10+ Importance of a Farmer | What is Farming | Agriculture Vs. Farming
Who is a Farmer?
A farmer, alternatively referred to as an agricultural, is a person who works in agriculture by cultivating live organisms for food or raw resources. Generally, the phrase refers to individuals who raise a combination of agricultural crops, orchards, vineyards, poultry, or other livestock.
A farmer may own the property on which he farms or may work as a laborer on land owned by others. However, in sophisticated economies, a farmer is typically a farm owner, whereas farm workers, or farmhands, are farm employees.
However, in the not-too-distant past, a farmer was defined as someone who encourages or increases the growth of (a plant, crop, or other organisms) through labor and attention or who raises animals (as livestock or fish).
Over half a billion farmers are smallholders, the vast majority of whom live in developing nations and provide economic support for nearly two billion people.
Women account for more than 40% of agricultural employees globally.
Farmers are an extremely important part of the agricultural industry. It is indisputable that without farmers, the agricultural system of any state would collapse.
Agriculture supplies the requirement for food since the produced crops may be gathered like wheat, sugar cane, rice, and many others and then can be processed further until they are ready to be transported.
None of these things would be possible without farmers, as for the growing of healthy crop with a decent yield nurturing and care is essential which can only be provided by them.
What is Farming & Why Farming is Important?
Farming is the cultivation of land or the raising of livestock. Agriculture is seen as a profession or a way of life.
Agriculture is the practice of cultivating animals, plants, and fungi for the purpose of producing food, fiber, biofuel, medicinal herbs, and other goods necessary for human survival and enhancement.
Agriculture assists farmers with services such as research and soil conservation and efforts to stabilize the agricultural sector.
Farming is a significant source of income in the majority of the world. It is strenuous work, but it contributes to the nation’s food security and health. Farming/Agriculture was the principal source of economic activity before the industrial revolution.
Types of Farmers
Farmers are not limited to their location. There are several types of farmers:
Farmers of Poultry
This is where a farmer uses agricultural land to raise poultry products that are used for human consumption, especially eggs and poultry meat. Many Poultry farmers sell their products directly to consumers, and others sell their products to poultry processing plants.
Some poultry farmers have specialized in raising a certain type of poultry, while others raise various poultry species.
Chicken farmers usually sell their products through local or closeout markets. Some of these farmers have specialized in different types of poultry, while others tend to a wide variety.
Farmers of Dairy Cows
About 10% of the US’s agricultural land is used to raise cows that are used for milk and other dairy products.
Dairy cow farmers usually raise Holstein cattle since they produce more milk than other breeds, but some also specialize in cattle that produce large quantities of cheese.
About 10% of the US’s agricultural land is used to raise cattle that are used for food consumption, second only to milk production.
Cattle farmers usually sell their products through local meat markets or directly to consumers who use them as a source of protein and as a means for transportation.
Farmers of Pigs
Sheep farming is the keeping & raising pigs for food consumption. In addition to raising pork, some farmers raise chickens for eggs and other poultry products.
In the US, most of these farmers are concentrated in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Iowa.
Farmers of Sheep
Sheep farming is the keeping is raising of sheep for meat and wool that are used for clothing and other fabrics. In the US, most of those farmers are concentrated in California and Oregon.
Seed Farmers
Seed farmers cultivate and sell seeds to various buyers throughout the year. They usually sell the seeds in small quantities or by weight because they may be needed in various crops and varieties, which makes it difficult to store a large number of seeds for each type of crop required.
Seed farmers often have a close relationship with agriculture scientists, who can give advice regarding seed production and planting and harvesting techniques.
Farmers of Bees
Bee farming is the keeping of bees for honey and other products that are used for food and medicine. Bee’s farmers are concentrated mainly in California and Florida.
Farmers of Cereals
About 60% of the United States’ agricultural land is used to grow cereals. Farmers of these crops usually cultivate their land, then harvest the crops and sell it to farmers who need them.
The main crop grown in this region is soybean, which is used for the production of vegetable oil.
Farmers of Wheat
Wheat farming is done on vast agricultural land used to grow wheat, a common food crop produced for human consumption.
Most of the wheat grown in the US is used to make bread but is also used as livestock feed, a major ingredient in many recipes, and a source of flour for baking cakes and other pastries. It is one of the country’s top agricultural exports.
Farmers of Horses
Horse farming is the agriculture of raising horses for recreational purposes as well as food consumption. Most of those farmers are concentrated in Arizona and California.
Farmers of Fish
Fish is reared for food consumption, mainly used for human consumption.
Most fish farmers sell their products through local and close-out markets, while others sell their products directly to consumers who use them in their diets.
Importance of a Farmer: Reasons Our Farmers Are Important
Provision Of Job Opportunities
Agriculture is the largest employer in the United States, employing 23 million people. These jobs include anything from farming to processing and transportation. These jobs include anything from farming to processing and transportation.
Additionally, there is the economy of farming equipment, which includes the purchase and sale of secondhand tractors and the provision of feed, supplies, and other equipment.
Conservation Of Environment
With urbanization and deforestation on the rise, the role and importance of a farmer in sustaining the environment have become even more relevant.
Whenever a farmer opts for organic agriculture, he contributes to curbing climate change by reducing the emission of greenhouse or carbon gases. He also improves the quality of the soil for future harvests.
So, even the smallest farmer helps in preserving the environment and promoting sustainable development.
With the depletion of non-renewable resources such as oil, gas, and coal, we are starting to look for solar, wind, or bioenergy alternatives. But then there is the need for alternative sources of energy like biomass, geothermal and hydro.
These sources have not been developed or harnessed fully because they have not been put into practice at a large scale. Yet, these are vital sources that farmers utilize for their crop production.
