NAME:………………………………………………….

CLASS:……………
SURE FOUNDATION COMPREHENSIVE COLLEGE

FIRST TERM: E-LEARNING NOTES

JS 1 (BASIC 7)
SUBJECT: PRE-VOCATIONAL STUDIES (AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE)

SCHEME OF WORK

WEEK TOPIC

1. Meaning of agriculture
2. Importance of forms of Agriculture: (a) Importance of agriculture in the
society;(i) Source of food (ii) Clothing etc.
3. Importance of forms of Agriculture(b) Types of agricultural practice in the
localities (i) Pastoral farming (ii) Arable farming etc.
4. Importance of forms of Agriculture(c) Forms of agricultural activities in the
communities; (i) Growing crops (ii) Rearing livestock (iii) Salving of farm
produces etc.
5. Branches of agriculture
6. Problems of agriculture
7. Classes and Uses of crops(a) Crop plant forms ;(i) Monocotyledonous e.g.
maize, guinea corn (ii).Dicotyledonous e.g beans, melon.
8. Classes and Uses of crops(a)Classification of crop based on Life span
(i);Annuals (e.g. maize, yam) etc. (ii).Biennial (iii)Perennial (e.g. cocoa, mango)
etc.
9. Classes and Uses of crops(b)Classification of crop based on uses of crops;
(i)Cereals (ii)Tubers (iii)Pulses(iv)Fruits (v)Vegetables etc.
10. Classes and Uses of crops(c) Source of food nutrients (e.g carbohydrates,
protein, fat and oil, minerals, vitamins etc.)
11. Classes and Uses of crops(d) Uses of crops

9 -10. Revision

11-13.Examination.

WEEK 1
SUBJECT: PRE-VOCATIONAL STUDIES (AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE)
CLASS: BASIC 7
Meaning of agriculture
The word agriculture was derived from two Latin words
Ager and cultura
Ager means field or land

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Cultura means cultivation
Agriculture can be defined as a branch of science that deals with cultivation of crops and
rearing of domestic animals for man use or for provision of food clothing and shelter

TOPIC: Importance of agagriculture

Sub – Topic:Importance of agriculture in the society

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Agriculture is very important to individuals, countries and the whole world
i. Source of food: People need food in order to live. Farm animals also need food.
The food could be meat, eggs, and milk from farm animals and products from
many different crops such as yam, rice, maize etc
ii. Provision of clothing: Agriculture provides materials such as cotton and wool
used to produce clothing materials. Hides and skin are used to produces shoes and
other leather wears
iii. Provision of income: Agriculture provides incomes for farmers when they sell
crops products like yam, rice, plantain, cocoa etc and farm products like meat,
milk, eggs and skin.
iv. Provision of transportation: Some farm animals or livestock are used as means
of travelling and carrying of loads particularly in the north such as horses, donkey
and camels.
v. Development of rural area: Agriculture brings about construction of good roads,
provision of pipe borne water, electricity and school for the children of farmers in
the villages.
vi. Provision of material for shelter: Agriculture is a source of materials used in
building houses. Materials such as timbers and leaves are used in building houses.
vii. Provision of foreign exchange: Agriculture provides foreign exchange or
currency such as dollar, pound sterling when agricultural products are exported to
other countries.
viii. Provision of raw materials for industries: Products from the farm are used in
several industries to produce different types of finished products such as cocoa,
cotton lint, maize etc
ix. Provision of employment: Many people engaged in farming, rearing of live
stock, selling of agricultural product and some are employed in industries that
process farm produce
x. Provision of recreation and sport: Some farm animals provide form of
amusement and other are used for sporting activities.
xi. Source of raw materials for Agro based industries
Agro based industries depend on agricultural raw materials to produce examples
1 Sugar refineries makes use of sugar cane
2 Textiles industry make use of cotton
3 Tannery industry makes use of animal hides and skin
4 Beverage industry makes use of cocoa coffee etc
5 Brewery industry makes use of cereals like maize
6 Rubber industry uses rubber

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 Etc

Types of agriculture
There are two types of agriculture
1 subsistence agriculture
2 commercial agriculture
Subsistence agriculture
A farmer cultivates crops and rear animals for himself and family use only
Characteristics of subsistence agriculture
1 small piece of land is used
2 it requires small capital
3 simple farm tools are used
4 family labour is used
5 it's not for sale
6 pests and diseases may not be controlled
7 farm records are not kept
8 mixed cropping is practiced

