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Characteristics of agriculture is a description of the leading sector of the agro-industrial complex.
Agricultural production is the material basis for the development of all sectors of the economy. After all, agricultural products are the first condition of life for consumers, producers, as well as any production in general. Therefore, all changes occurring in agriculture indirectly or directly affect the economy of the entire state, and also affect the standard of living of the people living in a given region.
In a market economy, the successful functioning of agricultural enterprises is impossible without analysis and planning of their activities. The characteristics of agriculture are the basis for assessing and analyzing the industry.
There are no standard rules for writing it. Characteristics of agriculture is a generalization of industry development trends, factors influencing its development and existing problems.
Agriculture is characterized by a high level of dependence on natural and weather conditions. Therefore, when compiling characteristics, it is necessary to describe the natural prerequisites for the development of this industry. It is necessary to describe the land resources of the region. Since land for agriculture is the main means of production.
To clearly represent the level of development of the industry, when writing characteristics, it is necessary to determine what type of farming predominates in a given territory. There are many types, which are divided into two groups:
Commercial agriculture. Includes intensive livestock farming and farming, as well as pasture farming.
- Consumer agriculture. More backward. Includes pastoralism, hoe and plow farming, rarely nomadic or semi-nomadic pastoralism, as well as hunting, gathering and fishing.
Type I of management prevails in economically developed countries. High-level development in agriculture is based on the achievements of scientific and technological revolution and the creation of an agribusiness system, which is represented by medium and small businesses.
Type II business is represented mainly in developing countries. But it is worth noting that in these countries there are farms and plantations (mostly small businesses) that belong to commercial farming.
The following describes the structure of agriculture in this region. Leading industries are indicated depending on their contribution to gross output. Economically significant and promising areas of agriculture are noted.
There are two main sectors in agriculture:
1. Crop production, which is divided into the production of non-food and food crops. The production of grains is cost-effective. Oilseeds are the next most popular, followed by sugar crops. And in last place are vegetable and fruit crops.
2. Animal husbandry. Popular: cattle breeding, pig farming, sheep farming, poultry farming and fishing.
In conclusion, trends, prospects and problems in the development of the region’s industry are noted.
When analyzing agriculture, attention should also be paid to environmental issues. After all, through the formation of anthropogenic landscapes, people influence the environment. The main types of impact on natural biocenoses during agricultural work are plowing of land and destruction of forests. In addition, there is environmental degradation, land loss, soil erosion and water scarcity due to overuse of intensive agricultural technologies.
During the development of agricultural production, the same general economic laws apply as in other sectors of the national economy. But they are due to some specific features. The main distinctive feature of agricultural development is that land is 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.
Agricultural growth
Development of agriculture in the USSR
Development of agriculture in Russia
Let's look at the dynamics of agricultural development in Russia . Let us trace the growth of agriculture and the volume of agricultural production within the framework of agricultural reforms. From 1991 to 1995 we had a reduction in agricultural production of 7-8%. In 1996-2000 this negative trend persisted, although the rate of decline was in the range of 1-1.5%, and only from 2000 to the present we have positive dynamics in agricultural production, with the exception of 2010, when, due to climatic conditions - this dynamic has broken down.
Russia has 9% of the world's agricultural land. This is the main means of production in the industry. Currently, the use of land and resource potential in Russia, especially arable land, is in a state of crisis: the process of removing arable land from circulation is underway. Currently, 30 to 40 million hectares of arable land have been taken out of circulation and are not used.
Ways to develop agriculture
Previously, it was believed that the path of agricultural development this is a reduction in the means of production used in this industry and their redistribution in favor of industry and the military-industrial complex, and then in the service sector. Currently, it is becoming clear that for the development of agriculture in Russia it is necessary to improve agriculture, taking into account the following factors:
- Firstly, the importance of agriculture in solving global problems is growing: food (due to population growth), energy (due to the growing shortage of fossil energy resources and the possibility of their replacement with biofuels), environmental (due to the transition from intensive to environmentally friendly technologies) .
- Secondly, the demand of the growing urban population for rural recreational services, including agritourism, is increasing.
- Thirdly, the development of agriculture within family production units becomes a condition for preserving the cultural diversity of humanity. All this gives the agricultural sector priority importance, especially in countries with great agricultural potential.
Prospects for agricultural development
Russia, due to its vast areas suitable for agriculture, has every prospect for the development of agriculture. Today, the goal of work on the development of agriculture. industry, this is an increase in competitiveness in global markets of the agri-food sector.
