Contents In Agriculture Teaching Syllabus

Form 3
Term 1

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL  absorption of plant nutrients

 Texture
 Structure SEED/PLANTING MATERIAL
 Colour Parts of a plant
 Temperature  legume
 Consistency  cereal
 Porosity Functions of parts of the:-
 Depth  legume
Soil texture  cereal
 Determine soil texture Parts of a seed
Textural classes of soil  legume
 Sandy  cereal
 Clay Functions of different parts of the seed
 Loam
Effects of soil texture on crop production Vegetative planting materials
 stems
Soil structure  leaves
 Describing soil structure  suckers
Types of soil structure  tubers
 Block/cuboidal  bulbs
 Columnar/prismatic Parts of vegetative planting materials
 Platy/platelike
 Granular Differences between sexual and asexual propagation.
 Crumb Advantages and disadvantages between sexual and
Effects of soil structure on crop production asexual propagation

Methods of maintaining and improving soil structure ESSENTIAL PLANT NUTRIENTS

Listing the essential plant nutrients
CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF SOIL
 pH Classes of essential plant nutrients
 salinity  macro-nutrients
 nutrient status  micro-nutrients
 cation exchange capacity (CEC)
Meaning of soil pH Role of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, sulphur,
calcium, iron, molybdenum, manganese and boron in plant
Factors affecting soil pH growth and crop production.

Test for soil pH Depletion of the essential plant nutrients from soil
 crop removal
Significant of soil pH to plant growth  soil erosion
 drainage (leaching)
Modification of soil pH through the application of:-  volatilization
 lime  fixation
 organic matter (manure) deficiency signs of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
 fertilizer sulphur, calcium, iron, boron, manganese and
Factors affecting nutrient status of the soil:- molybdenum.
 parent material
 leaching of basic nutrients Sources of the essential plant nutrients
 soil erosion
 nutrient uptake by plants Application of appropriate chemical fertilizers and organic
 methods of cultivation manures to a selected crop.
Meaning of the term “Cation Exchange Capacity” (CEC)

Importance of CEC on plant growth WEEDS AND WEEDING

The meaning of the term “weed”. Pest and disease control

Common weeds of Malawi. BASIC PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENTATION

IN CROPS AND ANIMALS
Importance of weeds in crop production. The scientific approach to experimentation

Methods of weed control Agricultural problems requiring experimentation

 cultural
 mechanical Experimental design
 biological
 chemical Conducting an agricultural experiment.
Advantages and disadvantages of the methods of weed Term 2
control. LIVESTOCK FEEDS AND FEEDING
Livestock feeds:-
Weed control  roughages
 control weeds in a field of a selected crop.  concentrates
Feed nutrients
CROP PROTECTION  water
Meaning of ’crop protection’  carbohydrates
 lipids (fats and oils)
Differences between a pest and a disease.  proteins
 vitamins
Common pests and diseases of field crops.  minerals
Economic importance of pests and diseases of field crops. Functions of the feed nutrients
Methods of pest and disease control:
 cultural control Sources of feed nutrients
 biological control
 chemical control Importance of feeding animals
 mechanical control  maintenance
 integrated pest management (IPM)  production
control of pests and diseases in a selected crop. Factors to consider when feeding animals

CROPPING SYSTEMS PRODUCTION OF SMALL RUMINANTS

Meaning of ‘cropping systems’ -Breeds of sheep and goats
Types of cropping systems:- -Appropriate breed of sheep/goats
 monocropping/sole cropping -Housing sheep/goats
 monoculture -Construction of a house for sheep/goats
 continuous cropping -Grazing and browsing by sheep/goats
 mixed cropping -Feeds for sheep and goats
 crop rotation -Diseases and parasites of sheep/ goats
 bush fallowing (land rotation) -Control of diseases and parasites in sheep and goats
 shifting cultivation
 agroforestry FARM RECORDS
Cropping systems which can promote higher crop yields. Reasons for keeping farm records
Types of farm records
FRUIT PRODUCTION  inventory records
Importance of fruits:  production records
 economic  financial records
 socio-economic keeping records on the selected crop and animal
 nutritional
Site selection for mango production MARKETING FORCES
 factors to consider Price determination in a perfect market.
Mango varieties.
Site preparation. Changing the price of a commodity.
Planting mangoes
Mulching mango seedlings Differences between elasticity of demand and supply.
Weeding mango field The price elasticity of demand and supply for tomatoes.
Pests and diseases of mangoes. Degree of price elasticity of demand and supply.
  Elastic
 Unitary/uniform Influence of soil erosion on silting and flooding.
 Inelastic
Significance of different degrees of price elasticity of Effects of soil erosion:
supply and demand.  Loss of fertile top soil
 Pollution of rivers, lakes, etc.
MARKETING COST AND MARGINS Relationship between rapid population growth and
Meaning of marketing costs and marketing margins. droughts.

