Agri 101

Introduction to Agriculture

LIEZEL M. CARANTO
Instructor
 Importance of Agriculture
Agriculture provides food for humanity and
serves as backbone of the nation’s economy.
Prior to industrialization era, agriculture
served as the foundation in the development
and progress of every country.
Strengthening agricultural production of
crops and livestock in any country will
promote food sufficiency and well being of
the people.
 With the advent of science and
technology, the production capacity of
farmers increased.

The business industries engaged in the

processing of farm products and some
agricultural products are now exported
and imported in different parts of the
world.
 For decades, agriculture has been
associated with the production of essential
food crops. At present, agriculture above
and beyond includes forestry, dairy, fruit
cultivation, poultry, bee keeping, and
mushrooms.
Today, processing, marketing,
distribution of crops and livestock
products are all acknowledged as part of
current agriculture.
 Thus, agriculture could be referred to as the
production, processing, promotion and
distribution of agricultural products.
Agriculture is the backbone of the economic
system of the country. In addition to providing
food and raw material, agriculture also provides
employment opportunities to very large
percentage of the population either in crops and
livestock production thus improving the family’s
standard of living and reducing poverty level.
Below are the importance of
agriculture:
Source of livelihood
The main source of livelihood of many people
is agriculture.
 Contribution to National Revenue
Agriculture is the main source income for
most developing countries. However, for the
developed countries, agriculture contribute a
smaller percentage to their national income.
Supply of Food as well as Fodder

Agricultural sector provides fodder for

domestic animals. Cow provides people with
milk which is a form of protective food.
Moreover, livestock also meets people’s
requirements.
Significance to the International Trade

Agricultural products like sugar, tea, rice,

spices and tobacco, constitute the major items
of exports of country that rely on agriculture. If
there is smooths development practice of
agriculture, imports are reduced while export
increases considerably. This may be well used
to important other essential inputs, machinery,
raw- material, and other infrastructure that is
helpful for the support of country’s economic
development.
Source of Raw Material
The main source of raw materials to
major industries such as cotton, jute
fabric, sugar, tobacco, and edible.
Moreover, many other industries such as
processing of fruits as well as vegetables
and rice husking get their raw material
mainly from agriculture.
Significance in Transport
Bulks of agricultural products are transported
by railways and roadways from farm to
factories. Mostly, internal trade is in agricultural
products. Moreover, the revenue of the
government, to a larger extent, relies on the
success of agricultural sector.
Foreign Exchange Resources
The nation's export trade depends largely on
agricultural sector. For example, agricultural
commodities such as jute, tobacco, spices,
oilseeds, raw cotton, tea as well as coffee
accounts for approximately 18% of the entire
value of exports of a country. This demonstrate
that agriculture products also continue to be
important source foreign exchange.
Great Employment Opportunities
Construction of irrigation schemes, drainage
system as well as other such activities in the
agricultural sector is important as it provides
larger employment opportunities. Agriculture
sector provides more employment opportunities
to the labor force that reduce of unemployment
in developing countries by the fast growing
population.
Economic Development
Since agriculture employs many people it
contributes to economic development. As a
result, the national income level as well as
people’s standard of living is improved. The
past rate of development in agriculture sector
offers progressive outlook as well as increased
motivation for development. Hence, it aids to
create good atmosphere for overall economic
development of a country.
Source of Saving
Development in agriculture may also
increase savings. The rich farmers we see
today started saving particularly after green
revolution. This surplus quantity may be
invested further in the agriculture sector to
develop the sector.
Food Security
A stable agricultural sector ensures of food
security. The main requirement of any country
is food security. Food security prevents
malnourishment that has traditionally been
believed to be one of the major problems faced
by the developing countries. Most countries
rely on agricultural products as well as
associated industries for their main source of
income.
Brief History of Philippine
Agriculture
 The first inhabitants to live in the
Philippines were the Pygmies called
“Negritos”, “Aetas” or “Itas”. They emanated
from Central Asia, and they depended on the
nature’s resources for their foods in order to
survive .
Mode of
collecting their
foods was
fishing, hunting,
using their bows
and arrows, and
gathering edible
wild fruits.
 Then later, another group the Indonesians
and Malays who were more advanced in
culture than the Aetas came to the Philippines.
They introduced the
crude method of
agriculture “kaingin “
known as “ slash and
burns” and became a
practice.
 Kaingin was done by cutting trees, shrubs
and bushes left to dry and burned. Using a
pointed stick, holes were made into soil and
planted with rice, corn and vegetables seeds.
After a period of 1 to 2 croppings, they
transfered to another area or place utilizing
the same mode of farming” Kaingin “.
 The second method
of farming was done by
cultivating and
pulverizing the soil to
kill the weeds using the
wooden plow and
harrow drawn by
carabao.
 It gave rise to the
improvement in
farming practices
included domestication
of animals other than
growing variety of
crops.
Overview of Philippine
Agriculture
 Majority of the
population of the
country live in the
countryside or rural
areas. They obtain their
income and food
through agriculture by
raising crops, livestock,
fish and forest trees.
 Agricultural activities play an important
role in the economic sustainability and
development of the country.
Agriculture
And
Environment
 In some aspect, agriculture contributes both
to the destruction and preservation of our
ecosystem.

As population increases, more areas of land

are being cleared and cultivated for various
agricultural activities.
 Human being, plants and farm animals co-
exist with one other as part of the ecosystem.

The advantage one organism has over other

any organism (man, plant and animal) results to
disappearance of one or two thus causing the
change in the ecosystem.
 Today, the use of intensive agriculture using
various technologies such as pesticides,
chemical fertilizers and highly mechanized
farm equipment had kept to environmental
pollution through chemical reaction of
pesticides and herbicides in water and carbon
dioxide emission from farm equipment.
What
Is
Agriculture?
 Agriculture is
growing plants and
receiving animals
for food , clothing,
and other useful
products.
Agriculture is defined as an
art and science of growing
plants and animals.
It is an art because it
entails proper design,
preparation , and arrangement
of raising crops and animals
which reflect aesthetic value
and improvement of the
environment.
 It is also a science because it requires
necessary knowledge and skills in the
application of the principles and practices in
crop production.
The improvements in agricultural
technology that results in the increase of farm
products are usually founded on a research.
 Agriculture generally speaking refers to
human activities.

The word agriculture is the English

adaption of Latin agricultura, from ager, “ a
field “, and cultura, “cultivation” in the strict
sense of “tillage of the soil”.
EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
IN
CROP PRODUCTION
 Modern changes in crop production have
already evolved for the past 20th century.
Animal- drawn in land preparation has been
replaced by mechanized farming (tractor
equipment with various implements).
 Today, computers are gaining importance in
crop production. They are used for research,
record keeping, analyzing and calculating
production cost, and assisting in marketing
activity.
Researchers are partners of agricultural
technology and innovations.
 New ways of farming have made it possible
for a single farmer to produce enough food for a
greater number of population.

The impressive yield gains brought about by

technological advances have addresses biological
shortcomings of plants and overcome
environmental limitations.
 Agricultural scientist are engaged in
research to identify methods by which the
hereditary traits of plants can be altered to
resolve agricultural problems.
 The process of modifying the living
things by changing the genetic code of the
organism is called genetic engineering.
 It is done by selecting species of plants
exhibiting desirable characteristics and
changing the genetic make- up of the plant
using recombinant DNA
(Deoxyribonucleic acid)
technology. This is a process by which
undesirable genes are removed and desirable
genes are spliced into chromosome.