The  importance of Agriculture

Agriculture is often referred to as the backbone for human civilization, is the practice of cultivating the soil , growing crops and raising animals for food and fiber to sustain and enhance human life. It  includes the creativity , imaginations and skills involved in planting crops and raising animals with modern production methods and new technologies.

Since ancient times, agriculture has played a crucial role in shaping societies ,economies and the environment. Even with its long history, the importance of agriculture remains  unchanged today, as it continues to be the foundation upon which much life is built on.

Three reasons why Agriculture is important

 1.Food Production

Food is the first in basic necessities of the life. Agriculture plays a crucial in the entire lives of animals and human beings. Without agriculture there would be no food. Agriculture is basic for growing the the food required to feed the world's population. For humans , it supplies staple crops like rice, wheat and maize along with a variety of fruits, vegetables and legume plants that ensure a balanced diet and nutritional health .Without agriculture, humanity would struggle to meet its basic needs as it provides the foundation for our food supply. Agriculture also supports the production of animal feeds such as hay, maize, barley and oats , which is crucial for maintaining  livestock health and productivity , thereby contributing to the availability of  meat , dairy and other animal products.

2.Economic Development

Agriculture plays a vital role in economic development  by serving as a foundation for growth and stability in many economies , particularly in developing countries. Agriculture is the cornerstone of economic development, as it provides the foundation of various industries and contribute to the global economy. It serves as a source of income for millions people , both in rural and urban areas and support a wide range of related businesses such as processing , transport and retail. It provide employment to a significant portion of the population contributing to income generation and poverty reduction. Additionally, agriculture has been observed to contribute a very large share of GDP of most of the economies before industrial development take place in them .As the process of industrial development accelerates , the share of nonagricultural sector in GDP tends to increase steadily. Simultaneously ,the relative share of agriculture shrinks and yields place to that of manufacturing and service sectors . This does not imply that the agricultural production does not increase .It only implies that the growth in production of industrial and service sectors is faster than the growth in agriculture sector. In some typical African economy ,agriculture produces about 50 per cent of their GDP. Moreover, the progress in agricultural sector provides surplus for increasing the exports of agricultural products. According to Simon Kuznets “Agriculture was a major source of exports and that the resulting command over the resources of the more developed countries played a strategic role in facilitating modern economic growth."

3.Environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability plays a vital role in agriculture because it ensures that farming practices do not deplete natural resources ,degrade the soil or harm ecosystem .Sustainable agriculture is an eco-friendly approach that reduces the reliance on limited natural resources Its careful farming methods, such as crop rotation, intercropping, and companion planting, help protect soil health and water quality while eliminating the need for damaging practices. Conservation agriculture practices promote minimum soil disturbance, maintenance of a permanent soil cover, and diversification of plant species. Examples of conservation agriculture practices include zero-till, cover cropping and crop rotation