TOPIC 01:AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is the branch of science which deals with crop cultivation and animal keeping. Crop cultivation is called arable farming and it is carried out on a better quality of land. Pastoral farming is normally carried out in less fertile land.
TYPES OF AGRICULTURE
SMALL SCALE AGRICULTURE
It is the type of agriculture [crop cultivation] where a farmer owns a piece of land and not more than 5 hectares.
Small scale farming may involve growing annual crops such as cotton, coffee, tea etc. Annual crops are grown mostly on areas where rainfall is scarce and perennial [permanent] crops are planted once and remain planted, for example;
- Coffee
- Tea
- Rubber
- Palm oil
- Sisal
Characteristics of small farming
i) Farms are usually small in size with 1-5 hectares
ii) Ownership is at family level
iii) Farmers produce crops for subsistence like for immediate use
iv) Farms are heritable in nature like land is passed from father to son
v) Low levels of technology is used like the use of local tools like hoes , pangas and slashers
vi) More than one crop may be grown in one plantation
vii) Low capital is used to run the farm.
viii) It involves the use of unskilled laborers.