Understanding Agricultural Practices and Systems
Agricultural Practices and Systems
Primary Sector
The primary sector encompasses activities that extract resources from nature, including:
- Agriculture
- Livestock
- Fisheries
- Forestry
- Mining
Agricultural Space
Agricultural space is natural space modified by humans for agriculture, livestock, and forestry. It’s influenced by both physical and human factors.
Land Exploitation
Land exploitation refers to all production measures related to land ownership.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of land for plant products for human or animal consumption, or industrial materials.
Productivity
Productivity is the relationship between output and the resources used to obtain it.
Surplus
Surplus is the production exceeding what’s needed for family and farm needs.
Parcel
A parcel is the basic unit of cultivation, defined by its shape, size, and boundaries.
Fallow
Fallowing is leaving land uncultivated to restore soil fertility naturally.
Breaking Ground
Breaking ground refers to the initial cultivation of land.
Mediterranean Agriculture
There are two main types:
- Rainfed: Primarily vines and olives.
- Intensive irrigated: Includes fruits and vegetables (horticulture).
Newly Developed Countries
These are former European colonies that gained independence from the 18th century onwards.
Irrigation Agriculture
Irrigation agriculture involves supplying large amounts of water to crops through artificial means.
Dryland Agriculture
Dryland agriculture relies solely on rainfall.
Polyculture
Polyculture involves cultivating multiple plant species in the same area. An example is a garden combining fruit trees, peppers, and tomatoes. It can be small or medium-scale, aimed at family consumption, livestock feed, or trade.
Monoculture
Monoculture is cultivating a single plant species in a specific area. Examples include cereals, legumes, and cotton. Most monoculture production is for trade.
Intensive Agriculture
Intensive agriculture maximizes production through significant capital and/or labor investment. It’s primarily market-oriented.
Extensive Agriculture
Extensive agriculture doesn’t maximize resource use for highest yields. Production can be for market or consumption.
Subsistence Agriculture
Subsistence agriculture uses traditional techniques, relies heavily on the environment, has low productivity, uses much land and labor, and focuses on production for consumption.
Market Agriculture
Market agriculture features high capitalization, modern technology, high productivity, and market-oriented production. It requires robust transport infrastructure and is common in developed and developing countries.
Plantation Agriculture
Plantations are large farms growing single crops (monoculture), often owned by foreign companies, focused on international trade, and employing temporary, low-cost local labor.