In recent years, the current government of the Russian Federation has tried to take into account and rethink the mistakes made in the first years of the transition period. Nowadays agriculture in our country is developing within the framework of the National Project “Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex”.
The priority directions for the development of this project are:
- · accelerated development of livestock farming;
- · stimulating the development of small businesses;
- · providing affordable housing for young families and young professionals in rural areas.
The main goal of the project is to accelerate the development of livestock farming and increase the production of meat and milk to gradually replace imported meat and dairy products. The implementation of the first direction of the National Project will increase the profitability of livestock farming, carry out technical re-equipment of existing livestock complexes (farms) and commission new capacities. The second direction of the National Project is aimed at increasing the volume of sales of products produced by peasant (farmer) households and citizens running private subsidiary plots. The implementation of the third direction will make it possible to provide affordable housing for young professionals (or their families) in rural areas and create conditions for the formation of effective human resources in the agro-industrial complex.
Problems of agricultural development
By the beginning of the 21st century, the following problems of agricultural development emerged:
- · about 30 million hectares of land were withdrawn from agricultural use;
- · the removal of nutrients from the soil significantly exceeded their application with fertilizers;
- · decline of reclamation systems;
- · expansion of the area of acidified soils;
- · technical degradation of the agricultural sector;
Currently, the government has realized the importance of agricultural development and is doing quite a lot of work aimed at solving problems in agriculture.
History of agricultural development
In the pre-revolutionary history of Russia, grain farming was the predominant branch of agriculture . Cereal crops accounted for 88.6% of all crops. Gross production for 1910-1912 reached an average of about 4 billion rubles, with all field production amounting to 5 billion rubles. Grain was Russia's main export item. Thus, in 1913, the share of grain products was 47% of total exports and 57% of exports of agricultural products. More than half of all commercial grain was exported (1876-1888 - 42.8%, 1911-1913 - 51%). In 1909-1913, grain exports reached their maximum size - 11.9 million tons of all grains, of which 4.2 million tons of wheat and 3.7 million tons of barley. Kuban provided 25% of exports. On the world market, grain exports from Russia accounted for up to 28.1% of all world exports. With a total cultivated area of approximately 80 million hectares (105 million hectares in 1913), grain yields, however, were among the lowest in the world. The main commercial producers of grain (over 70%) were landowners and wealthy peasants; the share of the bulk of the peasantry (15-16 million individual peasant farms) in commercial output was about 28% with a marketability level of about 15% (47% for landowners and 34% for wealthy peasants). The agricultural energy capacity was 23.9 million liters. With. (1 hp = 0.736 kW), of which only 0.2 million hp are mechanical. With. (less than 1%). The power supply of peasant farms did not exceed 0.5 liters. With. (per 1 employee), energy supply - 20 liters. With. (per 100 hectares of crops). Almost all agricultural work was done manually or using live traction. In 1910, peasant farms had at their disposal 7.8 million plows and roe deer, 2.2 million wooden and 4.2 million iron plows, and 17.7 million wooden harrows. Mineral fertilizers (mostly imported) accounted for no more than 1.5 kg per hectare of crops (on landowner and kulak farms). Agriculture was carried out using extensive methods; The productivity of agriculture and livestock farming was low (cf. the grain harvest in 1909-13 was about 7.4 c/ha, the average annual milk yield from a cow was about 1000 kg). The backwardness of agriculture and its complete dependence on natural conditions caused frequent crop failures and mass deaths of livestock; in lean years, famine engulfed millions of peasant households.
The country's agriculture was undermined by the First World War and the Civil War. According to the All-Russian Agricultural Census of 1917, the working-age male population in the village decreased by 47.4% compared to 1914; the number of horses - the main draft force - from 17.9 million to 12.8 million. The number of livestock and sown areas decreased, and agricultural yields decreased. A food crisis has begun in the country.
Development of agriculture of the USSR
Let's look at how agriculture developed in the USSR . In 1923, grain crops amounted to 63.9 million hectares. In 1927, the total cultivated area was 112.4 million hectares. The average grain yield for 1924-1928 was 7.5 c/ha.
