This involves growing of crops on small plots of land which are managed scientifically resulting very high output. Therefore, in spite of the smallness of the plots, high output is realized due to use of high yielding crop varieties, fertilizers and manures, irrigation where necessary, as well as pest and disease control. Various farming systems fall under the intensive commercial farming discussed below.

Market gardening

This is a form of agriculture involving the cultivation of vegetables, flowers and fruits solely for sale in the urban market. The market gardens are located just out side the city suburb areas.

Market gardening is well developed in the densely populated industrial and urbanized countries of Britain, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, U.S.A and Canada where the daily demand for fresh fruits and vegetables occurs. London city for example is supplied by the Thames while Paris city by the Paris basins.

In Africa, market gardening is practiced near the large cities of Cairo, Alexandria, Lagos, Nairobi, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Addis Ababa among others.

Characteristic features of market gardening

Farms or plots cultivated are small.

Land is intensively farmed.

Irrigation is often practiced where natural rainfall is insufficient

Crops may be grown in fields or under glass.

Farms are scientifically managed using selected seeds, insecticides, fertilizers, green houses and artificial heating.

Soil fertility is maintained by liberal application of manure or fertilizers.

Much attention is given to the crop and most of the work is done by hand labour. They are therefore labour intensive.

Large capital is involved in the purchase of machinery, fertilizers, pesticides and others.

Farms are located usually within the vicinity of urban centers where there is ready market for the produce.

Farms are also located where there are well-developed transport facilities such as air transport to reach a wider market.

Skilled labour is employed to ensure that the crops grown are well attended to.

A large labour force is employed as human judgment is crucial.

Output per unit area in very high.

They produce a variety of fruits, vegetables and flowers for sale.

Market gardening in California, U.S.A

This is one of the areas where market gardening is practiced. The major centers include; fresco Sacramento and San Francisco in the Central V alley. The northern part of the valley is called Sacramento Valley, and the southern part is called the San Joaquin Valley. Crops grown include fruits such as lemons, grapes, oranges, apples, peaches, and plums, and vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, onions, and cabbage.

Conditions which have favored market gardening in California.

Physical factors.

Presence of a large land area for the cultivation of crops. The Central Valley is a vast structural depression that extends from northwest to southeast for 640 km with an average width of 80 km.

The landscape is flat and in some cases gently sloping which makes mechanization and irrigation easy.

Presence of fertile alluvial soils deposited from the Coast Ranges and Sierra Nevada highlands into the valley.

The Mediterranean climate of hot and very sunny summers is conducive for crop ripening and mild warm wet winters for crop growth.

Presence of rivers such as San Joaquin (with tributaries such as Pit, Feather and American Rivers), Sacramental and others descend from the mountains which provide water for irrigation and hydro-electric power generation.

Human factors

Availability of skilled labour to engage in crop growth and processing.

Well-developed transport by road, railway and air, which enable produce to reach the market while still fresh. Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and the ports in the San Francisco Bay area promote water transport.

Availability of sufficient capital for investment in machinery, fertilizers, hire of skilled labour, construction of dams and canals etc. Major dams constructed include; Shasta, Hoover, Imperial and Faint dams while the canals include Imperial, Delta Mendota and all America canals.

Large market for the products in the urban and industrialized centers not only in Eastern U.S.A but also in Europe. California alone had a population of over 40 million in 2010.

Favorable government policy of construction of dams to provide water for irrigation, research in high yielding crop varieties and other incentives.

Proximity to large market centers and towns such as Sacramental, San Diego and San Francisco.

Presence of vast processing industries to take up produce from the farmers. Contribution of market gardening to the people of California

Contribution of market gardening to the people in California

Source of food in terms of fruits and vegetables for the people. Market gardening farms produce vegetables such as lettuce, tomatoes, cauliflower, carrots, lima beans, as well as fruits such as grapes, lemons, strawberries, plums and prunes, peaches, avocados and melons.

Source of raw materials for agro-based industries for example dealing in wines and canning of jams, fruits and vegetables.

Source of income for the farmers, which has raised their standard of living.

Employment opportunities have been generated for a number of people both in agriculture and agro-based industries.

It provides market for industrial products such as machinery, fertilizers and chemicals.

Diversification of the economy thereby reducing over reliance on tourism. Film industry and fishing.

Source of foreign exchange through exportation of the produce to countries such as Canada and Mexico.

