Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
AGRICULTURE AND SOCIETY
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AGRICULTURE AND SOCIETY
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Subject: Agriculture
Class: SHS 3
Term: 1st Term
Week: 6
Grade code: 3.1.1.LI.3
Strand code: 1
Sub-strand code: 1
Content standard code: 3.1.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 3.1.1.LI.3
Theme: CONCEPT OF AGRICULTURE IN AN INDUSTRIALIZING SOCIETY
Subtheme: AGRICULTURE AND SOCIETY
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As Ghana's agriculture modernises and becomes more intensive, the amount of waste produced from farms and processing units increases significantly. If not managed properly, this waste pollutes our water bodies, contaminates our soil, and releases harmful gases into the atmosphere. This lesson moves beyond seeing "waste" as rubbish and reframes it as a valuable "resource." We will explore practical, sustainable, and often profitable techniques to manage agricultural waste, turning a problem into an opportunity for farmers and the community. This knowledge is crucial for creating a cleaner environment and a more efficient and profitable agricultural sector in Ghana.
Starter Activity (Engage - 10 minutes) Initiating Talk: The teacher will divide learners into mixed-ability groups of 4-5. Task: Each group will brainstorm and list all the "waste" materials they can think of that are produced on the following types of Ghanaian farms: A large poultry farm in Dormaa. A maize and cassava farm in the Volta Region. A cocoa farm in the Western Region. A small-scale gari processing centre. After 5 minutes, each group shares one unique item from their list until all ideas are exhausted. The teacher writes these on the board. (Expected answers: chicken droppings/manure, feathers, maize cobs and stover, cassava peels, cocoa pod husks, waste water, etc.).
Main Content (Explore & Explain - 30 minutes) A. What is Agricultural Waste?
Definition: Agricultural waste refers to all unwanted or discarded materials produced during various agricultural activities. These include farming, harvesting, processing, and rearing of animals.
Major Categories in Ghana: Crop Residues: Materials left on the farm after harvesting. *Examples:* Maize stover (stalks, leaves), rice straw, groundnut shells, cocoa pod husks, empty palm fruit bunches. Animal Wastes: Excreta and other materials from livestock production. *Examples:* Poultry litter (manure and wood shavings), cow dung, pig slurry, goat and sheep droppings, animal carcasses. Agro-Industrial Wastes: Waste generated from the processing of agricultural produce. *Examples:* Cassava peels from gari/starch production, bagasse from sugarcane processing, fruit peels and seeds from juice making, rice husks from milling. B. Why is Sustainable Management Important?