Group 6 - SS 105 - Activity 3 - Group Activity - Definition and Basic Concept of Agriculture

CITY GOVERNMENT OF SAN PABLO
PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG SAN PABLO

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ACTIVITY 3
In
Places and Landscapes In Changing
World
(SS 105)
Table of Contents
 Definition of Agriculture
 Basic Concepts of Agriculture
Submitted by: Submitted to:
Cacal, Janzen S. Prof. R. Cerilla
Gapaz, John Kenneth C.
Villanueva, Sydney Brailyn M.
Section:
Soc-Stud 2B
Address: Brgy. San Jose, City of San Pablo, Laguna Cel. no. (0929) 356 7646 E – mail (Administrative Office), dlspofficial97@gmail.com
Terminology
Agriculture is derived from Latin words Ager and Cultura. Ager means land or field and Cultura
means cultivation. Therefore the term agriculture means cultivation of land. i.e., the science and
art of producing crops and livestock for economic purposes. It is also referred as the science of
producing crops and livestock from the natural resources of the earth. The primary aim of
agriculture is to cause the land to produce more abundantly, and at the same time, to protect it
from deterioration and misuse. It is synonymous with farming–the production of food, fodder
and other industrial materials.
Definitions
Agriculture is defined in the Agriculture Act 1947, as including ‘horticulture, fruit growing, seed
growing, dairy farming and livestock breeding and keeping, the use of land as grazing land,
meadow land, osier land, market gardens and nursery grounds, and the use of land for woodlands
where that use ancillary to the farming of land for Agricultural purposes”. It is also defined as
‘purposeful work through which elements in nature are harnessed to produce plants and animals
to meet the human needs. It is a biological production process, which depends on the growth and
development of selected plants and animals within the local environment.
Agriculture as art, science and business of crop production
Agriculture is defined as the art, the science and the business of producing crops and the
livestock for economic purposes.
As an art, it embraces knowledge of the way to perform the operations of the farm in a skillful
manner. The skill is categorized as;
Physical skill: It involves the ability and capacity to carry out the operation in an efficient way
for e.g., handling of farm implements, animals etc., sowing of seeds, fertilizer and pesticides
application etc.
Mental skill: The farmer is able to take a decision based on experience, such as (i) time and
method of ploughing, (ii) selection of crop and cropping system to suit soil and climate, (iii)
adopting improved farm practices etc.
As a science : It utilizes all modern technologies developed on scientific principles such as crop
improvement/breeding, crop production, crop protection, economics etc., to maximize the yield
and profit. For example, new crops and varieties developed by hybridization, transgenic crop
varieties resistant to pests and diseases, hybrids in each crop, high fertilizer responsive varieties,
water management, herbicides to control weeds, use of bio-control agents to combat pest and
diseases etc.
As the business : As long as agriculture is the way of life of the rural population, production is
ultimately bound to consumption. But agriculture as a business aims at maximum net return
through the management of land, labor, water and capital, employing the knowledge of various
sciences for production of food, feed, fiber and fuel. In recent years, agriculture is
commercialized to run as a business through mechanization.
Some Definitions of Agriculture
It is admitted that no definition can be exacting for everybody and for all purposes. Nevertheless,
I find this elucidation on what is agriculture especially convenient where its coverage is limited
to crop production (Agronomy and Horticulture) and livestock production even knowing that
some definitions include fisheries, forestry, and other activities. Further, the science of
agriculture is dynamic.
For more details and perspectives, here are 8 definitions of agriculture from various sources. This
list is not exclusive.
1. Agriculture is the systematic raising of useful plants and livestock under the management
of man.
2. Agriculture is the growing of both plants and animals for human needs.
3. Agriculture is the deliberate effort to modify a portion of Earth's surface through the
cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock for sustenance or economic gain.
The next 6 definitions give more insights on what is agriculture. These are presumably for legal
purposes or applied in legal disputes.
4. Agriculture includes farming in all branches and, among other things, includes the
cultivation and tillage of soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing and
harvesting of any agricultural and horticultural commodities, the raising of livestock or
poultry, and any practices performed by a farmer on a farm as an incident to or in
conjunction with such farming operations, but does not include the manufacturing or
processing of sugar, coconuts, abaca, tobacco, pineapple or other farm products
5. Agriculture, Agricultural Enterprise or Agricultural Activity means the cultivation of the
soil, planting of crops, growing of fruit trees, including the harvesting of such farm
products, and other farm activities and practices performed by a farmer in conjunction
with such farming operations done by persons whether natural or juridical.
6. “Farming” or “agriculture” shall include farming in all of its branches and the cultivation
and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing and harvesting of
any agricultural, aqua cultural, floricultural or horticultural commodities, the growing and
harvesting of forest products upon forest land, the raising of livestock including horses,
the keeping of horses as a commercial enterprise, the keeping and raising of poultry,
swine, cattle and other domesticated animals used for food purposes, bees, fur-bearing
animals, and any forestry or lumbering operations, performed by a farmer, who is hereby
defined as one engaged in agriculture or farming as herein defined, or on a farm as an
incident to or in conjunction with such farming operations, including preparations for
market, delivery to storage or to market or to carriers for transportation to market.
7. Agriculture is the science of cultivating the soil, harvesting crops, and raising livestock
and also as the science or art of the production of plants and animals useful to man and in
varying degrees the preparation of such products for man's use and their disposal.
8. Agriculture includes farming in all its branches and among other things includes the
cultivation and tillage of the soil, dairying, the production, cultivation, growing, and
harvesting of any agricultural or horticultural commodities, the raising of livestock or
poultry, and any practices performed by a farmer on a farm as an incident to or in
conjunction with some farming operations, but does not include the manufacturing or
processing of sugar, coconuts, abaca, tobacco, pineapples or other farm products
The following conclusions can be made from these definitions and from those of specialized
fields under agriculture:
1. Agriculture is an enterprise or business, activity or practice. It is synonymous to farming.

