Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE IN FOOD PRODUCTION
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PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE IN FOOD PRODUCTION
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Agriculture
Class: SHS 1
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 2
Grade code: 1.3.1.LI.3
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 1.3.1.CS.2
Indicator code: 1.3.1.LI.3
Theme: FOOD PRODUCTION AND NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION
Subtheme: PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE IN FOOD PRODUCTION
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This lesson focuses on the practical activities and scientific principles that underpin successful crop production. In Ghana, agriculture is the backbone of our economy and the source of the food we eat daily, from the maize for our *banku* and *kenkey* to the yams for our *fufu*. Understanding the correct sequence of activities—from preparing the land to storing the harvest—is crucial for increasing yields, ensuring food security for our families and communities, and making farming a profitable business. This lesson moves beyond just knowing the names of farm activities; it equips you to understand *why* each step is taken and *how* to do it effectively.
The entire process of growing a crop from start to finish can be called crop production. This process is divided into a series of logical steps or practices. Applying the right principles at each stage determines the success of the farm. A. Pre-Planting Practices: Getting Ready for a Good Harvest
These are the activities done *before* the seeds or seedlings go into the ground. A good start is half the battle won. Site Selection: What it is: Choosing the best piece of land for your crop. Principles: Topography: Gently sloping or flat land is best to prevent soil erosion, where the rich topsoil is washed away by rain. Soil Type: Different crops have different needs. For example, yams prefer deep, loamy soils, while rice can grow in waterlogged clayey soils. Sunlight & Water: The site must have adequate sunlight and a reliable source of water (rainfall or irrigation). Land Preparation: What it is: Clearing and tilling the land to create a suitable seedbed for plants to grow. Key Activities & Principles: Clearing/Slashing: Removing existing vegetation (weeds, bushes) with tools like cutlasses. This reduces competition for the future crop. Ploughing: The first major turning of the soil, usually done with a hoe, bullock plough, or tractor. *Principle:* It breaks up compacted soil, buries weeds and crop residues (which then decompose to form humus), and improves aeration (air circulation) and water infiltration. Harrowing: The second turning of the soil, done after ploughing. It breaks the large soil clods left by the plough into smaller, finer particles. *Principle:* It creates a fine, smooth seedbed (called *tilth*) which allows for good seed-soil contact, essential for germination. Ridging/Bed Making: Gathering soil into mounds or ridges. *Principle:* This is crucial for root and tuber crops like yam and cassava, as it provides deeper, looser soil for tuber expansion. It also improves drainage in waterlogged areas. Simple Soil Tests: Soil Texture (The Feel Method): What it is: Determining the proportion of sand, silt, and clay in the soil. How to do it: Take a small, moist sample of soil and rub it between your thumb and forefinger. Sandy soil: Feels gritty and will not form a ball. Clayey soil: Feels sticky and can be rolled into a long, thin ribbon. Loamy soil: Feels smooth and slightly gritty, and can be moulded into a ball that crumbles easily. It is the best for most crops. Soil pH (Litmus Paper Test): What it is: Measuring the acidity or alkalinity of the soil. Most crops prefer a neutral pH (around 6.5-7.0). How to do it: Make a soil solution by mixing a soil sample with distilled water. Dip blue and red litmus paper into the solution. *Principle:* If blue litmus turns red, the soil is acidic. If red litmus turns blue, the soil is alkaline. If there is no change, it is neutral. Forest zones in Ghana often have slightly acidic soils. Selection of Planting Material: What it is: Choosing high-quality seeds or seedlings. Principles: Viability: The seed must be alive and able to germinate. Viability Test (Water Method): Drop a sample of seeds (e.g., maize, beans) into a bucket of water and stir. Healthy, viable seeds will sink. Unhealthy, damaged, or insect-eaten seeds will float because they are lighter. Purity: The seeds should be free from weed seeds, stones, and other debris. Disease-Free: Select seeds from healthy plants to avoid introducing diseases to your