What is Agriculture ? and the Importance of Agriculture

What is Agriculture ? and the Importance of
Agriculture.





 







What exactly is agriculture? The word itself conjures up images of wheat fields,
corn, and plows and combines, but the world of agriculture covers much more
than that. 
In this article, we'll break down what agriculture means and why it's important to have
farmers on your side—or at least know about them and how they operate.
What is Agriculture ?










Agriculture,also known as farming or horticulture, refers to cultivating plants for food,
livestock, and other products used to sustain human life.
It includes arable farming or agronomy, plant cultivation, and horticulture. In general
terms, both terms farming and agriculture are used interchangeably concerning
plants. 
For example, someone who works in botany is a farmer; someone who works in
agriculture is an agriculturist. 

Despite being associated with plants—namely trees--agriculture also involves fish
farming (aquaculture), animal husbandry, ranching, and forestry management.

Importance of Agriculture




 







#1 -
Agriculture raises life expectancy
In countries like India, people living in rural areas live longer than those
living in urban ones. Why? Rural people tend to follow traditional methods of
agriculture which are better adapted to local environments than imported
foreign crops. 
Traditional farming methods have strong social and cultural roots that promote various
forms of lifestyle modification such as healthy diet choices, physical
activity, stress management, etc. 
On average, people in rural areas spend about two hours on their daily chores (usually less
for women). 
Compare that with eight hours+ spent by urban folk on errands a day and you'll
understand why folks from villages stay healthier for longer. 

Regular physical activity can reduce one's risk factors (obesity) while plant-based
diets can help lower risks related to obesity and heart disease.







#2 -Improves health
A healthy body promotes a healthier mind. Regular physical activity can prevent certain
diseases, reduce blood pressure, lower blood cholesterol levels, strengthen
bones and muscles, and prevent injury. 
With regular exercise (such as 30 minutes a day) even those with chronic conditions can
enjoy an improved quality of life.
Exercise also helps to control weight (can help you shed unwanted pounds or maintain a
healthy weight


 





#3 -Provides food security
As much as we need food, the food needs us. It depends on humans to grow, harvest,
 prepare and distribute it in a way that satisfies societies' needs.
The food industry employs one in every eight workers in America—about 16 percent of all
jobs. Take out everyone who works directly with food (and there are many),
including farmers, grocers, restaurant staff, and fast-food workers. 
That’s more than 12 million Americans providing something we all need: calories to survive.
 







#4 -Makes us more efficient
Agriculture is one of humankind’s greatest innovations. It enables us to produce more food
than if we hunted animals or gathered plants by hand. 
Farming has allowed us to settle down in one place, instead of constantly moving around,
looking for fresh hunting grounds or sources of vegetation. 
It also allows people who are limited in strength or mobility to stay alive and
healthy. People who lack hearing, vision, strength, or other physical
attributes rely on agriculture-related jobs like farming because it gives them
a source of income, they would otherwise not have access to. 
We can also thank agriculture for allowing our population to grow into what it is
today—more than 7 billion strong!

 





#5 -Keeps us in touch with nature
It's no secret that a lot of people who live in urban areas live with a little bit less
contact with nature than their country cousins. 
It seems like nowadays, many children are exposed to nature for only brief periods,
in-school classes or on vacation. 
But being surrounded by natural things does a lot for our mental health. Being close to
green plants can help us relax; we've discovered some strong evidence that
going outside (even without seeing any actual plants) can make us happier.
Can help mitigate climate change: No matter what you think about 
climate change, there's no denying that it's happening. 
That said,not all scientists agree on exactly how much humans have to
 do with it - but most agree that reducing pollution is important anyway.
 






#6 -Raises the quality of life
On a global scale, agriculture is responsible for more than one-third of
 mankind’s food.Without farming, life as we know it would be impossible. 
If there were no farmers, people would be forced to hunt, fish, and gather their
food—and let's face it: 
Our modern comforts depend on a steady supply of nutrition. Without 
agriculture, we’d all have to go back to picking berries in our spare time just 
to get by. 
Ironically enough, if people stopped doing agriculture altogether, humankind 
wouldn’t survive very long at all. 
If we didn't do agriculture humans wouldn't survive because there are 
many things that animals can do in nature but a human cannot
 do like making clothing from  fur or using bird feathers for
 decoration.








#7 -Makes the planet greener
Approximately 70% of our air, water, mineral, and energy resources are 
affected by agriculture.
 The green revolution has developed improved cultivation methods
that have greatly reduced soil erosion as well as dramatically decreased
inorganic fertilizer pollution.
Moreover,through increased food production for an ever-increasing population
 worldwide,agriculture has added to biodiversity by bringing marginal land into 4
crop production. 
If you look out at a field of corn or soybeans there may be little living things other
 than those crops or insects farming them; however, take notice of what 
those plants touch- grasses outside that field or trees just over some hill. 
All these creatures owe their life to farming practices; they live in areas they wouldn’t
otherwise be able to inhabit because farmers have made it safe for them.
#8 - We have access to it all year long.
The vastmajority of food produced in North America (and around 60% worldwide)
 comes from agriculture. 
That includes your fruits, vegetables, grains, dairy products, meats—even your
coffee and chocolate. When you add it all up, we’re talking about a little over
$1 trillion worth of food per year. 
That’s not chump change! And with agriculture being such a crucial industry to
 our economyand health as well as an incredibly intricate science itself, it's time
 to stop taking it for granted. 
Instead, let's sit back for a moment and appreciate everything that goes 
into producingour daily meals... as well as what might be missing if that 
system wasn't there at all.








#9 -Brings out our creativity
From science to art, creative people are pushing boundaries in all fields. Their
inventiveness has been pivotal in shaping society’s technological advances and
its cultural values. 
And now more than ever, a scientific mindset—and a bit of creativity—
is crucial for staying competitive in business. 
Startups that have at least one creative founder are 37% more likely to succeed
 than those founded by not-so-creative types. 
Think your skills aren't suited for commercial success? There is no reason why 
they can'tbe: 
Whether you're painting, writing songs, or building apps, harnessing your
talent into something marketable will serve you well as an entrepreneur—and
boost your chances of success.

 





#10 – It feeds people, animals, & plants
Of course,food isn't only for feeding humans. It also feeds livestock such as pigs,
chickens, cows, goats, sheep, and fish—not to mention all plants.
This is a big part of agriculture's $5 trillion contributions to global GDP in 2012. 
And that doesn't even count all of agriculture's non-consumptive uses. 
For example, most people aren't aware that almost half of the agricultural output
goes toward making products like rubber tires, clothes, paint, and more—without
being eaten by people or animals. 
As important as agriculture's consumptive uses are though, it still accounts for
only ~20% of human water consumption globally on average.