Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
MODERN TECHNICAL AGRICULTURE
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MODERN TECHNICAL AGRICULTURE
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Agriculture
Class: SHS 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 13
Grade code: 1.2.1.LI.2
Strand code: 2
Sub-strand code: 1
Indicator code: 1.2.1.LI.2
Theme: MODERN TECHNICAL AND MECHANISED AGRICULTURE
Subtheme: MODERN TECHNICAL AGRICULTURE
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In Ghana, from the bustling Makola market in Accra to the local village market in the North, we see agricultural produce being measured and sold every day. Often, this is done using tools our grandparents used, like the 'olonka' tin or a heaped basket. These are our indigenous measuring tools. While they are a vital part of our culture and local commerce, modern agriculture requires more precision for tasks like applying fertilizer, trading internationally, or getting a bank loan. This lesson will bridge the gap between our traditional methods and the standardized measurements (like kilograms and litres) used globally.
A. What are Indigenous Measuring Tools?
These are traditional, non-standardized instruments and units that have been developed and used by local communities for generations to measure quantity (volume, weight, length). They are often based on readily available containers or body parts. Their main characteristic is variability – they are not uniform.
Common Ghanaian Examples:
| Indigenous Tool | Description | Primary Agricultural Use | Measurement Type | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Olonka Tin | A metal tin, originally for oil or canned tomatoes. | Measuring grains (maize, gari, rice, beans), powders. | Volume | | Head Pan | A large, shallow metal pan. | Measuring and carrying bulk items (cassava, sand, harvested maize cobs, animal feed). | Volume/Weight | | Rubber Bucket | A plastic bucket of a common size. | Measuring water, liquid fertilizers, animal feed. | Volume | | Bottle Cover/Cap | The cap from a beverage or chemical bottle. | Measuring small amounts of liquid agrochemicals (pesticides, herbicides). | Volume | | Heap / Pile | A pile of produce on the ground or a table. | Selling vegetables and fruits (tomatoes, peppers, oranges). | Volume/Weight | | Arm Stretch ('Anyaa') | The distance from the centre of the chest to the tip of the fingers of an outstretched arm. | Measuring length of rope, cloth, or short distances on land. | Length | | Foot / Pace | The length of a person's foot or a single step. | Estimating land dimensions (farm boundaries). | Length | B. What are Standardized Measuring Tools and Units?