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M
O
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D What is Agriculture,
U It’s World Development and
L the Philippine Agriculture
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Pre-Test

MULTIPLE CHOICE. Encircle the letter of the correct answer. Erasures will nullify your
answer.

1. Defined as the systematic raising of useful plants and livestock under the management
of man.
a.Animal Science b. Agriculturec. Horticulture d. Forestry

2. According to International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), this country
ranks fifth in the world in terms of species diversity and endemism.
a. Indonesia b. Southeast Asia c. Philippines d. America

3. Establishment of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and introduction of

high yielding rice varieties which was also termed the green revolution happened in this
period.
a. Pre-colonial period b. Colonial period c. War Period d. Post-war period

4. Indo-Malayan migrants brought with them wet-rice agriculture, with carabao as a source
of animal power for cultivation.
a. Pre-colonial period b. Colonial period c. War Period d.
Post-war period
5. Below are the major crops in the pre-colonial period; except
a. Rice, gabi, nutmeg and yams c. citrus, ginger, clove and
cinnamon
b. Bananas, corn millet and coconuts d. coffee watermelon and wheat
6. Primitive man satisfied his daily needs directly from nature by hunting wild animals and
gathering of wild plants and fishing.
a. Pastoral Stage (hunting and gathering) c. Pygmies (Negritos, Aetas or
Itas)
b. Indonesians and Malays d. Slash and Burn method
7. Below are the threats to Philippine Agriculture; except
a. Population growth and Globalization
b. Weak governance
c. Deteriorating natural resource endowments
d. Diverse agro-environment for a diverse cropping system
8. The cradle of civilization.
a. Near East b. Southern Asia c. Fertile crescent d. Southeast
Asia
9. Indigenous crops like beans, potato, tomato, eggplant, vegetables, peanut, pineapple
and squash originated.
a. South America b. North America c. Central America d. Ethiopia
10. Earlier plants used have the following characteristics; except
a. Thrive in disturbed areas c. Short life cycle
b. High valued d. High competitive ability
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11. Plant remains of corn and other crops were found dated 10600-7600 years before
present in this area.
a. South America b. North America c. Central America d. Ethiopia
12. The weaknesses of Philippine Agriculture
a. Physical, Biological and Socio-economic c. Variety of Crops
b. Weather and Temperature d. Time/schedule of
Planting and Harvesting
13. Early man intuitively realized that in a vegetative diet, he needed three major
components; except
a. Go, Grow and Glow Foods c. Protein for muscle development
b. Carbohydrates for energy d. Vitamins to augment different
types of proteins and minerals.
14. A total of how many species of flora and fauna have been identified in the country, of
which a high 67% are endemic.
a. 39,100 b. 40,100 c. 50,200 d. 39,900
15. It is of interest that from the multitude of plants from which the early domesticators
have to choose, two plant families achieved absolute dominance with regards to
carbohydrates and protein sources
a. Graminae (Poaceae) and the Leguminosae (Fabaceae)
b. Saccharum and Graminea
c. Solanum and Poaceae
d. None of the above
16. All subsequent civilizations have since been established around a diet originating largely
from the following basic plant sources; except
a. The Americas - maize and peanuts
b. Africa - sorghum and beans
c. The Middle East - wheat, barley and beans
d. Asia – sugarcane and yam
17. Some of the plants that are endemic in the Philippines are the following; except
a. Abaca, Kapa-kapa
b. Sugarcane, Sugar Beet
c. Duhat, Waling-waling
d. Jade Vine, Lubi-lubi/ Niyug-niyogan
18. Below are the stages of development of the Philippine Agriculture; except
a. Pre-colonial period b. Colonial period c. War Period d.
Post-war period
19. This period introduced a non-producing class for which Filipinos produced surpluses,
leading to an increase in agricultural production.
a. Pre-colonial period b. Colonial period c. War Period d. Post-war period

20. In this period, slash-and-burn or kaingin culture or non-plow farming predominated in

other areas; this indicated shifting agriculture rather than sedentary type of rice culture
and the tribes were mainly nomadic.
a. Pre-colonial period b. Colonial period c. War Period d. Post-war period
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Lesson 1

A Glimpse on Philippine Agriculture

“We Toiled Away to Fed You”

Learning Outcomes:

 Appreciate Agriculture, it’s impact to the living organisms and the

environment.
 Appreciate Agriculture, its colourful history
 Describe the features of Philippine Agriculture in capsule from the primitive
ere to after war period.

