Why do we need agriculture?

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Andrew Bosnjak, Search Engine Optimizer (SEO) & (SSO) at Beach House Rentals (2007-present)

Answered Mar 10, 2018

Originally Answered: What is the importance of agriculture?

Agriculture, for decades, had been associated with the production of basic food crops. Agriculture and
farming were synonymous so long as farming was not commercialized. But as the process of economic
development accelerated, many more other occupations allied to farming came to be recognized as a
part of agriculture.
At present, agriculture besides farming includes forestry, fruit cultivation, dairy, poultry, mushroom, bee
keeping, arbitrary, etc. Today, marketing, processing, distribution of agricultural products etc. are all
accepted as a part of modern agriculture.

Thus, agriculture may be defined as the production, processing, marketing and distribution of crops and
livestock products. According to Webster's Dictionary, "agriculture is the art or science of production of
crops and livestock on farm."

Importance of Agriculture

Agriculture plays a crucial role in the life of an economy. It is the backbone of our economic system.
Agriculture not only provides food and raw material but also employment opportunities to a very large
proportion of population. The following facts clearly highlight the importance of agriculture in this
country.

1. Source of Livelihood:

In India the main occupation of our working population is agriculture. About 70 per cent of our
population is directly engaged in agriculture. In advanced countries, this ratio is very small being 5 per
cent in U.K., 4 per cent in USA., 16 per cent in Australia, 14 per cent in France, 21 per cent in Japan and
32 per cent in USSR.

This high proportion in agriculture is due to the fact that the non-agricultural activities have not been
developed to absorb the rapidly growing population.

2. Contribution to National Income:

Agriculture is the premier source of our national income. According to National Income Committee and
C.S.O., in 1960-61, 52 per cent of national income was contributed by agriculture and allied occupations.
In 1976-77, this sector alone contributed 42.2 per cent while in 1981-82, its contribution was to the tune
of 41.8 per cent.
In 2001-02, it contributed around 32.4 per cent of national income. This was further reduced to 28 per
cent in 1999-2000. Contrary to this, the proportion of agriculture in U.K. is only 3.1, in USA it is 3
percent, 2.5 per cent in Canada, 6 per cent in Japan, 7.6 per cent in Australia.

The mere conclusion of all this is that more developed a country the smaller is the contribution of
agriculture in national output.

3. Supply of Food and Fodder:

Agriculture sector also provides fodder for livestock (35.33 crores). Cow and buffalo provide protective
food in the form of milk and they also provide draught power for farm operations. Moreover, it also
meets the food requirements of the people. Import of food grains has been very small in recent years,
rather export avenues are being looked for.

4. Importance in International Trade:

It is the agricultural sector that feeds country's trade. Agricultural products like tea, sugar, rice, tobacco,
spices etc. constitute the main items of exports of India. If the development process of agriculture is
smooth, export increases and imports are reduced considerably.

Thus, it helps to reduce the adverse balance of payments and save our foreign exchange. This amount
can be well utilized to import other necessary inputs, raw-material, machinery and other infra-structure
which is otherwise useful for the promotion of economic development of the country.

5. Marketable Surplus:

The development of agricultural sector leads to marketable surplus. As country develops more and more
people are to be engaged in mining, manufacturing and other non- agricultural sector. All these people
depend upon the food production which they can meet from the marketable surplus.
As agricultural development takes place, output increases and marketable surplus expands. This can be
sold to other countries. Here, it is worth mentioning that the development of Japan and other countries
were made possible by the surplus of agriculture. There is no reason why this could not be done in our
own case.

6. Source of Raw Material:

Agriculture has been the source of raw materials to the leading industries like cotton and jute textiles,
sugar, tobacco, edible and non-edible oils etc. All these depend directly on agriculture.

Apart from this, many others like processing of fruits and vegetables, dal milling, rice husking, gur
making also depend on agriculture for their raw material. According to United Nations Survey, the
industries with raw material of agricultural origin accounted for 50 per cent of the value added and 64
per cent of all jobs in the industrial sector.

7. Importance in Transport:

Agriculture is the main support for railways and roadways which transport bulk of agricultural produce
from farm to the mandies and factories. Internal trade is mostly in agricultural products. Besides, the
finance of the govt, also, to the large extent, depends upon the prosperity of agricultural sector.

