Mod 5. Tyler Brackbill

1) This first case study I found is about the agriculture in Zambia (here is the link http://personal.colby.edu/personal/t/thtieten/ag-zam.html). The agriculture production only accounts for about 14 percent of the country’s total gross domestic product (on average over the last 20 years). Compared to that number, the industrial and manufacturing production has accounted for about 83 percent on average over the last 20 years. Zambia is currently looking at ways to increase its agricultural production, noting that after the 1970’s they tried different tricks to increase farming output like pesticides and fertilizers. However, a flaw in the research was discovered after they realized the test fields were not the same conditions as the real farm fields. This led to a focus on granting the Zambian farmers simple their simple needs for a better farming condition. The agriculture of Zambia could not keep sustaining the way they were heading before.

2) My second case study is about a shrinking population in a former working town in Germany (here is the link http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/14/world/europe/germany-fights-population-drop.html?_r=0). The town of Sonneberg is a former thriving manufacturing town where kids toys were made. The study notes that many of the large homes built during the manufacturing boom are now empty and the mayor does not believe that many will ever be sold. Overgrown yards, boarded up windows and sewage problems are a few of the side effects of the falling fertility rates in Germany, and the rates are projected to be twice as bad by 2060. Demographers think that a way to make more citizens want to have more kids would be the erase the stigma in Germany of Mothers having careers and make more daycares so kids can be cared for and mothers can have a career of their choosing.

3) Like some other students in this course, I am also from Pottstown, PA. These studies relate to my area in two separate ways. In comparison to the farming in Zambia, the rural suburbs of Pottstown are focusing less on agriculture. Compared to 15 years ago when there were farms everywhere, today all that farm land is now housing developments and the number of farms is a lot less that it was. I do worry what that will cause in the future because farming was what we were known for back in the day. Now it is all homes.

In comparison to the German town losing residents, Pottstown had a similar fall from its former industrial history. We had a name brand pie factory, and several mills that have now closed and the city of Pottstown continues to descend into nothingness. Pottstown recently made the top 10 list of worst Philadelphia suburbs and that is worrisome. Because of Pottstown becoming more and more poor, families can’t afford to have many more kids and even if families did, the town couldn’t support it because of the lack of resources.

2 thoughts on “Mod 5. Tyler Brackbill

  1. Hi Tyler, I am Justin Tenerowicz. Here is a link to my post… https://sites.psu.edu/geog30/wp-admin/post.php?post=44693&action=edit

    You had a very good discussion on the agriculture in Zambia. I liked how you were able to connect the GDP and increases in farming for you discussion on this article. You brought up good points in your discussion in Germany as well for women being given the opportunity to have children and have a career with more options for daycare. I come from a town similar to Pottstown where the population has been decreasing due to the rarity of jobs in the area. Good Job on this post!

  2. Tyler,
    I thought the way you compared and contrasted the two stories to your home town was very thoughtful. It seems to be a very common trend, worldwide, that agriculture is diminishing. It is quite surprising as well because as the world population continues to grow we still need to feed not only the people today but the future generations to come. This puts a lot more weight on those that are producing agricultural products now and pressures them to produce even more and faster. My concern is that they will turn to solutions they do not fully understand and we do not completely know the consequences or ramifications of these solutions i.e. GMO’s and like solutions.

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