In December 1927, at the XV Congress of the All-Union Communist Party of Bolsheviks, a course towards collectivization of agriculture was proclaimed. By 1938, 93% of peasant farms and 99.1% of the sown area were collectivized. The energy capacity of agriculture increased in 1928-40 from 21.3 million liters. With. up to 47.5 million; per 1 employee - from 0.4 to 1.5 liters. pp., per 100 hectares of crops - from 19 to 32 l. With. The introduction of agricultural machinery and an increase in the number of qualified personnel ensured a significant increase in the production of basic agricultural products. In 1940, gross agricultural output increased by 41% compared to 1913; The productivity of agricultural crops and the productivity of farm animals have increased. Collective farms and state farms became the main producing units of agriculture.
Features of agricultural development
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 agricultural development is the fact 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.).
Crop growing is the leading branch of agriculture in Ukraine. The industry specializes in the cultivation of grains, industrial crops, legumes, cereals and other crops, as well as vegetables and fruits. The level of crop production influences the development of livestock farming.
Cereals.
Grain farming in Ukraine is a key, strategic and most effective sector of the national economy. Grain and products made from it have always been and will be liquid, since they form the basis of the country's food supply and security. The well-being of its citizens depends on the state’s use of its grain resources. Grain farming not only forms the food complex, it supplies feed grain to livestock, creates reserve reserves of grain in the state and exports grain abroad. Ukraine is a state with high grain production potential.
Grain is a staple food product, a raw material for many industries and valuable feed for livestock. In the structure of sown areas, grain crops occupy first place.
The main grain crop in Ukraine is winter wheat, which accounts for 20% of the sown area and about 50% of the gross grain harvest. The crop is characterized by high yield, about 40 centners. per hectare. The main growing areas are Forest-steppe, Steppe and partly Polesie.
Spring wheat is inferior to winter wheat in terms of yield, which is why it is less common. Its crops predominate in the steppe regions. In the Forest-Steppe, spring wheat is sown when winter wheat freezes.
Grain crops.
Rye is not very demanding of heat. It is grown in Polesie, Forest-steppe and Carpathians. Rye crops account for up to 5% of the grain area. It is twice as productive as winter wheat.
Barley is a feed and food crop. It is second in terms of area under crops and gross grain harvest.
Oats are grown in the Carpathians, Polesie. Corn ranks third in terms of crop area. It is a food and fodder crop, it requires heat and therefore the main growing areas are the south of the Forest-Steppe, Steppe, Transcarpathia, Chernivtsi and Odessa regions. The best conditions are the north and center of the Steppe.
Rice. 3.1.1.
According to the State Statistics Committee, the area sown with winter grains for the 2009 harvest amounted to 8.3 million hectares, which is 3.5% more than in 2007. Including the area under winter barley and rye increased by 4% and 49%, respectively, while under winter wheat, on the contrary, decreased by 2.4%. As for winter rapeseed, according to official data, the area sown with this oilseed decreased by 6% to 1.4 million hectares. This fact is confirmed in a survey of agricultural producers, of which 21% of respondents reduced the area sown under rapeseed, which was due to weather conditions during the sowing campaign. Barley has attracted particular interest among grains this season. According to a survey of agricultural producers, about 43% of farms increased the area under winter barley, and also planned to increase the area under spring barley. The main reasons for this decision were compliance with crop rotation, as well as favorable price conditions in the feed grain segment.
Grain crops.
Buckwheat, millet, and rice are of great importance in the diet of the population, but their gross harvest does not exceed 3% of the total grain harvest in the country.
Buckwheat occupies the largest area among cereal crops. This is one of the traditional agricultural crops in the country, but its yield is not high - up to 10 quintals. with hectares Crops are concentrated in the Forest-Steppe and Polesie.
Millet is grown mainly in the forest-steppe and steppe, as it is a drought-resistant crop. The main areas under millet are in the steppe regions, but the highest yields prevail in the Forest-Steppe.
Rice how food crops are cultivated on irrigated lands in the Nikolaev, Kherson regions and Crimea.
Industrial crops.
Industrial crops include sugar crops (sugar beets), spinning crops (fiber flax, jute, kenaf, hemp), oilseeds (sunflower, curly flax), essential oil crops (lavender, rose), narcotic crops (poppy, tobacco), medicinal crops ( sage, rose hips). The most common industrial crops are beets and sunflowers.
The sugar industry is one of the oldest and leading industries in Ukraine.
Until recently, Ukraine was among the top ten countries - the largest sugar producers. In 1990-1991, the share of domestic sugar in global production was 6%, in exports - 11.8%, consumption - 2.3%.
