Põllunduses

Põllunduses means agriculture in Estonian, the practice and science of cultivating land and raising animals for food and materials. It includes crop production, animal husbandry, soil and water management, and farm management. The field covers arable farming (cultivation of cereals, root crops, oilseeds), horticulture, and pastoral farming, as well as mixed farming. Knowledge areas include agronomy, horticulture, soil science, animal husbandry, and agricultural economics.

Historically, Põllunduses has been central to rural life and land use. In the 20th and 21st centuries it has modernized through mechanization, chemical inputs, selective breeding, and information technology. In Estonia and similar economies, agriculture is influenced by policy frameworks such as the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and national rural development programs, which provide subsidies, risk management, and innovation funding. The sector emphasizes sustainable practices like crop rotation, soil conservation, nutrient management, integrated pest management, and increasingly organic farming.

Economic role: agriculture contributes to food security, rural employment, and landscape maintenance; often complemented by agro-processing. Typical production includes cereals (rye, barley, wheat), potatoes, sugar beets, and oil crops; dairy and meat production also play a role. The sector faces challenges from climate change, price volatility, and labor migration, as well as the need to transition to greener technologies and digital farming.