Scribd
Upload
613 views8 pages

Introduction To Agriculture: Definition, History, Conventional Farming

Agriculture involves the cultivation of crops and rearing of livestock for economic purposes. It can be considered an art, science, and business. Historically in the Caribbean, agriculture transitioned from subsistence practices like shifting cultivation to cash crops like sugar cane and banana during colonial times. Today, agriculture remains important for GDP, employment, food/nutrition, and trade. Conventional farming utilizes synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, GMOs, and other artificial tools to be highly productive but also resource-intensive.

Uploaded by

ALISON ALI
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
613 views8 pages

Introduction To Agriculture: Definition, History, Conventional Farming

Agriculture involves the cultivation of crops and rearing of livestock for economic purposes. It can be considered an art, science, and business. Historically in the Caribbean, agriculture transitioned from subsistence practices like shifting cultivation to cash crops like sugar cane and banana during colonial times. Today, agriculture remains important for GDP, employment, food/nutrition, and trade. Conventional farming utilizes synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, GMOs, and other artificial tools to be highly productive but also resource-intensive.

Uploaded by

ALISON ALI
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 8

Introduction to Agriculture

Definition, History, Conventional Farming


Look at the videos below and let’s discuss
Agriculture is defined as:
Agriculture comes from the Latin agricultura meaning ‘cultivation of the
field’
The art, science and business of producing crops and livestock for
economic purposes -
– Using good skills to perform farm operations is an ART
– Using knowledge of the natural world for farming and using
modern technologies encompasses SCIENCE
– Maximising economic returns by managing land, labour and capital is a
BUSINESS
Agricultural Science is defined as:
• An understanding of the factors of production (land, labor,
capital, management) to achieve crop and animal
production in a sustainable manner
The History of Agriculture in the Caribbean:
• Pre-Colonial era – this involved mainly hunting, fishing and gathering.
Mainly root crops were planted e.g. cassava and shifting cultivation and slash
and burn agriculture were the major practices.
• Colonial era - major change was made with the introduction of crops such as
sugar cane and banana. Livestock rearing (mainly cattle and chickens) was
also started and coastal fishing also occurred
• Post-Colonial era – changes in technology saw increased use of synthetic
fertilisers and pesticides. Intensive systems of rearing livestock became
prominent. Non traditional crops were introduced e.g. coffee and cocoa and
farmers began using crop rotation as a management technique to maintain
soil fertility
The Importance of Agriculture to the Caribbean
• Contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
• Employment opportunities from labourer to highly trained
professionals
• Food and nutrition security where all people at all times have
access to food
• Industrial input raw materials for processing
• Earns foreign exchange and encourages trade
• Import substitution where we replace imported goods with
domestic products causing a decreased food import bill
Types of Agricultural Enterprises
These may be small and employ just the farmer – Subsistence farming.
They may also be large and process their primary products.
FARMING PROCESSING SALES & MARKETING
Farming involves rearing Involves turning agricultural Agricultural produce is sold from
livestock or growing crops. produce into other products e.g. market stalls, shops and
Farming also includes fruit into wine, jams or preserves supermarkets. Produce is usually
horticultural techniques used to brought from the farm to
produce plants. Produce is sold wholesalers and then to retailers.
to consumers or to industries for
processing
What are Conventional Farming Systems:
• Refers to farming techniques that traditionally use; synthetic
fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides and other chemicals as well as
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), concentrated
animal feeding operations, heavy irrigation, intensive tillage
and other artificial tools
• “conventional” seems to be the opposite of “organic” farming
• Conventional agriculture is high resource and energy intensive
and highly productive
• Conventional systems include; monoculture, mixed cropping
and mixed farming (research and explain these for Homework)

You might also like