🌾 Agriculture
The cultivation of crops and rearing of animals for food, fibre and other products. This includes arable farming (growing crops like wheat and rice) and pastoral farming (raising livestock like cattle and sheep).
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Unlock This CourseThe primary sector forms the foundation of all economic activity. It involves extracting raw materials directly from the natural environment. Without primary sector workers, we wouldn't have food on our tables, timber for our homes, or metals for our phones. This sector is particularly important in developing countries, where it often employs the majority of the workforce.
Key Definitions:
The cultivation of crops and rearing of animals for food, fibre and other products. This includes arable farming (growing crops like wheat and rice) and pastoral farming (raising livestock like cattle and sheep).
Catching fish and other seafood from oceans, rivers and lakes. This can range from small-scale fishing by individuals to large commercial fishing operations with massive trawlers.
Primary sector employment covers a wide range of activities, each with its own characteristics and location factors. Understanding these different types helps explain why certain regions specialise in particular primary activities.
Forestry involves managing forests for timber production, whilst logging is the actual cutting down and harvesting of trees. This industry provides wood for construction, paper production and fuel. Countries like Canada, Russia and Brazil are major players in the global timber trade.
Managing forests so they can continue producing timber indefinitely whilst protecting wildlife habitats and preventing soil erosion.
Removing all trees from an area at once. This is efficient but can cause environmental damage if not managed properly.
Carefully choosing which trees to cut whilst leaving others to maintain forest structure and biodiversity.
Canada's boreal forest covers 307 million hectares and supports over 230,000 jobs. The industry faces challenges from climate change, including increased forest fires and pest outbreaks. Companies are adapting by using more sustainable practices and diversifying into products like biofuels and advanced materials.
Mining extracts valuable minerals and metals from beneath the earth's surface, whilst quarrying removes materials like stone, sand and gravel from surface deposits. These activities are crucial for construction, manufacturing and energy production.
Mining operations must be located where valuable deposits exist, but several other factors influence their success and viability.
Quality and quantity of deposits, accessibility of the site, terrain difficulty and climate conditions all affect mining operations. Deeper deposits are more expensive to extract.
Market prices for minerals, transportation costs, labour availability and government policies influence whether mining is profitable. High prices can make previously uneconomical deposits worth extracting.
Agriculture remains the largest employer in the primary sector globally, though its importance varies dramatically between countries. In developing nations, it often employs over 50% of the workforce, whilst in developed countries, it's typically less than 5%.
The type of agricultural system affects employment patterns and location decisions. Understanding these differences helps explain why some areas have high agricultural employment whilst others have mechanised farms with few workers.
High inputs of labour, capital, or technology per unit of land. Examples include market gardening and battery farming. Often located near urban markets.
Low inputs per unit of land, often covering large areas. Examples include cattle ranching and wheat farming on the Great Plains. Located where land is cheap and plentiful.
Subsistence farming feeds the farmer's family, whilst commercial farming produces crops for sale. Commercial farms are usually larger and more mechanised.
Bangladesh's rice industry employs about 48% of the country's workforce. The fertile Ganges Delta provides ideal conditions, but farmers face challenges from flooding, cyclones and climate change. Small farm sizes (average 0.6 hectares) mean most farming is labour-intensive rather than mechanised, supporting millions of rural families.
The fishing industry provides livelihoods for millions of people worldwide, from small-scale coastal communities to large commercial operations. However, overfishing and climate change are creating significant challenges for fishing communities.
Fishing employment varies greatly depending on the scale and type of operation. Each has different location requirements and employment characteristics.
Small-scale fishing using traditional methods and equipment. Often family-based operations that fish close to shore. Provides employment for coastal communities but catches are limited.
Large-scale operations using modern vessels and technology. Can fish in distant waters and process catches onboard. Fewer jobs but higher catches and profits.
Primary sector activities are heavily influenced by physical geography, but economic and political factors also play crucial roles in determining where these industries locate and how many people they employ.
The natural environment largely determines what primary activities are possible in different locations. Climate, soil quality, topography and natural resources are fundamental considerations.
Temperature, rainfall and seasonal patterns determine which crops can grow and affect fishing conditions. Tropical climates suit different crops than temperate regions.
Fertile soils support intensive agriculture, whilst poor soils may only suit extensive grazing. Steep terrain limits mechanisation and affects accessibility.
Adequate water supply is essential for agriculture and many mining operations. Coastal locations provide access to marine resources and transportation.
Chile produces about 30% of the world's copper, employing over 200,000 people directly in mining. The Atacama Desert's dry climate preserves copper deposits and reduces processing costs. However, water scarcity and environmental concerns are growing challenges. Mining companies are investing in desalination plants and more efficient extraction methods.
Primary sector employment faces numerous challenges in the modern world. Technological advances, environmental concerns and changing global markets are transforming how these industries operate and how many people they employ.
Advances in technology are reducing the need for manual labour in many primary sector activities. Whilst this increases efficiency and reduces costs, it also means fewer job opportunities for workers.
Tractors, combine harvesters and automated systems reduce labour needs. One modern farmer can now manage areas that once required dozens of workers. This increases productivity but reduces rural employment.
Automated mining equipment and remote-controlled machinery improve safety and efficiency. However, these technologies require skilled operators rather than manual labourers, changing the nature of mining employment.
Primary sector activities have significant environmental impacts and growing awareness of sustainability is changing how these industries operate. This affects employment patterns and requires new skills from workers.
Many primary sector employers are adopting more sustainable practices in response to environmental concerns and consumer demand. This creates new types of jobs whilst potentially reducing others.
Growing crops without synthetic pesticides or fertilisers. Often requires more labour than conventional farming, creating employment opportunities in rural areas.
Using quotas and selective fishing methods to prevent overfishing. May reduce short-term catches but helps ensure long-term employment in fishing communities.
Restoring mining sites after extraction is complete. Creates new jobs in environmental restoration and helps mining companies maintain their social licence to operate.
Kenya's tea industry employs over 600,000 people and is adopting sustainable practices to meet international standards. Rainforest Alliance certification requires better working conditions and environmental protection. Whilst this increases costs, it also ensures premium prices and long-term market access, protecting employment in rural communities.