Many believe that it's the best thing to do only what's profitable and leave agriculture sector for poor countries and get a cheap food from them but I don't agree with this idea. I believe that food security index is one of the most important index for every country but it doesn't mean that agriculture is a profitable sector. No, it's not profitable unless you own tractor, big lands and multiple other equipment that agriculture needs. Agriculture is the basic thing for us to survive, so, the competition in this business is extremely high and for the majority of people, it can't be a profitable business but I believe that it's the government's duty to help the development of local agriculture, even if it's not a profitable because increased food safety is worth a few money that will be spend on subsidization.
I can don’t disagree with you because agricultural investment been profitable is dependent on your region, from my place I can actually tell you it is a profitable sector or investment if you actually grow the foods you’re self and actually grow the right foods. One major thing that makes most people not to actually make the most Profits from agriculture is the fact that they grow or cultivate what others cultivate and as we all know the large the supply the less the demand works for it. So for profit it is best to grow what others do not mainly cultivate but is needed at your place.
Just as you have said the trick to maximization of its profits is mechanized farming which we all know incurs expenses but it definitely yields returns and profits. Example od a mechanized irrigational farming this has been a long shot at maximization of profits in my region.
One bad narrative that most people do get though about agriculture investment is hoarding the produce to sell at a later time when it is costlier, this doesn’t works all the time most especially a region where there is government control on prices and also the funds sometimes spent on its storage is another factor to reduce the profits, overall it is a good business for one who understands it and is fully involved in it themselves