Introduction:

Agriculture is a purposeful work through which the elements of nature are

harnessed to produce plants and animals to meet human needs. It does not by
itself create civilization, but civilization cannot develop without it.

Context:

Definition

The term agriculture is derived from the Latin word age and cultura, Age
means land or field and cultura means cultivation. Thus, the world agriculture.
Agriculture in its defined meaning states that, it is an art, a science, a technology
and a business of producing crops and livestock for economic purposes.

As a Science – agriculture involves an array of basic facts that explains and

directs crops and animal production.
As an Art – raising plants and animals requires skills and practice to
produce beauty and pleasant arrangement of plants and animals in
combination that satisfies human aspiration for the perfection of his
environment.
As a technology – agriculture requires systematic practices and operations
that are essential to a successful crop and animal production.

The Goal of Agriculture

To attain a maximum yield of the desired crops and animals without harming
or losing the essential natural resources.
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Ways to Attain this Goal:

 Know the characteristics of your crops or animals.

 Know the factors that influence their growth and development.
 Know how to modify or change these factors in order to suit to the
requirements of the crops and animals.
Agriculture is essential to the existence of men:
Man, without food for:
24 hours will quarrel
48 hours will steal
72 hours will fight or kill
History of Agriculture

Men inhabited near bodies of water for food, fishing and other sea foods was
their source. However, when these foods became scarce due to increase in their
population, men moved to the mountains for fruits and meat. While in the forests,
they observed that seeds of fruits scattered around are germinating so they
collected and preserved these in times that source of food in the forest could not
anymore suffice their need, they went back to the riverbanks and started to stir the
soil and plant the seeds they collected from the forest. This started the first
agriculture practice and as recorded, agriculture began sometime between 8,000 –
10,000 B.C. at the Nile River which was considered as the cradle of civilization, the
fist agriculturists were Cushites. These people are sea farers, after each harvest
they move to another place and started new plantations. This practice is called
“Assartage System” or shifting agriculture. This practice was considered as the
cause why agriculture has spread all over the planet.

Centers of Early Agriculture

 South Western Asia – cradle of civilization where first agriculture
practice where observed.
 Egypt – basic agriculture practice as land preparation, pruning and
irrigation.
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 Europe – scientific agriculture began as grafting, use of green houses,

crop rotation, post- harvest, and ornamental culture.
Origin and Domestication of Some Important Crops

Soybeans – Asia/Africa Sorghum – Northeast Africa

Maize – Central and Southern America Rice – India
Peanuts – South America Coconuts – Indonesian Region
Beans – Tropical America Eggplants -Southeast Asia
Watermelon – Iran / India Okra – Asia / African Region
Tomato – Central / Southern America Asparagus – Southern Russia
Onions – Central Asia Citrus – Southern Asia
Mango – India / Bangladesh Pineapple – South America
Papaya – Central America

World Food Crisis is Caused by:

1. Population Growth
2. Urbanization or Industrialization
3. Natural Calamities
4. Biological Causes – insects pests, diseases, weeds, physiological disorder and
nutritional deficiencies and genetic makeup, plants and animals.
5. Socio-Economic – farm profile (low income families), community support
services, government support, inadequate incentives and market support.

Development of Agriculture

• Pastoral stage (Hunting/gathering)

Primitive man satisfied his daily needs directly from nature by hunting wild animals,
gathering wild plants and fishing.

The hunters-gatherers moved from one location to another in search of food to

sustain them. The fishing tribes were more likely settled in one place as a
permanent home usually near bodies of water.

• When did agriculture start?

The geologic event, the Ice Age, further explains the recent beginnings of
agriculture. Agriculture was not practiced until the climatically stable Holocene
warming. During the most recent glaciations, there was a warm period sandwiched
between the Oldest Dryas (18 000–14 600 BP) and Younger Dryas (12 900–11 500
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BP) cold periods. This warm period allowed hunting-gathering which delayed the
emergence of agriculture.

Beginnings of agriculture

Figure 1. Timeline showing the recent beginning of agriculture

Where did agriculture start?

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Figure 2. Centers of agricultural origin.

Where did agriculture start?

