ROLES OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN AGRICULTURE

Subject : 

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE

Term :

THIRD TERM

Week:

WEEK 2

Class :

JSS 3 / BASIC 9

Topic :

ROLES OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN AGRICULTURE

Previous lesson: 

The pupils have previous knowledge of

 Roles of Science and Technology in Agriculture

that was taught as a topic in the previous lesson

Behavioural objectives :

At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to

• say the roles of government agencies in agriculture
• Mention ways in which Science and technology have impacted Agricultural positively

Instructional Materials:

• Wall charts
• Pictures
• Related Online Video
• Flash Cards

Methods of Teaching:

• Class Discussion
• Group Discussion
• Asking Questions
• Explanation
• Role Modelling
• Role Delegation

Reference Materials:

• Scheme of Work
• Online Information
• Textbooks
• Workbooks
• 9 Year Basic Education Curriculum
• Workbooks

Content : 

ROLES OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN AGRICULTURE

CONTENT: 1. Meaning and Forms of Government Agencies

2. Roles of Government Agencies in Agriculture

Sub-Topic 1: MEANING OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Agency means an administrative division or department (within a government) providing a particular service for a state. Government Agencies are the administrative departments responsible for development of agriculture in the rural areas in order to boost food production.

FORMS OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

The government agencies in agriculture include the following:

1. Farm Settlement Scheme

2. Agricultural Development Programme/Project (ADP)

3. River Basin Development Authority and Rural Development Programmes

4. Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution and School-to-Land Programmes

5. Agricultural Loan Scheme and Subsidy on Agricultural inputs

6. Farm Insurance Scheme

7. National Fadama Development Project (NFDP)

8. National Agricultural Technical Support Project (NATSP)

9. National Agricultural Research Institutes

10. Agricultural Training Institutes

11. Information and Communication Support for agric growth in Nigeria (ICS-NIGERIA)

Sub-Topic 3: ROLES OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN AGRICULTURE

Farm Settlement Scheme: This program first started in the former Western Nigeria in 1959 with the aim of increasing agricultural production through the development of modern farming systems; discouraging young school leavers from migrating to the cities in search of office and factory jobs by providing them with necessary equipment for farming after they might have been trained in farm institutes for about two years.

The diagrams below show different settlements.

AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME:

It is a set of rural based agric programmes established with emphasis on improving infra-structural facilities especially rural roads, rural electricity and rural water supply which will lead to increase in agricultural production and thereby improving the living standard of the farmers.

RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES:

These were set up in many states of the country principally to cultivate the land and help the farmers with the production and marketing of agric produce from the farm. They also carry out rural development by providing rural farmers with infra-structural facilities.

AGRICULTURAL LOAN SCHEME AND SUBSIDY ON AGRIC INPUTS:

State and federal governments have established loan/credit schemes to farmers through commercial banks at low and considerable interest rates for agriculture. This is repayable assistance. Subsidy has been provided to farmers (in cash or kind) for the purchase of agricultural inputs such as fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides and improved seeds at considerably reduced rates. This is non-repayable assistance.

OPERATION FEED THE NATION; GREEN REVOLUTION AND SCHOOL-TO-LAND PROGRAMMES: These three programmes were introduced by the former military presidents-Lt Gen Olusegun Obasanjo (1976); Alhaji Shehu Shagari (1980)and Gen Muhammad Buhari (1984) respectfully to encourage people to farm and return to their abandoned farms.

NATIONAL RESEARCH INSTITUTES:

Research is an advanced stage of study which deals mainly with discovering the unknown by careful and diligent search (i.e. the application of science and technology) and their discoveries are adopted by the farmers and other people involved in agriculture to improve the methods and practices they use thereby increase food production.

NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROJECT (NATSP):

This is a nationally coordinated programmes designed to assist in the development and dissemination of agricultural innovations (technologies) to small scale farmers through regular field training by agricultural extension agents.

NATIONAL FADAMA DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (NFDP):

This is generally known as Fadama II and is a World Bank assisted project aim at assisting Fadama resource users to make them economically successful. It also supports production, processing and marketing of crops, livestock and fisheries in addition to development of rural infrastructures; acquisition of agro-processing equipment, tools and vehicles; settling conflict between farmers and pastoralists thus save the wanton destruction of lives and farm produce.

AGRICULTURAL TRAINING INSTITUTES:

In Nigeria, efforts have been made to establish several agricultural schools, colleges and universities to train and develop people with adequate agricultural science knowledge and and skills required for agricultural development. The faculties and universities also conduct research to develop improved crop/animal varieties that are high yielding and resistant or tolerant to pests and diseases. This is to achieve food security and self sufficiency in industrial raw materials.

ICS-NIGERIA:

The Information and Communication Support for agricultural growth (ICS-Nigeria) project is involved in the dissemination of agric information to farmers through locations called ICS Resource Centres which are located in the state ADP headquarters. They support and sponsor radio programmes as well as production of materials such as extension guides, booklets, pictures, posters and other materials.

FARM INSURANCE SCHEME:

Insurance, legal contract, protects people from the financial costs that result from loss of life, loss of health, lawsuits, or property damage. Insurance provides a means for individuals and societies to cope with some of the risks faced in everyday life. People purchase contracts of insurance, called policies, from a variety of insurance organizations. Almost everyone and every organization in modern, industrialized countries buy insurance. For instance, laws in most states require people who own a car to buy insurance before driving it on public roads. Lenders require anyone who finances the purchase of a home, car or any other property with borrowed money to insure that property. Business partners take out life insurance on each other to make sure the business (agric) will succeed even if one of the partners dies

Presentation

The topic is presented step by step

Step 1:

The class teacher revises the previous topics

Step 2.

He introduces the new topic

Step 3:

The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own examples and he corrects them when the needs arise

EVALUATION

1. Define government agencies

2. Mention five government agencies you know.

3. What is the full meaning of the following: NFDP, NATSP, ADP, OFN and ICS-Nigeria?

4. Mention eight government agencies you know

5. Briefly explain the following: ADP, ICS-Nigeria, NFDP, NATSP and Agric Training Institutes.

6. Mention three Universities of Agriculture established in Nigeria.

7. What is the difference between credit and subsidy?

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT:

State and explain seven roles of agricultural agencies in agriculture

Conclusion

The class teacher wraps up or concludes the lesson by giving out short notes to summarize the topic that he or she has just taught.

The class teacher also goes round to make sure that the notes are well copied or well written by the pupils.

He or she does the necessary corrections when and where the needs arise.