Which model explains agricultural land use in rings around a central market?

• A. Von Thunen Model
• B. Commodity Chain
• C. Bid-Rent Theory
• D. Central Place Theory

Answer: (A)

Concentric land-use rings around a central market show how transport costs and the perishability of products shape farming patterns. The closest ring specializes in dairy and other perishable crops because they must reach the market quickly and with minimal spoilage. Moving outward, the next ring is used for forestry and fuel, since wood needs to be available to the market but is heavy and costly to transport over long distances. Beyond that, crops that have longer shelf lives and can endure longer transport are grown, such as grains. The outermost ring is used for grazing and livestock, where animals are raised where land is abundant and then moved to market as needed. This arrangement minimizes overall costs and maximizes profits for each type of agricultural product.

This model explains why land values and farming practices change with distance from the market and why different commodities occupy distinct zones. Other models cover different ideas—how goods move through supply chains, how land value declines with distance from city centers, or how settlements and services are distributed—yet only this ring-based concept centers on agricultural land use around a central market.