Sources of marketing costs. Depletion of water resources.

Conservation of water
Relationship between marketing costs and marketing  Dams
margins.  Contour bands
 Box ridges
Reducing marketing margins  Grass cover
Importance of conserving water
ENTERPRISE COMBINATION Fish farming for the growing population
Types of enterprise combination POPULATION GROWTH AND FOOD SECURITY
 Supplementary enterprises Meanings of the terms “food security” and “food for self
 Complementary enterprises sufficiency”.
 Competitive enterprises
Factors to be considered when selecting Ways of achieving self sufficiency in food
enterprise/enterprise combination
Role of estates in food production:
 Increasing food production
MARKETING CHANNELS AND MARKETING AGENCIES  Training farmers
Meanings of the terms “marketing channels” and Importance of proper storage for food security
“marketing agencies”.  Reduce spoilage of food
 Ensure availability of food
Types of marketing channels. Food storage facilities
 Granaries
Listing marketing channel and marketing agencies.  Sacks
 Silos
EFFECTS OF POPULATION DISTRIBUTION ON MARKETING  Cold rooms
-Population distribution in Malawi. Importance of mixed cropping and mixed farming in
-Effects of population distribution on marketing. growing population.

Term 3 POPULATION GROWTH AND AGRICULTURAL

DEVELOPMENT.
FARM ENERGY Agricultural development agencies and services in Malawi:-
-Meaning of farm energy  Cold storage
-Forms of farm energy  ADMARC
-Sources of farm energy  Research stations
-Safety measures when using farm energy  Agricultural Communications Branch
 DAIRIBOARD Malawi
IRRIGATION SYSTEM  Rub processors
-Selection of an irrigation system
-Establishment of an irrigation unit. Services offered by the agricultural development agencies.
-Management of an irrigation unit.
 Research
 Marketing
LAND DRAINAGE
 Infrastructure
-Meaning of the term “land drainage”
 Extension
-Importance of land drainage
 Processing
-Methods of land drainage
 Production
POPULATION GROWTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT  Credit
Meaning of term “soil erosion” Importance of the agricultural development services to the
Relationship between population growth and soil erosion. growing population.
 GENDER AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT  Seed treatment for pasture
Meaning of the term “gender bias”  Sowing pasture
Gender bias in agricultural technology:- Pasture management
 Males driving tractors and oxen.  Fertilizer application
 Women processing farm produce.  Controlling weeds
Implications of some gender biased agricultural technology  Controlling pests and diseases
on agricultural production:  Burning pasture
 Low food production
Pasture conservation
 Hay making
Form 4  Silage making
Term1  Fogage (standing hay)
Factors affecting the quality of pasture
SOIL DEGRADATION AND AGRICULTURE
Forms of soil degradation BEEF PRODUCTION
Causes of soil degradation Breeds of cattle for beef production
Effects of soil degradation
Ways of controlling soil degradation Selection of the breed for beef production
 Characteristics of breeds for beef production
CROP IMPROVEMENT  Selecting the breed for beef production
Meaning of crop improvement Management practices in beef production
 Housing
Aims of crop improvement  Feeding
 Parasite and disease control
Methods of crop improvement  Breeding