Recently, the area under sugar beet has decreased from 1.6 million hectares in 1990 to 0.33 million hectares in 2009, which was the reason for the liquidation of factories that operated in 1990.
Numerous sugar factories are concentrated in the sugar beet harvesting areas. However, the capacity of sugar factories is not enough. The raw materials areas of factories are not always properly organized; there is a problem with seasonal employment of workers. Its areas are concentrated in the Ternopil, Vinnytsia, Cherkasy, Khmelnytsky regions, as well as in the Polesie and Steppe regions.
The sugar industry is an important complex-forming industry. Around sugar factories, many related enterprises arise that operate on waste (defective sugar, molasses) and produce alcohol, yeast, and vitamins. Other wastes, such as bagasse, are used by feedlots.
Sunflower is the main oilseed crop in our country. In terms of its cultivation volumes, Ukraine occupies a leading place in the world. The largest concentration of its crops is in Zaporozhye, Lugansk, Donetsk and Dnepropetrovsk regions. From graph 3.2 we see that sunflower crops increased from 1.6 million hectares in 1990 to 4.2 million hectares in 2009.
The main industrial fiber crop in Ukraine is fiber flax. This culture is widespread in the foothills of the Carpathians and Polesie. Flax crops have decreased several times compared to 1990. The main crops of curly flax are concentrated in the steppe regions. It is used to make drying oil, varnishes and paints. Other crops grown include hemp, ropeweed and kenaf. Their coarse fiber is used to make burlap, ropes and canvas. Oil is obtained from the grains.
Rice. 3.1.2.
Vegetable growing.
Vegetable growing is widespread throughout Ukraine. It is represented by the cultivation of potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, etc. The level of its specialization and concentration varies in different regions
It is worth noting such a vegetable growing crop as potatoes, because they are considered the second bread. Potatoes are used as a food, industrial and feed crop.
Potatoes are a valuable raw material for the production of alcohol, starch, glucose and other products, so their production is the main branch of the potato-industrial subcomplex of agro-industrial Ukraine. This is one of the crops whose acreage has not decreased during the economic crisis. According to chart 3.2. It can be seen that the area sown with potatoes remained virtually unchanged between 1990 and 2009. Today, 98% of the area under cultivation and potato production is located in household plots and subsidiary plots of the population, which does not meet the public interests and requirements of national food security. Recently, the potato market has been supported by high prices, and 30.3% of the population's potato resources are used to feed pigs. Thus, Ukraine’s export potential in potato growing has not been realized; in particular, the production of technical potatoes in commercial-type farms has ceased.
Fruit growing.
Gardening is developing throughout Ukraine. The following fruit and berry crops are common here: apples, pears, plums, cherries, cherries, strawberries, raspberries. Apricots, peaches, and figs are grown in the southern regions. Horticulture in Ukraine is of interstate importance. It should be noted the specialization of individual areas. For example, the planting of apple and pear trees is typical for the Forest-Steppe and Polesie, and cherries, sweet cherries, plums, apricots, peaches, and nuts are typical for the Steppe. In the central and southern regions, cherries, walnuts, apricots and other fruit trees grow in shelterbelts or forests. Recently, the number of fruit plantings has increased in summer cottages around cities (up to 82%), and fruit and berry plantings - most of all in the Right Bank Forest-Steppe, Transcarpathian region, and Crimea.
Viticulture is an important fruit growing crop. Almost 90% of commercial grapes are grown in Crimea, Odessa, Kherson and Transcarpathian regions. The following table gives an idea of the area of fruit, berry and grape plantings.
Table 3.1.1
Area of fruit, berry and grape plantings (thousand hectares)
The table shows that the area of grape and fruit and berry plantings has noticeably decreased compared to 1990. This led to a sharp reduction in the gross grape harvest, which in turn led to a decrease in the production capacity of wineries. Promising in Ukraine is the production of champagnes, cognacs, and dry wines, which remains an export industry. Ukraine exports wine to 18 countries, including Russia, Japan, England, and Switzerland.
Thus, we can conclude that there are favorable and diverse natural conditions for the development of crop production in Ukraine.
Russia is a large country in area. Its territory contains many reserves of ores, oil and gas, fertile soils, forests and wetlands.
Each region has its own characteristics, which determine the development of certain branches of industry and agriculture.