It has encouraged the development of infrastructure such as roads, railways, dams and canals,

It has promoted international understanding between the people of California and other nations.

Market gardening has contributed to the growth of urban centers such as San Francisco, Long Beach and Los Angeles through the provision of food to the growing urban population -.

Research has been developed resulting in the development of high yielding crop varieties.

Short comings of market gardening

It has led to the growth of urban centers with associated problems such as unemployment, congestion and high crime rates.

Constant use of fertilizers to maintain soil fertility and chemicals to control pests leads to the pollution of soils and surrounding water resources.

People suffer from health problems resulting from the consumption of fruits and. vegetables grown under high use of fertilizers and other chemicals.

Irrigation results in salination of soils reducing their productivity for agricultural purposes.

Fluctuation in market prices of the crops grown hence affecting the incomes of the farmers.

It encourages use of marginal lands near urban centers which promotes environmental degradation and ecological problems.

Horticulture

This refers to the intensive growing of flowers, fruits and vegetables for sale on small plots of land resulting in very high yields per unit area. Both market gardening and horticulture have the same characteristics. Horticulture is well developed in the countries of Netherlands and Belgium. Horticulture in the Netherlands

As earlier stated, this activity is very pronounced in the Netherlands. The principle areas of this activity include; the Hook of Holland, south of The Hague, south of Rotterdam, south of Amsterdam (Westland), along the Meuse and Betuwe. Crops grown include flowers such as roses, carnations, and lilac, vegetables such as tomatoes, lettuce, leeks, celery, cucumber, carrots cauliflower and endives while the fruits include grapes, peaches, plums apples and pears.

Factors favouring horticulture in Netherlands.

Physical factors

The temperate climate with cool summers and mild winters. Precipitation is above 750mm per annum and is well distributed thought the year which favor the growth of flowers, fruits and vegetables.

Availability of a reliable supply of water for irrigation purposes from rivers such as Meuse, Maas, Waal and Nederrijn.

Presence of fertile soils such as the alluvial clay, silt and peat for crop growth.

The landscape is predominantly flat making cultivation and mechanization easy.

The Netherlands is strategically located in Europe near other rich European nations such as Belgium, Germany and France which offer a large market for the crops grown.

Human factors

High level of technology is employed. Many crops are grown in glass-houses in which both moisture and temperature are controlled to suit crop requirements. About half of the total land area under glass-houses in Europe is in Netherlands.

Large demand for horticultural products not only in Netherlands but also in the other European countries such as Britain, Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Luxembourg. The Europeans have a high standard of living, which allows them to purchase expensive foodstuffs and flowers. Flowers for example are used for decoration in houses, offices and hospitals, and for celebrating important occasions.

Well-developed transport routes the by road, railway and air, which enable the produce to reach the market while still fresh. For example large quantities of flowers cut in the morning are exported via Schiphol airport and sold the same day in the large European towns. There are also many good waterways like the Rhine and several canals.

Availability of adequate capital to purchase machinery fertilizers. Refrigerators and improved crop varieties as well as setting up green houses..

Formation of cooperatives from which farmers benefit from the ownership and control of production facilities as well as accessing loans and collective marketing of their produce.

Presence of skilled labour force to work in the horticultural industries

Co-operatives are officially registered and governed by laws and regulations.

There is quality control of the products.

Farms are either scattered or consolidates into one piece of land.

Technical advice and services are provided by the extension staff or workers.

Marketing is done collectively.

The co-operatives elect officers from among their members and these people, being farmers themselves understand the difficulties of the farmers. There is therefore efficient management.

Research is undertaken to improve quality and quantity output and consequently the members are educated about new developments.

Profits and losses are .shared among the farmers.

Transport, marketing and other costs are reduced as they are shared among the members.

Land ownership may be collective, individual or public

Advantages of co-operative farming

Co-operatives can buy seeds, fertilizers, feedstuffs, tools and, equipment’s in bulk and can therefore buy at cheaper rates than an individual farmer .who only requires relatively small quantities of any item. This saves the farmers money by reducing their production costs.

Co-operatives set certain standards for their agricultural products". This guarantees high quality products.

By pooling resources such as capital and labour together, productivity is increased.

By collection, grading and storing. The produce of a number of farmers, co-operatives are able to sell in bulk and can dispose off their products at the most favorable times. They can therefore obtain more favorable terms of trade than individuals.