CROP STORAGE AND PROCESSING DAIRY PRODUCTION

Processing of Breeds of cattle for dairy production
 Maize
 Groundnuts Selection of the breed for dairy production
 Sweet potatoes/cassava  Characteristics of breeds for dairy production
 Amaranthus (bonongwe)  Selecting the breeds for dairy production
 Mangoes Management practices in dairy production
 Housing
PASTURE PRODUCTION  Feeding
Meaning of pasture  Parasite and disease control
Importance of pasture production:  Breeding
 Animal feed
 Control soil erosion ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTIVE
 Improve soil structure SYSTEMS OF CATTLE AND CHICKEN
 Add soil nutrients Reproductive systems of cattle and chicken
 Reduce pests and diseases Functions of each part of reproductive systems of cattle
Types of pasture and chicken
 Natural pasture
 Exotic pasture Age at puberty for cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits.
Methods of pasture establishment
 Broadcasting Oestrus cycle of a selected animal
 Drilling
 Oversowing Meaning of the term “heat”
 Undersowing
 Vegetative planting Signs of heat
Pasture establishment procedure
 Time for sowing Gestation periods of cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits
 Land preparation Processes of reproduction in cattle:
 Selecting pasture seed  Coition/mating
 Selecting appropriate pasture grasses and  Fertilization
legumes  Embryo development
 Calculating the seed rate  Foetus development
  Feeding  Aims
 Respiration  Objectives
 Excretion  Materials and methods
 Parturition (birth)  Design of the experiment
 Data collection
LIVESTOCK IMPROVEMENT  Data analysis results
Meaning of the term ‘livestock improvement’.  Discussion
 Interpretation of the results/data
Aims of livestock improvement  Conclusion and recommendations
Report writing practice
Methods of livestock improvement
 Selection Term 3
 Breeding
 Introduction EFFECTS OF LAND DEGRADATION ON THE ECONOMY
 Characteristics of livestock to be selected for Effects of land degradation on the economy:
breeding  Low production of crops and livestock
Livestock breeding systems  Low income
 Cross breeding  Low standards of living
 Inbreeding  Poor health
 Out breeding
POPULATION AND LAND POLICY IN AGRICULTURE
Term 2 Meaning of the term ‘land tenure’
TRADING OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES Land tenure systems in Malawi:
Marketing and trading  Customary
Trading of agricultural commodities at:  Public
 Community level  Private
 National level Impact of land tenure systems on population growth and
 International level agricultural development:
Improving trading of agricultural commodities at:  Land fragmentation
 Community level  Lack of investment
 National level Land distribution policy
 International level
Importance of equitable land distribution:
FARM BUDGETING  Ensuring effective land use
Farm budgets  Increasing food production
 Partial budgets
 Complete budgets Comparison of population policy and agricultural
Differences between partial and complete budgets development policy.
Partial and complete budgets preparation
Roles of population policy and agricultural development
AGRICULTURAL COOPERATIVES policy in national development:
Meaning of the term ‘agricultural cooperative’  Guiding planning
Importance of agricultural cooperatives  Guiding distribution of agricultural services

Principles for cooperative formation AGRO-BASED INDUSTRIES

Meaning of the term agro-based industry
FARM MECHANIZATION Agro-based industries in Malawi:
-Meaning of the term ‘farm mechanization  Grain and Milling
-Advantages and limitations of farm mechanization  Tobacco Processing Industries
-Types of farm machinery  Malawi Dairy Industries
-Maintenance of farm machinery  Lever Brothers (UNILEVER)
-Safety measures when using farm machinery  Cold Storage
-Factors to consider when mechanizing a farm  Textile Industries
 ETC.
REPORT WRITING
Format for a report Role of agro-based industries in supporting the growing
 Title population:
 Instruction  Produce inputs for farmers
  Process raw materials  Food storage and preservation technology
 Provide a market for farmers’ produce  Soil conservation and drainage
 Feeding and clothing the nation
 Providing employment Drought resistant crops
 Cassava
GENDER AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT  Millet
Involvement of women in decision making  Sorghum
 Yams
Gender biases in consultations over agriculture issues  Sweet potatoes

Increasing women’s involvement in decision-making in Ways in which drought resistant crops ensure food
agriculture security:
 Social empowerment  Adaptation to drought
 Political empowerment  Early maturity
 Economic empowerment  Ease to storage
 Cultural empowerment
Importance of growing drought resistance crops
POPULATION GROWTH AND FOOD SECURITY  Ensure food supply in time of drought
Scientific and technological innovations for ensuring food
security
 Food canning HIV/AIDS AND AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
 Developing improved crop varieties Impact of HIV/Aids on agricultural development
 Developing improved livestock breeds  Weakening the labour force
 Mechanization (developing appropriate tools)  Taking time away from farming
 Irrigation technology  Killing the most productive farmers in the
 Fertilizer production technology population
 Livestock feed manufacturing  Depleting farm capital
 Pesticide development  Disturbing the emotional balance of the farmer
 Herbicides development
 Mechanization
 Crop processing and packaging

THE END

(by Chilenga, A.W.)