The Primary Sector
Key Facts
- Importance: It is the "starting point" of the economy because it provides the food we eat and the materials needed by factories.
- Development: In developed countries, this sector employs few people because they use a lot of machinery. In developing countries, it is often the most important sector for employment.
Main Activities
Agriculture (arable farming): Growing plants for food (like cereals, fruits, and vegetables) or for industry (like cotton).
- Livestock Farming (Stockbreeding): Raising animals like cows, pigs, sheep, or chickens for meat, milk, eggs, or wool.
- Fishing: Catching fish and other seafood from oceans, rivers, or lakes.
- Forestry (Silviculture): Using forest resources like wood, cork, or resin.
1. Factors Influencing Agricultural Activities
a. Physical Factors (Natural)
- Climate: The most important factor. It includes temperature (most crops need >10°C), sunlight, and precipitation (rainfall).
- Relief (Topography): Flat areas like plains and valleys are best for farming and using machinery.
- Soil: Its fertility depends on texture (sand/clay) and nutrients.
- Water Availability: Proximity to rivers or groundwater allows for irrigation (regadío).
b. Human Factors
These depend on the decisions and technology of the society.
- Demographic Pressure: A growing population requires more food and more land for crops.
- Technological Level:
- Traditional: High labor (hand-work) and low production.
- Modern: Use of machinery, fertilizers, and greenhouses to increase yields.
- Economic Organization:
- Land Ownership: Large farms (latifundios) vs. small plots (minifundios).
- Market Demand: Whether the food is for the family (subsistence) or for sale (commercial).
- Political Factors: Government laws and subsidies, such as the CAP (Common Agricultural Policy) in Europe.
2. Agricultural landscapes
- Rural Space (Espacio rural): It refers to all the territory located outside of cities. It includes natural areas, villages, and all types of economic activities like farming, tourism, or forestry.(Es todo el territorio fuera de las ciudades; incluye pueblos, naturaleza y turismo).
- Agrarian Space (Espacio agrario): It is the part of the rural space specifically used for agriculture, livestock farming, and forestry. It is the space modified by humans to obtain natural resources.(Es la parte del espacio rural dedicada a la agricultura, ganadería y explotación forestal).
- Agricultural Space (Espacio agrícola): It is the specific land used only for growing crops (plants). It is a more specific term than "agrarian" because it excludes animals.
Rural areas can be:
- Compact areas: Homes are built closely together and inhabitants have numerous services.
- Dispersed areas: Homes are separated. (farmhouses and hamlets).
Plots of Land (Parcelas)
A plot is a single piece of land separated from others by boundaries. They are classified by:
- Size (Tamaño):
- Small plots (Minifundio): Small pieces of land, usually owned by many different people. Harder to use machinery.
- Large plots (Latifundio): Huge areas of land, usually owned by one person or company. Perfect for machines.
- Shape (Forma):
- Regular: Geometric shapes (squares, rectangles). Easy to farm.
- Irregular: No specific shape. Common in traditional or mountain areas.
- Boundaries (Límites):
- Openfield (Campos abiertos): No fences or walls between plots. Typical of central Europe and the Spanish plateau.
- Enclosure / Bocage (Campos cerrados): Plots are separated by walls, hedges, or fences. Common in Atlantic Europe (North of Spain).
Agricultural Holdings (Explotaciones Agrarias)
A holding is the technical and economic unit (the "business") that manages the plots.
- According to Ownership (Propiedad):
- Private: The land belongs to an individual or a company.
- Collective: The land belongs to the state or a community (e.g., cooperativas).
- According to Management (Tenencia):
- Direct: The owner works the land.
- Indirect: The owner lets someone else work the land (e.g., Lease / Tenant farming - arrendamiento).
- Traditional agricultural systems: their primary objective is family self-sufficiency and, in some cases, local marketing. Farms are usually small and are characterized by:
- Several crops (polyculture) on the same plot.
- The use of rudimentary techniques and limited mechanization.
- The absence of fertilizers and pesticides.
- Low investment, resulting in low productivity.
- Market-oriented systems: their production is geared towards marketing, even internationally. Farms are characterized by:
- Generally large plots, specialized in a single crop (monoculture).
- The use of advanced techniques, such as agricultural biotechnology, which allows for the development of pest-resistant crops.
- The mechanization of agricultural tasks and the use of the most advanced fertilizers and pesticides.
- Ejemplos de sistemas agrarios
- 3. Agricultural systems:
- The combination of elements of the agricultural landscape and different farming methods has given rise to two types of agricultural systems worldwide:
4. Livestock farming (cattle raising)
Livestock farming is the activity of raising animals—such as cows, sheep, goats, pigs, or chickens—for food, materials, or other products.
Traditional Livestock Farming
- Small flocks (rebaños).
- Low productivity.
- Uses simple tools and little technology.
- Animals graze freely in natural pastures. (pasta libremente)
- Oriented to self‑consumption (family use).
- Low investment and low yields (elevadas inversiones y altos rendimientos)
Modern (Market‑Oriented) Livestock Farming
- Large herds intensive production systems.
- High productivity.
- Uses advanced technology (automatic feeders, veterinary care, controlled environments).
- Animals of specialized breeds are kept in buildings.
- Oriented to commercial markets and profit.
- High investment, high yields (elevadas inversiones y elevados rendimientos).
Extensive Livestock Farming
Animals live outdoors, need large areas, and productivity is low.
Intensive Livestock Farming
Animals are kept in buildings, use high technology, and productivity is high.
5. Fishing
Fishing is a primary‑sector activity that involves catching fish and other aquatic animals from seas, rivers, or lakes. Its main purpose is to obtain food, raw materials, or products for human use.- Done near the coast.
- Uses small boats and simple tools.
- Short trips.
Deep‑sea or Offshore Fishing:
- Done far from the coast, in the open sea.
- Uses large, modern boats.
- Long trips and large catches.
Artisanal Fishing:
- Small‑scale, traditional fishing.
- Uses basic tools like nets or lines.
- For local markets or family use.
Industrial Fishing:
- Large‑scale, commercial fishing.
- Uses advanced technology (sonar, big nets, factory ships) for locate shoals.
- Aims for mass production.
Aquaculture:
- Also called fish farming.
- Raising fish, shellfish, or algae in controlled environments.
- Helps reduce pressure on wild fish.
Vocabulary
- Raw materials
- Arable farming
- Livestock farming
- Greenhouse
- Plot
- Crop
- Openfield
- Enclosure
- Agricultural holding
- Tenant farming
- Organic
- Flock
- Graze
- Self-consumption
- Breeds
- Yield
- Fishing
- Shoals
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