PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES: CHARACTERISTICS AND EXAMPLES - ECONOMY - 2024

The primary economic activities are described as economic exploitation of natural resources offered by our planet, such as water, vegetation, building materials and minerals. Therefore, they depend directly on the natural environment. These activities include farming, fishing, forestry, agriculture, mining, and quarrying.

According to this definition, primary economic activities are fundamental not only for the economy, but for the survival of humanity, because they produce essential goods for human life.

Source: pixabay.com

Commonly, people who carry out these types of economic activities are known as red-collar workers, basically because of the nature of their work outdoors.

In general, economic activities are human activities that produce income. These activities are classified into primary, secondary and tertiary.

characteristics

Agriculture is a primary economic activity

The characteristics of the primary economic activities are:

- These economic activities are located mainly in rural areas.

- They are the predominant economic activities in developing countries.

- The global market for goods of primary activities is the market for commodities, that is, generic goods.

- It uses more land than any other type of economic activity. However, it produces the lowest wealth.

Workforce employment

Today, primary economic activities employ almost 40% of the world's workforce, although this share is in decline and varies from country to country.

In many countries, a high percentage of the labor force works in this sector due to low agricultural productivity.

For example, in Africa approximately 60% of the workforce is employed in the primary sector and in some regions of Asia 58%. On the other hand, in the most developed countries of Europe only 6%, and in the United States and Canada 3%.

That is why primary economic activities are the most important sector in many developing countries, but not in developed countries, even though most of the world's primary production comes from the latter.

Use of products

A large number of products from primary economic activities are used in other industries to become factors of production. For example, cotton in the manufacture of clothing, oilseeds in the production of paints, wood in the manufacture of furniture, etc.

On the other hand, other goods in this economic sector do not need any or very little transformation before their final consumption, such as fruits, vegetables and meats.

Thanks to increases in agricultural productivity, more food can now be produced with fewer resources. Food is better and cheaper than a hundred years ago, Currently most of the income is spent on goods and services such as cars, universities, entertainment, etc.

Examples of primary economic activities

farming

It is an activity in which the soil is cultivated in order to produce most of the food that is consumed. This characteristic is what gives it the most importance.

It is practiced almost everywhere on the planet. What makes it different are the natural conditions in which it is practiced, the technology used and the type, quality and quantity of production.

Raising cattle

It is the activity dedicated to the domestication of animals of the same species with an economic purpose.

Livestock and agriculture often share the same space, which is why they are known as farming and ranching. This activity is practiced in almost all parts of the planet.

Forestry

It refers to the exploitation and use of forests to obtain usable wood products. The most exploited forests in the world are tropical forests and temperate and cold forests.

The raw materials for the production of cellulose and various types of paper are obtained from these types of trees.

Fishing

It is the extractive capture of fish and other aquatic species, such as crustaceans, mollusks and mammals.

Despite being a traditional activity and its production of high nutritional quality, it only supplies 1% of the total food of the world population, especially due to the high monetary technological investment necessary for this activity.

Mining and oil extraction

Oil production plant

- Mining of metallic minerals such as gold, iron, silver, copper, lead and uranium.

- Extraction of crude oil and natural gas.

- Coal mining.

- Mining and quarrying of non-metallic minerals, such as limestone and granite, sand and gravel, kaolin and clay.

Primary economic activities of Mexico

Mining in Valenciana, Guanajuato (Mexico). Dan1215vega

They are diverse due to the variety of climates in the country and its natural resources. They include agriculture, the extraction of minerals and other non-renewable resources, forestry and fishing.

Although agriculture represents a small percentage of Mexico's GDP, there are many relevant agricultural products in the economy. The main ones are sugar cane, corn, sorghum, wheat, oranges, bananas, poultry, milk and eggs.

Agriculture, along with fishing and forestry, produces less than 5% of GDP. However, the sector still employs almost a fifth of the country's workers.

There are two important fishing regions. The first comprises the North Pacific, on the shores of the Baja California peninsula and the coasts of Sonora and Sinaloa. The second region is the Gulf of Mexico, formed by the coasts of Veracruz and Tabasco.

Its main extractions are oil, gold, silver, lead, copper, zinc, iron, coal, coke, iron and manganese.

