Industrialization in Agriculture You Need to Know

Over the years, agriculture has evolved from just planting seeds and growing fruits or just
rearing animals for survival. Through these years, agriculture has gone through modification
and modernization to become what it is today.

Agriculture does not only provide foods for survival anymore, it now provides a means of survival too. How? Agriculture is now industrialized.

From the small-scale farming that it used to be, it is now involved in the large-scale production of crops and livestock and now employs excellent farm control and management practices that are more efficient and time-saving.

However, there are also disadvantages to industrialization in agriculture just like every other thing that have advantages.

And today, I would be discussing industrialization, with its advantages and disadvantages below.

What Does Industrialized Agriculture Mean?

Industrialized agriculture is the production of crops and livestock on large and intensive scales
to make sales.

It involves the use of various forms of modification and practices to produce high crop yield and high livestock production so that they can be sold and money is made.

The idea of industrializing agriculture is a great concept because it employs time-saving farming practices, makes use of genetically modified crops to yield better results, and makes the job easy for
everyone.

However, it also employs excessive use of harmful chemicals that could cause pollution to the environment and also deplete the soil’s nutrients.

So, yes, the advantages of industrialization are numerous but so are the disadvantages too, and below, I would be highlighting the advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages Of Industrialized Agriculture

Increases food production:
The major and most noticeable difference between agriculture then and now is the increase in the amount of food production.

It’s no news that agriculture is the world’s source of food and the limited resources, machinery, farmlands, and labor used then can hardly cater for a nation, let alone the whole world.

So, the innovation of industrialization in agriculture has greatly helped in the production of large amounts of crop food and livestock that goes around enough to cater to everyone.

Less dependence on human labor:

Before the invention of industrialization in agriculture, human labor was predominant in the farms and this means that the crop yield is dependent on the amount of labor employed in the farm.

This makes crop and livestock production slow and time-consuming. But with the invention of machinery, human labor has mostly been replaced by machines that do the job even better and are less time-consuming.

This means that even in the presence of little human labor, work can still be done on the farm and it does not affect crop and livestock yield whatsoever.

Encourages specialization:

Through the years, farmers have indulged in varieties of activities on the farm without specialization. They plant the crops, manage them throughout their growth period, fumigate the farm when necessary, harvest the crops, feed, and milk the livestock, and every other activity involved in maintaining the farm and its product.

However, industrialization has helped to encourage specialization in the farm because specialization encourages efficiency.

The invention of specialized machines and employing human labor for specific tasks is all thanks to industrialization in agriculture.

Availability of food varieties:

Industrialization has made food production cheaper and as result, farmers can now produce a
variety of food crops that could not be grown in certain aspects before.

This makes various foods available all year round regardless of the season. Food is easier and cheaper to get than before, and they are now readily available.

Use of chemicals and pharmaceuticals:

The use of chemicals and pharmaceuticals, unlike before, is now rampant and is serving benefits
to the crops and livestock.

Crops are generally susceptible to pests and the use of pesticides are used to eliminate all kinds of threats to the growing crops to preserve their health and ensure high yield.

Antibiotics are normally used to treat livestock when they fall sick and are also used to boost their immune system.

Recommendation: Effect of Climatic Changes on Agriculture

Now, after numerous tests and experiments, it has been found that antibiotics make animals grow and gain weight rapidly without consuming as much food as they normally would.

This is a great investment and also an invention that guarantees a high crop and livestock yield.

Disadvantages Of Industrialized Agriculture

Pollution:

A major disadvantage of industrialized agriculture is pollution. The excessive use of chemicals
on the farmland to improve crop growth and yield has land pollution, disrupting the normal composition of the soil.

When it rains, these chemicals are washed off into water bodies causing contamination that could be harmful to the animals that live in the water.

The machines invented and employed release carbon monoxide into the environment, causing air pollution and even a more dangerous complication, global warming. All these have affected people and livestock in more ways than one, causing death and sickness all over the world.

Unemployment:

The concept of industrialization entertains the use of machinery to make work easier and faster.
However, it renders a lot of farmers jobless because human labor is no longer required as much.

It deprives farmers of their means of survival because they feed on the money they make from
rendering services on the farm.

Negatively impacts small business owners:

Industrialization appeals to large businesses and business owners because they are the only ones
that can afford the machinery, chemicals, and equipment used.

As a result, these large businesses can harvest agricultural produce in a short period and also sell at a cheaper price.

Small business owners on the other hand are at a deficit in this case. They cannot afford the
necessary machinery, chemicals, and equipment that can make their work easier.

So, they employ human labor for all their farm activities which takes time and effort. At the end of the
day, they sell their agricultural produce at a higher price in the market.

Consumers however would go for agricultural produce that is cheaper and this puts the small business owners at a detriment because consumers might not buy their products and it may take longer before it gets sold off in the market.

Industrialization is regarded as the greatest invention of all time and you might probably agree.
Although this is true, some disadvantages might disagree with it.

Nevertheless, industrialization in agriculture has proven to be very vital in various aspects like the ones mentioned above and thanks to it, the world has improved a lot.