8. Contribution to Foreign Exchange Resources:

Agricultural sector constitutes an important place in the country's export trade. According to an
estimate, agricultural commodities like jute, tobacco, oilseeds, spices, raw cotton, tea and coffee
accounted for about 18 per cent of the total value of exports in India. This shows that agriculture
products still continue to be significant source of earning foreign exchange.

9. Vast Employment Opportunities:

The agricultural sector is significant as it provides greater employment opportunities in the construction
of irrigation projects, drainage system and other such activities.

With the fast growing population and high incidence of unemployment and disguised unemployment in
backward countries, it is only agriculture sector which provides more employment chances to the labour
force. In this way, significance of agriculture emerges more and more.

10. Overall Economic Development:

In the course of economic development, agriculture employs majority of people. This means raising the
level of the national income and standard of living of the common man.

The rapid" rate of growth in agriculture sector gives progressive outlook and further motivation for
development. As a result, it helps to create proper atmosphere for general economic development of
the economy. Thus, economic development depends on the rate at which agriculture grows.

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Vipul Dye Chem Ltd, Vipul group of companies laid its foundation stone in the year 1968.

Answered Jun 16, 2016

As per our beliefs, agriculture is all about nature and natural colours. It may sound odd that dyes are
required to colour the agricultural products. But the truth is that agricultural products are in need of
colours as much as the artificial products do. From seed treatment to fertilizer colorants, agricultural
dyes have extensive use throughout the world in the agricultural field. Most importantly, unlike in other
fields where the dyes are used to increase the visual appeal, agricultural dyes perform vital function of
identification and differentiation.

For seed treatment

Seeds are the life of agriculture; if you are not using healthy seeds, the probability of getting poor crop is
much higher. Seed treatment is also known as seed dressing.Agriculture dyes refer to application of
colorants to improve the health of seeds and meet the criteria of Codes of Federal Regulations (CFR).
Some types of seeds are also used as fodder. Hence proper pigmentation of the seeds is required so that
quality seeds are not used as fodder and vice versa.

For Crop Protection

Pesticides and fungicides are essential components of modern day agriculture as these safeguard the
crops from insects and fungi. The agricultural dyes are used to colour the pesticides and fungicides for
several reasons. The pesticides, fungicides and herbicides are coloured for easy identification. Before the
application of germicides, it is necessary to understand where in the field these were used previously
and which part of the field is untreated; these dyes enable easy demarcation.

The agricultural dyes are available in standard form so that these can be used on a wide range of
products. These pesticides are harmful to human beings and pets; easy identification of the same due to
agricultural dyes hence ensures safety in handling operations. The pesticides and herbicides are
coloured by combining chromatic pigment dispersions and dry powder.

For Crop Fertilization

Fertilizers are the root to healthy crops. Use of proper fertilizer is mandate to get good quantity and high
quality crops. All fertilizers look the same without colours and hence the chances for use of incorrect
fertilizers are higher. Agricultural dyes reduce this mishap and also help farmers identify the brand of
fertilizers easily. Besides error application, agricultural dyes also differentiate between high and low
quality fertilizers. The agricultural dyes are generally used in diluted form and sprayed over the
fertilizers to colour.
Agricultural dyes are gradually becoming an inevitable part of modern day agriculture worldwide due to
its multiple benefits. At present in India agricultural dyes are manufactured using advanced technology
and these pigments are reaching out to global clients.

The production of agricultural dyes has increased in recent years and hence one must look for authentic
products to ascertain that correct products are used. The composition of agricultural dyes has to be
proper to generate utility of these pigments. There are several Indian companies producing premium
agricultural dyes and exporting these round the world. From pigment powders to fast colour bases, you
can choose from a wide range of agricultural dyes.

Hence boost your agricultural production along with utmost safety with agricultural dyes from India.

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M Noor, former Working as lawyer

Answered Jul 15, 2015

We need agriculture to feed ourselves. It gives us rice, wheat pulses, oils, beverages, milk products, non
vegetarian products etc directly or indirectly. Agriculture gives food not only for humans, but for pets
and animals also. We need food to survive.

We need agriculture to satisfy our hunger and thirst, a good or bad.. food is essential for us to keep
ourselves alive n working and for our domesticated and zoo animals also.

In my state thousands of wild elephants are depending on farmers agricultured land to fill their
stomachs...as nothing left in jungles to eat.

