by Danna Martínez
Beyond cultivating the land and producing food, agriculture is one of the most critical factors in society. Therefore, this week is celebrated annually as the national week for agriculture. This week reminds Americans of the essential role that agriculture plays in society and highlights the contributions and advances that those who dedicated themselves to have made throughout history.
Within the week for agriculture, the current President of the United States of America, President Joe Biden, proclaimed March 23 as the national day of agriculture. “I call on all Americans to join me in recognizing and reaffirming our commitment and appreciation for farmers, ranchers, foresters, farmworkers, and those who work in the agricultural sector across the country.” declared President Biden.
According to the Agriculture Council of America, “Ag Day is about recognizing – and celebrating – the contribution of agriculture in our everyday lives. The National Ag Day program encourages every American to understand how food and fiber products are produced, value the essential role of agriculture in maintaining a strong economy, and appreciate the role agriculture plays in providing safe, abundant, and affordable products.”
The term agriculture is from the Latin word ‘agri,’ which means ‘field.’ And the word ‘cultura’ means cultivation. The origins of agriculture go back more than ten thousand years in the neolithic period. The evolution from recollection, hunting, and fishing goes to agriculture. Agricultural activities started in different parts of the world; studies say that wheat and barley were cultivated in Mesopotamia and Egypt, in Mesoamérica corn, and rice in the east of Asia.
The discovery of agriculture generated a significant impact on society, and thanks to this, sedentarism arose. With enough food to cover their needs, the human being began to form the first social niches. This type of sedentary life led to creating the first cities in human history, developed to become the world’s early civilizations.
Among the main agro-cultural activities are:
- Soil cultivation.
- Planting and harvesting of crops.
- The exploitation of forests and jungles (forestry).
- The breeding and development of livestock.
Currently, agriculture plays a crucial role in a country’s economy; in addition to providing food and raw materials, it also generates employment opportunities. In addition to the fact that agriculture is one of the priority and most important activities for human survival, it is the raw material source that allows creating the products that millions of populations consume every day.
Every year, producers, agricultural associations, corporations, universities, and government agencies across America join together to recognize the contributions of agriculture. And not only of agriculture itself; This week acknowledges the hard work of thousands of farmers who constantly dedicate their time and effort to planting and harvesting. They are also an example of patience, perseverance, and care of the land, from preparing the ground, sowing the seeds, fertilizing the plants, eliminating weeds, and spraying pests to collecting what is harvested and contributing to society. For this reason, the work of the farmer must be recognized and valued not only nationally but globally.
One of the best ways to celebrate this National Week for Agriculture is to spread a positive message about agriculture and the people dedicated to it, from a thank you to share stories on social media or just share the history and importance of agriculture in daily life family and friends.
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