Primary Sector Activities and Global Agricultural Factors

Primary Sector Activities and Resource Extraction

Primary sector activities involve the act of extracting resources from nature. In some cases, this involves the land, such as agriculture, livestock, and forestry. In other cases, it involves the sea, such as fisheries.

Global Agricultural Disparities

The world presents great contrasts: the agricultural population in 2005 accounted for 43% of the world population. In developed countries, the percentage is below 10%, while in underdeveloped nations, it is over 50%. Regarding land area, global safe cultivation covers only 11% of the land, while 23% is suitable for pasture.

Rural and Agricultural Land Use

Rural and agricultural areas consist of rural-urban land which includes: the agricultural area consisting of farmland, forests (bosques), and pastures. Other applications installed in the countryside include principal or secondary residences, roads, and various infrastructure.

Factors Constraining Agricultural Activity

Physical Factors

Physical factors can be favorable or unfavorable for different agricultural uses of space:

• The Relief: Mountain farming is conditioned by altitude, the orientation of slopes, and gradients (desniveles).
• Climate: This includes sunny hours (insolation), temperatures, rainfall, winds, and freshwater access.
• Environment: Natural vegetation, wildlife, and soil (suelo) quality.

Human and Demographic Factors

Demographic Pressure: This is reflected in the agricultural landscape; during times of human growth, the space devoted to agriculture increases.

Social and Economic Factors

Social organization influences agriculture in several respects:

• Property: Refers to the legal owner of the land (tierra). Private property gives the owner all rights, whether they are an individual, a cooperative, or a business partnership.
• Tenure: Refers to the person working the land.
• Social Customs: These are very important in traditional societies.
• Economic Factors: The type of agrarian economy, such as a subsistence economy, also exerts a notable influence.

Political and Technological Factors

• Land Reforms: These are policy updates designed to improve the distribution of land ownership.
• Rural Development Policies: These aim to curb the depopulation of lagging agricultural areas to maintain traditional agricultural landscapes and avoid environmental deterioration.
• Technological Factors: This includes farming equipment used by farmers. Additionally, plants and animals can be selected and altered, either traditionally or genetically, to increase production.
• Modification of Natural Conditions: To offset adverse natural conditions, farmers develop varied traditional and modern practices.