7 Types of Agriculture Business You Should Know
Agriculture is one of the oldest and most important human activities. It involves the cultivation of plants and animals for food, fiber, fuel, and other products. Agriculture is also a major source of income and employment for many people around the world. But not all agriculture businesses are the same. There are different types of agriculture business that vary in their methods, products, markets, and challenges. In this article, we will explore seven types of agriculture business that you should know if you are interested in this sector.
1.Crop Farming
Crop farming is the most common type of agriculture business. It involves growing crops such as grains, fruits, vegetables, flowers, herbs, spices, and nuts. Crop farming can be done on a small scale by individual farmers or on a large scale by commercial farms. Crop farming requires land, seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, machinery, and labor. Crop farming can be profitable if there is a high demand and a low supply of the crops. However, crop farming also faces risks such as weather, pests, diseases, price fluctuations, and competition.
2.Animal Farming
Animal farming is another type of agriculture business that involves raising animals for meat, milk, eggs, wool, leather, and other products. Animal farming can be done on a small scale by individual farmers or on a large scale by commercial farms. Animal farming requires land, feed, water, veterinary care, housing, and labor. Animal farming can be profitable if there is a high demand and a low supply of the animal products. However, animal farming also faces risks such as diseases, predators, regulations, animal welfare issues, and environmental impacts.
3.Aquaculture
Aquaculture is a type of agriculture business that involves cultivating aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, algae, and plants in water. Aquaculture can be done in freshwater or saltwater environments, in ponds, tanks, cages, or nets. Aquaculture requires water quality management, feed, disease control, harvesting equipment, and labor. Aquaculture can be profitable if there is a high demand and a low supply of the aquatic products. However, aquaculture also faces risks such as water pollution, disease outbreaks, invasive species, climate change effects, and social conflicts.
4.Horticulture
Horticulture is a type of agriculture business that involves growing ornamental plants such as flowers, shrubs, trees, and turf for aesthetic purposes. Horticulture can be done in gardens, nurseries, greenhouses, or landscapes. Horticulture requires land, seeds or cuttings, fertilizers, pesticides, irrigation, machinery, and labor. Horticulture can be profitable if there is a high demand and a low supply of the ornamental plants. However, horticulture also faces risks such as weather, pests, diseases, fashion trends, and competition.
5.Forestry
Forestry is a type of agriculture business that involves managing forests for timber, fuelwood, paper, pulp, and other products. Forestry can be done in natural or planted forests, in public or private lands. Forestry requires land, seeds or saplings, fertilizers, pesticides, fire management, harvesting equipment, and labor. Forestry can be profitable if there is a high demand and a low supply of the forest products. However, forestry also faces risks such as deforestation, illegal logging, forest fires, climate change effects, and biodiversity loss.
6.Apiculture
Apiculture is a type of agriculture business that involves keeping bees for honey, wax, pollination services, and other products. Apiculture can be done in apiaries or in natural habitats. Apiculture requires hives, bees, feeders, smokers, extractors, and labor. Apiculture can be profitable if there is a high demand and a low supply of the bee products. However apiculture also faces risks such as colony collapse disorder, pests, diseases, pesticides exposure, and theft.
7.Agro-tourism
Agro-tourism is a type of agriculture business that involves offering tourism services on farms or rural areas. Agro-tourism can include activities such as farm stays, farm tours, farm shops, farm festivals, farm education, and farm recreation. Agro-tourism requires land, buildings, facilities, staffs, and marketing. Agro-tourism can be profitable if there is a high demand and a low supply of the tourism services. However, agro-tourism also faces risks such as seasonality, safety issues, regulations compliance, and customer satisfaction.
These are some of the types of agriculture business that you should know if you are interested in this sector.
Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, and requires different skills and resources to succeed.
Types of Agriculture Business and Global Demand
Agriculture is a broad sector that encompasses many different types of businesses that produce or process food, fiber, fuel, and raw materials. According to the World Bank, agriculture can help reduce poverty, raise incomes and improve food security for 80% of the world’s poor, who live in rural areas and work mainly in farming. However, agriculture is also facing many challenges, such as climate change, population growth, food waste, and trade barriers. In this post, we will explore some of the types of agriculture business and their global demand trends.
Agronomy
Agronomy is the science and practice of growing crops, such as grains, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Agronomy businesses can include farms, seed companies, fertilizer manufacturers, crop protection providers, and extension services. Agronomy is one of the most important types of agriculture business, as it provides food for human consumption and animal feed. According to the USDA, the U.S. exported $135.5 billion worth of agricultural products in fiscal year 2020, of which $68.9 billion were crops. The major export markets for U.S. crops were China, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and the European Union.
Animal Husbandry
Animal husbandry is the science and practice of raising animals, such as cattle, poultry, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, and fish. Animal husbandry businesses can include farms, ranches, feedlots, hatcheries, slaughterhouses, processing plants, and veterinary services. Animal husbandry is another important type of agriculture business, as it provides meat, eggs, dairy products, leather, wool, and fish for human consumption and industrial use. According to the USDA, the U.S. exported $66.6 billion worth of agricultural products in fiscal year 2020, of which $26.4 billion were livestock products. The major export markets for U.S. livestock products were Mexico, Japan, Canada, China, and South Korea.
Horticulture
Horticulture is the science and practice of growing plants for ornamental or medicinal purposes, such as flowers, herbs, spices, nuts, and mushrooms. Horticulture businesses can include nurseries, greenhouses, landscapers, florists, herbalists, and cosmetic manufacturers. Horticulture is a growing type of agriculture business, as it provides beauty, health benefits, and income opportunities for farmers and consumers. According to a report by Research and Markets, the global horticulture market was valued at $9.42 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $12.59 billion by 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.94%. The major drivers for the horticulture market are the increasing demand for organic products, the rising popularity of urban gardening, and the growing awareness of environmental issues.
Forestry
Forestry is the science and practice of managing forests for timber production, biodiversity conservation, recreation, and carbon sequestration. Forestry businesses can include logging companies, sawmills, paper mills, furniture manufacturers, and forest management agencies. Forestry is a vital type of agriculture business, as it provides wood, paper, fuel, and ecosystem services for human society and nature. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the global production of roundwood (logs) was 1.96 billion cubic meters in 2019, of which 1.24 billion cubic meters were used for industrial purposes (such as sawnwood, wood-based panels, and pulp and paper) and 0.72 billion cubic meters were used for fuel. The major producers of roundwood were China, the U.S., Russia, Brazil, and Canada.
References:
http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/bitstream/92566/2/20091014_Formatted.pdf
https://www.ifama.org/resources/Documents/v14i5/Sporleder-Boland.pdf
https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/overview
https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/international-markets-u-s-trade/u-s-agricultural-trade/
https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/4772816/global-horticulture-market-growth-trends-and
http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/FO
https://www.fao.org/home/en/
https://www.agriculture.com/
