Summary

• Description:

  The PDF document comprises Form 1 notes on the topic of Introduction to Agriculture.

  The topics and sub-topics covered in the document include:

  • Definition and Branches of Agriculture
    • Agriculture is defined as the science and art of cultivating crops and rearing livestock.
    • As a science, it involves experimentation and the application of scientific knowledge in areas like soil analysis and pest control.
    • As an art, it involves the use of learned skills in activities such as tilling the land and handling livestock.
    • The main branches are detailed as:
      • Crop Farming (Arable Farming): This includes the cultivation of field crops and horticulture. Horticulture is further subdivided into floriculture (flowers), olericulture (vegetables), and pomiculture (fruits).
      • Livestock Farming: This deals with rearing livestock and is subdivided into pastoralism (rearing mammalian livestock), fish farming (aquaculture), and bee keeping (apiculture).
  • Farming Systems and Methods
    • The notes differentiate between farming systems based on their scale and intensity.
    • Large scale farming involves large tracts of land with high capital investment, while small scale farming uses small land areas with low capital and labor intensity.
    • Extensive farming involves large farms with low output per unit area, whereas intensive farming involves small land areas with high output per unit area.
    • Different farming methods are described, including shifting cultivation, nomadic pastoralism, and agroforestry.
  • Importance of Agriculture to the Economy
    • The notes highlight the vital role of agriculture in Kenya's economy by:
      • Providing food to the population.
      • Creating employment opportunities, both directly on farms and indirectly in agro-based industries.
      • Supplying raw materials for industries, such as cotton for textiles.
      • Generating foreign exchange through the export of agricultural products.
      • Providing a market for industrial goods and being a source of income for farmers and the government.

  These notes are comprehensive, neat, and printable, making them an excellent resource for students being introduced to the field of agriculture. They are also highly suitable for teachers to use for lesson preparation, providing a structured and clear foundation for the topic.

• Length:

  14 pages
• Category:

  Lesson Notes
• Level:

  Form 1
• Subject:

  AGRICULTURE

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