Based on evidences (archaeological, botanical, linguistics, history, literature),

agriculture had been practiced in the following areas. (Figure 2)

 Near East – 8,000 to 9,000 B.C. in an area known as the Fertile Crescent,
which is often recognized as “the cradle of civilization”

Wheat and barley farming pattern was established

and spread overland through Iran. Other crops include grapes, peaches,
apricots and melons.

• Ethiopia – 9,000 years before present

• Southern Asia. First crops spread overland from Iraq and Iran in South Asia
about 5,000 years before present In Southern India and Ceylon, irrigation
reservoirs were constructed as early as 3,500 – 3,300 before present.
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• East Asia. There was diffusion of SW Asian wheat complex by mainland

diffusion. Crops like yams, bamboo, soybeans and rice are native to tropical
Far East region. Agriculture flowed from China and Thailand to Malaysia,
Indonesia and Philippines.

• Southeast Asia - various crops including rice, banana, coconut, and yam

• Pacific and Oceania. Agriculture in New Guinea and Pacific Islands

remained somewhat primitive until modern times. Crops are taro, yams,
coconut, bananas, sugarcane and breadfruit.

• South America - indigenous crops like beans, potato, tomato, eggplant,

vegetables, peanut, pineapple and squash

• Central America. Plant remains of corn and other crops were found dated
10600-7600 years before present.

Why did agriculture start?

Many theories on the origin of agriculture presented by Harlan (1992) include the
following:

1. Agriculture as a divine gift

2. Agriculture as a discovery

3. Agriculture as a result of stress

4. Agriculture as an extension of gathering

What types of plants were used?

Many of the earlier plants used have the following characteristics:

 Thrive in disturbed areas

 Short life cycle

 High competitive ability

Early man intuitively realized that in a vegetative diet, he needed three major
components i.e. carbohydrates for energy, protein for muscle development, and
vitamins to augment different types of proteins and minerals.

• It is of interest that from the multitude of plants from which the early
domesticators have to choose, two plant families achieved absolute
dominance with regards to carbohydrates and protein sources, namely
Graminae (Poaceae) and the Leguminosae (Fabaceae), respectively. In
fact, all subsequent civilizations have since been established around a diet
originating largely from these basic plant sources. For example:
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 The Americas - maize and peanuts

 Africa - sorghum and beans
 The Middle East - wheat, barley and beans
 Asia - rice and soybeans

ORIGIN AND DOMESTICATION OF MAJOR CROPS OF THE WORLD

Origin of Major Crops

 The center of origin of crops means a geographical area where a plant species,
either domesticated or wild, first developed its distinctive properties.

Figure 4. Origin major crops of importance to the Philippines

The Philippines is also home to many plant species.

• According to International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the

Philippines ranks fifth in the world in terms of species diversity and
endemism.

• A total of 39,100 species of flora and fauna have been identified in the
country, of which a high 67% are endemic.
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Enrichment:
“Share your thoughts”

1. Pedro is left by his parents a piece of land in a far-flung area. The farm is
traversed by accessible road; however, the area is sharply rolling with
poor eroded soil. He wanted to grow root crops, vegetables and few
animals. What advice could you give to Pedro so he can realize his dream
of producing these commodities with adherence to the ways on how to
attain his goal previously stated in our lesson?

2. List some measures undertaken by our government to help or address the

causes of world food crisis.
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Enrichment :

Let’s Invesigate

1. List down at least 10 endemic plants found in the Philippines.

2. List down the crops mentioned in “Bahay Kubo” song and give the
corresponding Scientific Name.
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Lesson 2

THE PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE, THEN AND NOW

“Going Back in Time”

Learning Outcomes:

 Identify the highlights of each period in the development of agriculture in the

Philippines.
 Identify the causes of World Food Crisis and indicate the measures taken to
arrest these causes.

Introduction

Adherence of our forefathers to beliefs and traditions influence agriculture.

Offerings were made to invisible gods to assure bountiful harvest and this also a
period of thanksgiving and family reunions.

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE

o Pre-colonial period
o Colonial period
o Post-war period

Pre-colonial period

• Indo-Malayan migrants brought with them wet-rice agriculture, with carabao

as a source of animal power for cultivation.

• This type of agriculture predominated near bodies of water like rivers and
lakes.
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• Slash-and-burn or kaingin culture or non-plow farming predominated in other

areas.

