20 Classification Essay Topics on Agricultural Economics

Agricultural economics is a field which focuses on the application of economic principles to optimize agricultural practices. However, the subject is quite vast and finding a topic that is just right for the classification essay tasked to you can be a challenge. If you are having trouble coming up with a topic, be it because there are so many or because you chose to do this assignment at the very last minute, do not worry.

You can simply choose from the following 20 general topics or narrow one of these down to do it justice in your assignment:

The Efficiency of Crop Diversification Strategies
Eco-Labeled Seafood Available at a Premium: A Consumer-Centric Study
Staple Foods of the Developing World
Cash Crops and the Effects of Climate Change
Precision Agriculture Strategies for Field-Level Management
Significant Theories of Crop Science and their Practical Implementation
Agricultural Input Factors which Optimize Crop Yield
Enhancing the Nutritional Quality of Staple Foods: Success and Failure Scenarios
Global Agricultural Trade Structure
The Major Types of Food Safety Regulations Applicable to Global Trade
Techniques in Organic Farming
Statistical Techniques Used for Modeling and Predicting Price Volatility in Agricultural Markets
Efforts to Modernize Farming in Mountainous Regions
Economic Development and Market Institutions in Developing Countries
Vegetable and Fruit Planting Restrictions
Major Risks Faced by Agribusiness Firms
Major Livestock Disease Outbreaks and Their Impact on Consumer Demand
Deforestation and its Disastrous Effects
Solving Agricultural Problems with Experimental Economics
Food Labeling Laws in Different Countries

Most of these topics do not need any tweaking if your assignment is a classification essay. However, you are welcome to further delve in these if you would like. A simple trick to find a classification technique is to focus on different regions, different policies, kinds of crops, the level of sophistication of farming techniques, or even a specific country. Any of these classification principles will work with the majority of the topics listed above. You can also refer to the list of 10 facts on agricultural economics for a classification essay for further ideas.

With the topic in hand, it is time to put pen to paper. If you need help with this aspect, here is a sample classification essay that will clarify the writing process. The sample does not contain detailed guidelines, but you can use it as a rough template. For more detailed instructions, refer to our guide on how to write a classification essay on agricultural economics.

Sample Classification Essay: The African Crops Most Vulnerable to Climate Changes

In the wake of major changes in global climate trends, the world is in need of more climate-resilient food systems. This is especially true for developing nations in Asia and the Sub-Saharan Africa. Agricultural activity is set to decline in these regions even if the targeted two-degree change occurs. Trends forecast a rate of 1-5% decline per decade due to climate change.

In Africa specifically, tropical cereal crops such as maize, common beans, finger millet, and the cash crop Arabica coffee will face decline in production levels. It is necessary to analyze the vulnerability levels of food staples and cash crops in order to develop better food security programs.

Research and forecasts show that the common bean, maize and coffee production will suffer as climate change renders vast areas of land unsuitable. All these crops will either need to be replaced or will require major adaptation plans.

Coffee production is at risk due to climate change. The Robusta coffee will be less severely affected, but Arabica coffee production levels will face major decline. Forecasts show that producers located in East Africa will have to look to other regions to find land more conducive to coffee production.

The land suitability will decline by the largest amount (50% or greater) in Tanzania, Mozambique and Uganda. The countries facing a less dire situation (20-50%) are Rwanda and Burundi. The situation will be relatively less severe (15% or fewer decline) in Ethiopia and Kenya.

Regardless, the results will most likely be the migration of Arabica coffee areas to higher altitudes and the replacement of Arabica coffee areas with the more heat-resistant Robusta variety.

Maize is one of the major sources of calories in the African region. It is cultivated in areas of Africa projected to be severely impacted by climatic changes. Studies show that almost the entire (around 90%) maize area will be negatively affected.

The resultant decline in production will range from 12-40%. By the 2050s, countries in West Africa will face production losses between 20-40%. Other African countries, namely Botswana, Kenya and Mozambique, will face similar, but less severe losses. Adequate adaptation measures for maize production must be planned and implemented to minimize future food security concerns.

Many African countries also rely on the common bean as it is a major source of nutrition. Though essential, the crop is highly vulnerable to climate change. Projections for the coming decades show significant decline in production and losses of suitable areas. There are, however, some positive outcomes of new breeding experiments. The International Centre for Tropical Agriculture has managed to grow a common bean variety which tolerates an increase of 3+ degrees Centigrade without any damage to the yield. This resilient version has been tested in greenhouse environments. If the benefits in the lab translate to the real world, the common bean will survive the 21st century without major issues.

It is necessary to study the various impacts of climate change on crop yields. It is the first step towards spreading awareness and development of targeted adaptation measures. The populations in developing countries must be prepared for the eventual food production decrease which is set to occur in the coming decades. The policy-makers also need to address the challenges of food security with appropriate programs and planning.
You can definitely come up with a better essay, so why are you still here? Use the details from all our guides on agricultural economics and come up with a great essay that your instructor will be happy to grade highly.

References:
Crops under a changing climate: what are the impacts in Africa?. (2015). Ccafs.cgiar.org. Retrieved 29 March 2016, from https://ccafs.cgiar.org/blog/crops-under-changing-climate-what-are-impacts-africa#.Vvtfd-J97ct
Benor, Daniel, James A. Harrison, and Michael Baxter. “Agricultural Extension: The Training and Visit System.” World Bank, Washington, D.C., 1989.
Dixon, John, and Aidan Gulliver with David Gibbon. Farming systems and poverty: improving farmers’ livelihoods In a changing world. Rome and Washington, D.C.: FAO and the World Bank, 2001
Flores, Rafael, and Stuart Gillespie, Health and Nutrition: Emerging and Reemerging Issues in Developing Countries, IFPRI 2020 Vision, Focus 5, February 2001
Foster, Phillips, and Howard D. Leathers, The World Food Problem (Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Reinner Publishers, 1999)
Berry, Albert, and William Cline. Agrarian Structure and Productivity in Developing Countries. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1979.
Dimitri, Carolyn, Anne Effland, and Neilson Conklin. The 20th Century Transformation of U.S. Agriculture and Farm Policy. Washington, D.C.: Economic Research Service, USDA, 2005.