Why did agriculture become the preferred way of supplying basic human needs?

Agriculture just became easier. It was much easier and safer than directly hunting, albeit, it wasn't always as rewarding, but it was much more reliable. If you could hold off until the large crop was fully grown with hunting, you could rely on the large crop while waiting for the next one, and have a berth large growth. In other words, it was more reliable, easier, and could be very lucrative.