Basic Knowledge in Agriculture

Agriculture, the foundation of human civilization, is the art and science of cultivating the land to support life. From the quiet and serene environment of the rural areas to the bustling streets of the urban cities, agriculture touches every angle of our daily lives. It's the sources of the shelter we see, the clothes we wear and the food we eat.

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Imagining a world without agriculture is like living with cotton for clothing, fresh fruits and vegetables on our tables, no biofuels to power our vehicles and no grains for food. With this, we shall explore and answer the questions for this week's contest "Basic Knowledge In Agriculture"

"Photo" is derived from a Greek word "Phos" which means light as well as refering to the energy from sunlight. While "Synthesis" is also a Greek word meaning "Putting together".

Therefore, Photosynthesis is the biological and magical process by which green plants, algae and some bacteria convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into food (glucose) and oxygen. This complex reaction of light, water and gases takes place within uniques organelles called 'Chloroplasts', found in plant cells.

The Photosynthesis Equation: 6 CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) + 6 H2O (Water) + Sunlight = C6H12O6 (Glucose) + 6O2 (Oxygen).

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Importance of Photosynthesis In Agriculture.

Photosynthesis is the described as the root of agriculture, sustaining crop growth, productivity and development. The importance of photosynthesis can be summarised as follows:

• Food Production: Photosynthesis produces glucose which plants hide to produce fruits, develop and grow seeds and other edible parts.
• Oxygen Supply: Oxygen is very essential to human and animal life, as photosynthesis produces oxygen as a byproduct.
• Plant Growth: Photosynthesis control plant growth, enhancing cell expansion, division and differentiation.
• Soil Fertility: The process of photosynthesis contributes to the fertility of the soil, by promoting Microbiol activities by microorganisms and nutrients cycling.
• Climate Regulation: Photosynthesis helps to maintain the climate of the Earth NH releasing oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere and removing carbon dioxide (CO2).

To reproduce, grow and develop, plants require essential nutrients achieve that. These nutrients can be categorised into two main groups/class: Macronutrients and Micronutrients.

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Mixed farming actually refers to an agricultural practice where multiple farm activities are put together on the same farm/field such as;

• Growing crops (e.g., wheat, vegetables, maize)
• Raising livestock (eg., pigs, cattle, goats, poultry)
• Introducing other activities (e.g., fish farming, dairy, apiary)

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Crop rotation as the name implies involves extensively changing the type of crops grown on a specific farmland over time, usually between seasons or years. This agricultural practice is aimed at;

• Breaking disease and pest cycle
• Reducing soil erosion
• Promoting biodiversity
• Increasing crop yields and
• Improving the structure and fertility of the soil.

In Nigeria, it can be without doubt say that agriculture plays a vital role in the country's economy, social development and food security. There are many importance of agriculture to Nigerians, but here are three key roles of agriculture in Nigeria;

• Economic Growth and Employment: Agriculture is a remarkable contributor to Nigeria's Growth Domestic Products (GDP), accounting for about 28% of the country's total GDP. This has provided employment opportunities for millions of Citizens, mostly in rural areas, through cultivating, processing and marketing activities.
• Food Security and Nutrition: The growing population of Nigeria is incredible and agriculture has been able to provide food to the nation's occupants, ensuring availability of staple crops like maize, rice, cassava and vegetables. Also it has contributed to nutrition through the production of dairy and livestock products, fruits and other essential food items.
• Rural Development and Poverty Alleviation: Agriculture has helped to reduce poverty by creating income-generatimg activities for rural communities. Beneficial to other sectors, agriculture has driven the development of rural areas through the construction of infrastructure such as roads, storage facilities and irrigation systems.

In conclusion, agriculture has played a vital role in Nigeria's economy and the global economy as well. Living without agriculture can never be possible, because there won't be food to sustain life, clothes to cover our bodies and shelter to abide. By understanding the importance of agriculture, we can together build a better life.

Thanks for reading..

I invite @bossj23, @vickyson and @mesola to participate.

Cc,
@hive-118902