Primary Sector (Characteristics and Activities)

The economy sector Known as the primary sector, it is made up of all activities related to the extraction, collection and direct exploitation of natural resources or raw Materials that are found naturally both in the soil, as well as in the sea and in the subsoil.

It can be said that their existence is an indispensable condition for the survival of human beings as a living species. The reason for this is because using this type of activities economical it is possible to obtain their food from nature.

In addition, these activities ensure the food to raise many animals that will be destined for their consumption. Although they are also in charge of obtaining elements that serve the man for his clothing and even luxury items.

They have the particularity of going directly to consumption by humans, without going through any previous manufacturing or manufacturing process, since these are activities of another economic sector.

So the primary sector work It is only responsible for extracting natural resources and directing them to consumption or sending them to the productive sector, which is responsible for their transformation into a final product.

The beginnings of the activities of the primary sector date back to prehistory, when primitive men carried out tasks of hunting, fishing and gathering fruits for food.

Characteristics of the Primary Sector

Later it evolved with the development of the agricultural and livestock activities. Then, with the passage of time, the activities that make up this important economic sector have increased.

Another characteristic of the primary sector is that its activities are developed in any country in the world. Saving differences since in some their presence is greater than in others. In addition to the magnitude of natural resources exploitation Whatever each country does, the natural wealth of each one of them will largely determine the power devoted to this economic sector.

In general, it is often stated that developed countries can be easily recognized by their greater tendency to carry out activities in the primary sector. Well, a developed country theoretically it must have a balance between the activities of all economic sectors.

To answer the question of what is the importance of the primary sector, no further analysis is necessary. It is more than evident that it lies in the fact that it carries the conservation of the population on its shoulders, by guaranteeing products for human consumption.

Other of the most emblematic characteristics of the primary sector are:

• It is responsible for meeting the basic needs or primary requirements of human beings to allow their subsistence.
• It provides the necessary food for the breeding of animals destined for human consumption, and even, in some specific cases, also for animal consumption.
• It is responsible for extracting the natural resources that will be used as raw material for the manufacturing sector where they can be processed and transformed into consumer products.
• Some of their activities are as old as man himself.

Activities that make up the Primary Sector

The most important activities that make up the primary sector of the economy are:

The Agriculture

This is one of the most important and essential activities of any country, it has existed since ancient times bringing life to any known civilization, since all its actions are destined to the cultivation of land, planting and harvesting of food.

Its fundamental function is to obtain vegetables, fruits, legumes, grains, grasses and the like, with which will provide food for both man and certain animal species intended for consumption human.

Thus, the agricultural sector is dedicated to economic activities related to the exploitation of soils and its natural resources, including those functions destined to the transformation of the environment and its optimization for planting.

Livestock

Activities such as the breeding of animal species intended for human consumption, commercialization of skins and meat foods represent this item, it is also dedicated to obtaining milk and other products of animal origin.

Silviculture or Forest Exploitation

These activities are characterized by the cultivation of tree species in the forests, in order to obtain wood and rubber, with or which can subsequently be obtained, an infinite number of products, such such as fuel, furniture, celluloid, paper, artificial silk in the case of wood, as well as products derived from rubber in the other case.

Aquaculture

This primary sector activity It is responsible for the cultivation of fish species, fish, mollusks, algae and any product of both marine and freshwater origin. They can be reared and extracted in ponds under artificial breeding.

The hunt

These activities are intended to provide human beings with meat, food and skins from the capture of wild species of certain animals. Although initially it was considered an exclusive sport for the most favored social classes, It is currently considered essential to keep the excessive reproduction of this type of animals.

However, it is also a source of food, hides and other types of raw materials.

Fishing and Fish Farming

This activity is also a component of the primary sector. Its functions are destined to the extraction of fish and species from the sea for human consumption. Although, also for some animal species destined for the same purpose.

Beekeeping

This activity brings together all the functions in charge of raising bees, with the intention of obtaining their products: wax and honey. It also contributes directly to the pollination of plants and generate new life cycles.

Mining or Mineral Exploitation

Last but not least is the mining activity. This is in charge of extracting minerals from the soil and subsoil. Some of these minerals are: gold, zinc, silver, oil, molybdenum, among many others.

Its product not only serves as raw material for the manufacture of luxury items such as watches or jewelry, but also serves to provide energy, such as coal or oil.

It can well be said that without the activities that make up the primary sector, life on Earth would be very different from what is known.