Vocabulary for Agriculture and Countryside

rural = the adjective for ‘countryside’

Sentence– Public transport is a lifeline for many rural communities.

a backwater = an area of a country where little of interest happens

Sentence– Overnight the bond market was transformed from a backwater into a casino.

rural depopulation = the long-term trend for people to migrate from the countryside to cities, leaving the rural areas with few people

Sentence– Many hill farmers are already struggling and rural depopulation from loss of jobs is already taking place, said Kight the farmer.

country dwellers = people who live in the countryside (‘city dwellers’ = people who live in cities)

Sentence– My parents were country dwellers when they first married, but now we all live in a coastal town.

a scarcity = a lack or shortage of something

Sentence– Compounding scarcity is the growing problem of water degradation caused by saltwater intrusions, chemical pollutants, and human sewage.

rural unemployment = unemployment affecting rural workers specifically

Sentence– But it causes rural unemployment unless some considerable thought is put into the change.

rural poverty = being extremely poor in the countryside

Sentence– The rural poverty relief system , an important component of rural social relief system , is the pledge for minimum standard of living of rural residents.

material considerations = concerns about money and material possessions

Sentence– The development plan is only one of the material considerations, and its policies and assumptions may be out of date.

an abundance = a very high level of supply or availability of something

 Sentence– There is an abundance of fresh vegetables available.

wildlife = animals living naturally in the wild

Sentence– Many wildlife parks are regularly invaded by people poaching game.

forestry = the industry of growing and cutting trees

Sentence– Forestry companies no longer granted tax concessions have been trying to offload their holdings.

water bodies = inland areas of water (rivers, lakes, reservoirs etc)

Sentence– Studies indicated that various algae eutrophic water bodies depend on the different content of phosphorus.

subsistence = adjective meaning ‘producing just enough to live on’

Sentence– The money is intended to provide a basic subsistence and should not be paid to someone who receives other income.

self-sufficient = not needing to import or buy resources from outside the farm or country

Sentence– Nations which are not self-sufficient in energy will face an insecure future.

smallholders = farmers managing very small farms, usually with their families

Sentence– Many goats’ milk cheeses are produced organically by small-scale farmers and smallholders.

the wider economy = the national economy in a country

Sentence– My business is growing, despite the decline in the wider economy.

to afflict = to affect (used for problems or diseases)

Sentence– New medical technology will cure more ailments that afflict humanity.

animal husbandry = the skill of keeping animals

Sentence– They depended on animal husbandry for their livelihood.

crop rotation = the process of using different fields each year to keep the soil healthy

Sentence– He grew a different crop on the same field five years in a row, what researchers call crop rotation.

remote viewing = viewing places by Internet, not in person

Sentence– We believe she was a sleeper agent who infiltrated the remote viewing program.

environmental awareness = an understanding of environmental issues

Sentence– The first is that there is in the developed world a new culture of environmental awareness.

far-flung = remote or far away

Sentence– All the far-flung stars must be cataloged, so as to chart a course for sailors over the oceans of the Earth.