STANDARD 5

AGRICULTURE

- Growing of crops and rearing of animals/livestock for the benefit of human beings.

BRANCHES OF AGRICULTURE

- Animal Science
- Agronomy
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Engineering
- Soil Science
- Horticulture

THREE SYSTEMS OF AGRICULTURE

1. Arable farming- cultivation of crops

2. Pastoral farming- growing of livestock/ animals
3. Mixed farming- production of both crops and animals/ livestock

Levels of farming/Agriculture

1. Commercial farming

This is where farming is done in large scales for the sole purpose of sales to make profits.

2. Subsistence farming

This is the growing of crops or rearing of animals for family use only.

IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN BOTSWANA

- It provides food
- It provides employment
- It provides income
- It provides raw materials
- It provides foreign exchange

1
IMPACT OF HIV/AIDS ON PRODUCTIVITY

When able bodied people are mostly affected by HIV/ AIDS;

- It reduces the labour force and production.

- Many children and elderly people are left behind hence this leaves the agricultural activities
falling.
- More time is taken in caring for the sick and attending to funerals than attending to
agricultural activities.
- HIV/ AIDS medication are costly and as such the money that could have been spent in
agriculture is used for buying HIV/ AIDS medication.

PROBLEMS FACED BY FARMERS

PROBLEM SOLUTION
Operating costs are high e.g. fuel, salaries for Forming co-operatives
workers
Bad roads to markets Improving local infrastructure
Lack of skilled labour LEA and CEDA to intensify training and
mentoring of farmers
Stiff competition from neighbouring countries Improve marketing and storage facilities for
farmers
Low and unreliable rainfall Build more to capture water during rainy
season
Pests and diseases Subsidized prices on chemicals for pests.
Extreme temperatures Use of net shading and growing drought
resistant crops

GOV’T PROGRAMMES AIMED AT ASSISITING FARMERS

The government programmes include;

- The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA)

- The Young Farmer’s Fund (YFF)
- The National Master Plan for Arable Agriculture and Dairy Development (NAMPAAD)
- The Integrated Support Programme for Arable Agriculture Development (ISPAAD) - The
Local Enterprise Authority (LEA)

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

a. Agricultural technical services- they do researches in the field of agriculture e.g agriculture
officers or research officers
b. Agricultural teaching- they teach students about how to raise animals and grow crops.
c. Veterinary services- they are trained to treat animal diseases and injuries.

2
 d. Range management- they look after rangeland to provide a sustained production of good
quality forage for livestock and wildlife.

e. Agriculturural engineer

f. Farmers

g. Florists.

FARM TOOLS

TOOLS: It is small, simple device or object that is used by a person to perform his/ her work more
easily.

COMMON FARM TOOLS

FARM TOOL USE (IT IS USED TO):

-dig or loosen the soil

Spade

-transplant young seedlings

-mix in fertilizers

Garden Trowel

-remove weeds in between crops

Hoe

- level loose soil

- Breaking the soil lumbs.
-gather weeds and leaves in to a heap
Rake

-turn over the soil in small areas

-harvest root crops

Digging fork

3
 -dig up weeds

Hand fork

-move heavy loads from one place to another

in the farm

Wheel barrow

-water plants by hand

Watering can

-break hard ground when digging

Pick

-dig, pry and chop soil

Mattock
Machete

-remove large weeds and small branches

-cut down pieces of wood

Saw
Secateurs/ Pruning shears

-cut small branches of trees

4
 -measure a garden plot

Measuring tape

-harvest grain crops

Sickle

-turn the soil

Hand cultivator

-harvest grain crops

Harvesting knife

5
 FARM IMPLEMENTS

IMPLEMENTS: are usually larger and heavier than tools. They need an animal or tractor to do
some work e.g. ploughs, harrows, cultivators, weeders and planters.

