By Amin Kef Sesay
Going way back into human history, civilization began with agriculture and still remains very important because every country in the world depends on agriculture for one thing or another. Here are the main reasons why agriculture is important in developing a poor country like Sierra Leone:
- It’s the source of our food supply
Arguably the most important aspect of agriculture is that it’s the source of the world’s food supply. No matter where or what you are eating, the ingredients in your meals came from somewhere. All roads lead to agriculture. In countries dealing with food insecurity and severe malnourishment, it’s because their agriculture sectors are suffering. When agriculture thrives, fewer people go hungry.
- Raw materials
Many raw materials, whether it is rice, cotton, sugar, wood, palm oil, vegetables, fruits, come from agriculture. These materials are essential to major industries such as the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, fuel, plastic and more. Raw materials are so important in production that the economic health of a country strongly depends on how many raw materials it possesses.
- It Is important to international trade
Raw materials from agriculture make up a huge portion of what’s traded internationally. Countries with plenty of those supplies export them and trade for materials they don’t have. If a country’s agriculture suffers for some reason, prices can go up and it disrupts the flow of trade.
4.It plays a big role in a nation’s revenue
Developing countries still get most of their national income from agricultural exports. While developed countries don’t depend on agriculture as much as they used to, their economies would definitely take a hit if all exports suddenly stopped.
5.It provides employment
The agricultural industry is still one of the biggest sources of employment and in many areas, it is actually booming. Whether it is working as a farmer, harvester, technician for farm equipment, scientist, and so on, there are plenty of jobs available in this field. In developing countries, agricultural jobs help reduce high rates of unemployment. When it comes to reducing poverty, evidence shows that focusing on agriculture is significantly more effective than investing in other areas.
.6.It is crucial to a country’s development
Economic development is tied to a country’s agriculture sector. When trade, national revenue, and employment are combined in a positive way, a country enjoys reduced poverty and boosted economic growth. Because strong agriculture results in benefits fairly quickly, focusing on it is one of the best ways to speed up development and improve a country’s standing in the world.
- It can help heal the environment
Agriculture possesses the power to harm or heal. When farmers prioritize biodiversity on their land, it benefits the earth. Greater biodiversity results in healthier soil; less erosion; better water conservation and healthier pollinators. This is all good news for the environment as a whole, making agriculture an important part of the cycle of life.
- It drives innovation in technology
Because healthy agriculture is so essential to a country’s well-being, it is the setting of some of the most exciting innovations in technology. Through artificial intelligence, block-chain software, gene manipulation, and more, scientists and farmers have been figuring out ways to increase crop productivity, use less water, and reduce negative impacts on the environment. For scientists and tech companies, agriculture is one of the most fascinating and productive fields to work in.
9-.The state of agriculture reflects our future
When it comes to pollution and climate change, the environment and agriculture suffer the quickest and with the clearest consequences. If effective changes aren’t made, climate change’s impact on agriculture will decimate a country’s economy and eventually wipe out the food supply.
To get a better idea about where humanity is going to end up, look at agriculture. What’s being done to adapt to a rapidly-changing climate? What will our food supply look like? The state of agriculture is a good litmus test of what we can expect the future to look like.
