INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Introduction. Branches of Agriculture.
branches of agriculture
crop farming

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able:
To define Agriculture as an art and a science.
To describe the branches of Agriculture.
to state and explain branches of agriculture
To state and explain crop farming systems

Brainstorming:
Teacher elicits the definition of Agriculture.
Discussion- Branches of Agriculture: crop farming, livestock farming, Agricultural Economics, Agriculture Engineering, e.t.c.
Brain storming, guided questions and detailed discussion.

Chart- Branches of Agriculture.
Livestock / Crop products.
Livestock / Crop raw produce, industrial goods, flow charts.
text book

KLB
Pages 1-3 

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Farming Systems.
Farming systems in Kenya. Intensive farming systems.
Extensive farming systems. Advantages and disadvantages of extensive farming system.
Methods of farming. Mixed farming.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define a farming system.
To identify factors that affect choice of a farming system.
To describe various farming systems practised intensively.
To state advantages and disadvantages of each type of intensive farming.
To describe various farming systems practised extensively.
To state advantages and disadvantages of each type of extensive farming.
To define mixed farming.
To state advantages and disadvantages of mixed farming.

Teacher exposes the meaning of a farming system.
Discussion on factors that affect choice of a farming system.
Q/A & Discussion
Discussion:
Q/A and explanations.
Probing questions.
Discussion- factors favouring / militating against mixed farming.

Resource person.
text book
Relevant photographs: plantations, ranches, dairy farms.
film

KLB
Pages 3
KLB
Pages 5

INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

Nomadic Pastoralism.
Shifting cultivation.
Roe of agriculture to kenyan economy

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define nomadic pastoralism.
To state advantages and disadvantages of nomadic pastoralism.
To define shifting cultivation.
To state advantages and disadvantages of shifting cultivation.
To explain the role of  agriculture to kenyan economy

Probing questions.
Discussion- factors favouring / militating against pastoralism.
Exposition;
Discussion.
Discussion

text book
 Charts & photographs.

KLB Pages 5

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Human factors.
Climatic factors. - Rainfall.
- Temperature.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To explain the human factors influencing Agriculture.
To discuss at length influence of rainfall on Agriculture.
To identify farming practices that:
Reduce effects of water shortage.
Overcome effects of excess water.
To define cardinal temperature range, maximum and minimum temperature, optimum temperature.
To identify factors that cause temperature variations.
To explain ways in which plants/ animals overcome extreme temperatures.

Detailed discussion and probing questions on: Health (emphasis on HIV/AIDS), education level, communication, economic development, marketing, government policies, e.t.c.
Q/A and explanations about: rainfall i.e. lack of rainfall, excess rainfall, rainfall intensity, distribution and reliability.
Exposition and explanations.
Exposition and explanation.
Discussion and Q/A on; altitude, latitude, seasons, winds, clouds, slope, e.t.c.
Students highlight ways in which plants / animals overcome extreme temperatures, then the
teacher delves into the details.

Data on HIV/AIDS.
Weather station instruments:
rain gauge.
Thermometers.

K.L.B.
Pg 8

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

- Light.
- Wind and Relative Humidity.
Biotic factors.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To state functions of light.
To describe characteristics of light.
To identify effects of wind on agricultural production.
To explain relation between relative humidity and rate of evapotranspiration.
To explain effects of biotic factors on Agriculture.

Q/A: Functions of light.
Exposition & Discussion: Light intensity, duration and wavelength.
Q/A: Uses and nuisances of wind.
Exposition: Meaning of relative humidity.
Discussion: Relative humidity v/s rate of evapotranspiration.
Q/A and explanations on effects of: pests, diseases, pathogens, predators, pollinators, bacteria, e.t.c. on Agriculture.

text book
Wall charts / Sample pe pollinators.

KLB
Page 15

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Edaphic factors.
Soil profile.
Soil constituents & sedimentation.
Soil texture.
Water retention of soils.
Effect of soil water holding properties on crop production.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define soil.
To state uses of soil.
To identify forms of weathering.
To define soil profile.
To represent soil profile diagrammatically.
To explain effects of soil profile on crop production.
To explain the importance of the soil constituents.
To define soil texture.
To identify textural classes of soil.
To identify types of soils.
To describe an experiment to show:
Water retention of soils.
Capillary rates of different soils.
To explain the effects of soil water holding properties on crop production.

Q/A and explanation: definition of soil, its uses.
Exposition: Teacher exposes meaning of weathering and forms of weathering.
Exposition ? Definition.
Drawing and labelling soil horizons.
Explanation and questioning: soil horizons v/s crop production.
Discussion: Constituents of soil and importance of each constituent.
Group experiment- Mechanical analysis of soil.
Discuss the results.
Expose meaning of soil texture.
Group experiments.
Discussion of observations.
Q/A and explanation about soil aeration and drainage and their influences on growth of crops.

Soil / rock samples.
Chart ? Soil profile.
school garden
Sieve meshes of different diameters,
Beakers,
Garden soil,
Weighing balance.
Sandy, Loam,
Clay soil
Cotton wool
Funnels
Stop watches
Rulers
Measuring cylinders.
school garden

KLB
Page 22.16
KLB
Pages 24

FACTORS INFLUENCING AGRICULTURE

Soil structure.

By the end of the lesson, the learner should be able to:
To define soil structure.
To identify types of soil structure.
To identify mans influence on soil structure.
To explain effects of soil structure on crops.

Detailed discussion.
Drawing of diagram- soil horizons.
Q/A: Man?s influence on soil structure.
Q/A: Soil structure v/s Crop production.

Chart- soil structure forms.

KLB
Page 40