What two factors are cited as discouraging agriculture and reducing the workforce?

What two factors are cited as discouraging agriculture and reducing the workforce?

• A. Drought and HIV/AIDS
• B. Flooding and malaria
• C. Urban development and clean water
• D. Tourism and education

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that external pressures from development can push people away from farming and shrink the land available for agriculture. Urban development encroaches on farmland, turning fields into housing, roads, and businesses. That directly reduces how much land can be used for crops and also creates fewer local jobs in farming, so fewer people work in agriculture. Clean water is part of broader development. When communities gain reliable water infrastructure and sanitation, people have more options beyond farming and may choose urban or non-farm work instead. The combination of less land for farming and more opportunities elsewhere helps discourage farming and reduces the agricultural workforce. Other options would point more to climate or disease effects directly on crops and workers, but this pair emphasizes how development-related factors shift land use and labor away from agriculture.

The main idea here is that external pressures from development can push people away from farming and shrink the land available for agriculture. Urban development encroaches on farmland, turning fields into housing, roads, and businesses. That directly reduces how much land can be used for crops and also creates fewer local jobs in farming, so fewer people work in agriculture.

Clean water is part of broader development. When communities gain reliable water infrastructure and sanitation, people have more options beyond farming and may choose urban or non-farm work instead. The combination of less land for farming and more opportunities elsewhere helps discourage farming and reduces the agricultural workforce.

Other options would point more to climate or disease effects directly on crops and workers, but this pair emphasizes how development-related factors shift land use and labor away from agriculture.