THEME 01 : GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE SCIENCE
Definition of agriculture- Is the science and art of cultivating crops and raising livestock to produce food and goods for human beings.
The word art is used referring to the skill of the farmer in cultivating crops and raising livestock.
The word science is defined as knowledge of nature. Farmers use the knowledge gained by scientists to grow their crops and livestock.
IMPORTANCE OF SCIENCE IN THE SOCIETY
• Used in food processing
• Used in crop production
• Used in making pesticides
• Used in making fertilizer
• Help in producing new breeds of animals
• Used in food preservation.
• Help to know what endanger animal and crops
THE SCOPE AND INTEGRATION OF AGRICULTURE WITH ARTS AND SCIENCE SUBJECTS
Biology:
Involves breeding of crops and livestock.
Geography:
Involves crop and animal nglish-swahili/distribution” target=”_blank”>distribution soil and water conservation.
Mathematics:
Involve production economics and research, farm survey, mechanization finance and soil
science.
Chemistry and physics:
Biochemistry, Animals and crop science and protection soil chemistry, farm mechanization
Zoology:
Animal production science veterinary medicine.
Sociology:
Agricultural extension and education.
Economics:
Finance and marketing.
HOW FARMING BEGAN
In Prehistoric times, people liked by collecting fruits, seeds, leaves and roots of trees they come across in the bushes and forests, and by hunting wild animals. Men started as food gathers and hunters. They lived in very small combinations and the population was so small that there was no difficulty in obtaining enough foods.
The first big discovery was the cultivation of land by scratching the ground with wooden sticks and growing some wild edible plants.
After undergoing many generations of selection and breeding, this gave rise to the cereal crop varieties we grow at present. Various types of wild animals and birds were caught and tames, later to become domestics animals. Due to these developments some form of settled agriculture started, but the use of poor tools remained a common feature.
The arrival of Europeans in East Africa Market a further Improvement in farming methods. Cash crops and exotic breeds of livestock were introduced the cash crops being mainly intended to provide raw materials for industries such as the textile industry in Lancashire back in England. The revenue from the cash crops helped the colonies to pay for their administrative costs, thus reducing dependence on the colonizers. However more attention was paid to the European that to the African farmers.
BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE SCIENCE
The subject material of agriculture entails much subdivision namely:-
1. Crop husbandry:
This is also known as crop science, it deals with botany and examines plant life cycles, weeds, rests and diseases and their control, plant breeding and genetics.
2. Animal husbandry:
This is animal science that deals with the rearing of all types of livestock e.g. cattle, poultry, sheep, goats, pigs and rabbits. It also involves all factors that influence the production performance of livestock so as to obtain high yield of animal’s products of goods quality both for human consumption and for industries.
3. Soil Science:
Involves the study of soil in general, how it works, how the soil is formed, how it works to sustain life and how it can be kept alive through many years of use.
4. Agricultural machinery:
Deals with tools and machinery used in farming activities, modern farming require the of tools and machinery so as to enable farmers to save time and cope with large amount of work while stepping up the yield. Farm modernization cannot be achieved without using machines.
5. Agriculture Economics:
This branch of agriculture provides information on basic economic principles, gross domestic product and income per capital in relation to agriculture development and the day to day activities.
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE
Importance of agriculture to the farmers
1. Agriculture provides foods
The food may be obtained from growing crops in the garden or from animal’s sources,
where we get meat, milks and milk products, egg and blood. It’s the duty of every nation
to feed its people because a well fed nation is a health one.
2. Agriculture provides employment:
Workers in ranches, coffee, tea and sisal estate and small holders’ farmers are all
employed through agriculture sector.
3. Clothing:
Agriculture generates materials from which clothing is made. Fibre from cotton and other crops is processed in a textile industry to produce cloth. Woolen clothing and leather materials like shoes, belts, jackets and handbags are obtained from animals.
4. Money:
Crops, animals and animal products are sold for cash
5. Consumer goods:-
The manufactured products which farmers use for domestic purpose such as sugar, soap, cooking oil and others are all processed from raw materials obtained from the agriculture sector.
6. Shelter:
The agriculture sector generates the materials which farmers use to put up their houses. Shelter is one of the basic requirements of man.
