Countryside

We explain what the countryside is, and describe its characteristics. In addition, we discuss its population, economic activities, and major environmental issues.

What is the countryside?

The term "countryside" makes reference to rural areas, that is, geographic areas largely dominated by agriculture and livestock farming activities.

Rural communities are small and sparsely populated. People living in the countryside typically engage in rural activities. In addition to agriculture and livestock farming, rural areas may also be used for tourism purposes.

In recent years, the population in rural areas has declined globally. While in the mid-20th century more than 65% of the population lived in the countryside, today that figure has dropped to 44%, and it is expected to continue to decrease in the future.

• See also: Causes and effects of the Industrial Revolution

Characteristics of rural areas

Rural areas usually have a number of unique features that distinguish them from urban areas:

• Predominance of agriculture and livestock farming activities. The main economic activities involve food production, and agriculture and livestock farming raw materials.
• Low population density. Rural areas are typically organized into small settlements with few inhabitants. Many people are even dispersed across the countryside, not being part of any community.
• Limited supply of services. Compared to urban areas, rural areas have less access to public transportation, healthcare, education, communication services, and paved roads.

Population in rural areas

Rural areas have fewer inhabitants and the population tends to be more dispersed than in urban areas. This may pose a challenge for accessing basic services like electricity or natural gas. It is estimated that today over 550 million people worldwide live in rural areas with no access to electricity.

The absence of electricity in rural environments means difficulties in communication, no availability of lighting and electrical appliances, and no supply of potable water for the population. Without a centralized water network, water is drawn from wells powered by electric pumps to bring underground water to the surface.

Another phenomenon affecting rural populations is the migration of the young population from rural areas to cities. The search for employment and better living conditions has led to a sustained decline in rural populations and an increase in urban populations over recent decades.

Rural villages

Rural populations can be classified into two types: clustered rural populations and dispersed rural populations.

• Clustered rural populations form small villages and towns with low population densities. These populations tend to establish near a water source, or transportation and communication infrastructure. In Latin America, for instance, a large number of villages and small towns developed around a train station. Most people in rural towns engage in agriculture and livestock farming, with fewer involved in business activities.
• Dispersed rural populations are spread across vast geographic areas, often living on farms or small houses in remote rural zones. They typically have very limited access to basic services, and must travel long distances to access healthcare, education, and other services.

Work and economic activities in rural areas

People living in the countryside typically engage in agriculture, livestock farming, fishing, and local businesses and services. Agriculture and livestock farming are the most important economic activities in rural areas, employing most of the rural population.

A number of people work directly in the fields with crops or animals while others engage in the sale of supplies, such as fertilizers and herbicides. Another part of the rural population provides agricultural services, such as crop-dusting and environmental engineering.

Some agro-industries are found in rural areas, providing jobs in dairy production or crop processing industries, such as tobacco, sunflower, or yerba maté production.

Rural tourism also generates employment opportunities. Many work in gastronomy or the hotel industry, serving tourists visiting rural areas for activities like hiking or horseback riding.

Types of rural operations

Rural operations may be classified by produce and size.

According to the produce obtained, the following types of operations exist:

• Agricultural operations. They concern the production of crops, including fruits, vegetables, horticultural products, and grains, among other products.
• Livestock farming operations. They concern the raising and production of animals including cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and poultry. Products include meat, milk, eggs, and wool.
• Forestry operations. They concern the production of forest-derived goods, such as timber and paper.
• Fishing operations. They are engaged in the capture, breeding, and production of fish and other river and sea products.
• Mixed operations. They make reference to multiple activities on the same farm, such as agriculture and livestock farming, or livestock and forestry.

According to their size, rural operations can be classified into:

• Small-scale farms. They cover up to 10 hectares, and usually rely on family labor. The goods produced are for self-consumption or sale in small local markets.
• Medium-scale farms. They range from 10 to 100 hectares. They are commonly used for agro-industrial crops, livestock farming, and forestry production. Their output mainly goes to the domestic market, with some products being exported.
• Large-scale farms. They cover more than 100 hectares. They typically engage in large-scale agricultural and livestock production, and involve high investment in machinery. Most of the products of large-scale farms are exported.

Environmental issues in rural areas

Economic activities in rural areas often cause environmental impacts affecting the quality of life of rural populations. Major issues include:

• Deforestation. The clearing of forests due to the expansion of agriculture leads to severe environmental issues, including soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and flooding.
• Water and soil pollution. Agricultural activities, the use of agrochemicals, and improper waste management contaminate the water and soil in rural areas. This has a severe impact on the quality of life of rural populations and local ecosystems.
• Air pollution. Agriculture uses chemical products that cause air pollution when sprayed on crops. Large machinery or dusting planes are used for spraying fields, the wind carrying pollutants to distant areas. Atmospheric pollution exposes rural populations to respiratory diseases, skin conditions, and various types of cancer.

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References

• Bachmann, L. (2011). Recursos naturales y servicios ambientales. Reflexiones sobre tipos de manejo. En Gurevich, Raquel. (comp.) ​Ambiente y Educación. Una apuesta al futuro. Paidós. 
• Gras, C. y Hernández, V. (2009) La Argentina rural. De la agricultura familiar a los agronegocios. Biblos. 
• Iborra M. y Íscaro, M (2022) Agronegocios y la configuración de nuevos territorios rurales en la Argentina. En: García Ríos (comp) Argentina: entramado de geografías en disputa. Cartograma. 
• Merlisnky, G. (2018). Defender lo común. ¿Qué podemos aprender de los conflictos ambientales? Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani (UBA).