Introduction to Agriculture

Module

DERBY E. POLIQUIT
Instructor II

NwSSU-San Jorge Campus

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture

2021
 Introduction to Agriculture

VISION
A provider of relevant and quality education to a
society where citizens are competent, skilled,
dignified and community- oriented.

MISSION
An academic institution providing technological,
professional, research and extension programs to
form principled men and women of competencies
and skills responsive to local and global
development needs.

QUALITY POLICY
Northwest Samar State University commits to
provide quality outcomes-based education,
research, extension and production through
continual improvement of all its programs, thereby
producing world class professionals.

CORE VALUES
Resilience. Integrity. Service. Excellence.

INSTITUTIONAL GRADUATE OUTCOMES

Creative and critical thinkers
Life-long learners
Effective communicators
Morally and socially upright individuals
 Introduction to Agriculture

About the Author

The author was born on August 27, 1979 in Baybay City, Leyte. He is the

youngest child among the three children of Mr. Regalado D. Poliquit and Mrs.

Neresita E. Poliquit. He is married to Cynthia N. Poliquit and is blessed with

one child, Claude Rey N. Poliquit.

He finished his primary education at Guadalupe Elementary School in

1993 and his secondary education at ViSCA Laboratory High School (VLHS) in

1997. He earned his degree of Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (BSA) with

major in Agricultural Economics at Visayas State University in 2002. He

completed his Master of Science in Horticulture degree in the same university in

2018. Hopefully, he intend to pursue his academic advancement in some future

time.

His first employment was a Foreman in the Tree Management Program of

Landscape Department of the Visayas State University and at the same time

pursued his masteral study. Because of his passion in landscaping, he transferred

to the Department of Horticulture as a Science Research Assistant (SRA) for

Edible Landscaping Project and thereafter, was assigned as Extension Officer.

He is now an instructor at Northwest Samar State University, San Jorge

Campus, San Jorge, Samar and was assigned as Landscape Coordinator for the
 Introduction to Agriculture

entire university. He is now actively participating in research and extension of

the said university and authored various Agricultural journals.

Rationale

This module, Introduction to Agriculture is a one-hour lecture subject for

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture curriculum for tertiary education. Since the
pandemic has taken its toll against face-to-face instruction, hence, online and/or
modulated platform is offered.
The module aims to broaden students’ perspective on agriculture and its
vital role in advancing farmers’ progress and national development. It also aims
to equipped students’ with knowledge and skills to be globally competent
enable to fill up careers in Agriculture and contribute in its development in the
world.
Modules will be uploaded and/or will be printed out for those students
residing in areas with poor internet connection. Academic tasks will be assigned
per modules to which students are required to comply.
 Introduction to Agriculture

Course Code: Ag. Sci 1

Course Title: Introduction to Agriculture

Course Description: Apply the concept of agriculture as an art, science, and business for
economic growth and development, contribution/important of
agriculture and it career opportunities, classification of crops used
for agronomic and special purpose, and identify the problems, issues
and constraints in agriculture as well as its economic trends in the
country.
Course Outcomes:

At the end of the course, your students must be able to:

1. Explain the definition and importance of agriculture to our economy.
2. Discuss the history and branches of agriculture.
3. Describe the career opportunities as agriculture graduate and development of
scientific agriculture in the world.
4. Discuss the agronomic and special purpose classification of crops.
5. Discuss the problems, issues and constraints of agriculture
6. Explain the trends and status of agriculture of the Philippines from the past
and future.

Course Content:

The table below shows the outline of the topics to be discussed in the lecture per week
vis-à-vis the course outcomes. It is designed based on the course syllabus approved by the
Campus Dean.