7. Agriculture provides raw materials for industries most agriculture products require some.
8. Labor:
Some animals such as oxen, donkey and camels are used on farms for ploughing and providing simple transport.
9. Fuel:
Crop residues are used as firewood or charcoal.
10. Social, Cultural, Traditional value:
Payment of dowry and fulfillment of traditional ceremonies and rituals must be done in material form by presenting one or more of these animals as the custom demands.
SCIENTIFIC PROCEDURES USED IN AGRICULTURE SCIENCE
Scientific process
Agriculture science subject needs scientific methods of research and investigation. One can study living things either by field observation (outdoors) or laboratory experimentation (indoors). Scientific process is activities that deal with experimentation in chosen phenomena in science and finding a solution to a problem.
Importance of scientific procedure
- To determine plants and animal requirements
- To determine pest and disease which affect plant and animals
- To develop suitable new plants varieties and animal breeds.
edu.uptymez.com
Procedural method
(i) Problem Identification
(ii) Formulation of hypothesis
(iii) Experimentation
(iv) Observation and Data Recording
(v) Interpretation of Data
(vi) Conclusion
(i) Problem identification
Is the first step where problem is recognized
(ii) Formulation of Hypothesis:
Hypothesis – is an intelligent guess, a tentative theory or tentative explanation and hypothesis formulation
(iii) Experimentation; an experiment is a series of investigations intended to discover certain facts. This may lead to the acceptance, modification or sometimes rejection of a hypothesis
(iv) Observation and Data Recording
After setting up an experiment, a researcher makes careful observations and records all events that he considers important.
(v) Interpretation of Data:
Once a researcher has collected data he / she should try to explain what the data means in relation to the purpose of the experiment.
(vi) Conclusion
A research must draw conclusions at the end of the investigations based upon collected data. The conclusion is either a confirmation or rejection of the hypothesis under investigation. When a hypothesis is rejected another one is formulated and tested.
AGRICULTURE SCIENCE LABORATORY
Meaning of the concept:
The word laboratory originated from a Latin word laborer which means labour (work hard) this suggests that the laboratory is a place meant for serious hard work and not for jokes.
Definition
It is a room or a building specially designed for Agriculture experiments and also where specimens and apparatus are kept.
Characteristics of a good laboratory
- Supply of gas
- Electricity and water
- Large windows to allow enough light and air
edu.uptymez.com
The laboratory is meant to be a quiet and safe place to work in. It can be a dangerous place if safety regulations are not adhered to.Importance of Agriculture Lab
The laboratory can be used for soil analysis
- The laboratory can be used to conduct experiments for examine plants and animals requirement
- It used for examining different plants and animal rest and diseases
- Can be used to store different Agriculture science chemicals, fertilizer, seeds and apparatus for future use.
- Can be used to develop new crop varieties and animal breeds.
edu.uptymez.com
Safety in Agriculture laboratory
When an experiment is being done, it should never be assumed to be completely harmless. All chemicals and apparatus should be handled with great care. For instance, if a glass apparatus is handled carelessly, it might break and injure the user.
Safety laboratory rules
Students should never handle any chemicals specimens and apparatus in the laboratory without instructions from the teacher. Students using any chemical must adhere to the teacher’s instructions, very carefully to avoid accidents.
Any accident involving chemicals or apparatus in the laboratory must be reported to the teacher in charge immediately so that first aid can be administered.
Put off flames which are most in used.
When heating a substance, never point the open end of the tube towards yourself or anyone else. Always hold tubes using test-tube holders when heating.
Always keep inflammable substances away from flames.
Don’t play or run in the laboratory
If need be wear lab coat, gloves, goggles when carrying out an experiment or practical’s.
ALWAYS work on a clean bench. After completing your experiments. Clean all pieces of apparatus and specimens one has used return them to their correct places.
