This topic entails the following:-
- Definition of agriculture
- Main branches of agriculture
- Farming systems
- Farming methods
- Role of agriculture to Kenya’s economy
- Varied opportunities in agriculture.
The following relevant questions and their answers in this topic will help and motivate the user to comprehend and understand the required concepts and practices:
- Give two factors which characterize intensive farming
- State three reasons why organic farming is encouraged in farming
- State two ways in which agriculture contributes to industrial development
- State four ways by which wind affects the growth of crops
- State one physical characteristic used in classifying soil
- Outline four advantages of organic farming
- State two conditions under which shifting cultivation is practiced
- Differentiate between the following terms as used in Agriculture:-
(a) Oleculture and floriculture
(b) Apiculture and aquaculture
INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE
- two factors which characterize intensive farming
- Small farms
- Huge capital
- Skilled labour
- Produce for sale
Mechanization done
- three reasons why organic farming is encouraged in farming
- Cheap
- Environmental friendly
No chemical residues in produce
- two ways in which Agriculture contributes to industrial development.
– Provide raw materials for industries.
– Provide market for industrial goods.
– Is a source of capital for starting industries.
- four ways by which wind affects the growth of crops.
– Causes physical damage to crops.
– Cause rapid spread of diseases/ pests/ weeds.
– Can cause water stress as a result of evaporation.
– Causes stress of crops due to chilling caused cold winds.
– Encourage transpiration hence water and mineral uptake.
- Agriculture – rearing of fish in fish ponds
- One physical characteristic used in classifying soil is:
- Colour,
- Texture,
- Structure
- Four advantages of organic farming
- Environmental friendly
- Products do not have organic farming
- Products do not have organic chemical residue
- Improve soil structure
- Replenishes nutrients in the soil as it uses organic manure
- Enhances soil water retention
- Provides food for soil microbes
- Enhances soil water infiltration
- Two conditions under which shifting cultivation is practiced are:
- Can only be practiced where land is abundant
- Practiced where population is sparse
- Practiced where number of livestock per units low (2 ½mks)
- Four factors that determine the time of planting a crop
(a) Olericulture – production of vegetables
- Floriculture – production of flowers
(b) Apiculture – bee keeping
- Agriculture – rearing of fish in fish ponds
