Agriculture is an integral part of the world’s economy, mainly for developing countries. It is the primary source of employment, income, and food, and these basic needs are fulfilled by agriculture all over the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), approximately 67% of the total population is involved in agriculture. This sector contributes 39.4% of the GDP, with agricultural commodities accounting for 43% of total exports. In this blog, we will provide comprehensive information about top agricultural producing countries in the world.
Many developing countries that are major agricultural producers rely heavily on agriculture imports to ensure food security. For emerging economies, increasing local agricultural production is crucial to support sustainable growth. Over the past few years, the role of agriculture in world economic development has seen significant progress.
Now, let’s talk about the types of agricultural production.
Around 11% of the world’s land is occupied by agriculture, and about 26% is used for animal grazing. The main types of agricultural production are food, fuel, fiber, and raw materials. Continue reading to learn about the top agricultural producing countries in world.
Top Agricultural Producing Countries in World
The following are the 10 best agri countries that are producing the most food commodities in the world. Have a look at these best countries for agriculture in the world
1. China
China is number 1 among the agricultural producing countries in the world. The country has 7% of the world’s arable land and uses it to feed 22% of the population. In the 20th century, China struggled to feed its large population. However, better farming policies and technologies made China more self-sufficient and grew its agricultural output. Despite this progress, China’s top economic planning body warned that this production would be difficult to keep.
Agriculture in China
- China’s land is heavily used for agriculture.
- Vegetables are planted not only on farms but also along on many building walls.
- In 1949, China lost ⅕ of its arable land, and now only 10% to 15% of China’s land is adequate for agriculture.
- 545,960 square kilometers of land is irrigated in China.
- China is the largest rice-producing country in the world. With this, also produce soybeans, kaoliang (sorghum), wheat, millet, and corn
2. United States
The US ranks 2nd on the list of top agricultural producing countries in the world. The United States is known for its agricultural science and is a leader in providing some advanced agriculture technology in the world. It serves a role model for many countries in the agriculture sector, and the United States agriculture continues to develop at a rapid pace. This development includes scientific soil, crop analysis, more innovative machinery, and increased use of computers. In short, we can say that the United States is a global leader in agriculture technology.
Agriculture in the United States
- Agriculture in the United States has grown by 5% every year since 1990. In addition to this, the productivity of every farming worker has increased by 0.84% every year.
- The United States produces the highest amount of timber, with approximately 70% of the country’s forests being officially owned, and regulated logging is permitted.
- The United States is a net exporter of agricultural commodities. In 2007, the agriculture census recorded 2.2 million farms covering a vast area used for agriculture.
- In the United States, corn was the largest crop with a production of 247,882,000 metric tons. Soybeans follow as the second-largest crop, producing 74,598,000 metric tons, and wheat ranks third with 69,327,000 metric tons.
- The major crops in the United States are sugar cane, potatoes, coffee, sugar beets, and bananas.
3. Brazil
Brazil ranks third among our top agricultural producing countries worldwide. The country has historically been one of the best agricultural countries with its economy based on farming. Around 41% of Brazil’s is used for agriculture. It has an entire land of 2.1 billion acres and the area occupied by farming is almost 867.4 million acres in Brazil. Initially, the Brazil focused on sugarcane, but farming began around 12,000 years ago, with crops, including sweet potatoes, maize, peanuts, tobacco, and many more.
Agriculture in Brazil
- In the production of sugarcane, Brazil is the world leader, and it produces 600 million-plus tonnes every year.
- Brazil is the 2nd largest producer of soybeans in the world, and worldwide, these beans are used in a vast quantity.
- Brazil is the globe’s largest exporter of coffee, beef, ethanol, and soybean.
- Around 7% of Brazil’s land area is utilized for crop production that includes soybeans.
- ⅓ of the world’s oranges are produced in Brazil.
4. India
Agriculture provides around 58% of livelihoods in India. It is the 4th best agriculture country in the world. Recently, it has become the primary source of income for half of the population, contributing around 17% to 18% to the country’s GDP. India is the largest producer of most of the fruits in the world including bananas, guava, mango, lemon, papaya, and vegetables, including chickpeas. The country is also known for its spice production, including ginger, pepper, and chilli.
Agriculture in India
- India ranks first in the production of milk, second in dry fruits, third in fish production, fourth in egg, and fifth in poultry production worldwide.
- From 87 USD bn to 397 USD Indian agriculture production increased in the past 14 years, reflecting an 11% annual growth rate.
- India also has the largest irrigated area in the world, covering 96 million hectares.
- Indian agriculture is diverse, with animal farming and horticulture contributing 60% to the agricultural GDP.
- India is the world’s largest wheat-producing country.
5. Russia
Russia comes fifth on our list of top agricultural producing countries in the world. In the country, 13% of agricultural lands are used for the production of sugar beet, wheat and potatoes. The cereals are rye, barley, oats, and maize. These are the main crops in Russia. Russia is mainly driven by an industrial economy, but it also has a significant agricultural sector. Around 6% of the total Russian GDP comes from agriculture, and the agriculture industry provides 16% of the employment opportunities to the general population.
Agriculture in Russia
- Over 23 million hectares of land are cultivated in Russia.
- About half of the cultivated land area is covered with grain cultivation. It produces 70% of the total grain of the country.