• This indicated shifting agriculture rather than sedentary type of rice culture
and the tribes were mainly nomadic.

• No agricultural specialization existed.

• Pattern of agriculture was chiefly subsistence.

• Farms were small, and chiefly backyard in coastal and riverbank settlements.

• Most barangays were self-sufficient.

• Land was abundant and population was estimated to about 500,000 by the
mid-16th century.

• Private land ownership did not exist.

• Absence of food surpluses was attributed to the absence of full-blown ruling

class who could exploit producers for surplus, limited foreign trade and food
scarcity in some settlements.

Main crops consisted of:

rice coconuts corn millet

gabi citrus nutmeg
yams ginger cinnamon
bananas clove

Colonial period

• This period introduced a non-producing class for which Filipinos produced

surpluses, leading to an increase in agricultural production.

Introduced to the country

mulberry cantaloupe
cocoa watermelon
wheat coffee
cucumber other varieties of
cereals, peas & vegetables

• The development of haciendas allowed for the introduction of technological

innovations in production and processing like steam or hydraulic-powered
sugar mills.
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• In March 6, 1909, the College of Agriculture was founded in Los Baños as a

unit of the University of the Philippines. Consequently, science-based
methods of crop and animal production were introduced.

Post-war period

• Introduction of technological improvements

• 50’s campaign for use of modern farm inputs and farm mechanization.

• 60’s building up of market for tractors and power tillers.

• Establishment of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

• Introduction of high yielding rice varieties which was also termed the green
revolution.

• Further development and expansion of international agricultural trading

especially coconut and its by-products, tobacco, sugar, pineapple, etc.

State of Philippine Agriculture

• The Philippines is rich in agricultural potential; However agricultural

commodities reveal a poor state of agriculture competitiveness.

• The modernization of the country’s agriculture sector has been mandated

with the signing into law Republic Act 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries
Modernization Act (AFMA). But the AFMA was signed into law in 1997 and the
country remains the biggest rice importer in the world.
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Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities of and threats to Philippine agriculture

Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats

 Availability of expertise Physical  Diverse agro-  Population growth
in agricultural research  Climate – environment for a  Globalization
and development typhoons, diverse cropping  Weak governance
 Basic institutions in drought system  Deteriorating
 Soil – loss of top  Wide range of soils
research are in place natural resource
soil due to and climate to grow
 Availability of erosion different crops endowments
particularly in  Wide range of soils
agricultural technologies
sloppy areas
and climate to grow
to boost production Biological
different crops
 Insect pests
 Whole year round
 Weeds
 Pathogens growing period
 Nutrient  Sunlight: 11-13
deficiencies and
hrs
toxicities
 Suitable  Temperature:
varieties 24-32 °C
Socio-economic
 Rainfall: 2400-
 Low farm
income 4000mm/yr
 Small
landholdings
 Decreasing
interest in
agriculture
 Inadequate
support and
extension
services for
optimum
production
 Inadequate
incentives and
support for
more efficient
production, e,g,
irrigation
facilities as well
as postharvest
infrastructures
 Inadequate
farm-to-market
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roads
 Marketing
problems

Highlights of Philippine Agriculture

1898 Presidential Decree creating the Department of Agriculture and

Manufacturing
1901 Creation of Insular Bureau of Agriculture (American sovereignty).
1927 Creation of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources
under bureaus:Land, Forestry, Weather, Science
1932 DANR was changed to Department of Agriculture and Commerce where
it was
split into:
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)
Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI)
1938 Bureau of Fishery
Bureau of Forestry
1941 DA and commerce were changed to Department of Agriculture and
Natural Resources (DANR).

1961 – Creation of Abaca Development Board.

1962 Creation of Bureau of Agricultural Economics National Grains Authority
to National Food Authority.

1974 Martial Law

1978 launching of Masagana 99
1984 Renamed Ministry of Agriculture to Ministry of Agriculture and Food
Bureau of Fisher and Aquatic Resources
Bureau of Animal Industry
Import subsidy program

1986 EDSA Revolution Freeing agricultural markets

Farmers enjoyed higher farm gate prices elimination of agricultural
taxes lending was forced out

1987 Reorganization of the Department of Agriculture

Livelihood enhancement for Agriculture speed-up farmers organization
access to financing
1990-1992 Rice Action Program to export rice,corn production enhancement
program

Gintong Ani Program

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1998-1999 DA was spearheaded by William Dar

2019 reappointed as DA secretary with the vision of increasing productivity

making families and fisherfolk prosperous.