The Provision of Food
Farms and farmers grow our food. Without farmers, America would not be able to feed its growing population.
Without the farmers, we would not have food to eat. The farmer provides us with all these basic needs by providing us with food and vegetables. All this is done through the toil and sweat of our farmers.
Agriculture contributes to the production of things like paper, clothing, medicine, houses, and other articles that make our lives comfortable. That is why agriculture is important to us.
Producing And Sustaining Value
Value is derived from commodities, which include food. Crops are harvested after a period of time and provide nourishment for human and animal consumption.
farmers have an obligation to produce a wide range of crops in a timely manner without harming the atmosphere, the land, or the consumers that consume them.
Conservation Of Natural Resources
Land has a scarcity value in the modern world. People are struggling for land and space, which have become very scarce commodities.
Farmers conserve a lot of land through reclamation, which reduces the need for additional construction or development.
Reclaimed land can serve as a source of income and food production. In this way, farmers benefit from agriculture by providing environmental benefits to all who depend on them.
Farmers practice conservation in order to protect the land that they cultivate or raise animals on.
The most common conservation methods include crop rotation and cover crops, which then protect the land from erosion and destruction, both of which prevent the destruction of valuable topsoil.
Protection Against Natural Disasters
Our lives are threatened by natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, epidemics, and drought. To reduce the impact of these natural calamities, we rely on agriculture. For instance, during drought periods, farmlands are planted with drought-resistant crops to protect the soil and future harvests.
Similarly, during floods, cultivable land is used to produce food crops that can be stored for lean periods. By producing food crops, farmers help in protecting us against natural calamities like floods or heat waves.
Social Benefits
Last but not least, agriculture contributes to the social fabric of our society. People work hard cultivating crops to meet their food needs and provide for their families. With farming, rural areas are developed, and people have access to better education and health care facilities.
Agriculture Regenerates the Environment
Land use is a natural resource that the farmer can use without degrading its environmental services. This way, farmers contribute to the regeneration of resources that are used in producing food crops.
Agricultural production is the key to healthy soil, which helps in preserving soil health. It is important to note that soil erosion occurs in areas where agriculture is not practiced.
Agriculture Improves Livelihood
Farmers benefit from their profession by providing for themselves and their families and earning a respectable living for themselves and for their communities.
From time immemorial, farmers have worked hard to produce crops on land that they own or on land that belonged to others who helped them buy it. In this way, farmers have improved others’ livelihood and co-existed with them and shared revenue from their produce.
Agriculture Helps in Food Security
One of the major roles of agriculture is to provide a reliable supply of food for the world’s growing population. Farmers help in keeping our food supply secure by producing grains, fruits, vegetables, and meat/poultry products. They help the population withstand natural calamities that take place from time to time.
Farming Is a Sustainable Activity
The world’s population has surged from 3 billion people to 7 billion since the Industrial Revolution. With such massive population growth, a major challenge facing us is how to sustainably supply food for the growing population.
In the past, many people depended on hunting and gathering as their main source of food. During this period, entire communities lived in harmony with nature because hunting and gathering provided them with a steady supply of food.
Woman Empowerment
More than a million farms are owned by women, which equals out to 30% of all farms. Not only is this building the small business ideas in America, but it is also building strong women who own these businesses.
Fostering Technology
Farmers must be involved in technology in order to ensure that they are not left behind with heavy machinery or new agricultural advancements created by other countries.
It is critical to the development of a country.
Economic prosperity is inextricably linked to the agricultural sector of a country. When trade, national revenue, and employment all work in harmony, a country benefits from decreased poverty and increased economic growth.
Because great agriculture produces rewards very fast, concentrating efforts on it is one of the most effective strategies to accelerate development and improve a country’s global status.
Difference Between Agriculture and Farming
Agriculture Vs. Farming
Agriculture is the art and science of soil cultivation, crop production, and livestock raising. It entails preparing plant and animal items for human use and distributing them to marketplaces.
Agriculture produces the vast majority of the world’s food and fibers. All three are agricultural products: cotton, wool, and leather. Additionally, agriculture provides timber for construction and paper products.
Farming is a part of agriculture. Farming is a subdivision of agriculture that deals cultivation of land or the raising of livestock.
Agriculture is the study and practice of crop production and breeding animals for human benefit. Agriculture involves a community of individuals, from food experts to farm and machinery supply businesses to farmers and ranchers themselves.
Agriculture also encompasses a diverse range of methods, attitudes, procedures, and practices for growing and rearing virtually any crop plant or animal that can be imagined.
Farming is a more individualized technique that entails a plot of land with structures (as well as fencing, water facilities, and so on) that are used to grow crops and/or raise livestock for human consumption.
Each farm is an independent entity with its own distinct set of philosophies, methods, practices, and procedures for growing crops and/or rearing animals tailored to the climate, soil, topography, and the farmer himself.
FAQ About a Farmer
How Many Hours Do Farmers Work?
The majority of farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural management work full-time, and many exceed 40 hours each week. Farm work is frequently seasonal, and the number of hours spent varies by season.
Average Salary of Farmers
As of May 27, 2021, the average Farmer’s pay is $43,587, although the salary range is normally between $37,760 and $56,212. Salary ranges can vary significantly depending on a variety of crucial aspects, including schooling, certifications, supplementary abilities, and years in the field.
What do Farmers do in Farming?
A farmer is responsible for the management of farms, ranches, greenhouses, nurseries, and other agricultural-producing enterprises. Depending on the type of farm, farmers are involved in planting, growing, completing post-harvest activities, managing animals, and supervising farmworkers.
