Saturday 7 September 2019

WHAT IS AGRICULTURE, ITS IMPORTANCE AND HISTORY? (DETAILED)


Agriculture is simply defined as the production of crops and animals by man for man’s use and consumption.
Agriculture is carved out from two Latin words: “ager” which means field, and “cultura” which means cultivation. Moreover, agriculture which in other words is defined as the deliberate effort made by man to till the soil, cultivate crops and rear animals for food and other purposes is not limited to that only as production is completed until the products get the final consumers.

Agriculture is essential to life as it sees to some basic needs of life such as food, shelters, clothing, employment opportunities and income (means of livelihood). Importance of agriculture cannot be over-emphasized as it covers a wide range from the fore-mentioned ones to sources of foreign exchange, development of towns, provision of facilities for recreation and tourism, provision of market for industrial goods, provision of raw materials for industries among others.

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in the development of nations. It is the mainstay of some countries economy. From history, after hunting, gathering of plants and fruits for some time beginning from at least 105,000 years ago, plant cultivation begins around 11,500 years ago and animals’ domestication around 10,000 years ago. Presently, agriculture is being practiced all over the world.

Modern system of agriculture, intensive soil science, plant breeding and selection, use of agrochemicals such as pesticides, avicides, insecticides, rodenticides, use of fertilizers and technological advancement have immensely increased plant yield and production. Selective breading, proper management, feeding, medications and modern practices in animal husbandry have also increased output in production.

Agricultural products can be grouped into crops such as cereals, legumes, roots and tubers, vegetables, fruits, beverage crops, spices, oils and fibres, all raised as food for consumption, raw materials for agroallied industries, materials for clothing and materials for shelter and materials for organic manure. Animals such as poultry ([e.g fowl, turkey, goose, guinea fowl, and duck), pig, rabbit, cattle, goat and fish etc from which we can get by products such as hide and skin, wool, horn, milk, egg, meat, blood, dung, bone, feather, and animal tail. All for the same forelisted purposes and more.

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