STARTER: 5 MINUTES

1………..is the type of agriculture in which a farmer produces on a large scale to meet the needs
of his family and members of the community.
a. Commercial agriculture. B. Peasant farming. C. Subsistence agriculture. D.
Monculture
2. ------is a type of agriculture in which a farmer produces food to satisfy himself and his family.
A. Mono farming b. Production agriculture c. Subsistence agriculture d.
Commercial agriculture
3. All these are characteristics of commercial agriculture except…..
a. It needs little capital. B. It requires large piece of land. C. It needs large capital. D.
It needs sophisticated farm equipment.
4. Mono cropping is mostly practiced in
b. Mono farming b. Production agriculture c. Subsistence agriculture d.
Commercial agriculture
5. The sole aim of a commercial farmer is to
A. Consume what he produces. B. give out freely what he produces. C. make profit from what
he produces. D. donate the poor whatever he produces.
TOPIC: AREAS/BRANCHES OF
AGRICULTURE
Learning objectives:
1.To identify the various areas of
agriculture.
2.To discuss the areas of agriculture
mentioned above.
Keywords:
Agronomy
Horticulture
Pomiculture
Olericulture
Apiculture
Sericulture
floriculture
The areas/branches of agriculture are:
i. Crop science/agronomy
ii. Soil science
iii.Animal science
iv.Horticulture
v. Agricultural Engineering
vi.Veterinary medicine
vii.Fishery
viii. Forestry and wildlife
ix. Agricultural extension
x. Agricultural economics
i. Apiculture
ii. Heliculture
iii.Sericulture
iv.Viticulture
1. CROP
SCIENCE/AGRONOMY:
This is the branch of
agriculture which deals
with the study and
growing different kinds of
crops. Crop farming is the
cultivation of crops. A
person who studies
agronomy is called an
AGRONOMIST.
ANIMAL SCIENCE:
This is the study and
management of farm
animals/livestock such
as cattle, goat, sheep,
pig, poultry, horse,
donkeys, camels and
rabbits. A person who
studied farm animals is
called an ANIMAL
SCIENTIST.
3. SOIL SCIENCE
This is the branch
of agriculture
which deals with
the study of soil in
which crops are
grown.
4. HORTICULTURE:
This is the branch of
agriculture which
deals with the
study, planting, and
management of
flowers, vegetables
and fruits.
Horticulture is
divided into three:
a. FLORICULTURE: This deals with the
production of flowers such as rose, hibiscus,
queen of the night, ixora, etc.
b. POMOLOGY/POMICULTURE:

This deals
with the
production of
fruits such as
mango,
quava, apple,
etc.
c. OLERICULTURE: This deals with the
production of vegetables such as okra, cabbage,
lettuce, fruited pumpkin, tomatoes, etc.
5. Agricultural
engineering:
This is the branch of
agriculture that deals
with the design,
construction and
maintenance of farm
tools and machines used
for farm operations. Such
machines are tractors,
plough, harrow, sprayers,
etc. A person who
specialises in the field is
known as an Agricultural
6. Veterinary medicine:
This is the branch of
agriculture which deals
with the diagnosis and
treatment of sick farm
animals. The people
who studied how to
treat animals that are
sick are known as
veterinary doctor or a
vet or a veterinarian.
7. FORESTRY:
This is the branch of agriculture
which is concerned with the
growing and maintenance of
trees and animals in the forest.
Some of the forest trees are
iroko, mahogany, obeche,
African walnut, etc. These trees
serve as timber for making
furniture and building houses.
Forest animals are lions,
elephant, deer, antelopes, etc.
8. Fishery:
This is the branch of agriculture which deals with the production
and management of fish and other aquatic food organisms. Other
aquatic food animals include crayfish, prawns, shrimps, lobster,
crabs, etc. Fishes are also reared in pond, tanks, etc. by fish
farmers.
9. Agricultural Extension:
This is the branch of agriculture
which deals with the transfer of new
agricultural ideas or information or
techniques from the research
institutes to the farmers by the
extension agents. The extension
agents help to show farmers better
ways of doing farm work.
10.Agricultural
Education:
This is the branch of
agriculture which
deals with the
training of farmers,
workers in charge of
agriculture and
people who help
teach youths and
adults the art and
science of agriculture.
11. AGRICULTURAL
ECONOMICS:
This is the branch of
agriculture which deals
with the ways farmers can
combine their resources in
order to make profit. It
teaches the farmers how
to use their capital, labour
and land effectively to
generate profit.
12. HELICULTURE:
This is the branch of
agriculture which deals
with the production of
snails consumed by man
for protein. It is also called
SNAILRY.
13. APICULTURE:

This is the branch of

agriculture which deals
with the production and
management of honey –
producing bees with the
aim of producing honey.
14.SERICULTURE:
This is the branch
of agriculture
which deals with
the keeping of
silkworm for the
production of silk
used for clothing.
15.
VITICULTURE:
This involves
the planting
and production
of vines.
Plenary:
1. Explain the following branches of
agriculture:
- Agronomy
- Horticulture
- Apiculture
- Veterinary medicine
- Olericulture
- Sericulture
- pomology
ASSIGNMENT:

Explain the following terms:

i. Entomology
ii. Pathology
iii.silviculture
PLENARY/PRACTICE QUESTIONS
1. Deals with the cultivation and management of flowers………
2. Deals with the causes of diseases………………..
3. the branch of science that deals with the study of insect pests.
4. The branch of agriculture that deals with the study and management of crops
5. the branch of agriculture that deals with the management of honey-producing
bees.
6. The branch of agriculture that deals with the planting and management of
vegetables.
7. The branch of agriculture that deals with the planting of flowers, fruits and
vegetables.
8. The branch of agriculture that deals with the production of silkworm
9. the branch of agriculture that deals with the production of silkworm
10. The branch of agriculture that deals with the planting of forest trees
11. The practice of keeping snails is known as
12. A person who transfers new agricultural ideas to the
rural farmers is called
13. A piece of land where fruit trees are planted is called
a/an
14. A person who takes care of sick farm animals is
known as a/an
15. A person who sells fish is called a/an
16. A plant grown for the beautification of the
environment is referred to as a/an
17. A person takes care and sells flowers is called a/an