Primary Sector & Agriculture: Systems, Landscapes, and Practices

The Primary Sector: Core Activities

The primary sector comprises activities focused on obtaining food and raw materials directly from nature. This includes:

• Agriculture: Cultivation of crops.
• Livestock: Rearing of animals.
• Fishing: Harvesting aquatic life.
• Forestry: Management of forests for timber and other products. This sector currently accounts for approximately 39% of forestry activities.

Farming Activities and Influencing Factors

Farming activities hold a very important place for the population and are conditioned by several key factors:

• Weather

  Each crop requires specific climatic conditions, including temperature and humidity, for optimal development.

• Relief

  Agriculture is typically easier in wide plains. Slopes make work more difficult and often require the construction of terraces or the use of specialized mechanization.

• Soil

  Soil quality depends on its texture (which affects water retention) and acidity (which conditions fertility).

Agricultural Landscape Features

Agricultural landscapes are natural landscapes modified by human activity to obtain various products. They can be characterized by:

• Site: Farmland Division

  This refers to the division of farmland dedicated to cultivation.

  • Open Fields (Openfield): Characterized by open, regular patches of land, common in Central Europe.
  • Closed Fields (Bocage): Large, irregular parcels of land, often enclosed by walls or hedges, typical of Atlantic Europe.

• Cultivation Systems

  • Polyculture: An agricultural area divided into plots where different species are cultivated simultaneously.
  • Monoculture: The cultivation of a single product over a large area.

• Water Source & Soil Use

  • According to Water Source

    • Irrigation: Water is supplied from underground sources or reservoirs.
    • Dryland Farming (Secano): Relies solely on rainwater.

  • According to Soil Use

    • Intensive Agriculture: Practiced in densely populated areas with small land plots and properties. It requires significant use of fertilizers and much manual labor, typically producing fruits and vegetables.
    • Extensive Agriculture: Found in sparsely populated areas with large land areas. Manual labor is scarce, and machines perform most of the work. Fallow periods are often practiced to restore soil fertility.

Rural Settlement Patterns

Rural settlement refers to how people inhabit rural areas. It can be:

• Dispersed: Characterized by detached dwellings spread across the landscape.
• Concentrated: Involves groups of housing clustered together, forming villages or hamlets.

Types of Subsistence Agriculture

Subsistence agriculture aims to produce only what is necessary for the survival of the family, with family members and sometimes third parties working for self-consumption. Key types include:

• Shifting Cultivation (by Cremation)

  This method involves cutting bushes and trees, then setting them on fire. The ashes serve as fertilizer. Fields are typically productive for 3 to 4 years. This practice is common in parts of Africa, South America, and Asia.

• Extensive Dryland Agriculture

  Animal manure allows for the exploitation of the soil. Cultivation is often divided into three fields: one for fallow (grazing cattle), and two for cultivation (e.g., peanuts and millet), following a triennial rotation. This system is prevalent in dry areas of Africa.

• Irrigated Rice Agriculture

  This type of agriculture depends on abundant monsoon rains, warm winters, and heavy rainfall in summer. It requires flat, impermeable fields. It is characteristic of Monsoon Asia.

Market Agriculture: Evolution and Characteristics

Market agriculture began in developed countries with the Industrial Revolution. Agricultural improvements made it possible to produce surpluses. Its primary purposes are to increase sales and reduce costs.

• Field Mechanization

  Mechanization saves manual labor, increases production efficiency, and helps lower the prices of agricultural products.

• Agricultural Production Specialization

  Specialization leads to increased production of specific crops, allowing for better commercialization.

• Rapid Marketing of Agricultural Products

  Streamlining marketing processes and ensuring appropriate transport for each type of product are crucial for market agriculture.

Examples of market agriculture include Mediterranean agriculture and speculative farming practices.