Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
AGRICULTURE AND SOCIETY
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
AGRICULTURE AND SOCIETY
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Agriculture
Class: SHS 1
Term: 1st Term
Week: 2
Grade code: 1.1.1.LI.2
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 1
Indicator code: 1.1.1.LI.2
Theme: CONCEPT OF AGRICULTURE AND INDUSTRIALIZING SOCIETY
Subtheme: AGRICULTURE AND SOCIETY
This page supports the lesson note with a companion video and a short classroom-ready summary.
For class groups and homework, share this lesson page so learners also get the summary, objectives, and full lesson context.
Welcome, future leaders of Ghana! Today, we are exploring a topic that is the backbone of our nation's economy and the source of our daily food: Agriculture. Many people think agriculture is just about farming with a cutlass and hoe under the hot sun. However, modern agriculture is a vast, scientific, and business-oriented field with countless opportunities. From the scientist in the lab developing better seeds, to the engineer designing irrigation systems, to the business manager exporting our prized cocoa, agriculture is everywhere.
This topic can be broken down into two main ways of classifying agricultural activities: by Branches (what you produce) and by Sectors (the stage of production). Part A: The Branches of Agriculture
A branch of agriculture refers to a specific area of specialization within the field, focusing on a particular type of production or discipline. Think of them as different departments in a very large company.
Here are the major branches with examples relevant to Ghana: Crop Production (Agronomy) This is the cultivation of field crops. It is the most common branch people think of. Cereals: Grains grown for food. *Ghanaian Examples:* Maize (nkate), Rice (local perfume rice from the Volta Region), Millet and Sorghum (staples in Northern Ghana). Roots and Tubers: Crops where the edible part grows underground. *Ghanaian Examples:* Cassava (for gari, fufu), Yam (Pona, Labreko), Cocoyam (for mpotompoto). Legumes/Pulses: Plants that produce pods with seeds inside; they are rich in protein and good for the soil. *Ghanaian Examples:* Cowpea (beans for 'red-red'), Groundnut (nkate), Soya bean. Industrial/Cash Crops: Crops grown primarily for sale and processing, not for direct consumption by the farmer. *Ghanaian Examples:* Cocoa (our national pride), Oil Palm (for palm oil and palm kernel oil), Cotton, Rubber, Coffee. Animal Production (Animal Husbandry/Science) This branch involves the breeding and raising of animals for meat, milk, eggs, wool, and other products. Livestock Farming: Raising mammals. *Ruminants (animals that chew the cud):* Cattle (West African Shorthorn), Sheep, Goats. *Non-Ruminants (animals with one stomach compartment):* Pigs, Rabbits (Grasscutter is a type of micro-livestock). Poultry Farming: Raising birds. *Ghanaian Examples:* Domestic Fowl (Chicken - layers for eggs, broilers for meat), Turkey, Guinea Fowl (akomfem), Ducks. Aquaculture (Fisheries): The farming of aquatic organisms like fish. *Ghanaian Examples:* Tilapia and Catfish farming in ponds and cages, especially in the Volta Region. Horticulture This is the science and art of cultivating fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamental plants. It is often more intensive than agronomy. Pomology: The cultivation of fruit crops. *Ghanaian Examples:* Mango, Pineapple, Orange, Pawpaw, Banana, Watermelon. Olericulture: The cultivation of vegetable crops. *Ghanaian Examples:* Tomato, Pepper (kpakpo shito), Okra, Onion, Cabbage, Garden eggs. Floriculture: The cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants. *Ghanaian Examples:* Growing roses and other tropical flowers for export to Europe. Forestry This branch deals with the management, conservation, and use of forests and their resources. *Activities:* Planting trees (afforestation), managing natural forests for sustainable timber harvesting, and cultivating non-timber forest products like medicinal plants, shea nuts, and mushrooms. *Ghanaian Context:* The Forestry Commission of Ghana manages our forest reserves. Agroforestry (mixing trees with crops) is a key sustainable practice. Agricultural Engineering This is the application of engineering principles to solve agricultural problems. *Areas:* Design and maintenance of farm machinery (tractors, ploughs), development of irrigation and drainage systems (e.g., Kpong Irrigation Scheme), and construction of farm structures (storage silos, animal pens). Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness This branch applies economic principles to agriculture. It treats farming as a business. *Areas:* Farm management, marketing of agricultural produce, agricultural finance and credit, policy analysis. It answers questions like, "Is it more profitable to grow maize or soybeans this year?"
Part B: The Sectors of Agriculture