Posts Tagged crops
The Many Faces of Agriculture
Agriculture is a very important activity for the survival of human beings on this earth. This is clearly reflected in the very basic fact that agriculture is one of the oldest activities of humankind. The term ‘agriculture’ includes both the cultivation of crops and the domestication of animals.
As the most profound resource, agriculture provides food, clothing and shelter to us. With the spread of knowledge of the most advanced implements, there has been immense progress in the spread of agriculture, as well as agricultural output. The use of agricultural machinery, scientific methods of farming and diversification of crops have improved the overall production of agricultural crops the world over.
The study of agriculture is important because it has been classified into different agricultural types, each with its unique characteristic features. These varied types are:-
i) Shifting cultivation – Also known as ’slash and burn agriculture’, this method of agriculture is important because it is subsistence ‘primitive’ farming. Practiced mostly by tribal nomads, this farming involves the clearing of forests for cultivation purposes. Generally, root crops are grown, like – millets, cassava, yams, rice or maize.
- Extensive agriculture – This is ‘commercial’ type of farming, important due to agro products, which are ‘market oriented’. The large quantities of food grains are grown basically for sale. Most of the farms are highly mechanized. The main areas of extensive agriculture in the world are – ‘Steppe lands’ of Russia, ‘Prairies’ of Canada and US, ‘Pampas’ of Argentina, and ‘Downs’ of Australia.
- Plantation farming – A ‘Monoculture’ type of farming, it is the practice of ’specialization’ of one crop in large estates. The product is processed before it is marketed, and this is quite a profitable venture in the international market. The important crops are – cocoa, coffee, tea, rubber and sugarcane.
- Mixed farming – In this, crops are grown and cattle are reared, side by side, on ‘moderately’ large farms. Remnant parts of crops serve as animal fodder, and dung is used for fertilizing the soil. The importance of this type of agriculture is that the farmer can supplement his income from the sale of a variety of farm products.
- Truck farming – This agricultural activity involves the cultivation of vegetables away from the market. Vegetables are supplied to urban markets in trucks, to cater to the needs of the people living in towns and cities. It is essentially an intensive type of farming.
One more important type of agriculture is – ‘Horticulture’. This is the growing of fruits and flowers! However, the foundation of this type of farming lies in the efficient system of transport. While all the Mediterranean countries specialize in fruit cultivation, the Netherlands is world famous for its cultivation of beautiful tulips!
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The Importance of Agriculture
Agriculture usually plays a vital role in the economy of every nation that exists. Not only for the reason that it tends to feed the entire population of a country but also in the respect that agriculture correlates and interacts with all the related industries of that country. A country is usually considered to be a social and politically stable nation if it possesses a very stable agricultural basis.
A stable agricultural industry ensures a country of food security. Food security is considered to be one of the primary requirements of any nation. No nation can effectively grow with a stable agricultural base while harboring a nation of “hungry people”, as these hungry people can do nothing what-so-ever towards helping develop their country. Food security prevents starvation which has traditionally been considered one of the largest problems being experienced by the small developing nations. Most countries depend upon agricultural products and related industries for their major source of income. Even the newly developing countries will find that they depend upon and can benefit greatly from their agricultural industry.
Aside from the crops and animals that are produced by the farmers who make up a country agricultural sector the agricultural field represents the main source of employment within most countries. The larger farms usually find it necessary to hire additional hands in which to successfully cultivate the lands and to take care of the related farm animals. Most of these large farms have processing plants located in nearby facilities for finalizing their agricultural products and developing the by-products. It goes without saying that these sub-industries employ considerable man-power within their operations. Most of the modern farms and agriculture-related industries make good use of today’s modern equipment as well as the principles of science and technology.
The use of technologies in farming is determines by the competence of the various farmers towards coping with these advancements relating to the technologies. The country’s farmers who can utilize the modern technologies involved with farming can assure a good production of their products which benefits their country as a whole. Modern farming technologies would be useless if the farmers are not competent enough to use any of the technology that they have available to them.
Most of the older industrialized cites have begun their growth primarily through the development of agriculture. These cities have done well on an agriculture basis before they fully begun to embrace the industrialization process. Most of the principles currently in use within our modern businesses have their roots stemming from the principles of agriculture. Bulk manufacturing is one of the practices that have been patterned from the seasoned harvesting often found in the area of agricultural practices. This method has saved many ancient cities from destruction during times of plague and drought. During the ancient times the countries harvested crops which were not merely used for immediate consumption but were often harvested and stored for future use. The same thing is practiced within the modern business procedures to ensure its stability.
Agriculture is usually common in rural areas which have the most arable lands, however with the modern technologies involved in farming agricultural activities are totally possible even in the urban areas. These activities can be accomplished to sustain personal or family needs or even for commercial purposes.
Tags: agricultur, agricultural, agricultural product, agricultural products, agriculture, business, countries, crops, farming, farms, food security, importance of agriculture, manufacturing, plantsRelated posts
Pesticides and Insecticides VS Sound Wave Control for Agricultural Insect Control
Too many chemicals used in agriculture can harm the human food supply. It also makes a mess of the normal ecological system. Of course without some way to get rid of all the insects our food supply would be in worse shape. It is a catch-22 and then there are those little issues of profits, efficiency and consumer prices too. Thus this was a recent topic in our Online Think Tank.
The butterflies and bees help pollinate the crops and help with large increases to crop yields, but if you kill all the butterflies or poison all the bees, where are you in relation to crop yields then? I am worried about killing the bats too. Because if they eat dying insects, that has an issue, of course that has an issue with all pesticides. The Bats help eat the bugs that ruin the crops.
A few years ago, I was talking to an apple farmer from Yakima, WA who holds some land speed records at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah and he and his trailer were at Windover, NV for “Speedweek.” We sat down in the Hotel Casino restaurant and he was mentioning how using Sound Waves to cause the insects to stay out of the fields, or away from the Apple Farms worked quite well. I thought that was better than insecticides spraying or crop dusting. Maybe this is a plan.
Additionally, I brought up my concerns with the killing of Butterflies and Bees, which pollinate the crops, without them there could be 45-65% less efficiency, meaning more costs in seeds too. Monarchs are having issues and the Bee larva are at issue now as the African Bees, stronger take over the North American Honey Bees.
All these inter-related issues are of serious concern. I certainly hope this article is of interest and that is has propelled thought. The goal is simple; to help you in your quest to be the best in 2007. I thank you for reading my many articles on diverse subjects, which interest you.
Tags: agricultur, agricultural, agriculture, chemicals, crops, farms, honey bees, insect, insecticide, insecticides, insects, pesticide, pesticidesRelated posts