Agriculture has been engaged in the making of essential food crops for decades. Agricultural production above and beyond farming currently covers forestry, milk, fruit farming, poultry, beekeeping, mushrooms, arbitrary agriculture, etc.
Currently, crop processing, marketing, and distribution and livestock products are all recognized as part of existing agriculture. Agriculture may also be referred to as agricultural product growth, processing, promotion, and distribution. In the whole life of a given economy, agriculture plays a critical role.
Agriculture is the foundation of a given country’s economic structure. Agriculture also provides a significant percentage of the population with job opportunities as well as food and raw materials.
So, we need to look at some of the contributions made by the agriculture sector across the globe. The following are the factors behind the importance of agriculture.
Importance of farming in our life: Livelihood
Farming is the primary source of livelihood for most people. Around 1billion people globally derive their livelihood from agriculture in some way or the other. This high percentage of agriculture is the product of the lack of growth of non – farm sectors to absorb the rapidly increasing population.
Besides, many people in developing countries are not engaged in agriculture. To contrast, agribusiness among rich and developing nations differ:
In the Republic of the Congo, 69% of individuals work in farming; in the US, just 1% work in this segment.
Importance of farming in our life: Raw Material
Agriculture is the principal source of raw materials for major industries like cotton and jute, sugar, tobacco, edible and non-edible oils. Also, several other sectors, such as fruit processing and veggies and rice husking, are primarily provided by agriculture.
Importance of farming in our life: Food and fodder
The farming sector supplies domestic animals with fodder. The cow gives people milk that is protective food. Besides, livestock also fulfills human nutritional needs.
Importance of farming in our life: International trade
The agricultural products like tea, rice, spices, tobacco, coffee, etc. are major exporting items of agricultural-related countries.
If agriculture develops smoothly, imported goods are reduced while export increases considerably. This leads to lowering the unfavorable balance of payments in countries and saving foreign exchange.
It can be used well to purchase other essential inputs, machinery, raw materials, and other infrastructure that supports the country’s economic development.
Importance of farming in our life: Marketable Surplus
Agricultural sector growth contributes to marketable surpluses. Many individuals are interested in manufacturing, mining, and other non-agricultural industries as the nation evolves.
These individuals rely on food produced by the marketable surplus of the nation. With the development of the agricultural sector, demand rises, leading to a rise in marketable surpluses. This can be exported to other countries.
Importance of farming in our life: Transportation
The bulk of agricultural products is transported from farms to factories via railways and roads. Internal trade is mainly dependent on agriculture. Also, the government ‘s revenue relies heavily on the accomplishment of the agricultural sector.
Contribution to the economy
For most developing countries, agriculture is the primary source of national income. However, the agricultural sector’s contribution is a smaller percentage of their federal revenues to developed countries such as the USA.
Foreign exchange
The export trade of the nation mainly depends on the agricultural sector. Farm commodities, for instance, such as silk, tobacco, seasonings, oils, cotton production, coffee, and tea, account for about 18% of the entire value of a country ‘s exports.
This shows that agricultural products remain a significant source of income for the foreign exchange of a nation.
Employment
Building irrigation systems, drainage systems, and other such operations in the agriculture sector are necessary because they offer more opportunities for jobs.
The agriculture industry provides the workforce with more job opportunities. This, in turn, reduces the high unemployment rate caused by the rapidly growing population in developing countries.
Development
As agriculture employs many people, it helps to develop the economy. As a result, the amount of national income, and the quality of living of people is increased.
The rapid pace of development in agriculture provides both progressive prospects and intrinsic confidence for the event.
It, therefore, helps to create a healthy environment for a country’s overall economic growth. Economic development, therefore, depends on the rate of agricultural growth.
Food security
A stabilized farming sector ensures food security for a nation. Every country’s main requirement is food security. Food safety prevents food shortages that have historically been regarded as one of the significant problems of developing countries. Most countries depend on their crucial source of income for agricultural products and related industries.
Medicines
Agriculture not only provides food, employment, and leads to development but also does it help to obtain life-saving medicines.
For example, the papain enzyme is extracted from the papaya fruit. This papain is used as an organic enzyme. This is used to substitute indigestion with one of the proteolytic juices. Particularly helpful for the sick and the elderly. This papain is obtained by large-scale cultivation of papaya. Most alkaloids are used as medicine.
Opium alkaloids like morphine often relieve extreme pain, cough, and lose balance. These are obtained by growing opium poppy crops in farms.
Protection of bees
Were you aware that 2018 was the 14th straight year for the honey production of North Dakota in which it ranked first?
The State has almost 500,000 bee colonies and in 2017 generated 33 million pounds of honey. With so many bees sheltered for growth, beekeepers help protect people’s lives. In Montana, ranchers and farmers even provide 75% of the State’s wildlife with a critical winter habitat.
Agriculture for profit
Agriculture is the biggest fabric material source. This fabric type is cotton. Often used to make jeans, bedding stuff, etc. Jute and other fabrics are also used to make gunny bags.Chemical filament fabrics are used to produce garments.
Agricultural fiber meets broad clothing demand. Therefore, they are safe for use and nature-friendly disposal. Farm animals, including sheep and cattle, are useful. Sheep ‘s hair is wool that produces sweatshirts and winter clothing.
While livestock skin is used to produce leather to produce belts, wallets, etc. Silk is another industry where silkworms or insects are raised to collect silk. This silk yields fine and costly fabric.
Woman Empowerment
More than a hundred thousand farms are headed by women, 30% of all the farmlands. Not only is this creating the small business values of America, but it also creates powerful people running such companies.
Improvement of communities
Another promising trend is the increasing growth of farmers ‘ markets. Farmers’ markets allow smallholders to communicate effectively with consumers. The food supply is domestically produced throughout the local community, reducing the need for long-distance travel.
The opportunity to buy locally grown food is invaluable as demand rises. Consumers benefit from healthier food options, and farmers have a new chance to buy their crops.
Consumers and their children will hear first-hand about goods from producers and how they are born. Farmers interact and improve their communities.
Conclusion
Therefore, the role of farmers and agriculture in the development of the world cannot be ignored. The contribution of farmers in our daily lives, from food to clothes, cannot be denied. All these points prove the importance of farming in our daily lives.
However, it is another matter that developing countries will have to create many facilities to strengthen the region. Yet farming and gardening is a significant source of life in such countries.