Agriculture: its role, distinctive features and development tasks. Agriculture: its role, distinctive features and development objectives What distinguishes agriculture from other industries

economics agriculture science

The same general economic laws apply in agriculture as in other sectors of the national economy. However, they manifest themselves taking into account the specific features of the industry.

A distinctive feature of the development of agriculture is that land acts as the main means of production. Compared to other means of production, land does not wear out, and when used correctly, it improves its quality parameters.

In agriculture, living organisms, such as animals and plants, act as means of production. The latter develop on the basis of biological laws. Consequently, the economic process of reproduction here is closely intertwined with the natural process of development of living organisms.

Agricultural production takes place over vast areas and is dispersed across different climatic zones. The final results sometimes largely depend not on the quantity and quality of the resources used, but on the specific conditions in which production is carried out.

The territorial location of agricultural production is associated with a large volume of transportation of both manufactured products (grain, potatoes, sugar beets, milk, meat, etc.), as well as equipment and material resources (fuel, fuels and lubricants, mineral fertilizers).

One of the important features of agriculture is that the products created here take part in the further production process. In agriculture, seeds and planting material (grain, potatoes, etc.), feed, as well as a significant part of the livestock for the restoration and expansion of the animal herd are used as means of production. All this requires additional material resources for the construction of premises and production facilities (barnyards, feed warehouses, storage facilities for seeds and planting material, etc.).

An important feature of agriculture is that here the working period coincides with the period of production. In agriculture, the production period consists of the time when the process is carried out under the influence of human labor (plowing the soil, tilling, sowing and planting, caring for plants, harvesting, etc.) and when it is carried out directly under the influence of natural factors (the growth of cultivated plants, crop formation, etc.).

The discrepancy between the production period and the working period determines the seasonality of agricultural production. The latter has a significant impact on the organization of production, the efficient use of equipment, labor resources and, ultimately, on the efficiency of the industry as a whole.

The division of labor, and therefore the specialization of production in agriculture, manifests itself differently than in industry and other sectors of the national economy. In order to rationally use land, labor and material resources, it is necessary to achieve an optimal combination of crop production with livestock sectors and the development of auxiliary industries and crafts. When improving the social division of labor, it is necessary to take into account specific conditions in specific regions.

Undoubtedly, one of the main features of agriculture is the level and conditions of use of technology. Due to the fact that in agriculture, as a rule, production tools (machines, combines, agricultural equipment) are moved, and objects of labor (plants) are located in one place, the nature of the technical equipment of agriculture differs significantly from industrial sectors. The overall need for energy resources here is significantly higher compared to industrial sectors. At the same time, the territorial dispersion of agriculture and the seasonal nature of production require a significant increase in the need of enterprises for equipment and basic means of production.

In agriculture, the organization of labor processes in the crop and livestock sectors is structured differently. Here the performer does not have a permanent job, as, for example, in industry. In the process of producing agricultural products, depending on the time of year and the specifics of the cultivated crop, field workers and machine operators perform various types of work. A machine operator must be able to work on almost all machines and units, and field workers must be able to perform work on preparing seeds and planting material, caring for plants, preparing feed, and harvesting crops. Moreover, the type of work can change not only daily, but depending on conditions and within one working day.

The noted features of agriculture in comparison with industrial sectors require comprehensive analysis and consideration when forming the material and technical base of the industry, organizing and managing production, and determining the economic efficiency of using production resources.

Agriculture is a special type of activity aimed at growing, processing and producing products, as well as providing related services. Its main industries are animal husbandry and crop production. The well-being of its people largely depends on how developed agriculture is as a branch of production in a particular country.

Characteristic features of crop production in Russia

There is a lot of land in our country and, it would seem, all the prerequisites for the successful development of this area of agriculture exist. However, unfortunately, Russia is geographically located in such a way that climatic conditions and various natural factors limit the possibilities in this regard quite seriously. Crop production as a branch of agriculture in our country is quite a promising area, but only if new technologies are used and

Only 35% of Russian lands are located in a temperate climate, which is quite suitable for growing crops such as rye, wheat, oats, buckwheat, etc. The vast areas beyond the Arctic Circle are completely unsuitable for crop production. In addition, large areas in our country are occupied by taiga, where cultivating the land is a process also associated with a huge number of difficulties.

