INTRODUCTION
COP621: General agriculture I is a one -semester, two units, 600 level
course. The course is designed for Post-Graduate Diploma students
... [Show More] of
Cooperative Studies.
This course will expose you to an understanding of many of the
concepts in general agriculture. It will assist you to be able to have
wider knowledge of the various fields of agriculture such as crop
science, soil science and animal science.
The course which consists of twenty (20) units includes: Concepts of
agriculture, prospects and problems of agriculture, measures of
improving Nigeria agriculture, agriculture and natural environment, land
use and land tenure in Nigeria, basic principles of crops production,
classification of crop plants, pasture and forage crops and soils for
agricultural production. Others include- farm animal productionruminant,
farm animal production- systems of cattle management, farm
animal production -pig production, poultry production and management,
management of chicks, broilers, cockerels and layers, agricultural
extension services, agricultural extension and rural development, forest
production in Nigeria, wildlife production and fish production in
Nigeria.
This course guide tells you briefly what the course is all about, what
course materials you will be using and how you can work your way
through these materials. It suggests some general guidelines for the
amount of time you might be spending in order to successfully complete
each unit of the course. It also gives you some guidance on your tutormarked
assignments, details of which will be made available in the
assignment file. These are regular tutorial classes that are linked to the
course. You are advised to attend these sessions.
WHAT YOU WILL LEARN IN THIS COURSE
Cop 621: General Agriculture I consists of all the major parts of general
agriculture. The major parts include: general agriculture, crop science,
soil science, animal science, forestry, wildlife and fishery.
The first five units will introduce you to general agriculture. Issues
discussed in these units are as follows: Unit one deals with the meaning
of agriculture, the scope and types of agriculture. Unit two will also look
at the importance of agriculture to the economy of Nigeria and problems
of agricultural development. Unit three will highlight the measures put
in place to improve agriculture in Nigeria. In unit four we will discuss
the natural vegetation of Nigeria in relation to agriculture. We will also
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v
look at the relationship between agriculture and environmental factors.
While in unit five we will look at land and its uses, the type of land
tenure system in Nigeria and land use decree.
Crop science will cover the major parts of our discussions in units six to
nine. In unit six we will discuss the essential parts of a typical crop
plants which include-stem, leaf, flower and root. Unit seven describes all
the farming operations carried out before, during and after crop planting
is done. In unit eight we will classify crop plants using mode of
cultivation, lifecycle and the use of the plants. In the same unit we shall
present the summary of production of some important crops. The last
unit in this section will be devoted to pastures and forage crops
production.
Unit 10 will look at another specialised area of agriculture called soil
science. The essential aspects of soil science that we need to know are
the meaning of soil, soil erosion and ways of improving soil fertility.
Farm animal production will cover our discussions in units eleven to
fifteen. Unit eleven will look at ruminant animals especially cattle,
sheep and goats. As follow-up to unit eleven, the next unit will look at
the systems of managing cattle. Some important aspects of pig
production that will be highlighted in unit thirteen include- economic
importance of pig, characteristics of pig, selection of pig for breeding,
management of pigs and disease of pigs. The last two units of this
section will be on poultry production. Unit fourteen will look at the
management of poultry. The last unit in this section will highlight the
management of chicks, broilers, cockerels and layers.
Agricultural extension services take units sixteen and seventeen. Some
of the essential aspects of agricultural extension services that will be
discussed include- the meaning, objectives and the role of agricultural
extension, qualities of a good extension officer, development of
agricultural extension in Nigeria and the problems facing agricultural
extension in Nigeria.
Other areas that unit seventeen will look at are: rural development rural,
poverty, social system, social change, training and visit system and
general administration of agricultural extension.
The last three units of the study guide discuss another specialised area of
agriculture. Unit eighteen will be on forestry production followed by
wildlife in unit nineteen and fish production in unit twenty.
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COURSE AIMS
The aim of the course is to give an understanding of the meaning of the
various concepts of agriculture. This will be achieved by trying to:
• introduce you to the definition and meaning of the various
concepts in agriculture
• describe the various land use and land tenure systems in Nigeria
• describe the various classifications of crop plants
• describe the cultural practices commonly used by farmers in crop
production
• outline the systems of managing farm animals
• explain the production systems used in forestry, wildlife
management and fishery.
COURSE OBJECTIVES [Show Less]