Commercial agriculture
A farmer cultivates crops and rear animals for sale and to make profit
Characteristics of commercial agriculture
1 large piece of land is used
2 it requires large capital
3 modern farm tools are used
4 skill and paid labour is used
5 it's for sale
6.pests and diseases are controlled
7 farm records are kept
8 mono cropping is practiced

Branches of agriculture
The following are branches of agriculture
1 agricultural engineering they help in maintenance and repair of farm machines
2 Agricultural economics helps in farm budgeting and account
3.Animal science they study about rearing and Management of farm animals
4 Veterinary medicine helps in treatment of farm animals and prevention of diseases
5 Soil science studies about soil and how best they are used for crop production
6 Fisheries studies about breeding or rearing of fishes and other aquatic animals
7 Horticulture deals with growing of ornamental crops

TOPIC: IMPORTANCE OF FORMS OF AGRICULTURE.

CONTENT: Types of agricultural practice in the localities
(i) Pastoral farming
(ii) Arable farming
(iii) Mixed farming

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 (iv) Ley farming
(v) Taungya farming
(vi) Fish farming

Sub – Topic 1: Types of agricultural practice in the localities

a. Pastoral farming: This system involves the rearing of animals that feed on forage
crops (grasses and legumes), such as goats, sheep and cattle. Pastoral farming
could take any of these two forms:
(i) Ranching
(ii) Nomadic herding

b. Arable farming (food crop farming): This involves cultivation of land for crops
whose various parts are eat as food either raw, cooked or processed such as maize,
yam, soyabeans, oil palm, pawpaw etc. This can be done using production
different cropping systems such as mixed cropping, mono cropping, crop rotating,
sole cropping etc

c. Mixed farming: This is the combination of crop production with animal on the
same farmland. This is mainly practiced on commercial farms poultry, pigs etc are
kept alongside the cultivation of crops like maize,
rice and vegetables.

Sub–Topic 2:
d. Ley farming: It involves alternating arable crops production with the growing of
forage crops on a piece of land. For instance, a farmer may use a piece of land to
grow food crop for about two years ,after harvesting the land is reploughed and
then use it for grow forage crops.
e. Taungya :This is the system whereby food crops were grown alongside forest
tree. It involves clearing forest land and planting food crops
f. Fish farming: This is the rearing of fishes in ponds or other bodies of water.
Fishery is that branch of agriculture which deals with the production of fishes and
other aquatic animals

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 g. Livestock farming: This is the rearing of terrestrial animals (animals that live on
land). They feed, grow and reproduce or laid eggs. Examples of livestock that are
raised on the farm are cattle, sheep, goats, pigs rabbits and poultry birds such as
domestic fowl, turkey, geese, guinea fowl, duck, pigeon etc
EVALUATION
DATE:……………………………………

TOPIC:IMPORTANCE OF FORMS OF AGRICULTURE

CONTENT: Forms of agricultural activities in the communities;

(i) Growing crops
(ii) Rearing livestock
(iii) Salving of farm produces etc

Sub–Topic 1:Forms of agricultural activities in the communities

The followings are forms of agricultural activities in the communities that different
people involve in:
1. Cultivation and Growing of crops
2. Rearing of livestock
3. Rearing of fish (fishery)
4. Horticulture
5. Rearing of Snail or heliculture
Cultivation and Growing
This involves the production of different kind of crop plants useful to man and animals. Crop
plants are either called food or arable crops and cash crops. Crops that are eaten by man either
cooked or raw are referred to as food cropse,g cassava, yam, vegetable, potatoes, bean,
cowpea, soya bean, maize, guinea corn etc. Crops cultivated with the aim of selling them either
to our local industries or for export is called cash cropse.g cocoa, cotton, groundnut, oil palm,
timber, coffee etc
Rearing of Livestock
This is the rearing of farm animals by feeding them, they grow and reproduce their
young ones. Examples of farm animals raised on the farm by the farmers are rabbits, pigs, goats,
sheep, cattle and poultry birds like duck, geese, turkey, guinea fowl, pigeon and domestic fowls.

