Agriculture is the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals, both for economic and domestic purposes. The agricultural sector of an economy is one of the most important sectors of the economy, as it handles the major aspects vital to human existence. Through agriculture, man can access the three necessities of life: food, clothing, and shelter. It was the first occupation of man and is still helping in the sustenance of life. No wonder, wise countries do not joke with their agricultural sector. Below are some of the countries that developed with agriculture.
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7 Countries that Developed with Agriculture
Some of the countries that developed with agriculture include
1. China
China has about 55% of the landmass and makes up more than 12% of the total GDP of the economy. 50% of its workforce also depends on agriculture. Farm produce like rice, wheat, millet, potatoes, cotton, and others is the largest output in China. It is expected that in the next decade, China will be the top importer of farm products. One-third of the total fish production in the world is from China.
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2. India
India is one of the fastest-growing economies in the world and the seventh-largest country by landmass. The agricultural sector makes up about 18% of its GDP. Over 58% of rural households largely depend on agriculture. Spices and spice products are majorly produced in India, followed by fruits, rice, and wheat. There are several components like food grains, dairy, meat, frozen foods, and so on in the economy that make up the country’s agricultural sector.
3. The United States of America
The US is the world’s largest country by landmass and a net exporter of food, contributed by the agricultural sector. Due to mechanized farming, the US is the leader in crop production and seed improvement. Tomatoes, corn, peanuts, and sunflowers are the major crops produced in the economy. 23% of the exported products in the USA are obtained through agriculture.
4. The Republic of Indonesia
Indonesia is the largest island and most populous country in the world. 14 percent of the aggregate GDP of the economy is contributed by agriculture. Commercial products like oil palm, coffee, cocoa, rubber, rice, soybeans, corn, cassava, pulses, fruits, and vegetables are the major focus of the agricultural sector. Indonesia has the highest per capita rice production in the world.
5. Brazil
Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and the country has forests. The country has agriculture as its principal base. Southern Brazil is very fertile and properly irrigated for farming. It is the largest exporter of sugarcane, coffee, soybeans, corn, vegetables, frozen chicken, beef, and ethanol, which makes it the breadbasket of the world.
6. Liberia
Liberia is one of the countries whose economy leaped as a result of their investment in the agricultural sector. Approximately 80% of the West African countries’ GDP is from Liberia, which makes it the highest in the world. Though plagued by years of the Civil War, which harmed it, Liberia was able to locate a region that was most favorable for agriculture (tree cultivation) and develop it. As a result, rubber and oil palm are the main sources of their cash crops. Over 35,000 and 42,000 tons are produced and exported each year.
7. Somalia
Somalia is one of the countries that has developed with agriculture. It contributed to approximately 60% of East African GDP. Interestingly, only 1.6% of the country’s arid land is being cultivated. Somalia found its powerhouse in mostly farming, though irrigation-based cultivation is practiced in some areas. Bananas and sugarcane are the major commercial crops in the country.
Benefits of Agriculture to a Country
Agriculture is very beneficial to human existence as well as economic development and sustenance. Below are some of the benefits of agriculture to a country:
- Food production. Agriculture contributes greatly, if not all, of the food that man consumes. So, for an economy to have food for consumption and commercial purposes, agriculture is the major reason.
- Agriculture is a source of raw materials. Sugarcane, cotton, palm oil, fruits, vegetables, and so on, are all great raw materials for production. So many companies and industries depend solely on agricultural materials for their existence. Textile, sugar, fruit juice, food processing, sugar manufacturing companies, and others are examples of companies dependent on agriculture for their survival.
- Business opportunity. Agriculture creates business opportunities for people who invest in it. Meeting the demand for food, raw materials, and other agricultural products is a means of creating wealth for individuals or groups. That is why most of the richest people, like Bill Gates and Dangote, invest in it.
- Agriculture is an employment opportunity. There are many opportunities for people to get jobs in the agricultural sector. In some countries, like Nigeria, agriculture is the largest contributor to the labor force.
- Economic development. Agriculture plays a great role in national development. It makes up the GDP growth of every country. It creates jobs, raises the standard of living, empowers rural dwellers, provides food, sustains wealth, increases exportation, provides basic infrastructure, and so on, which are all significant to the improvement of the economy.
Why Every Country Should Invest in Her Agricultural Sector
The agricultural sector is the support of every economy, as we could earlier note. Therefore, every country should invest in this sector for the following reasons:
- Contribution to national income. Most of the advanced countries were able to rise as a result of the contributions made by the agricultural sector. This helped them invest in other sectors that aided their development.
- Source of food supply. The basic source of food supply for every economy is agriculture. If the demand for food production is not met in any country, it affects the rate of growth in that country.
- Source of raw materials for agro-based companies and industries. Industrial production would be severely affected if there was a shortage of agricultural raw materials. This also leads to an increase in the prices of goods, which could also lead to inflation.
- Reduction of inequality. Inequality always occurs in a predominantly agricultural country. To reduce inequality, friction and income disparity, agriculture helps raise the standard of living of rural dwellers to some extent.
- Source of foreign exchange for the country. Most countries export their agricultural products to other countries and, in return, buy goods and services from other countries that are vital for their national development. it also increases export earnings, which helps balance the foreign exchange.
Most Advanced Countries in Agriculture
Some of the most advanced countries known for agriculture include:
- China: China is the largest producer and importer of food. The land of China is too arid and extremely fertile for farming. Most of the exported foods are from China.
- Netherlands: The Netherlands is a densely populated country that engages in large-scale agriculture. It is the second-largest exporter of food in the world. It uses the most efficient technologies in agriculture to achieve its goal.
- The United States of America: The USA produces food more efficiently than any other country in the world. The food export market is largely dominated by American companies.
- Brazil: The economy of Brazil focuses on agriculture. Due to its warm climate, fruits are largely produced in Brazil. 31% of the land in Brazil is for farming and the outcome is the massive production of crops.
Factors Affecting Agriculture in Developing Countries
Most of the developing countries are engaged in agriculture but are unable to produce on a large scale due to some factors. These factors can include:
- Economic factors. Various distinct economic factors affect agriculture in developing countries. One of the factors is the weather. Other factors include subsidies, prices of commodities, laws on immigration, available transport facilities, cost of land, capital market, and the labor force.
- Climatic factors. Temperature, water, light, rainfall, air, relative humidity, and wind are the major climatic factors that affect agriculture. They influence the growth and development of the crops, which in turn, influence the outcome of the harvest. For example, air promotes pollination, determines the temperature of the ground (how hot or cold the ground is), and so on.
- Physical or environmental factors. Physical factors like topography, soil, and climate affect agriculture. Crops thrive in rich soil with better drainage than any other kind of soil. Soil treated with harsh chemicals will affect the growth of plants unless improved.
- Other factors include education or knowledge of farming, technological advancements, political factors like government policies, land ownership and inheritance (social factors), and so on.
If farmers could understand the factors, they would be able to make better decisions concerning agriculture to produce on large scales.
Conclusion
In conclusion, agriculture is very important in every country. There should be sensitization of the people on the importance of agriculture and those who indicated interest should be properly trained in farming on a large scale to increase the number of workers and food production in the economy. Any country that invests in agriculture is sure not to have any regrets.
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