Crop production as a branch of agriculture: main directions

At the moment, the main areas of agriculture in Russia include:

The grain sector is of utmost importance for the population of any state in the world, including our country. Bread can be considered a staple human food product. The most valuable feed for farm animals is also produced from
Feed production. This is the name given to a system of various activities aimed at the production, procurement and processing of animal feed. In this case, the land is used for growing mainly meadow crops, root crops, tubers, melons, etc.
Growing industrial crops. These include cotton, flax, sunflower, sugar beets, tobacco, etc.
Vegetable and potato growing.
Viticulture and gardening.

Geography of crop production in Russia

So, the main agricultural industries in our country are livestock farming and farming. Geographically, Russia is located in several climatic zones. This reason primarily influences crop production, and in particular the variety of compositions of cultivated crops.

Thus, wheat, which is demanding on thermal conditions, prefers nutritious loamy soils, and is a fairly drought-resistant crop, is grown mainly in the steppe and forest-steppe zones. The growing area of less fastidious rye has wider boundaries. Barley is distributed throughout almost the entire agricultural territory of the country - from the cold northern regions to the arid southern ones.

Different types of industrial crops are also common in different zones. Sunflowers, for example, grow very well in dry regions. The only thing is that to obtain good harvests, this crop should be planted only on sufficiently fertile soils. Sunflower is grown mostly in steppe and forest-steppe regions of the European part of the country. Sugar beets, on the contrary, are very demanding on moisture conditions. Therefore, it became widespread mainly only in the central and western regions of the forest-steppe zone.

Vegetable growing includes a huge number of crops belonging to different biological species. Therefore, it is well developed throughout almost the entire agricultural territory of Russia. The most common open-farming crops are cabbage, tomatoes, pumpkins, onions, beets and carrots. They are grown on an industrial scale, most often in places where there is access to water - along the banks of lakes, rivers and reservoirs. The largest centers of vegetable growing have developed in the lower reaches of the Volga and Don and in the North Caucasus.

Horticulture is also an important area in agriculture. Agricultural sectors related to the cultivation of fruit and berry crops have also become widespread in Russia, especially in its European part (Volga region, Krasnodar region). The greatest diversity of fruit crops is observed in the North Caucasus. A lot of gardens are also planted in Bashkiria and Altai.

Characteristic features of livestock farming

This industry is also promising for our country. Suffice it to remember that before the crisis at the end of the last century, it was one of the leading ones. The characteristics of the agricultural sector in this case will be incomplete without a short excursion into history. In the Soviet Union, livestock farming, and in particular cattle breeding, was very well developed. However, the economic crisis of subsequent years had a more than negative impact on this area. From 1991 to 2005 alone, the cattle population decreased from 54.7 to 21.4 million tons. According to the results of the same 2005, livestock farming in our country was considered unprofitable. Therefore, there was an increase in imports of this product.

However, at the moment, agriculture (including livestock farming) in our country can be considered more or less profitable. To some extent this is due to the development of private farming.

Main industries

So, what are the main areas of agriculture represented in this case? The branches of agriculture in livestock farming are as follows:

Cattle breeding. Cattle breeding, along with grain growing, is one of the main areas of agricultural production.
Pig farming. This is the second most important branch. Its significance is also difficult to overestimate. This direction is classified into meat, half-fat and bacon.
Goat and sheep breeding. These directions are most widespread in the steppe zones, as well as in mountainous regions.
Horse breeding. This industry is designed to provide the national economy with purebred breeding animals, sporting and productive.
Camel breeding. This direction has received wide development in desert and semi-desert regions of Russia. Also, very high quality wool and milk are obtained from these animals.
Reindeer husbandry. This industry is a specialization of areas located in the tundra (Magadan, Arkhangelsk regions, etc.).
Poultry farming. Another important branch of livestock farming.
Fur farming. The main objective of this direction is to provide the national economy with skins of small fur-bearing animals.
Beekeeping. This industry is responsible for the production of a number of valuable products - honey, wax, royal jelly, bee venom, etc.

And agriculture is directly related to each other. This also applies, of course, to livestock farming. Without well-developed pig and livestock farming, for example, the food industry is unlikely to be particularly profitable. If the state does not pay attention to such industries as fur farming and sheep farming, the population of Russia will be left without their own warm clothes.

Geography of livestock farming in Russia

The placement and specialization of this area are determined mainly by the availability of food supply for a particular group of animals. That is, livestock farming as a branch of agriculture, although to a lesser extent than crop production, is also dependent on natural and climatic factors.

