Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 2
AGRIBUSINESS MANGEMENT
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
AGRIBUSINESS MANGEMENT
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Agriculture
Class: SHS 2
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 20
Grade code: 2.5.3.LI.3
Strand code: 5
Sub-strand code: 3
Content standard code: 2.5.3.CS.1
Indicator code: 2.5.3.LI.3
Theme: AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, AGRIBUSINESS AND COMMUNICATION
Subtheme: AGRIBUSINESS MANGEMENT
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.
Good morning, class. Today, we are moving from simply farming to thinking like business owners. Imagine you are running a popular waakye joint. How would you know if you are making a profit or a loss? You would need to track how much rice, beans, and oil you buy, and how much money you make each day. An agricultural enterprise, whether it's a small poultry farm in your backyard or a large cocoa plantation, is a business. The most important tool for managing any business successfully is record keeping. Farm records are like the "report card" for your farm; they tell you where you are succeeding and where you need to improve.
A. What are Farm Records?
Definition: Farm records are a systematic and organised way of writing down and keeping all information and activities related to the farm business. They are documented evidence of what has happened on the farm over a period of time. This includes everything from the money spent on cutlasses and feed to the number of eggs collected each day. B. Importance of Farm Records
Why should a busy farmer spend time writing things down? Here are the critical reasons: Measures Profitability: Records help the farmer calculate whether the farm is making a profit or a loss. By comparing total income (from sales) and total expenditure (on inputs), the farmer gets a clear picture of the farm's financial health. Aids in Planning and Budgeting: With past records of yields, expenses, and prices, a farmer can make realistic plans and budgets for the next planting season. They can decide how much fertilizer to buy or whether they can afford to hire extra labour. Helps in Securing Loans: Banks and financial institutions like the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) or local microfinance companies require records as proof that the farm is a viable business before they grant a loan. Records show credit-worthiness. Guides Farm Management Decisions: Good records help farmers make smart decisions. For example, if a livestock record shows that one breed of goat is consistently getting sick, the farmer might decide to change the breed. If a yield record shows one plot of land produces more maize than another, the farmer can investigate why and apply the successful method elsewhere. Helps with Tax Assessment: For larger commercial farms, accurate records are needed to calculate the correct amount of tax to pay to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Provides a History of the Farm: Records serve as a historical document, allowing the farmer (or their children) to track the farm's progress, growth, and challenges over many years. Detects Theft or Waste: If a poultry farmer's records show they bought 10 bags of feed that should last 10 days, but it finishes in 7 days, they can immediately investigate for waste or theft. C. Types of Farm Records
Farm records can be grouped into three main categories. Production Records These records track all the physical activities and outputs of the farm. They answer the question, "What did we do and what did we get?" Farm Diary: This is a daily record of all important events on the farm. *Components:* Date, Weather conditions, Activities performed (e.g., weeding, planting, applying fertilizer), Labour used, Any unusual observations (e.g., pest outbreak, sick animal). Yield/Production Record: This tracks the total output harvested from the farm. *Components:* Date of Harvest, Crop/Product, Plot Number/Pen Number, Quantity Harvested (e.g., number of tubers, bags, kg, crates), Remarks. Example: Yam Yield Record for Mr. Osei's Farm | Date of Harvest | Plot No. | No. of Tubers Harvested | Average Size | Remarks | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 15-08-2023 | A | 250 | Large | Some tubers damaged by rodents | | 22-08-2023 | B | 310 | Medium | Good quality, no damage | Livestock Records: These are specific to animal production and are very detailed. *Types:* Breeding records (mating dates, birth dates), Production records (egg count, milk volume), Health records (vaccinations, treatments, diseases), Feed records (type of feed, quantity used). Example: Daily Egg Production Record for "Adepa Poultry" | Date | Pen No. | No. of Birds | No. of Eggs Collected | No. of Cracked Eggs | Remarks | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 20-10-2023 | Layer Pen 1 | 500 | 450 | 5 | Production is good | | 21-10-2023 | Layer Pen 1 | 500 | 445 | 8 | Increase in cracked eggs | Financial Records These records track all the money coming into and going out of the farm business. They answer the question, "Are we making or losing money?" Cash Book: This is the most basic financial record. It records all cash receipts (income) and cash payments (expenditure). *Components:* Date, Description of Transaction, Income (GHS), Expenditure (GHS), Balance. Example: Simple Cash Book for a Tomato Farmer | Date | Particulars | Income (GHS) | Expenditure (GHS) | Balance (GHS) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 01-11-23 | Opening Balance | | | 500.00 | | 02-11-23 | Bought seeds | | 80.00 | 420.00 | | 05-11-23 | Paid for weeding | | 150.00 | 270.00 | | 10-11-23 | Sold last season's maize | 400.00 | | 670.00 | Inventory Record: This is a list of all assets (items owned by the farm) and their value. It is usually taken at the beginning and end of a production year. *Components:* Item (e.g., Land, Building, Cutlass, Bags of Fertilizer), Quantity, Value at Start of Year (GHS), Value at End of Year (GHS). This helps in calculating depreciation. Sales and Purchase Record: This tracks everything bought for the farm and everything sold from the farm. It gives more detail than the cash book. Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement: This is a summary statement prepared at the end of a period (e.g., one year) to calculate the net profit or loss of the farm. It summarises all income and all expenses. Supplementary Records These are other useful records that support the main production and financial records. Labour/Personnel Record: Tracks the details of farm workers. *Components:* Worker's Name, Date, Task Performed, Hours Worked, Wages Paid (GHS). Farm Equipment/Machinery Record: Tracks the use and maintenance of farm tools and machines. *Components:* Machine Name, Date of Purchase, Fuel/Lubricant Usage, Repair History, Cost of Repairs. D. Record Keeping for Illiterate Farmers