FARM IMPLEMENT USE

Plough

Animal- drawn mouldboard plough

-A plough is used to make furrows in the soil

-A plough is used to turn over the soil

Tractor- drawn mouldboard plough

Disc plough

Harrow

-A harrow is used to level the soil

Disc harrow

6
 -A harrow is used to break up lumps in the
soil

Zig zag harrow

-A planter is used to sow/ plant seeds

Planter
Cultivator

-A cultivator is used to dig up weeds between

rows of crops.
-A cultivator is used to make furrows
between the rows for irrigation

PROPER CARE AND STORAGE OF FARM TOOLS

CARING FOR TOOLS, IMPLEMENTS

- Clean the tools before they are stored

- Oil the movable parts regularly to avoid rusting and corrosion
- Threaded parts of implements should be greased to allow nuts to move easily
- Cover farm implements to be painted regularly to help prevent rust

STORING TOOLS, IMPLEMENTS

- Tools, implements to be stored properly to avoid accidents

- Blades of rakes, spades, digging fork, etc to be stored facing down or facing to the wall
- Tools like sickles and secateurs should always be closed when they are stored - Tools to be
used for the purpose for which they are designed

7
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY THE USE OF TOOLS, IMPLEMENTS AND MACHINES ON
THE ENVIRONMENT

PROBLEM SOLUTION
Machines pollute the air and soil Service the machines regularly
Machines are heavy and they compact the soil Till the soil to loosen it
leading to problem of infiltration
Farm implements damage the soil structure Use farm implements when the soil is not too
dry and too wet
Farm implements destroy plants that grows Keep a border of natural vegetation around
naturally in the area ploughed field
Farm implements carry weeds and diseases Clean farm implements thoroughly before
from one farm to the other using them in a new place
Farm implements destroy animals that live Avoid burrows and nests of soil animals
under the soil

TYPES OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

Traditional Biotechnology- these are early forms of using living organisms to produce new
commodities or modify existing ones.

Modern Biotechnology- this is the intentionally changing of genes, cells or living tissues in a
predictable manner to come up with new tissue or to generate changes in the genetic makeup
of an organism.

EFFECTS OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

- They make production of food supply safer for consumers and the environment and less
expensive to produce.
- It produces crops which are less vulnerable to insects, diseases and weeds.
- They can help to develop crops than can be used to create new materials or energy sources,
provide more nutrients, treat diseases or serve as vaccines to prevent diseases.
- There is potential for genes to move from genetically engineered crops into wild plants.
- Pests may eventually develop resistance to pest resistant crops
- They may be a substantial reductions in traditional pesticide use and improved conservation
practices

USING BIOTECHNOLOGY PROCESS TO PRODUCE PRODUCTS

- Malt ( for use in traditional beer making)

- Cutting stems to produce an individual tree - Spraying chemicals on crops

Can you think of any other traditional way of producing products?

8
 WEATHERING

WEATHERING- this is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces to form soil.

Types of weathering

1. Physical weathering- the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces without
changing the chemical composition of the rock. No change in chemical composition
means that there is no change in colour of the original rock.

Agents of physical weathering; temperature, water and wind.

a. Temperature- when temperature changes, there two processes taking place thus
exfoliation and freeze- thaw. During the day the temperatures are high causing the
rock to heat up and expand. When temperatures drop at night, the rocks cool and
crack. This continuous heating and cooling overtime, causes the rock to break into
smaller pieces.
b. Water and wind- flowing water across the land carries with itself materials like
stones and sand with it. These materials scrape and knock against any hard rocks
that the water flows over causing small pieces to break off and overtime soil
particles are formed. This also happens when the wind is blowing.
2. Chemical weathering- this is the breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces with a
change in chemical composition of the rock. Change in chemical composition means
that there is change in colour of the original rock.

9
 Agents of chemical weathering; air [oxygen and carbon dioxide] and water.

a. Oxidation- this when metal combines with oxygen to form an oxide. Metals in the
rock combine with oxygen to form oxides. Red-coloured rocks contain iron oxides
[metal] which have been formed by the process of oxidation.
b. Carbonation- occurs in limestone. Carbonation is formed when rainwater
dissolves the carbon dioxide in air to form a weak acid called carbonic acid.
Rainwater + carbon dioxide = Carbonic acid.

When rain, containing carbonic acid falls on the rock with a lot of limestone, it will react with
limestone to form calcium carbonate.