Sub – Topic 2: Rearing of fish(fishery)

Fishery is the act of rearing selected species of fish under scientifically controlled
condition in enclosed bodies of water such as ponds, streams, river etc where they feed, grow,
breed and are harvested for consumption or for sale. The study of fish and other aquatic animals
such as shrimps, crayfish, lobster, crabs etc is referred to as aquaculture

Types of Fish good for fish farming

1. Heterobranchus
2. Tilapia
3. Gynacus
4. Clarias

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Important of Fish
a. Good Source of Protein
b. Contains lesser cholesterol than meat
c. Demand for fish is very high – for both rich and poor
d. It is recommended for dieting and some vegetarians who do not eat meat

Requirements for Fish farming.

• Pond (Earthen concrete, plastic or galvanized tank can be used as pond
• Source of water could be natural stream, lake, borehole water
• Fingerlings (livestock)
• Feeds e.g. plankton
• Fertilizers
Horticulture
This is scientific study and practice of cultivating vegetables, fruits, and ornamental
for profit and pleasure. This can be divided into three:
a. Pomology: This is the scientific study and practice of growing fruit crops e,g
orange, mango, apple, cashew etc
b. Olericulture: This deals with the growing of vegetable eg tomatoes, pepper, fluted
pumpkin (ugu)
c. Floriculture: This is the growing of flowers and other ornamental crops e.g
hibiscus, rose flower, Queen of the night
Rearing of snail
This deals with rearing and breeding of selected species of snail.

Features of snail
1. It is in a class called mollusc
2. It is tough and blue-blooded
3. It is covered with shell
4. It has no threat to human health when eaten as meat. It is instead recommended
for diabetic patients, High Blood Pressure (HBP) patients, and health conscious
individuals. The liquid in its body is recommended for the treatment of asthma,
blood deficiency, etc.
5. It is a seasonal meat (found only in rainy season). There is therefore, high
demand for snail as meat hence, the need to keep it domestically.

Housing Requirements
The houses are of various forms to suit your need in terms of space and capital
available.
a. Piled motor tyres with net lid
b. Pots or drums constructed
c. Hutches or cages/boxed fenced pens
d. Plantain plantation fenced with net wire.

Management or Skills Required

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Choose the breed that can lay more eggs – male and female.It is cheaper than any other livestock
to run comparing the input with the expected return. The labour is simple and feeding is
not costly. The source of breed is very simple – you purchase the breed that will benefit
your project in terms of high yield. Snails feed on green leaves of cocoyam, cassava,
pawpaw, spinach, waterleaf, centrosemna and unripe fruits such as pawpaw, banana,
plantain, tomato, etc; tubers and flowers. Salt should not be added to any snail feed to
prevent them from dying.
Problems of agriculture
1 pests and diseases
Pests destroy our crops while diseases affect crops and animals
Solution
a apply pesticides
b practice crop rotation

2 Bad roads
Affect movement of farm products
Solution
a government should repair bad roads

3 poor storage facilities

They lead to spoilage of farm products
Solution
a provide storage facilities

4 inadequate capital
Farmers won't be able produce in large quantities
Solution
a government should give loans to farmers with little or no interest

5 inadequate land
Farmers won't have where to cultivate
Solution
a. Cost of land acquisition should be reduced

6 inadequate farm tools

Farm tools are usually inadequate affecting production
Solution
a. Government should provide machines and tools to farmers
7 environmental disaster
Flood and other disasters affect agricultural production
Solution
a avoide indiscriminate dumping of refuse…

TOPIC: CLASSES AND USES OF CROPS

CONTENT:Classification of crops based on crop plant forms ;

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 (i) Monocotyledonous e.g maize, guinea corn.
(ii) Dicotyledonous e.g beans, melon.

Sub Topic 1: Classification of crops based on crop plant forms

Monocotyledons plants:
These are plants with one seed leaf or Cotyledons e.g. maize, rice, oil palm, coconut, wheat,
millet, banana etc.
Characteristics of monocotyledons plants
1. The root of monocot plants are of the same size without tap root
2. The roots are called fibrous roots.
3. The leaves of monocot plants are usually alternate and in two rows
4. They are elongated with parallel venation
5. The flowering head of monocot plant is the reproductive part of theplant

Dicotyledonous plants:
These are plants with two seed leaves or cotyledons e.g. cowpea, mango, citrus, cashew
groundnuts, tomatoes, kola, mango etc.

Characteristics of dicotyledons plants

1. Dicot plants root is found below the ground
2. The root has many branches and the biggest of the branches is called taproot
3. Dicot has broad leaves with venation
4. The flower is the reproductive part of the crop plant.

