha, Other cereals 0.132 ha, Oilseed rape 0.498 ha, Potatoes 0.149 ha, Other arable 0. 631 ha,
Horticulture: 0.175 ha.
Livestock (per hectare):
Cows 10.6 head
Sheep 35.89 head
Pigs 5.16 head
Poultry 165.3 head

Now for a look at what can be produced on a one decare plot. Typically the plot has a number of fruit trees and bushes scattered about, for instance plum and apple plus raspberry, gooseberry, blackberry, redcurrant and similar as or in the border hedge. There is, of course, always the obligatory patch of rhubarb. Root vegetables including potatoes, turnips, carrots and the like with pulses such as peas, runner and broad beans and brassicas such as cabbage and broccoli are the mainstay of the annual crop. Given proper rotation (ie leaving one quarter of the plot fallow every year) will continue to provide sufficient produce year on year to feed a family. Space within the plot is also available for a couple of breeding pigs (once fed on swill but no longer allowed because of disease from imported foods that can be passed on through household waste). A dozen chickens for breeding and to supply eggs and meat were also be kept and for milk of course there would have been a couple of goats. With co-operation from other landholders it would also be possible to keep a cow or two. So there we have it, a small plot of land nutritiously feeding four to six persons for a full twelve months, so where are

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>