Carbonic acid + limestone = Calcium carbonate

All the reaction above causes the rock to be soft and breaks easily.

10
3. Biological weathering- this is the breaking down of rocks through the activities of
living organisms.

Agents of Biological weathering; plants, animals and human activities.

a. Plants- trees with their roots grow in between the cracks of rocks, causing the rock to widen
up and break down the rocks.
b. Animals- animals which burrow through soil like earthworms, termites, mole rat and yellow
mongoose can help form soil.
c. Human activities like mining, cultivation, construction of buildings, railways and roads
reduce the size of rocks by breaking them up to smaller pieces.

11
SOIL

Soil is a medium on which plants grow. It contains:

- Rock particles
- Organic matter
- Living organisms
- Air
- Water

Importance of Soil

- Provides crops with nutrients

- Provides plants with water
- A basis of agricultural production
- Supports (anchors) plants so as to grow upright and firmly to the ground
- A habitat (home) for small helpful micro organisms
- Use for construction work

SOIL CONSTITUENTS Humus

5%

Mineral Water
Particles 25%
45%

Air
25%

Soil constituents- These are substances that make up soil.

1. Rock particles or mineral matter

This is a non-living matter that makes up 45% of the soil volume. The size of the soil
particles varies from a diameter of 2mm in gravel to less than 0.002mm in clay soil.

2. Organic matter
About 5% of the soil volume consists of organic matter made up of decomposing
plants and animal and also living organisms. Soils with dark brown colour indicate
that it contains a lot of humus.

12
 3. Air
This occupies the space between the soil particles. It is made up of 25% soil volume.
Air mainly consists of nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide as well as other small
gases. Soils with large particles have more air spaces compared to soils with smaller
particles.

4. Water
Water occupies the space between rock particles making up 25% of soil volume. After
heavy rains there will be more water in the soil, while after a dry period there will be
much less.

SOIL FERTILITY

This is the ability of the soil to supply plants with the necessary nutrients (food) for their
healthy growth and development.

WAYS OF INCREASING SOIL FERTILITY

Soil can therefore be maintained or improved through;

- Adding fertilisers
- Practicing crop rotation
- Liming
- Mulching
- Controlling weeds
- Improving aeration of the soil through cultivation

FERTILISERS

These are substances that are added to the soil or sprayed on leaves to provide nutrients.

ORGANIC AND INORGANIC FERTILIZERS

Organic fertilizers are decomposed animal and plant remains. Animal remains include; farm
yard manure; kraal manure, chicken manure, pig manure, etc. plant remains include; green
and compost.

Advantages of organic fertilizers

- Easily available and cheap

- Provide most nutrients needed by plants
- Prevents leaching from soil
- Improve soil structure
- Improve aeration and water-holding capacity of the soil
- Activates microbes in the soil

Disadvantages of organic fertilizers

13
 - Require too much labour to collect and apply
- Need to be applied in large amounts - Less concentrated compared to inorganic -
Take long to dissolve and be ready for use.

Inorganic fertilizers (other names are artificial or chemical or commercial fertilizers) - are
human-made in factories.

Advantages of inorganic fertilizers

1. Save time and labour as they are not collected

2. Can be added in correct amounts needed a particular crop
3. Easy to handle and store
4. Quick to dissolve and ready for use plants

Disadvantages of inorganic fertilizers

1. Very expensive to buy

2. Require skilled labour to apply
3. They do not improve soil properties like soil structure, water-holding capacity, aeration and
activity of microbes.

FERTILISER APPPLICATION

Basal dressing

- This is the application of fertilizer before or at the time of sowing.

Top dressing

- This is the application of fertilizer after seedlings have emerged.

METHODS OF FERTILIZER APPLICATION

1. Broadcasting- fertilizer is spread on the ground by hand or using a mechanical fertilizer

spreader.
2. Banding – this is when fertilizer is added to the soil very close to the plant, in furrows along
one or both sides of a row of plants or seeds.
3. Foliar application – this is applying soluble fertilizers in solution form to the leaves of
plants.
4. Drilling- both seeds and fertiliser are placed in a shallow furrow or drill.
5. Side dressing- fertiliser applied along a row after the plants have emerged above the soil.

