FARMS- WHY AGRICULTURE?

To start up any farm at all, or to decide on which farm to start up, we have to understand the basis of farming which is contained in the general term "Agriculture" itself, the definition(s) of Agriculture, its branches, its Importance and its scope.

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DEFINITION OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture can be defined as the cultivation of a land for the sole purpose of crop planting and or animal rearing subsistencely or commercially with the aim of satisfying man's need.

The term ”Agriculture” is derived from the Latin word “ager ’or “agri” meaning “soil” and “cultura ” meaning cultivation.

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Definition of Agriculture by Monteith’s (1958):

“Agriculture is an exploitation of solar energy made possible by an adequate supply of water and
nutrients to maintain plant growth.”
The word agriculture thus may be expanded as-
“Activities on the Ground for Raising Integrated Crops for Uplifting Livelihood Through the Use of Rechargeable Energies.”

ASPECTS OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture as a broad sector encompasses diverse aspects, touching various areas of opportunity with the knowledge of all, some of its inclusive areas are;

• Chemistry

• Life science

• Physics

-Sociology

• Mathematics e.t.c

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE
If you would ask me, I would say Agriculture is the most important thing in this world, because every of our basic needs simply comes from Agriculture, be it food, clothing or shelter, in one way or the other, Agriculture contributes to every of our wellbeing.

Some of its other importance are;

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Productive Units
Agriculture is a productive unit where free gifts of nature which includes Land, air, rain water, etc are being utilized to serve man's need.

Provision Of Food
Agriculture provides food in form of meat or crops for every individual, it also provide other end product feed such as milk, honey, hide, lac etc. Is there any food we eat that is not gotten from Agriculture? this question I have asked myself over and over again, but yet to get response.

Provision Of Raw Materials
Agriculture also provides raw materials for industries such as timber for furniture industries, hides and skin for leather industries, woods for pulp and paper industries, latex for rubber and plastic industries, wool for Textile industries and many more.

Provision Of Employment
It also provides job opportunities of various kind to individuals, employment such as Agricultural Economist, employment in an Agricultural production sector, processing sector, preservation and storage sector, transport sector, energy generation and consumption sector etc.

Sources of fuel
Agriculture can also provide fuel such as wood and coal gotten from wood, which are highly combustible and are always ready to burn.

State Revenue
Agriculture contributes to our revenue through agricultural tax, which may be direct tax or an indirect tax.

BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is majorly composed of different branches which are;

Agricultural Engineering
Agricultural Engineering entails farm mechanization that is the use of farm machines and equipments, it also involves a technical-know-how to operate. It includes also the upbringing of new and advanced practices to tackle problems technically in the farm, yielding positive solutions.

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Animal Science
This is the nurturing and rearing of farm animals for diverse purpose which may include meat, milk, wool or skin production.

Agronomy
It is the study of soil composition and soil management suitable for the growing of crops.

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Agricultural Economics
This controls the business line of Agriculture, it deals with Agro-based transactions involving marketing of farm produce, sales and farm records.

Horticulture
Horticulture on it's own is a broad area which I would like to touch in full details some other time, it deals with the cultivation of fruits, vegetables and ornamental crops. It is the aesthetic part of Agriculture.

Scopes Of Agriculture
They are categories in which Agriculture mag. E subdivided into, they include;

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Agricultural Extension

Botany

Entomology

Plant pathology

Diary Science

Soil science etc

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE
This is where you decide on which area to focus, the types are;
Arable farming: This deals with the growing of crops such as cassava, maize, yam, wheat, barley etc.

Pastoral farming: It involves raising animals, like cows, sheep, goats, poultry birds, sheeps etc.

Mixed farming: It deals with both arable and pastoral farming together that is planting of crops and rearing of animals on the same piece of land.