Agriculture is the production, processing, marketing, and use of foods, fibers and byproducts from plant crops and animals. Agriculture was the key development that led to the rise of human civilization, with the husbandry of domesticated animals and plants (i.e. crops) creating food surpluses that enabled the development of more densely populated and stratified societies. The study of agriculture is known as agricultural science. Agriculture is also observed in certain species of ant and termite.
Crop statistics:-
Important categories of crops include grains and pseudograins, pulses (legumes), forage, and fruits and vegetables. Specific crops are cultivated in distinct growing regions throughout the world. In millions of metric tons, based on FAO estimate.Top agricultural products, by crop types
(million tonnes) 2004 data
Cereals 2,263
Vegetables and melons 866
Roots and Tubers 715
Milk 619
Fruit 503
Meat 259
Oilcrops 133
Fish (2001 estimate) 130
Eggs 63
Pulses 60
Vegetable Fiber 30
Source:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)[50]
Top agricultural products, by individual crops
(million tonnes) 2004 data
Sugar Cane 1,324
Maize 721
Wheat 627
Rice 605
Potatoes 328
Sugar Beet 249
Soybean 204
Oil Palm Fruit 162
Barley 154
Tomato 120
Source:
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO
List of countries by agricultural output
Main article: List of countries by GDP sector composition
Global agricultural output in 2005.
Below is a list of countries by agricultural output in 2009. Output is in millions of US$.Rank Country Output
1 China 520,352
— European Union 312,498
2 India 210,116
3 United States 171,075
4 Brazil 96,016
5 Japan 81,089
6 Russia 57,774
7 Spain 48,313
8 France 48,167
9 Australia 40,885
10 Italy 38,129
