University College

Anuradhapura

Language Skills-English

Read the following text and do the activities given below.

Aquaculture

The World Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predict that the world’s population will reach over 9 billion within 2050, which is approximately 34% higher than today. Nearly all of this population increase is expected to occur in developing countries. Urbanization will also continue at an accelerated pace, and about 70% of the world’s population will become urban over next 3 decades (compared to 49% today). In addition, income levels in 2050 will be many multiples of what they are now. Hence, the biggest challenge in the future will be to find ways to feed this larger, more urban and richer population. FAO has forecasted sea catches to stop growing at 85 – 90 million tons a year and all incremental demands would have to be met by culturing. By 2030 aquaculture production is estimated to reach more than 90 – 95 million tons, a prognosis based on 3% annual growth. Moreover, to support projected food demands in 2050, production must rise an estimated 70% above current values to allow the global population to continue to consume seafood products at the current rate. Thus, the expected deficits in food supply the next decades are currently being targeted by several stakeholders, NGOs and Governments around the world. Compared to other industries, aquaculture has proven to be an efficient catalyst for production of seafood world-wide. Moreover, aquaculture has arisen as the major mode of food production in order to maintain the current per capita consumption with an average annual growth rate of 11% since 1984. Thus, aquaculture is expected to increase rapidly in volumes and diversity of cultured species, and thereby become the main source to food and protein supply in the future. However, the success rate will, among others, be influenced by development of adequate technical innovations, availability on feed ingredients, cooperation between Governments, and sharing of technology and know-how between aquaculturists. Sri Lanka is now in the process of embarking on a very ambitious aquaculture development plan, targeting doubling of aquaculture production to 95,000 metric tons (MT). This goal will be met through sustainable aquaculture development, addressing technology transfer, training programs, food safety and quality, and environmental integrity.

Activity-1

1.  Do loud reading.

2.  Learn all the new words.

3.  Make a speech on Aquaculture.

4.  Write a brief paragraph on Aquaculture.

Activity-2

Explain the following words.

1.  aquaculturist

2.  environmental integrity

3.  diversity of cultured species

4.  per capita consumption

5.  sustainable aquaculture development

Activity-3

Make a list of abstract nouns from the above passage.

1.  Agriculture

2.  Organization

3.  ---------------------

4.  ---------------------