14
 CROP HUSBANDRY

GERMINATION- The process of an embryo within a seed begins to develop into a plant.

REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FOR SEED GERMINATION

1. Moisture- it is needed for dissolving substances in the seed called enzymes which are
needed for growth of the embryo.
2. Temperature- optimum or best possible temperature is needed to have good germination.
Each type of plant seed has a certain temperature range for it to germinate.
3. Oxygen- for respiration to take place oxygen is needed and this will give the seed energy
for germination processes.
4. Seed viability- it is the ability of a seed to germinate and develop into a plant. Seed
viability is affected by age of seed, damage by either pests or diseases and the amount of
food available in the cotyledons and endosperm.
5. Light- though most crops do not require light for germination, there is some which will not
germinate in the absence of light.

PLANT GROWTH REQUIREMENTS

1. Water- water occupies 80-90% of the plant mass. It is a solvent dissolving plant
nutrients. It is also required for making plant food through the process of
photosynthesis. Water transports dissolved food substances made in the leaves during
photosynthesis. The process is called translocation. It also helps in cooling the leaves
by allowing water vapour and air to move in and out the leaf through stomata.
2. Sunlight- plants use sunlight to make its own food through the process of
photosynthesis.

Water + Carbon dioxide Carbohydrates + Oxygen

3. Oxgen- . Oxygen is used during respiration. Respiration is the breaking down of stored
carbohydrates using oxygen to release Carbon dioxide.
Carbohydrates + Oxygen Carbon dioxide + water + energy
The carbon dioxide released during respiration is used in photosynthesis or released into
the air.
4. Nutrient elements- although plants are able to make their own food, there is need for
plants to get nutrients from the soil. Lack of nutrient element will result in deficiency
disease. Farmers should make it a point that plants have correct amounts of the
different nutrient elements in the soil.
5. Temperature- plants cannot grow below a certain temperature. This is called minimum
temperature. Plants can also stop growing above a certain temperature and this is
maximum temperature.

15
VEGETABLE CROPS

IMPORTANCE OF VEGETABLES

- Source of vitamins and fibre e.g vit A, B (complex), C, E, K.

- Provide proteins
- Provide oil
- Source of employment (income)
- Source of food
- Provide green feed for livestock
- Provide raw- materials for industries
- Provide green manure

NUTRITIONAL VALUE OF VEGETABLES

- Source of vitamins
- Provide proteins
- Provide oils

- Carbohydrates

- Fibre

IMPORTANCE OF VEGETABLES TO HIV/AIDS INFECTED PEOPLE

- Contain proteins that are necessary for growth and repairing worn out tissues
- Rich in carbohydrates which give us energy
- Vitamins and minerals are required by the body to regulate its metabolic functions.
- Essential for maintaining proper fluid balance, muscle function and heart muscle function.

16
 - Helps with digestion and excretion

EXOTIC VEGETABLES (Those that are obtained from outside the country)

- Spinach
- Potatoes
- Onions
- Carrot
- Cabbage
- Rape
- Choumoulier

INDIGENEOUS VEGETABLES (Those that are native/local to the given country)

- Amarathus (thepe)
- Okra (Delele
- Single leomeRothwe
- Pumpkin leaves

- Bean leaves

- Water lily.

ADVANTAGES OF INDIGENEOUS VEGETABLES

- Readily available and cheap

- Can grow as rain-fed crops, and they are tolerant to drought
- Resistant to most pests
- Most are harvested over a long period of time

DISADVANTAGES OF INDIGENEOUS VEGETABLES

- They can grow well in certain areas - They are not easily propagated or grown.