Except all above reasons of agriculture one main reason we never consider...that is 
The people on this planet who earn their livelihood by agriculture or cultivation. It provides a vast
employment to lots of people.

The more we eat and consume...more the cultivaters will be benefited.

Agriculture, cultivation, farming is the basic need of this planet.

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Vinoth Kumar, Agriculture Engineer

Answered Mar 31, 2018

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Originally Answered: What is the need of agriculture?

Quite interesting question.the following incident might be little relevant.

Few years back one of my friend from Kerala told about his experience with school kid. one day he asked
a question to school boy as follow “Where do the milk comes from”. Without any doubt the boy
answered milk comes from milma (Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation).My friend astonished
to hear that answer that for simple question.Because he was excepting the answer would be cow.First
he thought the boy kidding then he came to know that was true answer.

The reason I mention that incident because, just to see the question in border aspect and to adders the
reason why those question arise.I think reason why the kid answered and question like need of
agriculture comes because of our education never taught any think about Agriculture and its
importance. Even Law is also not taught in our school.

If hunger the driving force of human and it is fulfilled by food produce through agriculture,then why we
are not exposed to it???

Simple we can say agriculture is for living.All thought you can live your life through food from other
resources like Fishing, Hunting and gathering.But the day comes to end for all these resource.there
comes the need of agriculture.I don’t want to bore you by saying known answers like food, about
agriculture food production, food need for world, types of agriculture ect…

Though this can be answers in different aspect in different level,I just want to address how agriculture
tuned this Homo sapiens (we) from ancient ones.

What would you say, If I say

your using seeing this answer through Quora using computer or phone or tab is because of agriculture.

Let rotate this earth in opposite direction to travel past to the period of ancient hunters gathers.

[Fast Forward]
The ancient man was sustained his life through hunting and gathering. So they are nomadic in nature
also they spend more energy to get food living.One day when returning back to same place where once
they were stayed for some time,he\she noticed single plant with more grain (eg wheat) result of single
seed through-ed by our ancient forefather * (10 power 100) knowing or unknowing when they were
before.This is the breaking point where nomadic life came to an end and settlement start.

[Fast Forward]

Agriculture gave advantage of spending less time and less energy for food. Yeah now they have ample
amount of energy and time. So they started to use this precious resources energy and time for various
fields likeScience, Art, Culture, Religion, ect..

[Fast Forward]

As the continuations of their effort, today William Oughtred invented a computer(although many are
contributed), Bill Gates founded a windows, Adam D'Angelo & Charlie Cheever founded a Quora, you
asked a question through it, Vinoth answered to question and YOU seeing this answer.

Although it seems not but, No doubt AGRICULTURE drive our world. Some for everything it started
because of agriculture and even end because of agriculture. Simply Agriculture is like Pivot point around
which the world operate.

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Subhash Zadoo, worked at Food Corporation of India

Answered Jul 26, 2018

please elaborate

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Gary Stratton, former Pipe Fitter/supervisor at Various Companies (1972-2004)

Answered Jul 25, 2018

Agriculture is more important than ever as the world's population continues to grow and arable land
continues to be used for non-agricultural purposes. Obviously production of food is a vital concern as a
portion of the world population is chronically undernourished.

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Leif Ege, Farmer in Training

Answered Jul 24, 2018

Originally Answered: What is the importance of agriculture today?

Umm… well, I mean agriculture is important enough today that most of us would be dead without it
and/or our current level of technology wouldn’t exist at all.

Alright, bit of snarky answer, but let me explain. Agriculture or farming frees up people in a civilization to
pursue other tasks, such as defense, technological research, construction, government, and even
philosophy. Agriculture replaces a civilization’s need to constantly search for food that is scattered
across the land over many, many square miles (kilometers). This achieved by 1) consolidating food
collection to a specific area that can then become a permanent place for a civilization to permanently
settle (soil fertility and moist climate permitting) and 2) not everybody in a civilization needs to spend
their time growing their own food when there could be a few people (farmers) dedicated to this task of
agriculture.

Agriculture is THE most important job in any civilization if that civilization is to exist on this planet at all.
No agriculture = no civilization.

P.S. I am will consider a civilization that tries to feed itself by buying in all of its food or pillaging for its
food, but only briefly. Once the money is gone or there is no one left to pillage and they have not started
agriculture, they will be dead soon enough.

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