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Agriculture was developed at least 10,000 years ago, and it has undergone significant developments since the time of the earliest cultivation. Evidence points to the Fertile Crescent of the Middle East as the site of the earliest planned sowing and harvesting of plants that had previously been gathered in the wild. Independent development of agriculture occurred in northern and southern China, Africa’s Sahel, New Guinea and several regions of the Americas. Agricultural practices such as irrigation, crop rotation, fertilizers, and pesticides were developed long ago but have made great strides in the past century. In the past century, agriculture has been characterized by enhanced productivity, the substitution of labor for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, selective breeding, mechanization, water pollution, and farm subsidies. In recent years, there has been a backlash against the external environmental effects of conventional agriculture, resulting in the organic movement.

Agriculture can be conceptualised as the “Controlled Cultivation of Biomass.” This represents a useful definition in geography and agricultural studies.

Agriculture involves the deliberate manipulation and handling of living beings including plants and animals with the view to producing useful products.

Natural Ecosystem → Human intervention → Cultivation/animal husbandry → Biomass production → Food, fiber, fuel and other products

Why is agriculture called controlled cultivation of biomass?

Farmers have control over various factors:
Land/soil – preparation and management of the soil
Water – irrigation and drainage
Seeds and crops – selection and breeding
Fertilisers and manure – use of fertilisers and manure
Pests and diseases – control of pests
Temperature and microclimate – use of controlled agriculture methods
Reproduction and feeding of animals – animal husbandry
Harvesting – collection of biomass
Thus, agriculture is different from mere natural collection of biomass since humans select, handle, and harvest living beings intentionally.

Link(s), Source(s),Inspiration(s) and Further Reading:

Origin of Agriculture

Farming Started in Several Places at Once: Origins of Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent

Agriculture Started in West Asia 23,000 Years Ago?

Growing urban agriculture beyond the city limit

Issues,Priorities and Challenges for Indian Agriculture:A Worldbank View

Five Early Urban Hearths

Meghalayan Age, the Latest Stage in Earth’s 4.54-Billion-Year History Began 4,200 Years Ago When a Global Mega-drought devastated Agricultural Societies

Now,Agricultural Field Will SMS When to Water It

Farming Systems:Indian Scenario

Biomass as a Renewable Energy Resource

Biomass energy ‘could be harmful’

Biofuels