“The Thinking for Agriculture”

1. Modernization
2. Industrialization
3. Farm consolidation
4. Infrastructure development
5. Higher budget and investment for agriculture
6. Legislative support
7. Roadmap development
8. Promotion of export

Farm System Structure:

 Philippine agriculture is characterized by a mixture of small, medium,
and large farms
 Majority are small farms averaging about 2 hectares, it is owned and
managed by a single family managing from subsistence to commercial
production.
 The government has acquired and distributed about 4.1 million
hectares of agricultural lands to agrarian reform beneficiaries. Under
the law, a farm household cannot own a farm lager than 5 hectares.
 A typical farming system consist of a major crop with rice, corn,
coconuts as base crops on a few heads of livestock and poultry.
 Before the implementation of CARP, there were large plantation of
pineapple, sugarcane, coffee, rubber, abaca, etc. Contract growing
scheme operates in corn seeds, bananas, tomatoes, cucumber, oil
palm, asparagus, and broiler chicken.
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Philippine Agriculture Major Concerns

 Food security

 Poverty alleviation

 Social equity

 Income enhancement

 Global competitive and sustainability

 People empowerment

 Protection from unfair competition

WTO (World Trade Organization)

“We share because we care”

Trade is buying and selling goods and services

 It enriches our lives through greater choices and open our minds in
new ideas and culture
 It binds people together through dynamic and complex network of
mutually beneficial commercial relations.
Accordingly, it is the job of the World trade Organization to establish rules
and nurture this interrelated commercial activity.
Promotion of trade restores international economic growth and stability which
is very important to secure a lasting “peace”. This vision that paved the way to the
creation of the multilateral trading system in 1948. At first, there were 23 country
members call GATT which was established after the World War II. In 1995, GATT
became the World Trade Organization with the aims:

1. Reduction of Tariff; anti-dumping and non-tariff measures.

2. Liberalization measures on telecom services with 69 governments.
3. Tariff-free trade in 1997 with 40 governments in information
technology products.
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4. 70 member countries concluded financial services as banking trade,

insurances, securities, and financial information.
Tariff is a schedule of duties imposed by a government on imported and exported
products.

History of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Location: Geneva, Switzerland
Established: January 1, 1995
Created by: Uruguay Round (1986-1994)
Members: 141countries (2000)
Budget: 134 million Swiss Franc for 2001
Head: Director Mike Moore
Goals of WTO
Promote openness, fairness and predictability in international trade for the
humanity.
Functions:
1. Administering trade arguments
2. Acting as forum for trade negotiations
3. Settling trade disputes.
4. Review national trade policies
5. Assist developing countries in trade policy issues through technical
assistance and training programs
6. Cooperate with other international organizations.
Domestic Support:
1. Subsidize production
2. Encourage overproduction which resulted to low priced products dumped
in world markets.
Measures:
1. Cut back policies in production and trade
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2. Policies with minimal effect on production and trade can be used freely
which includes:
- government services as research, disease control, infrastructure and
food security.
- payments made directly to farmers where they are required to limit its
production.

WTO Regulations for Plant and Animal Products

Basic Rules:
1. Member countries are allowed to set their own standard but regulations
must be based to science
2. They should be applied only to the extent necessary to protect human,
animal, and plant health.
3. Provision to control in inspection and approval procedures.
Globalization is the integration of the world economy; no distance as national
border would impede economic transactions (goods and services).
Benefits of Global trade:
1. Promotes greater use of markets, more stable and less arbitrary policy
intervention, stronger competition.
2. Market liberalization consistently associated with higher growth which
alleviates poverty.
3. Globalization of markets makes common interaction among health and
environmental regulations.
4. Helps governments meet the environment and development objectives.
What happens in farming is also appliable to fishery, forestry, and mining.
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Enrichment:

1. Track and Trace (present in drawing the development of agriculture in the

Philippines).

2. List some goals and development indicators the government has designed
to be able to attain the major concerns listed.
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Enrichment:

1. List down all appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.

2. Compare Traditional from Conventional Agriculture cite advantages and

disadvantages.