Intensive development in our country is mostly in the European part - in the upper reaches of the Volga and Dnieper. These are mainly the Moscow and Yaroslavl regions. The same direction is typical for the south of the St. Petersburg region. They are engaged in cattle breeding in other regions of the European part of the country, as well as in the southern regions of Siberia and the Urals. However, in this case we are talking mainly about the meat and dairy direction of cattle breeding. It is also widespread to the north - in most of Siberia, but in these areas it is mostly extensive. In the circumpolar regions, reindeer husbandry has received great development. Most cattle are bred in the Urals, in the Volga and Central regions, as well as in the North Caucasus.

Cultivation in our country has become very widespread in the Volga region, the North Caucasus, the Urals and Eastern Siberia. Sheepskin fur production is also well developed in the central regions of the European part of Russia. Pig farming is practiced almost throughout the country. This direction is somewhat less developed in the Far East.

What influences the development of agriculture

In addition to climatic and weather conditions, the development of livestock and crop production in any state may be influenced by the following factors:

Degree of support from the state. The more money invested in new technologies, the more profitable agriculture will be. Agricultural sectors of any direction are very dependent on the amount of subsidies. These funds are mainly used for the development of innovative production, the purchase of equipment, and the development of new technologies.
Carrying out measures to restore depleted soils in areas of intensive crop production. In order for a country to compete with other states in the global agricultural market, its territory must have as much fertile land as possible.
Another very important factor in the development of the economy of a given country in a market environment is the presence of a healthy competitive environment. The main branches of agriculture are no exception in this regard.
State of science and technology. The more innovations are introduced, the more profitable livestock and crop production becomes. Scientific progress is one of the main factors in reducing food costs.

Problems of environmental management

All sectors of Russian agriculture, in addition to the above factors, directly depend on the environmental situation. Unfortunately, in our country, a predatory attitude towards natural resources and mismanagement have led to a significant deterioration of the situation in this regard.

In the steppe and forest-steppe zones it is severely disturbed, mainly due to wind and water erosion. Meanwhile, the experience of creating environmentally sustainable landscapes was laid down at the end of the 19th century by V.V. Dokuchaev in the Voronezh region, in the Kamennaya Steppe tract. Nowadays the Research Institute of Agriculture is located here. This experience is definitely worth using today.

Disruption of the ecological balance in the deciduous forest and forest-taiga zones is usually associated with the drainage of swamps and uncontrolled deforestation.

How can environmental problems be solved in modern Russia?

Fortunately, at the moment the situation in our country in this regard is beginning to change dramatically. The most important task of the recently created science - environmental economics - is not only to assess the state of the environment in the light of the possibility of its use, but also to predict the development of ecological systems, attempts to foresee the future and the ability to manage them today. Of course, such an approach will have a more than beneficial effect on the main sectors of agriculture.

The main methods of greening modern land use at the moment are the preservation of biological organisms and the creation of natural environmentally friendly fertilizers based on fungi, bacteria and algae. The science that deals with the biology of humus is the future of agriculture.

The latest developments in this area are being introduced into all sectors of Russian agriculture today. For example, in the Krasnodar Territory, herbicide-free technologies for the production of rice and corn are used. In some farms in the Omsk region, the abandonment of the use of pesticides and the use of new farming technologies have led to a significant increase in yield.

New methods include, for example:

Drip irrigation, adopted not only by large farms, but also by many owners of personal plots.
No-moldboard plowing.
Natural biological seasonal rotation of crops.

Plans awaiting implementation in the near future include the introduction of integrated and comprehensive monitoring of the natural environment. That is, observing its reaction to human economic activity and taking appropriate measures in advance. Of course, this will have a positive impact on agriculture. Agricultural sectors - livestock and crop production - will become profitable and profitable.

Agriculture in Germany

When reviving livestock and crop production in Russia, one should, of course, pay attention to the experience of those countries where these industries are very well developed. Germany is often cited as an example. At the moment, a lot of attention is paid to the development of agriculture in this country. The profitability of all its structures is largely influenced by an impeccable and well-thought-out organization, as well as the rational and careful use of natural resources.

In the central regions of Germany and in the south of this country, agricultural production is mainly carried out by owners of small farms. This situation becomes the reason for the emergence of healthy competition and a powerful incentive to introduce the latest techniques. Germany's agricultural sectors - livestock and crop production - bring huge profits to this country.