farm. B. Planting Practices: Sowing the Seeds Timing of Planting: What it is: Planting at the start of the rainy season. Principle: This ensures that the young plants have enough moisture for germination and early growth without the farmer needing to irrigate. In Southern Ghana, this would be around March/April for the major season. Planting Methods: Broadcasting: Scattering seeds randomly over the field. (e.g., rice, some vegetables). *Advantage:* Fast and easy. *Disadvantage:* Uneven spacing leads to competition; weeding is difficult. Drilling: Placing seeds in shallow furrows or drills and covering them. (e.g., wheat, cowpea). *Advantage:* Better spacing than broadcasting. Row Planting: Planting seeds at specific spacing in straight lines. (e.g., maize, cassava). *Advantage:* Uniform plant population, allows for easy movement for weeding, fertilizer application, and harvesting. It is the most recommended method for many crops. C. Post-Planting Practices: Caring for the Crop Supplying / Filling-in: What it is: Replanting in spots where seeds failed to germinate. Principle: This ensures the desired plant population per unit area is maintained, leading to maximum yield. Thinning: What it is: Removing excess seedlings from a stand to give the remaining plants enough space. Principle: It reduces overcrowding and competition for sunlight, water, and nutrients, leading to stronger, healthier plants. Weed Control: What it is: Removing unwanted plants (weeds) from the farm. Principle: Weeds compete with crops for essential resources and can harbour pests and diseases. Removing them ensures the crop gets all available resources. Methods: Manual (hoeing, cutlass), Chemical (using herbicides with a knapsack sprayer). Fertilizer Application: What it is: Supplying essential plant nutrients (like Nitrogen-N, Phosphorus-P, Potassium-K) to the soil. Methods & Principles: Broadcasting: Spreading granular fertilizer evenly over the entire field. Used for crops like rice in flooded paddies. Drilling / Band Placement: Applying fertilizer in a shallow line (band) a few centimetres away from the base of the plants in a row. *Principle:* This is very efficient for row crops like maize because it places nutrients close to the roots where they are needed, reducing wastage. Foliar Spraying: Dissolving fertilizer in water and spraying it directly onto the leaves of the plant. *Principle:* Nutrients are absorbed quickly through the leaves. This is good for giving a quick boost to vegetables or correcting micronutrient deficiencies. D. Harvesting and Post-Harvest Practices Harvesting: What it is: Gathering the mature crop from the field. Principle: Harvest at the right time (using *maturity indices* like colour change in fruits, or hardness of grains) to ensure maximum quality and quantity. Post-Harvest Handling: What it is: Activities performed after harvesting to prepare the crop for storage or market. This is a critical stage where a lot of food is lost in Ghana. Activities: Threshing/Shelling: Separating grains from the stalk (e.g., maize, rice). Drying: Reducing the moisture content of grains to prevent mould and rot during storage. Storage: Keeping the produce in a safe, cool, dry place (e.g., barns, silos) to protect it from pests and spoilage. Farm Records: What it is: Keeping a written account of all farm activities and finances. Principle: Records help the farmer to: Track expenses and income to see if the farm is profitable. Plan for the next season by knowing what worked and what didn't. Secure loans from banks. Example of a Simple Farm Record: | Date | Activity | Labour (Man-days) | Inputs Used (e.g., seed, fertilizer) | Cost (GHS) | Remarks | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 15/03/2024 | Land Clearing | 2 | Cutlass | 100.00 | Hired labour | | 20/03/2024 | Ploughing | 1 | Hoe | 50.00 | Self | | 28/03/2024 | Planting | 2 | Maize seed (Obaatampa) - 5kg | 150.00 | 2 seeds per hole |
Guided Practice (With Solutions)
Question 1: Ama is a small-scale farmer in the Ashanti Region preparing to plant a one-acre maize farm. She has the option of broadcasting the seeds or planting them in rows. Which method would you advise her to use, and why? Give two reasons for your answer. Solution: Advised Method: Row planting. Reason 1 (Principle of Resource Competition): Row planting ensures proper and uniform spacing between the maize plants. This reduces competition for sunlight, water, and soil nutrients, allowing each plant to grow strong and produce a large cob. Reason 2 (Principle of Farm Management): Planting in rows makes subsequent farm operations like weeding, fertilizer application (using band placement), and harvesting much easier and more efficient compared to a randomly broadcasted field.