GENERAL AGRICULTURE I

INTRODUCTION COP621: General agriculture I is a one -semester, two units, 600 level course. The course is designed for Post-Graduate Diploma students of Cooperative Studies. This course will expose you to an understa ...

INTRODUCTION COP621: General agriculture I is a one -semester, two units, 600 level course. The course is designed for Post-Graduate Diploma students of Cooperative Studies. This course will expose you to an understanding of many of the concepts in general agriculture. It will assist you to be able to have wider knowledge of the various fields of agriculture such as crop science, soil science and animal science. The course which consists of twenty (20) units includes: Concepts of agriculture, prospects and problems of agriculture, measures of improving Nigeria agriculture, agriculture and natural environment, land use and land tenure in Nigeria, basic principles of crops production, classification of crop plants, pasture and forage crops and soils for agricultural production. Others include- farm animal productionruminant, farm animal production- systems of cattle management, farm animal production -pig production, poultry production and management, management of chicks, broilers, cockerels and layers, agricultural extension services, agricultural extension and rural development, forest production in Nigeria, wildlife production and fish production in Nigeria. This course guide tells you briefly what the course is all about, what course materials you will be using and how you can work your way through these materials. It suggests some general guidelines for the amount of time you might be spending in order to successfully complete each unit of the course. It also gives you some guidance on your tutormarked assignments, details of which will be made available in the assignment file. These are regular tutorial classes that are linked to the course. You are advised to attend these sessions. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS COURSE Cop 621: General Agriculture I consists of all the major parts of general agriculture. The major parts include: general agriculture, crop science, soil science, animal science, forestry, wildlife and fishery. The first five units will introduce you to general agriculture. Issues discussed in these units are as follows: Unit one deals with the meaning of agriculture, the scope and types of agriculture. Unit two will also look at the importance of agriculture to the economy of Nigeria and problems of agricultural development. Unit three will highlight the measures put in place to improve agriculture in Nigeria. In unit four we will discuss the natural vegetation of Nigeria in relation to agriculture. We will also COP 621 COURSE GUIDE v look at the relationship between agriculture and environmental factors. While in unit five we will look at land and its uses, the type of land tenure system in Nigeria and land use decree. Crop science will cover the major parts of our discussions in units six to nine. In unit six we will discuss the essential parts of a typical crop plants which include-stem, leaf, flower and root. Unit seven describes all the farming operations carried out before, during and after crop planting is done. In unit eight we will classify crop plants using mode of cultivation, lifecycle and the use of the plants. In the same unit we shall present the summary of production of some important crops. The last unit in this section will be devoted to pastures and forage crops production. Unit 10 will look at another specialised area of agriculture called soil science. The essential aspects of soil science that we need to know are the meaning of soil, soil erosion and ways of improving soil fertility. Farm animal production will cover our discussions in units eleven to fifteen. Unit eleven will look at ruminant animals especially cattle, sheep and goats. As follow-up to unit eleven, the next unit will look at the systems of managing cattle. Some important aspects of pig production that will be highlighted in unit thirteen include- economic importance of pig, characteristics of pig, selection of pig for breeding, management of pigs and disease of pigs. The last two units of this section will be on poultry production. Unit fourteen will look at the management of poultry. The last unit in this section will highlight the management of chicks, broilers, cockerels and layers. Agricultural extension services take units sixteen and seventeen. Some of the essential aspects of agricultural extension services that will be discussed include- the meaning, objectives and the role of agricultural extension, qualities of a good extension officer, development of agricultural extension in Nigeria and the problems facing agricultural extension in Nigeria. Other areas that unit seventeen will look at are: rural development rural, poverty, social system, social change, training and visit system and general administration of agricultural extension. The last three units of the study guide discuss another specialised area of agriculture. Unit eighteen will be on forestry production followed by wildlife in unit nineteen and fish production in unit twenty. COP 621 COURSE GUIDE vi COURSE AIMS The aim of the course is to give an understanding of the meaning of the various concepts of agriculture. This will be achieved by trying to: • introduce you to the definition and meaning of the various concepts in agriculture • describe the various land use and land tenure systems in Nigeria • describe the various classifications of crop plants • describe the cultural practices commonly used by farmers in crop production • outline the systems of managing farm animals • explain the production systems used in forestry, wildlife management and fishery. COURSE OBJECTIVES