In our country, the possibility of implementing most projects and developing new technologies in animal husbandry and agriculture will largely depend on the perfection of the legislative framework in the near future. Reasonable management of the economy and conservation of natural resources should become priority tasks of the state. Perhaps in the future the structure of the Russian agricultural sector will resemble the German one. However, at the moment, the bulk of food in our country is produced by fairly large agricultural organizations.

Russia is a huge state, whose borders extend over more than seventeen million square kilometers. The world's largest country in terms of territory has the richest natural resources, fertile soils and forests, rivers and lakes, pastures and meadows. Russia has amazing potential for agricultural activities. This is a priority area that is now receiving close attention. That is why today we want to talk about agriculture. Agricultural sectors, priority directions for their development - all this is valuable information for those who want to connect their future with natural production.

Main directions

Today, there are a huge number of directions in which you can move and develop, producing this or that product and selling it to the appropriate consumers. Moreover, it is in Russia, with its vast areas and resources, that the least developed area is agriculture. Agricultural sectors are constantly developing, new ones are emerging, which means that every businessman has the opportunity to choose the niche that he likes best.

So, from time immemorial, this huge sector has been divided into two macro-industrial complexes. These are crop production and livestock production. In turn, each of them will be divided into dozens of industries. A distinctive feature of agricultural activity is its high dependence on external factors, in particular on agroclimatic conditions. They determine not only the geography, but also the specialization of production. If you decide to run your own business, then think about the prospects that agriculture opens up for you. There are a wide variety of agricultural sectors, from traditional to exotic ones in the form of pineapple plantations and shrimp farms. But they all have one thing in common. The product produced will always be in demand.

Crop production as a branch of agriculture

Many thousands of years ago, man learned to cultivate the land and plant the seeds he found in order to obtain a large harvest of the same crop. Since then, agriculture has not lost its relevance. Many kilometers of hectares of land sown with various plants - this is how many of us imagine agriculture. Agricultural sectors can be very diverse, they are distinguished by the amount of required investments and profitability. But all crops grown are important and necessary.

In which areas is it developed?

Mostly, land for arable land is given over to the forest-steppe and steppe zones of the country. Agriculture has pronounced zoning. This is understandable: growing beets or potatoes in the tundra is very problematic. But this is not the only reason. The problems with the development of agricultural sectors lie in the fact that without the immediate proximity of the final consumer, only large farms can exist that have the opportunity to export their products to cities. Therefore, a suburban type of agricultural economy has developed near large populated centers. And in the northern regions, greenhouse farming is developing.

The European part of Russia is the most favorable region. Here the agricultural areas are located in a continuous strip. In Western Siberia they are found only in the southern regions, in the Altai valleys. The central region is an ideal place for growing beets and potatoes, flax and legumes. Wheat is grown in the Central and Volga-Vyatka regions, in the Volga region and the Urals, and in the Caucasus. In more northern regions, rye and barley are sown.

Features of domestic crop production

It is in Russia that more than 1% of all arable land in the world is located. Huge territories, different climatic zones - all this allows the country to be an exporter of a wide variety of crops. Crop farming as a branch of agriculture specializes in growing useful, cultivated plants. It is based on grain farming. Grain is a product that is in maximum demand on the world market. More than half of the total sown area in Russia is occupied by grain crops. And of course, the leader among them is wheat.

Agriculture in Russia is, first of all, golden fields on which future grain is eared. Hard and soft varieties are grown. The former are used for the production of bakery products, and the latter for pasta. Winter and spring varieties are grown in Russia, the total productivity is 47 million tons.

In addition to wheat, agriculture in Russia is the world's largest exporter of other grains and legumes, sugar beets and sunflowers, potatoes and flax.

Meadow growing is an important branch of crop production

Not everyone will remember the importance of growing meadow grasses for hay. But it is precisely this that is the basis of livestock feed. Today, the area of grazing land is decreasing, and even private livestock farms purchase hay for their animals for the entire season. What can we say about large farms where animals do not leave their stalls?

Meadow farming as a branch of agriculture today is still completely undeveloped. Entrepreneurs prefer to simply buy or lease land and mow the grass that grows on it in a timely manner. However, if you take advantage of the achievements of modern agricultural science, you can get rich herbs, which means you can make more hay from a smaller plot of land. But that's not all. Targeted sowing of the land with the necessary herbs, as well as the use of modern fertilizers, make it possible to mow young and succulent grass many times in a row from the same area. There is a saving of useful space and obvious benefits.

