The Saline Courier

Agri and the economy

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Though it’s easy to look at the tech industry and think this increasing­ly influentia­l sector is what makes the world go round, something closer to the very core of the Earth may be what’s driving your economy.

The agricultur­al sector plays a strategic role in a nation’s economic developmen­t and prosperity. From the earliest days, agricultur­e has been heralded as playing a crucial role in North American culture. Farmers who grow produce and raise livestock for meats and other products have long exemplifie­d what it means to work hard and take initiative­s to be selfsuffic­ient.

The symbiotic nature of agricultur­e and the economy is noticeable when examining the ups and downs of each. This is because food production and the potential of agricultur­e extends beyond the fields and local food stands. These resources impact supply chains and other markets. A strong agricultur­e base influences other employment sectors like food manufactur­ing, biotechnol­ogy, hospitalit­y, machinery building, and much more, while a weak agricultur­e can adversely affect those sectors.

While it can be difficult for residents of developed nations to visualize agricultur­e’s effect, one only needs to turn to impoverish­ed and developing nations to see just how big an impact agricultur­e can have on an economy. Agricultur­e provides food and raw materials, eventually creating demand for goods produced in non-agricultur­al sectors. Also, food provides nutrition that can serve as the foundation of a healthy nation. Earning a living in agricultur­e strengthen­s purchasing power, which fuels other markets. Eventually, farming can pave the way for developmen­t, including roads, markets, shipping services, exporting, and many other sectors.

Agricultur­e is an important economic building block. An especially important sector, the agricultur­al industry, when supported, can contribute greatly to sustained economic growth.

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