Resources
Having within its borders the vast territory of the Eurasian continent, the natural potential of water, land, forest and mineral resources of Russia amounts to up to 35% of all world reserves, which puts the Russian Federation in a special place among the industrialized countries of the world...
Russia occupies one of the leading places in the extraction and processing of minerals. On a wide territory of our country, deposits of oil and natural gas are actively being developed, coal, ore and non-metallic minerals are being mined, many types of industrial raw materials are being processed, such as wood, aluminum, tin, as well as gemstone raw materials and precious metals gold, platinum, silver, tungsten, mica minerals, quartz and others...
Main regions of Russia
(Population, industry and agriculture)
The main industries of the Central region of the Russian Federation are the light and chemical industries, as well as the mechanical engineering industry, specializing in agricultural units, passenger and heavy-duty transport.
Petrochemical production produces resins, plastics and rubber, agricultural fertilizers and pesticides. A special feature is the lack of raw materials in the region. It is brought from other regions of the country.
Light industry is represented mainly by the production of textiles and textile products and is widely known throughout the country.
In terms of agricultural indicators, the region is unproductive. The main share of production is flax, potatoes and vegetables...
The geographical location with access to the waters of the Arctic Ocean determined the direction of development of the region. The top three in it are:
- transport and logistics industry;
- fishing;
- development of gas and oil fields.
The region's cargo turnover accounts for 60% of the total volume of the Russian Federation. The main goods are fuel, fuel, wood materials, as well as coal and products necessary for residents of the northern part of the country...
The basis for the main industries of the region are forests and minerals embedded in the bowels of the earth. Phosphates and limestone are mined here. The region is a leader in amber mining. The productivity of this industry is 90% of the total volume produced in the country.
Also in the North-West of Russia, heavy engineering and shipbuilding are developed; passenger cars are assembled here. The woodworking industry is developing no less actively.
The leadership in the agricultural sector is occupied by livestock farming, the region is famous for the production of valuable species of fish...
Fertile soils and a mild climate have allowed the agricultural industry to occupy a leading position in the region. The main products are:
- grain crops (wheat, corn, rice, millet, etc.);
- vegetables;
- melons
Local winter pastures make it possible to no less actively develop the livestock sector, the products of which are:
- wool;
- milk;
- meat, etc.
Mechanical engineering occupies a leading position in industry. The industry produces not only passenger cars and small vehicles, but also all kinds of components for them. The region is also involved in the aviation business, and there are oil and gas processing plants in the Volga region...
The southern regions of Russia in the European part are rich in both fertile soils and minerals. They also have enough natural resources that contribute to the development of tourism.
The region's industry is represented by:
- gas and oil producing enterprises;
- quarries for the extraction of shell stone;
- production of machine tools for various purposes and transport for agriculture;
- enterprises producing plastics and toxic chemicals.
Agriculture is famous for the production of grains, vegetables, grapes for the production of wine drinks, and essential oil plants. The local population and farms actively breed cattle...
The economic basis of the region is the electric power complex, represented by hydroelectric power stations and thermal power plants. Oil is also actively processed here and coal and gas are mined.
Cement production has been established in the North Caucasus, the volumes of which can saturate the markets of other regions.
The agricultural industry of the northern part of the Caucasus is represented by the cultivation of grain and industrial crops. The local population actively breeds cattle and poultry...
The Ural region is famous for its ore mining, as well as the production of rolled metal and cast iron from it. All industry products are export-oriented.
Electricity production is no less actively developing in the region, the basis of which is thermal power plants and the Beloyarsk nuclear power plant. Gas is extracted here and oil is refined.
Agricultural products are represented by spring wheat and vegetables. The presence of fertile lands and pastures makes it possible to develop livestock farming, produce meat and dairy products...
The country's fuel and energy industry is the driving force for the development of Western Siberia. Oil and gas are actively extracted and processed here. There are metallurgical plants in the region.
Agriculture in the region is represented by fishing, fur trading, reindeer husbandry, and growing grain crops.
The Far Eastern region of Russia is rich in deposits of non-ferrous metals; diamonds, silver and gold are mined here. The mining industry is the leading one in the region; in addition, wood materials are processed here, plywood, paper, furniture, etc. are produced.
The local population is engaged in fishing and seafood. Agriculture is poorly developed, its main products are: soybeans, wheat, oats in small quantities, the animals mainly bred are pigs and cattle (abbr. cattle)...