Why is Agriculture Important | Its Role in Everyday Life

Agriculture is an important source of livelihood for people in most parts of the world.

It involves laborious work, yet it contributes to food security and the health of the nation.

Before the industrial revolution, agriculture was the primary source of the economy.

Despite many commercial options coming up, still many rely on agriculture for their income.

It is a nature-friendly and peaceful method of livelihood.

Farming is one of the honest sources of income. It is a very reliable source of livelihood for mankind for the past many centuries. Many people from developing nations rely on agriculture for their livelihood.

Some people involved in other businesses or jobs still have agriculture as a side business.

Agriculture does not limit to cultivation and farming alone. It also extends to dairy, poultry, fisheries, sericulture, beekeeping (honey insects), etc.

These are also dependent on agricultural cultivation in some or another way. Farming becomes more profitable when combined with these alternative methods.

Why is Agriculture important to humans?

Agriculture supplies food, clothing, medicine, and employment all over the world. It provides food security to the human population.

Importance of agriculture in the Food supply

Agriculture is the primary source of food products all over the world. All the major food substances viz. carbohydrates, proteins, and oils are produced by agriculture.

Carbohydrates

Carbohydrates supply energy to all the humans and animals—the grains like wheat, rice, barley, potatoes growing on farms are the source of these carbs.

Proteins

Proteins are useful to build our body. They are supplied as grams and other leguminous products obtained through agriculture. These products include beans, pulses like black gram, Bengal gram, green gram, etc.

Other sources of protein, like meat, fish, and dairy, also rely on agriculture. Protein from vegetarian sources are cheap and also healthy without chances of infections. So people rely on agriculture protein for their daily needs.

Oils and fats

Fats & oils are important to provide energy, body structure, and also heat. These can be obtained from agriculture through the cultivation of sunflower, groundnut, mustard, sesame, etc.

Fruits

Fruits provide natural and intact food material as they do not need cooking. They are digestible by kids, old age, and sick people. Grapefruits are also used for producing wine.

Flowers

Flowers are used for decoration, ceremony purposes. Also, they are a rich source of the scent, dye material.

Importance of agriculture for medicine

Many medicinal drugs are obtained from agriculture. They are a regular source of some important drugs like

Enzymes

Enzymes are widely used in medicine for different type of disease conditions.

For example, the enzyme papain is obtained from the papaya fruits. This Papain is used as a natural enzyme. It is used as a substitute for one of the digestive enzymes for indigestion. Especially useful for old aged people and diseased. This papain is obtained on a large scale by papaya cultivation.

Alkaloids

Many alkaloids are used as medicine. Opium alkaloids like morphine relieve severe pains, cough, and also lose motions. They are obtained by growing opium poppy plants on farms.
Similarly, alkaloids like hyoscine, ephedrine, physostigmine are obtained by agriculture.

Laxatives

Isapghol used for mild constipation treatment is obtained by cultivation

Glycosides

These constitute some important medicinal principles. Examples include cardiac glycosides like digitalis for heart failure. Senna is a glycoside used for the treatment of constipation. Steroidal glycosides to produce steroid drugs.

Importance of agriculture for clothing

Agriculture is the largest source of cloth material. This clothing material is obtained from cotton. This cotton is also used for making jeans, bedding material, etc.

Further, jute and other fibers are used to make gunny bags.

Though chemical polymer materials are used to make clothes, fiber from agriculture meets the great demand for clothing. Further, they are safe for use, and disposal is nature-friendly.

Besides the farm, animals like sheep and cattle are beneficial. Sheep’s hair is wool, which is used to produce sweaters and warm clothing. At the same time, cattle skin is used to produce leather, which is used to make belts, wallets, etc.

Silk is another type of industry wherein silkworms or insects are grown to collect silk. This silk yields very fine cloth and is expensive.

Importance of agriculture in employment

In rural areas, agriculture is one of the biggest sources of employment. The employment can be

Direct employment

Agriculture provides direct employment for farmers, daily wage workers. Further, as a technician for farm machines like tractors, harvester, farm cutting machines, etc.

Indirect employment

Besides direct, there is scope for indirect employment in the form of

Scientists in seed production, farm machine manufacture, pesticide, and fertilizer manufacture (nitrogen).

Academicians: There is also scope in academics for teaching and scientist jobs.

It is not only the scope of a job for men but also for women. As per 2012 data, 1 million women work for agriculture in the united states. This contributes to $12.9 billion in agricultural sales as per USDA.

Check out List of Agriculture Jobs

Importance of agriculture for govt. revenue

Agriculture is the biggest source of national income for governments in most countries.

Until the recent past, many countries relied on agricultural exports to keep up economic growth.

If there are no rains, it will affect their economy a lot due to low agriculture yield. This indicates the extent of revenue contribution by agriculture.

Many nations do not levy taxes on farmers’ income. But, the governments derive enough revenue in the form of taxes. These are in the form of land taxes, import & export duties.

Further, income tax on middlemen involved in the sale of farm products derives much revenue. When surplus, the governments also store the agricultural products.

These are exported for high prices when there is demand in the international market. Hence, governments invest in economic agriculture plans. The aim is to cut input costs by natural farming methods and derive more profits.

Importance of agriculture in Business

Many farming-related businesses which cannot make profits without agriculture.

a) Biotechnology

To produce high yield, disease-resistant crops.

b) Insurance companies, banks: To enhance investment and safeguard loss.

c) Farm equipment

Industries also manufacture farm equipment like tractors, weeder, sowing machines,  by use of iron and other metals

d) Chemical industries

These manufacture fertilizers and also pesticides.

From the above, we can understand the importance of agriculture in daily life and also economic development.

For Society

Agriculture has been the main source of revenue since the start of human civilization.

Unlike other sources, it requires no formal education or specific expertize. It can be adopted by almost all the people who are willing for physical work.

It also involves less interaction and business between individuals due to which the chances of conflicts and politics are low.

If Agriculture economy is sufficient, then there is little stress among people. Since, it involves physical work, it contributes to both physical and mental health.