Sub-Topic 2: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MONOCOTYLEDONS & DICOTYLEDONS

STRUCTURE MONOCOT FEATURES DICOT FEATURES

1 Root Fibrous root system. Tap root system.
2 Stem Single erect stem without branches. Stem with many branches
3 Seeds One seed leaves or cotyledons Two seed leaves or cotyledons.
4 Pollinations. Usually by wind Usually by insects and other
5 Leaf Narrow and long Broad and short
6 Leaf venation Paralleled veined Net veined
7 Germination By hypogeal (seed remains below the soil By epigeal (seed comes above the soil.
8 Flowers Many and unscented Few coloured and scented

TOPIC:CLASSES AND USES OF CROPS(Cont’d)

CONTENT:Classification of crop based on Life span;

(i) Annuals (e.g maize, yam) etc.
(ii) Biennial
(iii) Perennial (e.g cocoa, mango) etc.

Sub – Topic 1: Classification of crop based on Life span

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Crops can be classified based on their life cycle or lifespan: Thus crops are classified into
Annual, Biennial and Perennial Crops.

Annual crops
These are crops, which complete their life cycle (length of life) within one year or in one
growing season. These crops grow into maturity, flower, produce seeds and eventually die
within one year. Examples are maize, rice, sorghum, okra, tomato, yam, etc.

Biennial crops
These are crops, which take two years or two seasons to complete their life cycle. The
vegetative parts grow into maturity in the first year or season, while the fruits or tubers are
produced in the second year or season. Examples are cassava, cocoyam, onion bulbs, carrots,
cabbage, etc.

Sub-Topic 2: Perennial crops:

These are crops, which take more than two years to complete their life cycle. Their lives cover
several growing seasons. Perennial crops are also called permanent crops. As you keep on
maintaining them, they keep on producing from year to year. Examples are Rubber, Cocoa, Oil
Palm, Orange, Mango, Pawpaw, Cashew, Guava, Tea, etc.

TOPIC: CLASSES AND USES OF CROPS

CONTENT: Classification of crop based on uses of crops;

(i) Cereals
(ii) Tubers
(iii) Pulses
(iv) Fruits
(v) Vegetables etc

Sub – Topic 1:Classification of crop based on uses of crops

These are crops used as food for man and his livestock. Some of these crops are sources of
essential nutrients, e.g carbohydrates, proteins, minerals, etc . FOOD and FEED crops are
grouped as follow :

Cereal crops:
These crops belong to the grass family called Gramineae. They are grown for their seeds or
grains and are rich in carbohydrates. Examples are Rice, Millet, Rye, Maize, Sorghum (Guinea
corn), wheat, Barley, Oats etc.

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Grain legumes (Pulses):
The legumes belong to the family called LEGUMINOSEAE. They supply proteins in the food.
Legumes have some bacteria in their roots’ nodules that fix nitrogen into the soil. Examples are
Cowpea, Soya-beans, Groundnuts, Pigeon-peas, lima beans, Clover, etc.

Vegetable crops:
These are crops grown for their leaves and fruits. They are usually eaten fresh and green or
boiled. They supply proteins, vitamins, minerals and also serve as roughage.
Examples are Okra, Tomatoes, pumpkin (Ugu) Water-leaf, Lettuce, Cabbage, Cucumber, Onion,
Bitter-leaf, Amaranthus, etc.

Root and tuber crops:

These are crops that store food in underground stems or roots. They are major source of
carbohydrates. Examples are Cocoyam, Cassava, Sweet potato, Yam and Irish-potato.

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Fruit crops:
They grow mainly because of their fruits which supply vitamins and sugar to the body.
Examples include mango, quava, orange, pineapple, pawpaw, banana, cashew etc

Fibre crops:
These are crops grown specifically for their fibres. Fibres are used for making clothes, Carpets,
Sacks, Ropes, Twines and Papers. They may be produced from Fruits or Seeds, Stems or Leaves.
Examples are Cotton, Jute, Kenaf, Hemp, Sisal, Raffia, etc

Nut crops:
They are grown mainly for their oil. Examples are cashew, coconut, groundnut etc

Latex crops:
These are crops whose stems or fruits produce Sap(fluid) which may be used as gum or
coagulated to form rubber.

