Argentina’s Farm, Industrial, and Livestock Sectors
Argentina’s Key Economic Sectors
Farm Act
Farm Act: Agricultural development allowed Agropecuaria to expand significantly in 1930. Currently, agricultural production aims for self-sufficiency in the domestic food market and is a primary component of exports. Success depends on balancing commercial products with the area planted each year. Recent modernization includes incorporating new technologies, varied seed types, and fertilizers, increasing productivity and improving competitiveness. Organic products are expensive and acquired by a high-economic-level market sector. Changes in land use for agriculture increase the area planted for livestock.
Favorable conditions for agricultural development include: flat terrain suitable for machinery, temperate climate with fertile soil and sufficient rainfall, land suitable for semi-extensive agriculture, and proximity to river ports (Parana, La Plata) and the Atlantic Ocean, facilitating product export.
Principal crops include cereals (wheat, corn) and forage grains. Other important crops are oilseeds. The complex production process, from seed to market delivery, involves several stages:
- Seeds and Planting: Selection is important, with increased use of hybrid seeds and direct planting.
- Harvest and Production: Crop rotation allows for more than one harvest per year and can be combined with livestock farming.
- Collection: Requires infrastructure to maintain the harvest before commercialization and prevent deterioration from moisture, pests, and rodents.
- Industrialization: Necessary to increase value within the country by utilizing more labor and adding higher value for export.
- Commercialization: Includes seeds, oils, and protein flours, the main export items.
Industrial Act
Industrial Act: Involves the sequence of operations, handling, and processing of natural resources and intermediate goods. Multinational companies are installed in the region to produce for Argentina and the MERCOSUR market. Currently, some items face critical stages due to imports of manufactured products from MERCOSUR, affecting firms by increasing taxes and unemployment.
The industrial axis extends along the Parana and La Plata rivers, constituting an important industrial area characterized by riverfront location and technological development. Diversity in location and contraction results from:
- Proximity to ports
- Communication with the rest of the country
- Abundance of labor
- Large consumer markets
- Water availability
- Energy availability
Livestock Act
Livestock Act: The Pampas region has the highest number of cattle, pigs, and horses, producing the most meat and dairy products. This is favored by the mild climate and tender pasture, allowing for natural or induced grasslands. Specialization occurs in:
- Areas for offspring (low-quality grazing fields)
- Wintering areas (best land, high ground, sufficient rainfall)
- Mixed areas (in some stores)
- Dairy zones (near urban centers)
In the beef complex, the production phase is carried out in different agricultural establishments. Cattle are taken to slaughterhouses and cold storage facilities, and industrialization achieves the final product. During commercialization, beef and by-products are sold in various markets, with Argentina being a key global player.