Industrial crops

Not all plants are used for food, but this does not make them any less useful. Today, growing cotton is becoming increasingly popular in Russia. The agricultural sector is quite new for our latitudes, but it has great prospects. Of course, because the need for natural fabrics is only increasing.

The climate of the Stavropol Territory is best suited for growing this crop. In fact, this is not a new direction in crop production at all. In the 1930s, more than 120 thousand hectares of cotton were cultivated here. At the same time, the harvest amounted to more than 60 thousand tons of raw cotton. Today this practice is being revived in the region, although it has not yet reached such a scale.

The second large section is livestock farming

Most entrepreneurs decide to start farming, considering this direction to be more profitable. Indeed, meat, milk, eggs and valuable furs are sold very quickly, at a decent price. But do not forget that livestock farming is a branch of agriculture that will require special knowledge, extensive experience and the help of professional livestock specialists. Any mistake costs a lot of money. Poor-quality feed will lead to poor growth of young animals; a delay in vaccination can cause the death of animals.

Features of livestock farming in Russia

All countries are, to one degree or another, exporters of meat and other food products. This is not surprising, since livestock farming is the branch of agriculture that is most in demand. High-quality food products will never be left without their end consumer. At the same time, in the vast expanses of Russia, livestock farming is completely dependent on crop production, since this industry is the natural producer of feed. Therefore, each region specializes in raising one or another type of animal.

Reindeer husbandry is developed in the North. In the central zone of Russia, cattle breeding for both dairy and dairy-meat production is widely represented. In more southern regions, small livestock are mainly raised for meat. This is due to the presence of rougher feed. Goats and sheep are raised in mountainous areas.

Zoning

Continuing to consider what branches of agriculture there are, we never cease to be amazed at how many options livestock farming offers businessmen. Pig farming is widely developed almost throughout the country. This is one of the most productive sectors of the livestock complex. This is due to the fact that pigs grow quickly, are unpretentious, and their meat is common and even preferred in Russia.

In the Kuban and Don region, horse breeding is a traditional industry. Moreover, we are talking specifically about breeding. Today this industry is in decline, although it is very promising. In suburban areas, as well as in the cities themselves, poultry farming is developed almost everywhere. There are several directions here:

Breeding poultry for feathers (down).
For meat.
For an egg.

Depending on the choice of the entrepreneur, they raise chickens, geese and ducks. However, today new branches of agriculture have emerged. Some farms have been converted into ostrich or peacock farms. These are completely new directions, so livestock breeders have to learn all the intricacies of keeping them literally from scratch.

In forest areas, of which there are more than enough in Russia, fur farming is developed. For these purposes, huntsmen keep mink, arctic fox, and sable. Squirrels, martens and beavers are caught under natural conditions.

Beekeeping: features and prospects

Beekeeping products are in great demand; if you have even a few hives, they will bring a stable income. However, don't delude yourself too much. Beekeeping is a branch of agriculture that requires significant experience and knowledge. In addition, in order to receive a truly valuable product, you need to live in an ecologically clean area, preferably in the mountains, where there are lush meadows nearby. Professional beekeepers allocate an area of 120 square meters for an apiary.

In fact, the state of this industry in our country is far from ideal. Despite its huge area, Russia produces much less honey than, for example, Mexico. Although we have an abundance of luxurious meadows with honey plants and fruit trees. That is, there is a basis for the development of beekeeping in our country; we just need to realize the potential of our natural capabilities. And this can only be done by injecting investment into this industry, as well as creating special training centers. After all, only strict adherence to technology allows beekeeping, year after year, not only to maintain, but also to increase the number of colonies, and therefore the volume of products obtained.

Expert assessments

Today, the demand for high-quality honey on the market is about a million tons per year, and existing farms provide only 200 tons. That is, there is a shortage of fresh honey in almost all regions. It is covered by imports, so there is room to grow.

An acute shortage of honey leads to traders selling counterfeits, which interferes with the correct formation of prices for finished products. Of course, this hurts the pockets of novice beekeepers. Few people know that beekeeping in our country is an extremely profitable business. Only 15-20 families are enough to be profitable at the end of the season. However, we have no state support for beekeeping at all, as, for example, in Europe. Therefore, a novice businessman is left alone with emerging problems. They are completely solvable, but they require time and money.