- Wheat is the most dominant food crop through out Russia.
- With this, beet production has grown significantly in recent years.
6. France
France ranks 6th among the top agricultural producing countries in the world. The country has around 730,000 farms, about 7% of the population earns a living from agriculture or similar sectors that are fishing or forestry. In France, almost everyone is involved in agriculture-related activities, including producing agricultural goods. This indicates that a significant portion of the population is engaged in agriculture.
Agriculture in France
- All over the EU, France is the top producer of oilseeds, cereals, sugar beets, milk, wine, and beef. Sugar beets produced over 29 million metric tons in Frans.
- France is the largest exporter of alcoholic drinks and beverages, and a noted 6 % increase in recent years.
- There has been a 12 % increase in flour and cereals, while a 7 % decrease in meat and other animal products has been recorded in the past few years.
- The overall income from agriculture has increased by 4% in the recent period.
7. Mexico
Mexico is the 7th largest among the top agricultural producing countries worldwide. Agriculture in the country is crucial for the country’s economy both historically and politically. Although, agriculture contributes a small percentage to Mexico’s GDP, the country has a rich history of producing a variety of crops. Historically, Mexico has produced avocados, beans, tomatoes, peppers, maize, and many more. The country is known for its agricultural exports, too. A Key feature of Mexico’s agriculture is growing crops, with ½ of the country’s agriculture output coming from crops.
Agriculture in Mexico
- The important crops of Mexico are wheat, sugarcane, peppers, corn, bananas, sorghum, blue agave, avocados, beans, other tropical fruits, and more.
- They are best in the export of crops that include fruits, coffee, vegetables, and sugar.
- In Mexico, around 15% of the land is used for agriculture and about 50% is used for livestock farming.
- Production of livestock in Mexico is done in a considerable amount that consists of poultry, eggs, beef, and milk.
8. Japan
Japan is placed 8th among the world’s agricultural producing countries. Agriculture in the country contributes only 2% of GDP, and around 10% of the country’s people live on farms. It plays an important role in supporting Japanese traditional food culture, which includes rice along with other food that includes grains, fish, vegetables, mountain plants, and others. Despite the country’s considerable population, the average farm size is only 1.2 hectares (3 acres), and the country practices intensive cultivation. Over the past 40 years, rice consumption has declined while the consumption of milk, dairy products, and meat has risen exceptionally. This shift has increased the demand for luxury foods.
Agriculture in Japan
- In Japan, there are two significant types of agriculture fields which are siden and tambo.
- From 6.09 million hectares in 1961 to 4.65 million hectares in 2006, the area under cultivation dropped in Japan.
- In Japan, approx 2 lakh hectares of land are idle, and rice production decreased by 20% in the past years.
- Japan’s self-sufficiency food ratio fell from 78% in 1961 to 39% in 2006. Currently, Japan’s government aims to increase it to 50%.
9. Germany
Among the leading agricultural producing countries, Germany holds the 9th rank. The country’s leading agricultural food includes pork, poultry, potatoes, milk, cereals, beef, sugar beets, cabbages, barley, and wheat. Additionally, vegetables, fruits, and wine are prominent in most regions. Around 80% of the country’s land is used for forestry and agriculture. In 1997, family farms dominated the old western states. Approximately 87% of German farmers operate on a farm with an average size of 124 acres. In Germany, southern and western parts of the country, particularly river valleys, are covered with vineyards. Germany’s agricultural products differ from area to area.
Agriculture in Germany
- In Germany, ½ of the area is used for land cultivation.
- Agricultural goods worth morethan Plus 50% billion euros are produced annually by the 1 million people of the country.
- Germany ranked 3rd in the world in agricultural goods export, with around ⅓ of the products exported from Germany.
- Approximately 10% of the Germans engaged in organic farming.
- Germany is the 4th largest beer producer in the world.
10. Turkey
Turkey is last on the list of our top agricultural producing countries globally. Agriculture in the country is the primary occupation of the Turkish population, although the industries and service sectors have been increasing constantly. Turkey is the self-sufficient food producing country in the world, thanks to its suitable climate conditions, fertile soil, and significant rainfall that allow the production of every type of crop. In almost all of the Turkey regions, farming is practiced, and in mountainous regions, poultry farming is carried out on a large scale. This contributes ¼ to the gross value of the total farm production. In Turkey, wheat is the most produced grain and the 2nd produced commodity is sugar beet, 3rd is milk, and last is cows.
Agriculture in Turkey
- Around 100 million turkeys are raised on the farms.
- Approx 19.2% of total employment in Turkey was provided by the agriculture sector in 2018.
- It is the largest producer of apricots, figs, raisins, and hazelnuts.
- Turkey is the fourth producer of grapes and vegetables.
- It is the sixth-largest producer of tobacco.
Countries with Agriculture as Main Occupation
We are showing three top agricultural producing countries that have the main occupation in agriculture. Check out below.
- Liberia with 76.9% of GDP
- Somalia with 60.2% of GDP
- Guinea-Bissau with 55.8% of GDP
These are all about the 10 top agriculture countries in the world. I hope you get all the detailed information after reading this blog. For more updates like How to Become a Smart Farmer stay tuned with TractorJunction.
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