The role of the population in agricultural development in the Rapirin administration

Abstract

Based on natural factors (climate, soil, and water resources), agriculture was the primary reason for human settlement in the past. The production, use, and maintenance of agricultural land falls on the shoulders of the population. The population is considered a crucial component of the agricultural workforce, which performs tasks such as planting, harvesting, loading, raising, monitoring, and marketing agricultural products. The population practices agriculture, and the products are intended for them; they use and develop them. In this context, the population plays a vital role in promoting and developing agriculture in any region. The agricultural workforce in the Raparin district includes farmers (landowners/local farmers), livestock breeders, poultry and fish farmers, beekeepers, agricultural equipment operators, experts, engineers, agricultural project supervisors, agricultural laborers, as well as sellers of agricultural products (plants and animals), seasonal workers, women and girls, and others. The importance of this study lies in clarifying the number and percentage of the population working in the agricultural sector in the Raparin district. The research aims to identify the agricultural workforce, compare the agricultural branches (plants and animals), their density, and their administrative units in the Raparin district, and enhance farmers' capabilities in terms of technical expertise and the use of modern science, equipment, and technologies. With a focus on villages and the preservation and marketing of their products, with the goal of developing the agricultural sector in the district in the future, the research employed production, analytical, and comparative methods. The research consists of three sections: the first defines the Raparin district; the second defines the population, its types, and composition; and the third addresses the agricultural workforce, its distribution, geography, and a comparison of its branches (plants and animals). The study concluded with several findings. Key findings: The rural population has declined since the 1957 uprising, from 87% to 17% in 2024, reflecting a shift from agricultural production to consumption and importation of agricultural products. Approximately 6% of the total population is employed in agriculture. It is estimated that the Raparin district has an agricultural (plant) workforce of 84% and an agricultural (animal) workforce of 16%, with a plantation density of 33 farmers per square kilometer, the majority of whom are male and belong to the productive class.