Fishing in Russia

No, we won’t talk now about amateurs who are ready to sit with fishing rods along the banks of rivers and reservoirs all weekend. We are interested in fishing as a branch of agriculture. It is common to think that fishing takes place somewhere on the shores of China, India and Japan, where delicious marine life is found, and their catch brings fabulous money. But in Russia, fish production is carried out regularly. To do this, specialized minesweepers go to sea. They return to ports with rich booty, which is distributed fresh or frozen or used to prepare canned food.

Among the commercial fish that are caught in Russia, there are red (salmon, white fish) and white (pike, pike perch, catfish and carp, crucian carp). The most important commercial fish belong to the herring and cod families. Fish from the carp, salmon and sturgeon families are of great commercial importance.

Fish farming

In fact, this branch of agriculture is not very developed in Russia. This is primarily due to climatic conditions. But today, paid ponds have become increasingly popular. These are artificial reservoirs that are regularly stocked with certain species of underwater inhabitants. For a certain fee, you can spend several hours or even days on such a reservoir and catch the desired trophy.

Fish farming includes activities such as breeding at all stages of the life cycle, rearing and maintaining broodstocks. Equally important are activities such as acclimatization and selection.

Why is the potential not realized today?

Indeed, you involuntarily ask yourself this question. All branches of agriculture in the world are more developed than in Russia, despite the richest resources and vast areas. Why is this happening? According to experts, the field of agricultural business today has four main problems:

Climatic features. Our country is the only one in the world that includes eight natural and climatic zones. Only 30% of Russia's territory has a favorable and relatively predictable climate, which allows farming without risk.
Financing. If in European countries the state sponsors a start-up business and takes on part of the risks associated with its development, then in our country lending to peasant farms is going extremely poorly.
Shortage of agricultural machinery fleet. Most small farms are forced to partially or completely use manual labor because they cannot afford to purchase equipment.
Management factors. Often, the head of a peasant farm is a person who does not have an agricultural or veterinary education. As a result, operational efficiency, and therefore profitability, is much lower.

As you can see, there are many problems. However, the domestic manufacturer is accustomed to overcoming difficulties. If even in such conditions people achieve good results, it means that this niche in the market is free and you can safely try to realize yourself in it.

Instead of a conclusion

Agriculture as a branch of the economy is a large complex aimed at providing the population with food and clothing. The most important industry, it is a reflection of the development of the state as a whole. After all, meeting the basic needs of the population is a priority task for any country. Russia has amazing potential to provide products not only to its citizens, but also to export them. However, today many sectors of agriculture are experiencing problems. It should be noted that the government today has paid attention to this trend and is making efforts to correct the situation, so big changes may await Russia. In fact, the future development of the country depends on the level of personnel training, as well as on agricultural subsidies.

At all times importance of agriculture it was great for people. After all, we can say that the economy began with the cultivation of fruits and their exchange for other goods, such as meat.

As a result, without agriculture, humanity itself would not have developed as a whole. By itself Agriculture- this is a complex mechanism consisting of many elements, such as crop production, livestock farming, land reclamation, forestry, agronomy, etc.

And it is also subject to the influence of almost all possible factors:

Political,

Economic,

Social,

Natural.

But if political, economic and social can still be regulated. Natural factors cannot be controlled, although now, with the help of many scientific developments and technical innovations, their influence can be reduced.

Recently, many believe that agricultural production has ceased to be so important and significant, but it is the main component of the agro-industrial complex, which in turn is one of the main profit items in the state budget.

The role of agriculture in the country’s economy speaks volumes about its level of development:

So, developing countries are still following the extensive path of development, that is, increasing profits by increasing acreage, livestock and attracting more workers.

Whereas developed Countries that already half a century ago switched to an intensive path of development: they use new technologies and modern equipment, use mineral fertilizers and the achievements of biotechnology.

Agricultural production is the main component of the state's agro-industrial complex.

Its significant difference from most sectors of the economy is that in comparison with them it is less efficient. The capital invested in it brings less profit.

Therefore, low-income agriculture is not able to participate on an equal footing (compared to industry) in intersectoral competition without external support.

Agriculture is different conservatism And inelasticity, inadequacy responding to market conditions and requirements.

Thus, with an increase in demand for agricultural products, agricultural production with its peculiarities excludes the possibility of a quick response and an increase in production output.