Examples are Gum Arabia, Para-Rubber (Heveabrasiliensis), Indian-Rubber (Ficus elastic).

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Sub – Topic 2 Sugar crops:
These are crops that supply sugar to the body. Example is Sugar cane

Beverage crops:
They are crops that are grown for beverage drinks (e.g. bourvita, tea, coffee). Examples are
cocoa, coffee and tea.

Oil crops:
They are crops that are grown for vegetable oil used for cooking, making pomade, candle,
margarine etc. Examples are oil palm, groundnut, coconut, melon, cheese butter
Spices:
These are crops that are used to flavor food. Examples are ginger, onion, pepper, thyme, curry,
locust beans

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Forage crops:
These are grasses and legumes grown mainly for feeding farm animals. They are otherwise
called feed crops. Examples of forage crops are Elephant grass, Guinea grass, Centrosema,
Gambia grass, Pueraria, Stylosanthesgracilis.
Drug crops and stimulants:
These are medicinal plants which contain chemical substances that produce an action in the
human body. Examples are Tobacco, Cocaine, Quinine, Eucalyptus, Neem tree, Indian hemp or
Marijuana Dongoyaro etc. Examples of stimulants are Kola, Lime. The active material is usually
present in their Roots, Seeds, Leaves, Barks, Woods, etc.
Ornamental crops:
These are crops grown for the purpose of making our environment beautiful. They include
Flowers, House Plants, Hedge Shrubs and Lawn grasses. Examples are Roses, Sunflower, Pride
of Barbados, Acacia, Ixora, Hibiscus, Marigold, Lily, and some water plants.

DATE: ………………………..

TOPIC: CLASSES AND USES OF CROPS

CONTENT: Classification based on Source of food nutrients

e.g. carbohydrates, protein, fat and oil, minerals, vitamins etc

Sub – Topic 1: Source of food nutrients

Crops can also be grouped based on the class of nutrient derived from them. The
following are groups of crops based on their nutrient:

Carbohydrate:
Most cereals and tuber crops contain carbohydrates from starch that supply energy to
human body. Examples are cassava, yam, rice, maize etc
Proteins:
They are the building block of the body. The body needs protein to repair and maintain
worn out tissues. Examples are beans, groundnuts, and soya beans
Fat and oil
Fat and oil are solid and liquid materials respectively obtained plants. They give energy
to the body. Examples are palm oil, avocado pear oil, peanut oil, shea butter etc.

Sub – Topic 2: Minerals

Vegetables and fruits supply us with minerals needed for protection against diseases.
Examples are lime, mango, lemon, carrot, orange, guava, spinach etc

Vitamins
Fruits and vegetables also provide vitamins that protect the body against diseases.
Vitamins C is available in nearly all fruits. Vitamin A is abundant in all coloured fruits like
carrot, oil palm seed and watermelon.

EVALUATION

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TOPIC:CLASSES AND USES OF CROPS(cont`d)

CONTENT:Uses of crops

Sub – Topic 1: Uses of crops

There are many uses of crops. These include:
1. Provision of food for humans and animals survival
2. It provides shelter(houses) for people to live
3. Clothing materials are made from crop materials
4. Crops planted can be used to control erosion
5. Some crops are used as ornamental such as flower to decorate and beautify
compounds.
6. Crops provide wood for house-hold furniture such as beds, tables and
chairs.
7. Leaves, bark of stem and roots of some crops serve medicinal purpose.
8. Some crops are taking as beverages like cocoa, coffee and tea.
9. Crops serve as fuel
10. Crops provide useful materials such as rubber, gums, resin, perfume etc
11. Some crops or crop parts are used in making manures e.g compost and
green manure.

Sub – Topic 2:
Uses of crop by- products
The crops harvested by farmers are sometimes used directly as food. Some crops such
as rice and sugar cane are first processed to get the main products. During processing
by-products or waste substances are obtained. The different by-products serve different
purposes. The by-product of some crops and their uses are given below

S/N CROPS BY-PRODUCT USES OF BY-PRODUCT

1 Groundnut Groundnut cake Feeding of livestock
2 Soya bean Soya bean cake Feeding of livestock
3 Cotton Cottonseed, cotton seed cake Making of soup for human
consumption and for feeding live
4 Rice Rice bran Feeding of livestock
5 Wheat Wheat offal or middling and Feeding of livestock.
wheat bran

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