Introduction to Agriculture: Meaning, Branches and Importance of Agriculture.

Subject:

Agricultural Science

 

Class:

SS 1

 

Term:

First Term / 1st Term

 

Week:

Week 1

 

Topic:

Introduction to Agriculture: Meaning, Branches and Importance of Agriculture.

 

 

 

Previous Knowledge: The pupils have previous knowledge of

 

Using plants as medicine

 

that was taught in their previous lesson.

 

 

Behavioural  Objectives : At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to

• Define agriculture
• Write out the importance of Agriculture:
• Explain the meaning of agriculture
• List Branches of agriculture
• Say the Importance of Agriculture.

 

Instructional Materials 

• Wall charts
• Online Resource
• Textbooks
• Laptop
• Flash cards
• www.edudelighttutors.com

 

Methods of Teaching 

• Role modelling
• Questions and Answers
• Explanation
• Discussion
• Recitation
• Imitation
• Story Telling
• Dramatization

 

Content: 

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE: MEANING, BRANCHES AND IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE

CONTENT

– Meaning of Agriculture

– Branches of Agriculture

– Importance of Agriculture

MEANING OF AGRICULTURE

Agriculture is the art and science (or management) that deals with the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals for man’s use. This means, it refers to all the activities involving cultivation of soil for the production of crops and livestock management and caring to the distribution and marketing of the plant and animal products.

The term, agriculture, is derived from two Latin words which are:

(i) “Ager” which means field/farm/land.

(ii) “Culture” which means cultivation.

By this, agriculture means field cultivation. However, this is not a complete definition of agriculture since agriculture also has to do with  animal production.

 

 

BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE

The branches of Agriculture Include the following:

1.Animal Science/Animal Husbandry/Animal Production: Animal Science ensures the efficient and effective management of farm animals. It ensures better animal productivity.

2. Veterinary Medicine/Animal Health: Veterinary medicine provides a better

health management for farm animals.It ensures the control of pests, parasites and

diseases of farm animals.

3. Soil Science: Soil science ensures the maintenance of soil fertility, better soil

classification and mapping. It also helps in erosion control, soil moisture conservation

and application of appropriate fertilizer for different soil types.

4. Crop Production/Crop Science: Crop production helps in effective crop

management practices, development of better planting materials, correct crop spacing,

etc. The aspects of crop production include: Agronomy, Crop Pathology and Entomology.

5. Agricultural Economics and Farm Management: It ensures the effective management of agricultural resources, promotes agricultural marketing and good farm accounting.

6. Agricultural Engineering: It promotes the mechanization of farm operations, development of processing and storage equipment and also maintenance of farm tools and equipment.

7. Agricultural Extension and Education: It promotes the training and dissemination of agricultural information to farmers, and also link farmers to researchers.

8. Forestry and Wildlife Conservation: It promotes the conservation of forest products,

wildlife and also creation of micro climate.

9. Fishery: It promotes the production of fish, its management, processing and other fishing practices.

10. Apiculture/Bee Farming: It promotes the production of honey for local consumption/uses.

 

11. Heliculture/Snailry: It involves the production of snails for consumption as a source of protein and minerals.

 

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE

 

1. PROVISION OF FOOD: – Agriculture provides food such as maize, rice, yam, vegetables, fruits, meat, and milk, either in fresh form or processed form for man and farm animals.

 

2. SOURCE OF MATERIALS FOR CLOTHING: Agriculture provides fibre and cotton for textile production. It also provides hides and skin for clothing, shoes, belts, caps, and bags.

 

3. PROVISION OF MATERIALS FOR SHELTER AND FURNITURE: – Agriculture provides timber for making building materials such as doors, windows, roofs, poles e. t. c. Timber is also used for making furniture such as shelves, cabinets, tables, chairs e. t. c.

 

4. PROVISION OF INCOME: – Agriculture generates income for farmers and farm labour through sales of plants and animal produce and wages or salaries.

 

5. EMPLOYMENT FOR THE WORKING POPULATION: – Agriculture and other agro-based industries provide employment for farmers, farm workers and other people who engage in agricultural finance and marketing.

 

6. PROVISION OF RAW MATERIALS FOR INDUSTRIES: – Agriculture provides raw materials for agro-based industries (industries which depend on agriculture for their raw-materials). It provides cotton and wool for textile industries, cocoa, coffee, tea and kola nut for beverage industries, rubber latex for tyres and foams industries e.t.c.

 

7. SOURCES OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE: – Agriculture contributes significantly to foreign exchange earning in Nigeria through the export of cocoa, coffee, groundnut, cotton, palm produce, timber e. t. c. to other countries.

 

8. PROVISION OF MARKET FOR INDUSTRIAL GOODS: – Finished products from agro-allied industries such as fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, agro-pharmaceutical drugs, farm tools, machines as well as storage and processing facilities are used in agricultural sector.

 

9. DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS: – Agriculture brings about development in rural areas as social amenities such as good roads, electricity, pipe-borne water, schools and hospitals are provided where commercial agriculture exists.

 

10. PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOF RECREATION AND TOURISM: – Agriculture leads to the establishment of game reserves. It also provides horse for horse racing and polo.

 

 

The topic is presented step by step

Step 1: The class teacher revises the old topic

Step 2: The class teacher introduces the new topic

Step 3: The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own contributions and gives room for pupils” participation

 

Class Teacher and Pupils Activities. Interaction or Participation 

This involves class teacher and pupils’ interaction, conversation, imitation or modeling through discussion, play method or just by recitation or asking and answering questions that are related to the topic that has just been taught.

 

Evaluation

1.  Define Agriculture.
2. State the two Latin words from which the term Agriculture is derived from and their meanings.
3.  Define these aspects of crop science:

• • (a) Agronomy
  • (b) Crop Pathology
  • (c)Enthomology

4. State three functions of: (a) Veterinary Medicine (b) Agricultural Extension

 

5. What are agro-based industries?

2. List and define eight branches of Agriculture.

 

3. What are agro-allied industries? State five examples of them.

 

4. State five Agricultural raw materials and the industries that use them.

 

5. State ten relevance of agriculture.

 

6. Define these aspects of crop science:

 

(a) Agronomy (b) Crop Pathology (c) Enthomology

 

 

 

 

1. The two Latin words: “Ager” and “Cultura” means ___ and ___ respectively.

 

A. animal/rearing B. cultivation/field C. field/cultivation D. water/cultivation

 

2. The study of insect pests is known as__ A. Agronomy B. Entomology C. Pathology

 

D. Zoology

 

3. The study of diseases attacking crops and animals is known as__ A. Agronomy

 

B. Entomology C. Pathology D. Zoology

 

4. Which of these is the most important reason for practicing agriculture? A. Clothing

 

B. Food C. Shelter D. Income

 

5. All these are agro-based industries except….. industry A. soap B. textile C. electronics

 

D. paper

 

THEORY

 

1. (a) Define Agriculture

 

(b) State ten importance of agriculture

 

2. List and define ten branches of agriculture.

 

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