There are a number of restrictions on increasing the growth rate of agricultural production. It is impossible to significantly increase the area of cultivated land, even with increased investment. This is due to the natural limitation of agricultural land.

The increase in the number of livestock, especially breeding stock, is associated with a rather long period of time for raising it for many animal species. So, it takes about three years to raise a dairy herd for milk production.

It takes more than five years to create a fruit-bearing garden, and at least three years to create vineyards.

The scale of solving the problem of ensuring food security affects all areas of the agro-industrial complex and the interests of the population as a whole.

Agriculture- one of the most important sectors of the Russian national economy. It produces food for the country's population, raw materials for the processing industry and provides other needs of society.

The living standards and well-being of the population largely depend on the development of agriculture:

Size and power structure,

Average per capita income

Consumption of goods and services,

Social living conditions.

Agriculture is one of the main suppliers of raw materials for industry. More than 50% of agricultural products produced are used as raw materials: they supply raw materials for light, food, feed and other industries.

In turn, agriculture is a large consumer of industrial goods: tractors, machinery, equipment, fuel, feed, mineral fertilizers and other industrial products.

Consequently, the development of some industries largely depends on agriculture, while at the same time, the successful functioning of agricultural producers is determined by the level of industrial development.

Agriculture- This is not only a sector of the economy, but also people working and living in rural areas. Here the moral foundations of the people, their national psychology, and historical memory are formed.

So, let us highlight the main features of agriculture that distinguish it from other sectors of the country’s national economy.

Features of agriculture as an industry:

Land is used as the main, irreplaceable means of production. Unlike other means of production, soil, when used correctly and carefully, does not wear out, but retains its qualities.

Specific means of production in agriculture are living organisms - plants and animals, which develop on the basis of biological laws. The economic process of reproduction is intertwined with the natural.

The results of agricultural production depend on soil and climatic conditions. For example: in the Black Earth Region, grain yields will be higher than in the Urals. Therefore, these conditions greatly influence the specialization and location of agriculture, since some crops can only ripen in certain natural and climatic conditions.

In agriculture, the working period does not coincide with the production period. This is due to the seasonality of work.

For example: growing winter grain crops. The period of their production begins in July-August, from the moment of preparation and sowing, and ends in July of the following year with harvesting. During this time, the working period is interrupted and resumed several times: field preparation, sowing, plant care, harvesting, etc., and the production period, which is determined mainly by the natural conditions of plant growth and development, continues continuously. Seasonality has a significant impact on the organization of production, the use of equipment and labor resources.

One of the important features of agriculture is that the products created here take part in the further production process.

Seeds and planting material (grain, potatoes, etc.), feed, as well as young livestock are used as means of production. All this requires additional material resources for the construction of premises and production facilities (barnyards, warehouses for storing seeds, planting material, feed.)

In agriculture, as a rule, production tools (tractors, cars, combines) are moved, and not objects of labor (plants).

In industry, objects of labor (raw materials) are usually moved, but equipment and machines are fixed.

In agricultural production, technology is so specific that it is used only in the production of certain types of products and is not suitable for others. For each type of product there is a set of machines. Therefore, the overall demand for technology is much higher than in industrial sectors.

The division of labor, and therefore the specialization of production and agriculture, manifests itself differently than in industry and other sectors of the national economy.

Most agricultural enterprises produce several types of marketable products. Plant and animal products are produced in the same farm, since crop farming provides animal feed, and livestock farming provides manure, which is used for fertilizer, and also allows for the rational use of land resources that are unsuitable for cultivating field crops.

In agriculture, the organization of labor processes in the crop and livestock industries is structured differently.

Here the worker does not have a permanent job, as, for example, in industry. Depending on the time of year and the specifics of crop cultivation, field workers and machine operators perform different types of work:

Work on different types of machines and units,

Preparing seeds for sowing,

Plant care,

Feed preparation,

Harvest.

At the same time, the type of work can change not only daily, but also depending on conditions and within one working day.

The presence of a large number of agricultural producers creates conditions for high competition in the food market. This makes it impossible for an individual producer to influence the market price, that is, there are no conditions for creating monopolies.

Composition of the primary sector of the economy

1. What industries belong to the primary sector of the economy?

Mining industry, agriculture, fishing, forestry, hunting.