TYPES OF APPARATUS USED IN AGRICULTURE LABORATORY
- Beaker
- Brush
- Glass wool
- Bucket
- Beam balance
- Measuring cylinder
- Test tube
- Thermometers
edu.uptymez.com
FIRST AID
Definition
Is the immediate and temporary care of help one is given when injured or ill before being taken to the hospital or before the doctor comes
Importance of first Aid
- Saves life
- Bring hope & ennglish-swahili/courage” target=”_blank”>couragement
- Prevent further heading or injuries
- Helps the patients to recover from shock
- Removes fear of death
-
Reduce pain
Component of the first Aid Kit Importance of first AID
- A pair of scissors
- Rolls of adhesive tape
- Assorted bandages
- Cotton wool sterilized
- New razor blade sterilized
- Jar of petroleum jelly
- Gentian violet solution
- Soap
- Antibiotic solution
- Pain killers: e.g. panadol
- Methylated spirit
- Clean water
edu.uptymez.com
THE CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURE TO NATIONAL ECONOMY
1. Food supply
All the people require food; it’s the agricultural sector that meets this basic need. A starring nation is a poor one; threatened by Malnutrition, disease and death. A country’s economy is strong when its people are well fed, enjoy good health and are able to steer their nation through progress and prosperity.
2. Supply of raw materials for industries
Raw materials mean that the materials have come from the crops or livestock without being altered or treated.
Examples agricultural raw materials
- Sisal for bag industries
- Groundnuts and sunflower for oil Industries
- Leather goods – leather industries
- Cotton – Textile industries
edu.uptymez.com
3. Agriculture creates employment In East Africa, over 80% of the able-bodied men and women are engaged in Agriculture.
- Agricultural chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides), machinery, certified planting materials.
- Marketing of Agriculture products
- Agriculture extension & education
- Unskilled and semi-skilled are employed to cultivate, weed and harvesting plantation crops such as sisal, coffee, tea and pyrethrum.
edu.uptymez.com
4. Earning Foreign exchange
East Africa countries export (sell to other countries) things like coffee, tea, cotton, fruits and vegetable.
5. Source of market
It provides a market for the industrial products.
e.g. jembes, fertilizer, pesticides, herbicides, animal feeds and veterinary drugs needed by the farmers as inputs in farming.
6. Source of capital
High agricultural produce generates wealth at home and also accumulates savings in the form of foreign reserves.
7. Improves the standard of living of the people because it gives them good health, shelter, clothing and more wealth.
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS IN TANZANIA
Basic facts of Agricultural development in Tanzania
(a) Suitable land for crop production and animal keeping
Tanzania has large suitable land for Agriculture but only small part has been put into use
(b) More than 80% of the population is living in rural area where farming is the major activity
(c) Agriculture in Tanzania is based on small scale farming owned by poor peasant while large scale is owned by private companies or governments.
(d) Peasant farming produces little for family use as well as cash crops.
(e) Agricultural development is a Major source of economy and social development in Tanzania
SOCIAL ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROBLEM FACING AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN TANZANIA
Poor crop and animal husbandry.
Due to low level of education farmers fail to practice recommended practices e.g. properly timely fertilize. Use etc. hence ending up with low-harvest.
Poor marketing system
Poor transport structure from the field to store as well as from store to market causing spoilage and destruction.
Psychological and sociological factor i.e.
Perception that farming is for old, poor and less educated people and a white collar job is for young, educated class.
Religious beliefs hinder rising of some animals or crops e.g. pig production, tobacco production.
Poor farming tools:
Use of traditional hand tools is prominent in most area; thus lowering production.
Pest and diseases:
Capital (Money) is needed in purchasing chemical treatment which most farmers cannot afford.
Price fluctuation:
Due to change of supply and demand of farm products time to time, may disnglish-swahili/courage” target=”_blank”>courage farmers to produce a certain commodity.
Poor storage
Poor storage facilities in rural farming community may cause spoilage of harvests by pest, weather for at least 20%.
Climatic factor
Unreliable and insufficient rainfall per annul have a great effect in farming operations e.g. drying of crops, less pasture for animal, heavy outbreak of pests etc.
Remedial steps
Farmer’s education
Through improvement of extension services to convey proper skills to farmers
Research Centers
It’s important for development of proper animal breeds and crop varieties suitable t o varies areas and made available to farmers.
Improvement of transport system
Through establish and construction of good road and railways in order easy movement of raw material from the field to the market.
Improvements of laws tenure system
By establishing land title dead as incentives to farmers so that they can secure loans and do large investments.
Provision of storage facilities
To facilitate agriculture products to be store for a reasonable period for future use
