Meaning and importance of agriculture

Agricultural science SSS1 first term

Week 1

Meaning and importance of agriculture

Performance objectives

Students should be able to:

1. Define agricultural science.
2. State the importance of agricultural science to individual, community and the nation.
3. State and explain the branches of agriculture.

Content

Meaning of agriculture.

The term agriculture is derived from two Latin words; “ager”, meaning field, and “cultural”, meaning cultivation. By this statement, agriculture means field cultivation. However, this is not the complete definition of agriculture since agriculture has to do also with animal production.

Agriculture is simply defined as the art and science (or management) that deals with the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals for man’s use.

Branches of Agriculture

The main branches of agriculture include the following;

1. Animal Science or animal husbandry or animal production.
2. Animal health or veterinary medicine.
3. Soil science.
4. Crop production which includes;
5. Agronomy (the study of crops).
6. Crop pathology (the study of crop diseases).
7. Entomology (the study of insect pest of a crop).
8. Agricultural economics and farm management.
9. Agricultural engineering.
10. Agricultural extension and education.
11. Forestry and wildlife conservation
12. Fishery.
13. Apiculture (bee farming).
14. Heliculture or snailry (snail rearing).

Contributions of these areas of specialization to agricultural development.

1. Animal Science

1. Animal science ensures the efficient and effective management of farm animals.
2. It ensures better animal productivity.
3. It helps to ensure meat and egg production.
4. It promotes the development of a new breed of animals.
5. It helps to ensure better feeds for growth and productivity.

2. Veterinary Medicine.
3. Veterinary medicine provides better health management for farm animals.
4. It ensures the control of pests and parasites of farm animals.
5. It helps to control the diseases of farm animals.
6. It ensures a better meat inspection after slaughtering.
7. Soil science.

1. Soil science ensures the maintenance of soil fertility.
2. It aids better soil classification and mapping.
3. Soil science helps in erosion control methods.
4. It aid moisture conservation and tillage operation of the soil.

4. Crop production.

1. It helps in effective crop management practices.
2. It helps in the development of better planting materials, correct crop spacing, e.t.c.
3. It ensures better productivity of the crops.
4. It ensures optimum plant population.
5. It ensures optimum harvesting time.
6. Crop pathology ensures healthy plant production and management of plant diseases.
7. Crop science ensures the development of improved crops e.g. disease-resistant varieties.
8. Entomology ensures the control and management of crop pests.
9. Agricultural economics and farm management.
10. It promotes agricultural marketing.
11. It exposes farmers to sources of farm finance.
12. It teaches cooperative farming.
13. It ensures the management of agricultural resources.
14. It provides for adequate farm planning and budgeting.

6. Agricultural engineering.

1. It ensures the development of processing and storage equipment.
2. It promotes the mechanization of farm operations.
3. It ensures the maintenance of farm tools and implements.
4. It enhances the operation of irrigation and drainage.

7. Agricultural extension and education.
8. It promotes the training of farmers.
9. It ensures the dissemination of agricultural information to farmers.
10. It ensures the provision of support to farmers.
11. It links farmers to researchers.
12. Forestry and wildlife conservation.

1. It promotes the conservation of forest products.
2. It ensures the conservation of wildlife.
3. It ensures the creation of microclimate.
4. It is the source of medicinal products.
5. It ensures the maintenance of soil fertility.

9. Fishery.

1. It promotes the production of fish.
2. It ensures better ways of fish production.
3. It promotes better fishing practices and processes.
4. It ensures the provision of fish meal.

10. Apiculture (bee farming)

1. It provides employment to many.
2. It provides honey for local consumption which can also be exported.
3. Honey is used for many industrial purposes e.g.
4.  Production of candles and cosmetics.
5. Heliculture or snailry.
6. Snailry is a good source of animal protein.
7. It is rich in certain minerals.
8. The shell is used as a source of calcium.
9. It is also very useful in some industries.

Importance of agriculture.

The importance of agriculture can be grouped into three major categories:

1. To individual or farmer

1. Provision of food

• It is only through agriculture man can feed.
• Through the provision of food and importation of food items like rice, milk and sugar, money accrues to the government thereby preventing the nation from bankruptcy.

2. Provision of materials for shelter.

• Agriculture provides materials essential for building, such as poles, doors, windows, roofs, partitions, and floor.
• It also provides materials required for furniture, such as chairs, tables, beds and cabinets.

3. Provision 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.
• Agriculture also provides wool (from sheep) and silk for clothing.

4. Employment for the working population.
5. Generation of income for farmers.

• Sales of crops, crop products, animals and animal products provide income for farmers.
• Wages and salaries are also provided for agricultural workers/ labour.

2. To society or community.

6. Development of towns

• Development occurs where commercial agriculture exists, as social amenities like electricity and pipe borne-water will be provided.
• Good and motorable roads are provided.
• It may also result in the establishment of agro-based industries in such towns/ villages.

7.  Provision of facilities for recreation and tourism.

• It leads to the establishment of the game reserve.
• Agriculture can also provide a horse for horse racing and polo.

3. To the nation

8. Sources of foreign exchange earnings.

• Through the export of agricultural produce like cocoa, kola nut, groundnut, kenaf, palm produce and cotton, a nation can earn foreign exchange.
• The development of agriculture exports will minimize dependence on crude oil with its fluctuating prices.

9. Provision of a market for industrial goods.
10. Generation of revenue.
11. Provision of raw materials for industries.