Course Learning Date of

Week Topics Assessment
Outcomes Submission
1-2 Explain the definition and Module 1 - Importance of Agriculture
importance of agriculture A. Definition of Agriculture. Pencil and paper 3rd week of
to our economy. B. Agriculture as a backbone to our test July
economy.
Essay 4th week of
C. Agriculture as an art, science July
and business. Reaction paper

3-5 Discuss the history and
branches of agriculture.
Module 2 - History and Branches of Pencil and paper 1st week of
Agriculture Research Problem test August
A. Origin Of agriculture
1. Where did crops originate?
B. The agricultural revolution.
C. Industrialization. Essay
D. Post-industrialization.
E. Major Fields of agriculture
1. Animal science Reaction paper
2. Soil Science
 Introduction to Agriculture

3. Agricultural Economics 3rd week of

4. Horticulture August
5. Plant Protection
6. Agronomy

6-8 Describe the career Module 3 Career Opportunities and its 4th week of
opportunities as Development in the World August
agriculture graduate and
its development in the A. Job opportunities of Agriculture
world. 1. As an agriculture license
2. Agriculture as profession
B. Scientist that Contribute
Agriculture in the World 2nd week of
1. Concepts of Nutrients September
Accumulation
2. Concepts of Plant Breeding
3. Concepts Of Crop
Production techniques
4. Concepts of Influence of
Plant Hormones

9-11 Discuss the agronomic Module 4 – Agronomic and Special Pen and paper test 3rd week of
and special purpose Purpose of Classification of Crops September
classification of crops.
A. Agronomic classification
1. Cereal/Grain
2. Forage crops
3. Fodder crops
4. Silage crops Narrative report
5. Soilage crops on different
6. Fiber crops agronomic crops.
7. Sugar crops 1st week of
October
8. Oil seed crops
9. Pulse or grain legumes
10. Root and tuber crops
11. Narcotic or drug crops
12. Vegetables or garden crops
13. Condiment crops
B. Special purpose of classification
1. Green manure
2. Cover crops
3. Catch crops
4. Companion crops
5. Relay crops
6. Cropping pattern

12-14 Discuss the problems, Module 5 – Agricultural Constraints for Pencil and paper 2nd week of
issues and constraints of Economic Development test October
agriculture.
A. Small farm size.
 Introduction to Agriculture

B. Decreasing hired labor. Essay 4th week of

C. Innovative machines versus October
market-driven machine.
D. Inadequate technology transfer
mechanism.
E. Policy constraints.

15-18 Explain the trends and Module 6- Philippine Agriculture from Pen and paper test 1st week of
status of agriculture of the the Past and Future Essay November
Philippines from the past
and future. Pen and paper test
A. Major agricultural crops
produce. Term paper of 2nd week of
B. Exports and imports of crops. “Why Agriculture December
C. Programs implemented for is an important
technology development. field to our
economy”?
.

Course Requirements:
Requirements of Ag. Sci 1 are as follows:
▪ Term paper of “Why Agriculture is an important field to our economy”?
▪ Narrative report on different agronomic crops.

Grading Criteria:
Requirement/Assessment Task Percentage
Major Course Output 50%
Major Exams 30%
Class Standing 20%
TOTAL 100%

References:
1. Monsanto Company. 2017. Interactive presentation of world agriculture history. San
Diego State University.
Source:http://www.monsanto.com/improvingagriculture/pages/a-brief-history-of-agric
ulture.aspx. Retrieved: June, 2017.
2. Tacuyan, J. T. 2012. Career opportunities for agriculture graduates. University of
Southern Philippines.
3. PCARRD, 2017. Problems, Issues, and Constraints in Philippines.
Source:http://www.pcaarrd.dost.gov.ph/home/momentum/agmachin/index.php?option
=com_content&view=article&id=297:problems-issues-and-constraints&catid=126&
Itemid=286
 Introduction to Agriculture

4. Kareem, A. 2011. Introduction to Agriculture. E-book. The University of Agriculture,

Peshawar, Pakistan. Source: https//:www.researchgate.net/publication/282905517. Pp.
79
 Introduction to Agriculture

Module 1
IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE

Module Description: This module discusses the concept and definition of agriculture and its
role to a given economy.

