AGRICULTURAL LOCATIONAL MODEL : VON THUNEN
INTRODUCTION:
The best analytical agricultural land use theory in 19th century was given by JH Von Thunen. He attempt to explain
agricultural land use pattern in economics perspectives. His “ Der Isoliette Staat” or The Isolated State
published in 1826.it is an example of normative model. But the book was not
translated until 1966.The theory was based on the Mecklenburg in Germany. The
main aim was to show how land uses varied from one place to other.
He published two model
q Relationship between
market and production cost
q Intensity of production
ASSUMPTION:
The von thunen theory was based on some assumption
q It is an isolated place
q No rivers and No
mountain are there
q The climate and surroundings region are homogeneous type
q The soil quality is favorable to agriculture
q Farmers are focused only in profit maximization
q There is only one mode of transportation
PRINCIPLES OF VON THUNEN MODEL
1.LOCATIONAL RENT: LOCATIONAL RENT is the revenue a farmer receives after deducting the cost
of production of a commodity
2. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DISTANCE AND TRANSPORT COST
3. INTENSITY OF PRODUCTION
BIT RENT THEORY
A bit rent curve shows the relationship between economic rent
and distance from the market for one or several products. This basis for rings
production around the market can be determined by comparing the bid rent curve
foe two products. The bid rent curve is the line showing the economic return at
varying distance from the market.
GENERAL
THEORY OF VON THUNEN
According to von thunen ,there are four zones
I. Dairy farming
II. Forest and wood
III. Vegetables
IV. Grazing land
According to von thunen model, perishable things in high
demand with high transport cost get located close to the city. The items could
compete on high priced land near center because of high market price. Less
perishable things with lower transport cost and lower market prices get located
away from the market
MERITS:
1.It was one of the earliest pioneering concept to explain
agricultural land use patterns in economics terms.
2.It helped put geography on sound scientific footing
3.He pointed out that locational importance.
4.It is applicable to local or global scales.
.
DEMERITS
1. His theory was modified of the concept of locational rent
which was similar to economics rent concept of David Ricardo
2.His assumption was not universally true
3.His theory was irrelevant to
the contemporary world.
4. he didn’t give full concept