2. What distinguishes the primary sector of the economy from other sectors of the economy?

Extracts raw materials created by nature itself; the mining industry is very labor intensive; When developing industries in the primary sector of the economy, it is necessary to take into account that many types of resources used are limited and non-renewable.

3. What is the role of the primary sector in the Russian economy?

The primary sector in the Russian economy plays an important role, because Our country has: huge reserves of natural resources, forests, land.

Natural resource potential of Russia

1. What are natural resources? How do they differ from natural conditions?

These are components of nature used by humans in the production process.
Natural conditions- these are elements of nature that are not directly used in the production process.
Natural resources– these are elements of nature directly involved in material production and the sphere of intangible services.

2. What types of natural resources exist? How they are divided according to the degree of exhaustibility; for the intended purpose?

Inexhaustible: climatic (multi-purpose); nuclear energy, solar energy, wind energy, tides, sea currents (industrial).

Exhaustible:
1) non-renewable: mineral (industrial);
2) renewable: land, water, forest, air, vegetation, animals (multi-purpose); soil (agricultural).

3. Using tables 25 and 26 of the textbook, describe the natural resource potential of Russia.

Russia has a powerful and diverse natural resource potential that can provide the necessary volumes of its own consumption and exports. The country ranks first in the world in terms of reserves of most natural resources, including reserves of natural gas, coal, iron ores, a number of non-ferrous and rare metals, peat, and also occupies a leading place in reserves of land, water and forest resources.

4. How do you explain the reason for the contradiction:
a) Russia is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of natural resources;
b) Russia lags behind Western countries in per capita consumption of the most important types of resources by 2-5 times.

The geological knowledge of Russia is much lower than that of developed capitalist countries due to:

1. Russia’s raw material bases are increasingly shifting to the east and north, where it is more difficult and expensive to extract resources;
2. The quality and geological conditions of the deposits also require additional costs;
3. Russia's natural resource potential has not been sufficiently explored.

Agriculture

1. Indicate the differences between agriculture and other economic sectors.

1. Strong dependence on natural conditions, which are very diverse in Russia;
2. Seasonality of production of most agricultural products;
3. The use of living organisms (plants, animals), growing and developing according to certain biological laws;
4. Use of land as an irreplaceable means of labor and at the same time a subject of labor.

2. Explain why of Russia's vast land area, only 13% is agricultural land.

This is due to the fact that vast areas of Russia are occupied by tundra, taiga, mountain ranges and swamps.

3. Name the natural conditions unfavorable for farming.

5. What industries does agriculture consist of? Indicate their name and industry composition.

Forestry

1. Give a brief description of Russian forestry.

In Russia, 45% of the territory is covered with forest. Their area makes up 22% of the world's reserves. Russian timber is of very high quality and is also environmentally friendly.

2. Name and mark on the contour map (Fig. 22) the forest-surplus and forest-deficient regions of Russia, the boundaries of the main logging areas.

3. What three groups are Russian forests divided into based on the nature of their use? What is the purpose of each group?

I – forests with environmental protection purposes;
II – forests that perform protective functions, but which can be exploited to a limited extent;
III – scaffolding for operational purposes.

4. What is the role of forests in the Russian economy?

Forests play a huge role in the Russian economy, being not only a source of wood, but also many types of raw materials, both plant (mushrooms, berries, medicinal herbs) and animal origin (meat, furs, valuable medicines - antlers, bear bile, etc. .P.).

Fisheries

1. On the contour map (Fig. 22), indicate the main fishing areas and indicate the fish processing centers.

2. Explain why it is important to develop fish farming and inland fishing.

It is important to develop fish farming and fishing in inland waters, because ocean fishing is approximately 4 times more expensive than pond farming, and 2 times more expensive than lake fish farming.

3. What are the prospects for the development of Russian fisheries?

Measures to increase the efficiency of Russian fisheries: general increase in catches; more complete development of the raw material base of territorial waters; modernization of equipment and processing technology: introduction of advanced technologies for growing fish.

Geographical factor in the development of society

1. How does human dependence on nature change in the context of scientific and technological progress? Is it decreasing or increasing? Give reasons for your answer.

The more scientific and technical progress develops, the more negative impact humans have on nature. In this regard, the natural conditions necessary for human existence will deteriorate. Consequently, human dependence on nature will only increase.
(What we are seeing today: climate deterioration is directly related to human impact on nature, worsening the conditions of human existence, making him more dependent on the vagaries of nature).