Importance of Agriculture in the society

Importance of Agriculture in the society

There are so many Importance of agriculture in the society which includes:

(1) Provision of food: This is the primary role of agriculture, to provide food for the family and also at reasonable cost to the entire populace. Agricultural sector provides fodder for domestic animals like: pigs, sheep, chicken, goats, cows and other forms of animals that are helpful to man, for example: Cow provides people with milk which is a form of protective food; chicken provides the people with eggs and meats. Moreover, other livestock’s like the pigs, goats, sheep’s etc also meets people’s food requirements by providing meat.

(2) Provision of Raw Materials: Another role of agriculture is to provide raw materials for the processing and manufacturing industries. Like: Clothing, which is the main source of raw materials to the major industries such as cotton and jute fabric, sugar, tobacco, edible and non-edible oils are all produced under agriculture. Moreover, many other industries such as processing of fruits as well as vegetables and rice husking get their raw material mainly from agriculture.

(3) Provision of Employment: Aside from the crops and animals that are produced by the farmers, some of the farmers who operates in a very large scale represents the main source of employment within most countries because they usually find it necessary to hire additional hands in which to successfully cultivate the lands and to take care of the related farm animals.

Construction of irrigation and drainage system as well as other such activities in the agricultural sector is important as it provides larger employment opportunities. Agriculture sector provides more employment opportunities to the unemployed citizens which help in reducing the high rate of unemployment in developing countries which is caused by the fast growing population.

(4) Trade and Industry: Many people are engaged in the sale and distribution of Agricultural products. Bulks of agricultural products are transported by railways and roadways from farm to factories meanwhile most of the international trades are in agricultural products and the revenue of the government largely relies on the success of its agricultural sector.

(5) Source of income: the sales of Agricultural products, for example yam, cocoa, cassava, cotton, groundnuts as well as animals and animal products provide income in the first place for the farmers. Most countries rely on agricultural products as their main source of income.

(6) Economic Development: Since agriculture employs many people it contributes to economic development. As a result of that, the national income level as well as people’s standard of living is improved. Therefore, economic development relies on the agricultural growth rate.

(7) Source of Saving: Development in agriculture may also increase savings. The rich farmers we see today started saving particularly after the sales of their products and they will then invest their profit into their farm to grow and develop their farms.  Agriculture also helps in the reduction of the high level of importation of agricultural products from other countries, which leads to the reduction of the cost of importation and increase savings for the economy.

(8) Food Security: The stability of an agricultural sector definitely ensures a nation of food security which is the main requirement of any country. Food security prevents malnutrition and malnourishment which has traditionally been believed to be one of the major problems faced by the developing countries like our country Nigeria. 

(9) Foreign Exchange Resources: Agricultural commodities such as jute, tobacco, spices, oilseeds, raw cotton, tea as well as coffee accounts for approximately 18 % of the entire value of exports of a country. This shows that agricultural products will always continue to be important and source of earning a country foreign exchange therefore, The nation’s export trade depends largely on agricultural sector. 

(10) Source of Livelihood: The main source of livelihood of many people is agriculture. Approximately 70 % of the people directly rely on agriculture as their means of survival.

(11) Contribution to National revenue: Agriculture appears to be the main source of national income for most developing countries. Meanwhile, for the developed countries, agriculture contributes to a little percentage to their national income.

(12) Significance to the International Trade: Agricultural products like sugar, tea, rice, spices, tobacco, coffee etc. makes up the major items of exports of countries that rely on agriculture. With a good development practice in agriculture, imports are being reduced while exports increased considerably. The money made from the sales can be used to import other essential inputs, machinery, raw-material, and other infrastructure that is helpful for the support of country’s economic development.

(13) Marketable Surplus: The growth and development in the agricultural sector helps to contribute to marketable surplus. Many citizens in the country engage in the manufacturing, mining etc.and as the agricultural sector develops, production will surely increase and this will lead to expansion of marketable surplus which may be exported to other nations.