Purpose of the Module:

This module lets the students learn the definition of agriculture as an art, science and
business and help the students to evaluate the importance of agriculture in a given economy.

Module Outcomes:
At the end of this module, students will be able to;
1. Discuss the definition of agriculture as an art, science and business.
2. Evaluate the role of agriculture in a given economy.

Module Requirements:
● Cite examples of agricultural activities involving agriculture as an art, science
and business.
● Give evidences on how agriculture plays as a backbone in a given economy.
● Reaction paper on a video clip “Urban Farming”.

Ag. Sci. 1: Introduction to Agriculture Page 1 of 5

 Introduction to Agriculture

LEARNING PLAN

Lesson 1
Lesson Title: Importance of Agriculture

At the end of this lesson, students should be able to:

▪ Discuss the definition of agriculture as an art,
science and business.
▪ Evaluate the role of agriculture in a given economy.
▪ Reaction paper on a video clip “Urban Farming”.

Importance of Agriculture

A. Terminology

Agriculture is derived from Latin words ‘Ager’ and ‘Cultura’. Ager means land or
field and Cultura means cultivation. Therefore the term agriculture means cultivation of
land. i.e., the science and art of producing crops and livestock for economic purposes. It
is also referred as the science of producing crops and livestock from the natural
resources of the earth. The primary aim of agriculture is to cause the land to produce
more abundantly, and at the same time, to protect it from deterioration and misuse. It is
synonymous with farming–the production of food, fodder and other industrial materials.
B. Definitions
Agriculture is defined in the Agriculture Act 1947, as including ‘horticulture, fruit
growing, seed growing, dairy farming and livestock breeding and keeping, the use of
land as grazing land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land
Agricultural purposes”. It is also defined as ‘purposeful work through which elements in
nature are harnessed to produce plants and animals to meet the human needs. It is a
biological production process, which depends on the growth and development of
selected plants and animals within the local environment.
C. Agriculture as an art, science and business

Ag. Sci. 1: Introduction to Agriculture Page 2 of 5

 Introduction to Agriculture

Agriculture is defined as the art, the science and the business of producing crops
and the livestock for economic purposes.
1. As an art
It embraces knowledge of the way to perform the operations of the farm in a
skilful manner. The skill is categorized as;
a. Physical skill: It involves the ability and capacity to carry out the operation in
an efficient way for e.g., handling of farm implements, animals etc., sowing of
seeds, fertilizer and pesticides application etc.
b. Mental skill: The farmer is able to take a decision based on experience, such
as (i) time and method of ploughing, (ii) selection of crop and cropping
system to suit soil and climate, (iii) adopting improved farm practices etc.
2. As a science
It utilizes all modern technologies developed on scientific principles such
as crop improvement/breeding, crop production, crop protection, economics etc.,
to maximize the yield and profit. For example, new crops and varieties developed
by hybridization, transgenic crop varieties resistant to pests and diseases,
hybrids in each crop, high fertilizer responsive varieties, water management,
herbicides to control weeds, use of bio-control agents to combat pest and
diseases etc.
3. As the business :
As long as agriculture is the way of life of the rural population, production
is ultimately bound to consumption. But agriculture as a business aims at
maximum net return through the management of land, labour, water and
capital, employing the knowledge of various sciences for production of food,
feed, fibre and fuel. In recent years, agriculture is commercialized to run as a
business through mechanization.
D. Agriculture as a backbone to our economy
Agriculture plays a critical role in the entire life of a given economy making it the
backbone of the economic system of a given country by providing food and raw
materials. In addition, it also provides employment opportunities to very large
percentage of the population.

Ag. Sci. 1: Introduction to Agriculture Page 3 of 5

 Introduction to Agriculture

Activity 1:
The class will be grouped in 3. Each group is to cite examples of agricultural activities involving
agriculture as follows:
Group 1: Agricultural activities as an art.
Group 2: Agricultural activities as a science, and
Group 3: Agricultural activities as business.

Ag. Sci. 1: Introduction to Agriculture Page 4 of 5