ADVANTAGES OF EXOTIC VEGETABLES

- Grow well throughout the year with adequate watering

- Most will survive mild frost

DISADVANTAGES OF EXOTIC VEGETABLES

- Need extra water even during rainy season

- Easily attacked by numerous pests
- Need constant spraying using chemicals to avoid attack by pests and diseases - Most are
harvested once

17
PROBLEMS FACED BY VEGETABLE GROWERS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS

PROBLEM
Operating costs are high e.g. fuel, salaries for
workers
Bad roads to markets
Lack of skilled labour
Stiff competition from neighbouring countries
Lack of perennial rivers and reliable rainfall
Incidence of pests and diseases
Extreme temperatures
Bulkiness and perishability of the products
SOLUTION
Forming co-operatives
Improving local infrastructure
LEA and CEDA to intensify training and
mentoring of farmers
Improve marketing and storage facilities for
farmers
Build more to capture water during rainy
season
Subsidised prices on chemicals for pests.
Use of net shading and growing drought
resistant crops
Refridgerate to increases shelf life

FACTORS TO CONSIDER WHEN SELECTING A GARDEN SITE

1. Slope of the land

Flat or gentle sloping land is most suitable or ideal.

2. Soil type

Deep fertile loam soils are often most suitable for crop production than clay or sandy soils.

3. Sources of water supply

Water is essential for growing crops. Although most crops get water from the rainfall, this
may not be enough and a reliable source of water for irrigation is needed e.g. perennial rivers
and boreholes.

4. Shade

Large trees shade the crops most of the day. But it should be noted that large trees cause crops not
get enough sunshine and this affects their growth rate.

5. Shelter

Protect crops from effects of strong winds by growing windbreaks around the field or garden. Winds
break down crops, increase evaporation and erode soil.

18
 6. Nearness to markets

Anywhere a buyer and seller meet to exchange goods. Having markets near to where production is
taking place help fruits and vegetables not to lose quality or go bad.

METHODS OF PLANTING

• Direct sowing- planting seeds directly into the soil, examples drilling, broadcasting

• Indirect sowing- planting seeds in nurseries or seed trays and then transplant them to more
permanent plots.

SPACING /SEED RATE

A student was asked to sow spinach seedlings in her plot measuring 2m x 1m at the
rate of 60cm between rows and 20cm between the plants. Calculate the number of
rows and number of seedlings in each row and the total population in the plot.

DEPTH OF SOWING

The depth of sowing is determined by calculating 3-5 times the diameter of each given seed.

PRACTICAL

SOWING SPINACH VEGETABLE

Take the pupils through;

a. pre-sowing activities

b. Sowing activities

c. Post sowing activities

19
FARM CHEMICALS

PESTICIDE- a chemical that is used to kill animals or insects that damage plants or crops.

HERBICIDE- a substance or preparation for killing plants, especially weeds.

PRECAUTION TAKEN WHEN HANDLING FARM CHEMICALS

• Ensure anyone using agricultural chemicals is suitably trained to use both the chemical and
any equipment required for application.

• Only mix the quantity of chemical required for the task at hand.

• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the label.

• Always wear recommended protective clothing such as chemical-resistant gloves, overalls,

goggles and appropriate facemasks or respirator.

• Avoid exposing non-target animals or plants.

• Triple rinse equipment after chemical application and dispose of the rinse water appropriately.

PRECAUTION TAKEN WHEN STORING FARM CHEMICALS

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper storage.

• Keep chemicals in their original containers and do not pour into smaller bottles.

• Do not remove labels from containers.

• Store chemicals in a locked, well-ventilated shed with floors that will contain spills.

• Store chemicals and appropriate personal protective equipment in different locations.

• Do not store liquid chemicals above solids.

• Separate different classes of chemicals to prevent reactions.

• Store animal feeds, seeds and fertilisers separately from other chemicals.

• Keep a record of the chemicals you buy, store and use.

DANGERS OF USING FARM CHEMICALS

20
The effects of chemical exposure depend on the type of chemical and the degree of exposure.
If chemicals are swallowed, absorbed through the skin or inhaled as a mist, vapour or dust,
some of the immediate effects can include:

• poisoning

• headache

• nausea

• vomiting

• diarrhoea

• pinpoint pupils

• dizziness

• fine muscle twitching

• skin rashes and irritation

• chemical burns

LONG TERM SIDE EFFECTS OF USING FARM CHEMICALS

• increased risk of some cancers

• birth defects
• diseases of the lungs, liver or kidneys

• nervous system disorders

21
22