A primary industry is an industry involved in the extraction and production of raw materials directly from natural resources. This includes activities such as agriculture (farming and livestock), fishing, forestry, mining, and quarrying. These industries produce basic materials like crops, minerals, metals, coal, oil, timber, and fish, which serve as essential inputs for manufacturing and other economic sectors

. Primary industries are fundamental to the economy because they supply the raw materials necessary for the secondary sector (manufacturing) and tertiary sector (services). They often employ a significant portion of the workforce in developing countries, while in developed countries, technological advances have reduced the workforce needed in these industries despite maintaining high productivity

. In summary, the primary industry or primary sector is the part of the economy focused on harvesting natural resources and raw materials from the environment, forming the economic foundation for further industrial and service activities.