2. The practice of agriculture is based on systematized body of knowledge (science) and
requires skill (art).
3. Agriculture often involves the cultivation of the soil to grow plants and the raising of
animals for human needs. The words “crops” and “livestock” are also used. However,
both words are special or technical terms. “Crops" should clearly mean plants (with
exceptions, as in mushroom) which are useful to man, while “livestock” applies to both
domesticated animals and poultry. However, cultivation which essentially involves
disturbing the soil does not apply to crop production systems using soil-less media, as in
hydroponics.
4. Agriculture is practiced for the purpose of producing food and other human needs such as
clothing, shelter, medicines, weapons, tools, ornaments, and indefinitely many more. It is
likewise practiced as a business for economic gain. The ultimate purpose is essentially
important in clarifying what is agriculture.
Basic Concepts of Agriculture
TYPES
1. Shifting Cultivation - commonly practiced in the tropics. It involves forest clearance

through burning and slashing. The cleared land is cultivated until its fertility declines, or
for three to five years or until native flora and weeds overtake it. When that happens,
farmers abandon the land for a fallow period and clear another forest area for cultivation.
2. Nomadic Herding - practice of keeping and grazing animals on natural pastures. It is
common in the arid and semi-arid regions such as certain parts of Saudi Arabia, northern
Africa and northern parts of Eurasia. The practice resembles pastoral farming.
3. Rudimentary Sedentary Tillage - type of subsistence farming practiced on the same
piece of land year-in, year-out. Land is then left fallow after some years to regain its soil
fertility. It is commonly practiced in the tropics and involves the growth of tree crops
such as the Para rubber tree and grains.
4. Livestock Ranching/Pastoral Farming - focuses on rearing animals. Unlike nomadic
herding, farmers do not move from one place to another in search of pasture and water,
but live in settlements. Pasture lands are developed for grazing the animals.
5. Commercial Plantations - Also known as tree crop farming, industrialized agriculture or
plantation farming, commercial plantations cover large land areas. Even if practiced
on a smaller piece of land, the activity has a high commercial value.
6. Mixed Farming - Also known as grain and livestock farming, mixed farming involves
the growing of crops and rearing of animals. It has its origins in the humid, mid-latitudes,
excluding Asia. It is an agricultural activity with its roots mainly in Europe. Mixed
farming develops in close relation to market infrastructure.
7. Specialized Horticulture - This type of farming has developed to take advantage of a
large demand for horticulture products, especially in areas of large-scale urbanization and
high-density population. It has been most successful when used for vineyard
cultivation in areas of France, northern Hungary and the Swiss Lakes regions.
8. Subsistence Farming - involves growing crops and keeping animals for the sole purpose
of feeding the farmer and his family. It involves the use of simple farm tools on small
pieces of land.
9. Intensive Subsistence Farming with/without Rice as a Dominant Crops
a. Farming with Rice as Dominant Crop- It is mainly adopted in south-east Asia and
farmers make use of animal and manual power to carry out farming activities. Most
farmers use manures to improve the productivity of their farms per unit area.
b. Farming without Rice as Dominant Crop - Just like subsistence farming with rice as
the main crop, this activity is practiced in areas with low rainfall. Apart from rice,
farmers grow other grain crops such as millet and wheat. The agricultural activity is
practiced in Central America and southern Africa and areas in northern Africa, Asia and