Mexico is the twelfth largest oil producer. The largest company in Mexico is Pemex, a state oil and gas entity.

Argentina's primary economic activities

Soybean cultivation field (Junín, Argentina). German

One of the most important activities of the economy in Argentina is agriculture. Not only does it satisfy domestic demand, but its exports also account for a quarter of the total income from goods sold abroad.

Argentine meat, valued around the world for its quality and flavor, represents 10% of exports, as well as its many by-products. In addition, it fully satisfies domestic demand.

It is classified among the main producers and exporters of beef, honey, wheat, yerba mate, grapes, citrus, soy, corn, sunflower seeds, pumpkin, among others.

Mining and other extractive activities, such as gas and oil, are growing industries, increasing from 2% of GDP in 1980 to around 4% today.

The metals and minerals mined include borate, copper, lead, magnesium, sulfur, tungsten, uranium, zinc, silver, titanium, and gold.

Fishing is an important source of income. It is estimated that hundreds of species of fish live in the sea of ​​this country, as well as shellfish and mammals.

Primary economic activities of Colombia

Colombia's natural resources are abundant. It has very relevant reserves of nickel, gold, silver, platinum and emeralds.

Thanks to its climate and particular terrain, agriculture is quite extensive and varied. The main crops are coffee, cut flowers, bananas, sugar cane, rice and corn.

The share of agriculture in GDP represents 6.3%. However, agriculture remains an important source of employment in the country, since it takes advantage of 16% of the workforce.

Until recently, the production of sugarcane, fresh flowers and bananas were the only large agricultural projects driven by exports. However, there has been a boom in agricultural projects in palm oil, rubber and soybeans. Livestock occupies approximately 25% of the country's lands.

Oil represents approximately half of all Colombian exports. There is also significant natural gas, which is used primarily for residential use.

Primary economic activities of Venezuela

The Venezuelan economy has as its main foundation the exploitation and refining of oil. These activities alone represent more than 50% of the country's total GDP.

It has important deposits of iron, aluminum and coal, as well as cement and plaster. It also exploits gold.

Most of the agricultural production is for domestic consumption, representing 3% of the economy. The main products that are grown are corn, rice, coffee, tobacco, sugar cane and cocoa, which is of excellent quality and is even exported for the manufacture of Swiss chocolates.

Mainly cattle and pigs are raised, as well as poultry such as chickens and their derivatives.

With a large coastal area, it also has an important participation in the extraction of various products from the sea.

Its main exported products include crude oil, refined oil, gold and petroleum coke.

Venezuela once had a strong and growing economy due to its large-scale oil production. However, it is currently facing an economic disaster.

Primary economic activities of Peru

The mining industry is the leading economic activity in Peru, with almost 60% of the foreign exchange earnings in the country. It is the world's leading producer of silver. It currently produces 17% of world production, followed by Mexico and China.

It is also the world's leading producer of zinc, producing almost 15% of world production, followed by China and Australia.

Second world copper producer, with 8% of world production, after Chile and followed by the United States.

Fifth largest producer of gold, after South Africa, Australia, the US and China. It handles 7% of world production.

The fishing industry is the second source of income in the country with 18% of exports. It is the world's largest producer and exporter of fishmeal and fish oil, destined for 193 countries.

On the other hand, it is the world's leading exporter of asparagus, ahead of China and Mexico. It is also the main exporter of paprika, as well as bananas. Likewise, artichokes, quinoa, mangoes and avocado.

References

1. Geography (2019). Primary Economic Activities. Taken from: ourgeographyclasswithangelik.jimdofree.com.
2. Alex Andrews George (2019). Sectors of Economy: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary and Quinary. Taken from: clearias.com.
3. Economic Activity (2019). Primary economic activity: definition, background, examples. Taken from: economicactivity.org.
4. Economic Activity (2019). Economic activities in Mexico. Taken from: economicactivity.org.
5. South of the South (2019). Economic Activities in Argentina. Taken from: surdelsur.com.
6. Santander Trade Markets (2019). Colombian Economic Outline. Taken from: santandertrade.com.
7. Amber Pariona (2017). The Economy Of Venezuela. World Atlas. Taken from: worldatlas.com.
8. Peru Info (2019). The main productive activities of Peru. Taken from: peruinformation.org.