The primary purpose of agriculture in Nowapan is to feed and cloth the people of the country. It is also a major source of certain industrial and medicinal components. It is not export driven. Very little food is exported or imported and the dangers associated with export agriculture have been very largely avoided. The Nowan government will, and often does, make foodstuffs available as humanitarian aid but decisions about the utilization of farmland are determined by local markets, not the whims of foreign interests. Almost all farms are owned by clans rather than single families. Farmland area has remained largely stable as the result of the No-Net Loss of Farmland Law of 1975. This has protected some of the country's best farmland from the kind of degradation and urbanization found in other countries.
Most farms use chemical fertilizers sparingly, relying on a mix of animal and green manures. Most farms have resisted the western style of specialization and grow a mix of crops as well as livestock. Farms are usually members of cooperatives who may share expensive machinery or share labor at critical times and needs.
Farms usually have a close relationship with the consumers of their produce. A consumer cooperative may deal with only one or several farms but the relationship allows production to be largely tailored to the needs of those who use it. Neither producers nor consumers are faceless entities to the other. This is not to say that all farm produce is sold so directly to consumers. Some large producer cooperatives distribute brands nationally and often have cooperative relationships with dozens of farms.
Farms and farmers have remained strong and prosperous in part because Nowans, as a group, are not fond of synthetics and prefer their foods to be both fresh and familiar. A few foreign plants are cultivated, but for the most part, the plants grown today are the same as those cultivated 1000 years ago. Most households can fresh fruit and vegetables while they are available.
Gardens are ubiquitous in Nowapan. It is very common, no matter the caste, to see communal clan garden throughout even very urban environments. Although Nowans grow some of their own fresh vegetables, it more common for them to use their gardens for the production of herbs and spices. Flower gardening is also popular.
Livestock production is an important part of Nowan
agriculture. The most important animal on Nowan farms is the musk-
ox. Descended from the wild steppe musk-ox, the domesticated
variety is easier to handle and better tempered. Nowan farmers
have resisted the urge to breed specialized animals and the musk
ox of the modern era, is just as useful and multi-functional as
his ancestors were. Musk-ox is the most widely consumed meat on
the island, its thick plush wool is the most commonly used animal
fiber, its hides are used for leather, its horns are carved into
a variety of utensils and its milk is used for cheese.
The Forest Hen is widely raised for meat and eggs as is the
Greenheaded Flightless Duck. The latter is also a source of
down. The Pani Rabbit is widely raised and not just on rabbit
farms. Many clans keep a few clutches for a ready supply of
fresh meat. Further examples of domesticated livestock are found
on the Nowan Domesticated Animals Page.
Dairy Products are widely consumed either in the forms of butter, yoghurt or more commonly, as cheese. The only important source today is the musk ox but zapiti milk was once widely used.
Grains are an important part of the Nowan agricultural economy. The 2 most important are corn and bl� rouge. Neither is widely consumed by people but they are important both as animal feed and for industrial purposes. Bl� rouge is the primary ingredient in Nowan beers and whiskys. A wide variety of beans are raised. The most widely eaten bean is the brown bean but every region has its own favorite variety. Soybeans are widely raised but like the grains, they are primarily for animal feed and industrial uses.
Fresh vegetables, roots, and fruit are the plant foods at the core of the Nowan diet. The various types are discussed more fully on the Ethnobotany Page. The Red Potato is the most important root food and they are eaten, on average, at least 5 times per week.
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