Agrikultur

Agrikultur is a term used in several Southeast Asian languages to denote agriculture, the practice and study of cultivating crops, rearing livestock, and managing natural resources to produce food, fiber, and other agricultural products. The term is common in Indonesian and Malay contexts, where agrikultur appears in academic curricula, government ministries, and policy discussions as a cognate of the English agriculture.

Etymology and usage: the word derives from Latin agri- meaning field and cultura meaning cultivation, with transmission through Dutch and English to local languages. In many contexts, agrikultur is used interchangeably with the broader concept of farming and agricultural science.

Scope and practices: agrikultur encompasses traditional farming, agroforestry, livestock production, aquaculture, crop protection, irrigation, soil management, post-harvest handling, and agribusiness. It covers both subsistence and commercial activities, as well as research, extension services, and policy frameworks that support agricultural development.

Historical development: agriculture emerged with the domestication of plants and animals and underwent major changes through mechanization and specialization in the 18th–20th centuries. The Green Revolution introduced high-yield varieties, improved irrigation, and synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, boosting productivity. In the 21st century, precision agriculture, biotechnology, and digital information tools have further shaped modern agrikultur.

Socioeconomic and environmental aspects: agrikultur underpins rural livelihoods and national food security but faces challenges such as land-use pressure, climate change, soil degradation, water management, and environmental impacts. Policy responses typically emphasize research and development, extension services, subsidies, land reform, and sustainability initiatives.

See also: Agriculture; Agronomy; Food security; Sustainable farming.