Co-operatives set up processing industries for the agricultural products produced "e.g. creameries, ginneries, fertilizers, factories and others. They therefore stimulate industrialization and urbanization.

Co-operatives engage in agricultural research and farmers are entitled to advice from experts, marketing officers or veterinary surgeons on problems in their farms. They are thus able to acquire new skills that improve efficiency and the quality of the products. This also saves governments expenditure on training farmers.

Co-operatives can provide loans to farmers on easy terms when they need to purchase land, equipment, improved livestock breeds and other items. This is because there is more capital mobilization and accumulation which leads to the growth and development of other sectors as well e. g. industry.

Co-operatives engaged in the production of foodstuffs, encourage self-sufficiency in food production and this saves the country's valuable foreign exchange, which would otherwise have been spent on food imports.

Co-operatives lead to increased foreign exchange earnings through increased exports.

Through co-operatives, farmer's incomes are increased. The farmers also receive income in the form of dividends or bonuses from the co-operatives societies.

The increased income derived from co-operatives farming result into improved standards of living in the world mainly because of the well-developed co-operative movement.

Co-operative farming leads to the generation of employment opportunities in marketing, processing, research and other sectors.

Co-operative farming leads to the development of social services such as health centers, schools, roads and railways etc.

In co-operative farming there is full mobilization of resources such as capital and labour, which are necessary for economic growth and development.

Disadvantages of co-operative farming

In many developing countries, farmers lack confidence in their elected or salaried executives. This is because many co-operatives are dominated by nepotism, embezzlement, and corruption, which hinder the smooth management of the societies.

Some co-operative farmers are unable to compete effectively with the more. dynamic businessmen engaged in the marketing and processing of produce. They can therefore 'easily be out competed.

Co-operatives engaged in the production of agricultural products whose prices are unstable. This results in the fluctuation of the farmer's incomes and may hinder proper planning.

Production sometimes depends on natural factors. In case of drought, delayed rainfall, pests and diseases, output is seriously affected. Output is therefore not guaranteed.

Political instabilities as is the case in many developing countries, easily affect the smooth running of the co-operatives.

Co-operatives engaged in the production of foodstuffs, encourage self-sufficiency in food production and this saves the country's valuable foreign exchange, which would otherwise have been spent on food imports.

Co-operatives lead to increased foreign exchange earnings through increased exports.

Through co-operatives, farmer's incomes are increased. The farmers also receive income in the form of dividends or bonuses from the co-operatives societies.

The increased income derived from co-operatives farming result into improved standards of living in the world mainly because of the well-developed co-operative movement.

Co-operative farming leads to the generation of employment opportunities in marketing, processing, research and other sectors.

Co-operative farming leads to the development of social services such as health centers, schools, roads and railways etc.

In co-operative farming there is full mobilization of resources such as capital and labour, which are necessary for economic growth and development.

Disadvantages of co-operative farming

In many developing countries, farmers lack confidence in their elected or salaried executives. This is because many co-operatives are dominated by nepotism, embezzlement, and corruption, which hinder the smooth management of the societies.

Some co-operative farmers are unable to compete effectively with the more. dynamic businessmen engaged in the marketing and processing of produce. They can therefore 'easily be out competed.

Co-operatives engaged in the production of agricultural products whose prices are unstable. This results in the fluctuation of the farmer's incomes and may hinder proper planning.

Production sometimes depends on natural factors. In case of drought, delayed rainfall, pests and diseases, output is seriously affected. Output is therefore not guaranteed.

Political instabilities as is the case in many developing countries, easily affect the smooth running of the co-operatives.

In developing countries, processing plants set up by cooperatives often breakdown. A delay in acquire ring the necessary spare parts hinders the smooth running of the cooperatives as well as mass production.

Cooperatives may hinder personal initiatives. The group may discourage hard working and enterprising members.

Because of the high costs in the construction and maintenance of transport system, few roads tend to be constructed.

In many developing countries, there are a few cooperatives and this result in the generation of job opportunities.

Therefore how far co operatives can succeed depends on a number of factors including the efficiency of the farmers or their paid executives, their ability to compete with long established traders and the actual cooperation of the farmers themselves. In Denmark the movement has been so successful that practically every farmer is cooperative member and many countries have sent their experts to study the Danish cooperative movement. The following extract will show how important the cooperative movement is in Denmark.