the Middle East without much rainfall throughout the year.
10 Mediterranean Agriculture - involves the rearing of animals and growing of crops in
the rugged, Mediterranean terrain. Small animals and crops such as citrus fruits,
vineyards and wheat are the crops mainly grown in the region. Horticulture is also
practiced with the majority of crops sown in winter due to winter rains.
11 Dairy Farming - involves the rearing of cattle for milk. With its origins in Europe, the
activity is highly developed in Sweden and Denmark.
12 Commercial Grain Farming - resulted from mechanization of farms. It is mainly
practiced in areas with less-dense population and low rainfall. The grains grown in these
areas are drought and weather hardy and thus can survive in dry conditions. Mainly
adopted in steppes, prairies and the temperate grasslands of Australia and South America,
the activity mainly involves wheat monoculture.
13 Arable Farming - involves the growing of crops without keeping animals. It can be
practiced on a large, commercial or small scale. Annual crops such as plantains,
vegetables, grains, cassava, potatoes and legumes are often grown in arable farms.
BRANCHES
Four main branches of Agriculture;
1. Livestock Production or Animal Husbandry- is the branch of agriculture concerned

with animals that are raised for meat, fiber, milk, eggs, or other products.
Four common classifications of Livestock Production
a.) Nomadic Pastoralism
b.) Poultry Farming
c.) Swine Farming
d.) Apiculture
2. Crop Production or Agronomy
Horticulture is the science and art of growing and caring for plants, especially flowers,
fruits, and vegetables. The word is derived from the Latin hortus which means “garden” and
colere which means “to culture”.
Horticulture has 3 branches namely;
 Pomology
 Olericulture
 Floriculture
3. Agricultural Economics
is study of the allocation, distribution and utilization of the resources used, along with
the commodities produced, by farming. It concerns itself with the study of the
production and consumption of food in both developed and developing countries along
with analysis of the policies that shape the world’s largest country.
4. Agricultural Engineering
is the area of engineering concerned with the design, construction and improvement of
farming equipment and machinery. Agricultural engineers integrate technology with
farming. For example, they design new and improved farming equipment that may work
more efficiently, or perform new tasks. They design and build agricultural infrastructure
such as dams, water reservoirs, warehouse and other structures.
REFERENCES:
BASIC_CONCEPTS_OF_AGRICULTURE_CROP_PRODUCTION.pdf
https://chedro3.ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Chapter-2-Concept-of-Agriculture.pdf
Dilip, Chandra (2019) Types of Agriculture. Retrieved February 27, 2021
https://owlcation.com/agriculture/Types-of-Agriculture
Wk_1_What_is_Agriculture.docx
https://www.coursehero.com/file/63641119/Wk-1-What-is-Agriculturedocx/

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CITY GOVERNMENT OF SAN PABLO

PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG SAN PABLO

Submitted by: Submitted to:

Cacal, Janzen S. Prof. R. Cerilla

Gapaz, John Kenneth C.

Villanueva, Sydney Brailyn M.

Agriculture as art, science and business of crop production

Some Definitions of Agriculture

1. Agriculture is an enterprise or business, activity or practice. It is synonymous to farming.

Basic Concepts of Agriculture

1. Shifting Cultivation - commonly practiced in the tropics. It involves forest clearance

Four main branches of Agriculture;

1. Livestock Production or Animal Husbandry- is the branch of agriculture concerned

a.) Nomadic Pastoralism

b.) Poultry Farming

c.) Swine Farming

2. Crop Production or Agronomy

Horticulture has 3 branches namely;

Dilip, Chandra (2019) Types of Agriculture. Retrieved February 27, 2021

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