Final answer:
Having many children is valued among agriculturalists for their labor contributions, to ensure survival of some into adulthood, to help care for elderly parents, and as a status symbol. Technological and health advancements have since reduced the need for large families in farming. The complexities of family size are influenced by historic socioeconomic factors and present-day resources and family planning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among agriculturalists in general, having many children is highly valued due to various socio-economic reasons. In traditional agricultural societies, children are seen as a valuable source of labor, assisting with farming tasks and contributing to the household economy. Additionally, high child mortality rates historically meant that having more children increased the likelihood that some would survive into adulthood to care for their elderly parents and continue family traditions and lineage. A larger family could also be symbolic of wealth and social status. As societies developed and technologies advanced, reducing the need for manual labor, and with improvements in health care reducing child mortality rates, the necessity for large numbers of children on farms decreased.
However, in different parts of the world, especially in areas with fewer resources, high fertility rates can lead to challenges. These include increased stress on the planet's resources and the family's ability to care for many children. Effective family planning is crucial for managing population growth and ensuring sustainable living standards for communities. Consequently, the reasons for desiring large families in agricultural societies are complex and multifaceted, rooted in historic socioeconomic structures and influenced by changing contemporary circumstances.