Agriculture was the first technique that helped us human beings to stop being nomads. Since then, the knowledge and developments to cultivate the land have not ceased and have continued to evolve. Today, development has reached the point where most cultivated land is they no longer have to do with self-sufficiency, but with the subsequent sale of their crops. This is market agriculture.
Depending on the geographical area in which we find ourselves, the techniques, types and purposes of market agriculture differ. This phenomenon holds a closely related to the weather of each region and the policies that exist in place. Thus, the market agriculture of Europe is very different from the extensive one of the United States, or very different from many tropical countries. If you are interested in knowing more about the subject, continue reading!
Main characteristics of market agriculture
Market agriculture differs from the more traditional by the extensive use of agricultural machinery. The productions are very big, and are aimed at both national and international markets. In addition, thanks to new technologies and to modernization and specialization, costs are greatly reduced. The new production techniques that seek to speed it up also help, so that sometimes it is no longer so necessary to have large surfaces but rather to look for the best valued products.
- Mechanization. We can find it both in the sowing and in the growing area. intervenes all kinds of machinery Focused on maximizing production, which is fast, and aimed at lowering costs. Also to better control the crop and monitor deficiencies and/or specific needs.
- Specialization. Depending on the geographical location, the usual thing is to touch one or a few products that the company or person knows is profitable. As for the plant nurseries, there is usually a bit more diversity, since they are suppliers of other farmers. That if the situation requires it, such as the sowing and germination of different vegetables.
- Quick to market. Know in advance where to sell the product. There are many food industries willing to buy and then make food products such as cookies. Also packaged, like supermarkets, or with somewhat more direct sales like greengrocers or farmers' markets directly.
Types of market agriculture
As mentioned above, the types of market agriculture differ from one place to another due to climatic and cultural factors. Thus, we can differentiate three large types within market agriculture.
- Mediterranean agriculture. It is encompassed by all coastal countries of the Mediterranean Sea and California. In the rainfed areas with lower yields, wheat, olive trees and vines (grapes) are grown above all. For thousands of years, they have been used for this type of cultivation. In irrigated orchards we can find fruits and vegetables, and in greenhouses even tropical crops.
- Specialized agriculture. The most used in the United States and also used in Europe. It involves using large expanses of land dedicated to monocultureAs a rule, the product is not changed from one year to the next unless market conditions permit it. There is a lot of machinery and cultivation techniques are highly developed. Among the main products are corn, wheat, and cotton, among others. .
- Plantation agriculture. It is different from the rest and is usually promoted by the country's own administrations or by large companies. It is strongly spread between Africa and Latin America and requires a lot of labor as the mechanization of these types of cultivation is difficult. They are usually coffee, cocoa, sugar, tobacco... among others. Most of the modernization is used to prepare the land or transport and it is profitable as the labor is cheap.
industrial and biotechnological revolution
Started with developed countries those preceded by the agricultural revolution. Improvements in cultivation techniques allowed a large and higher proportion of surplus agricultural products. This type of agriculture was and is typical of developed countries. Previously due to colonizations and currently due to globalization.
Between 1960 and 1980 came what was called the green revolution. It was characterized by an increase in cultivation techniques and very modern agronomic specialization. Besides, biotechnology made it possible to create new types of plants which further increased production. We will have heard many of them every time we hear about transgenics, genetically modified plants.
Even so, at present it is still a matter of debate about to what extent it can be harmful or not for the environment to act so directly on crops. And it is that agriculture has developed so much, that both the objectives and the ways of working no longer resemble almost nothing to the purposes for which it began.
subsistence farming
If market agriculture pursues large productions to sell later to national and international markets, subsistence agriculture does not seek it. As its name indicates, it is aimed at self-consumption and supply the own needs or the group where it develops. It is not so technical nor does it practically require machinery for its purposes, which does not mean that it is done carelessly.
It is not so dependent on raw materials, and generally stocks up on more traditional fertilizing and planting techniques. It is present in all countries, and although it is more present in some, it is more a cultural than a geographical factor (except for colder places). It uses few areas of land, often known as orchards, and it is also common to see several of them together.
Eventually, some people sell the little surplus they have, never without pursuing great financial gain, but as a mere hobby. In fact, it is very common for surplus production to end up being given away among acquaintances.
I hope this article has been interesting to you, if you want to know more about agriculture, here is a link about Permaculture. When agriculture is designed to harmonize with the ecosystem where it is located.