Definition of Agriculture
Agriculture is the systematic cultivation of useful plants and the rearing of livestock under the management of man for the purposes of proving food and raw materials. It is the production of crops and rearing of animals for man’s use. It is the deliberate effort made by man to till the soil, cultivate crops, and rear animals for consumption and other purposes. Agriculture can also be defined as the science or practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products for the use of man.
Components of Agriculture
- Crop Production: This is the branch of Agriculture that is concerned ,mainly with the production and cultivation of crops and plants.Crop production is classified into two; food crops and cash crops. Food crops are crops that are cultivated only for consumption.Examples of food crops are rice, maize, beans, vegetables, fruits etc.While cash crops are crops cultivated for mainly for sale, examples of cash crops are cocoa, rubber, cotton, etc
- Fish Farming: It is the process or system of farming that is particularly selected for the rearing of fish. Fishing provides food, employment,income and foreign exchange.
- Forestry: This is the art of planting of planting, tending and managing forest with the ability to utilize the products from the forest. It is also important for the provision of wild animals. Some of the trees found in the forest are planted by people and some grow naturally. Some of the trees found in the forest are Iroko tree, Mahogany, Ebony, timber etc most of this trees are use for medicinal herbs, pulp for making papers.
- Livestock Farming: Lives stock involves the rearing of animals either for consumption or for sale. The lives stocks include cattle, goats,poultry, rabbits etc.
Systems of Agriculture
- Plantation farming: This farming involves the cultivation of some economic crops in large areas of land. In this system of farming only one crop (monoculture) is grown in a large area of land.
Characteristics of plantation farming
- Only one crop is usually cultivated
- The output is mainly for sale
- It requires the use of machines like tractors, ploughs, etc
- It requires a very large area of land
- It requires huge capital of investment
2. Mechanized farming: It is referred to as commercial agriculture which is concerned with the production of food, animals,and cash crops in large quantities mainly for sale.
Characteristics of mechanized farming
- Mechanized also requires a large area of land
- Modern and complex equipment like tractors, sprayers etc are used
- It requires special skills
- Production is mainly for sale
- It requires storage and processing facilities
- It is mostly practiced by government and rich farmers
- Pest and diseases are usually controlled
3. Co-operative farming: This is the type of farming in which farmers come together to form a union for the purpose of farming together to enable them enjoy some incentives from the government which may include loan, fertilizers etc
Characteristics of Co-operative farming
- There is high output because of resources put together.
- They enjoy incentives from the government
- It has an organized market for their products
3. Peasant Farming: This farming can also be called subsistence farming , it is the system of farming which is concerned with with the production of food for the farmer and his family. It is an household farming where the farmer and his family produce food for use by himself and family member…
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