Chapter 2: The Transformation of Agricuture
CHAPTER 2: THE TRANSFORMATION OF AGRICULTURE
The world was formed about 4,600 million years ago.the cukaryotic life forms appeared 3,600 million years later. the first hominid hunters and gatherers were recorded recently in comparison i,e about 4-7 million years ago.they have their oriigins in tropical east africa,present day chad ,ethiopia and kenya ,they first gathered wild fruits and hunted.later on plants and animals were domesticated.a social structure that promoted cooperation was established.this resulted in sharing knowledge on cultivation techniques and later on specialised skills related to domestication of particular plants or animals for food.
2.1 Prehistoric Era Through The Middle Ages And Domestic Of Plants And Animals
Recorded history began about 7000 years ago in the tigris-euphrates valley. before that period about 5000 years ago earlier human have already started farming during what we called the pre-historic era.
Initially,grain crops such as wild rye,barley and wheat were cultivated. this was followed by cultivation of peas and beans. the sites where such activities originated were believed to be in:
a) Western Asia- includes Turkey (then Asia Minor), Iran and Iraq ( Fertile Crescent of Tigris Euphrates) Israel,Jordan,and Syria.
b) The Nile Valley
c) Europe ( Danube river valley and Macedonia)
d) Indus valley of India -Pakistan
e) Yangtze & Yellow River Valley of China
f) Tehuacan valley of Central Mexico
Global agriculture transformation
Domestication of plants and animals was a milestone in early agriculture.full dependency did not begin until the middle Bronze Age when use of metal tools become widespread. Domestication involves deliberate husbandry and breeding of plants and animals.Breeding involves selection of desirable traits brought about by genetic changes.
Domestication animals are reared and used as working animals in the farm and also os sources of food (meat and milk),leather,and wool. these animals are hardy docile and non-territorial.
Large scale farming was started by the sumerians who were in the stage of empire building. there was similar expeansionary delevopment with the Nile valley inhabitanis. there were improvement in agriculture with the passage of time:
a) Rotating with legumes and root crops
b) Employing scientific method in agriculture research
c) Transfering crop and animal germplasms from their lands of origin
d) Using fuel powered machines to increase yield reduce labour
e) Introducing mechanisation
f) Performing rudimentary food-processing
Agriculture in the Middle Age (500-1500 A.D.)
Much of the advancement was made by the muslims during the golden era of Osmaniah. it took palce in the place in the near east,north africa and spain. revolution in agriculture was spearheaded by four key factor:
a) An advanced irrigation system that made use of machines,dams and reservoirs
b) A scientific approach to farming that adopted improved farming technique aided by published manuals that enabled raising of crops and animals away from place of organ.
c) Incentives in the form of land ownership,worker right and financial rewards commensurate with efforts.
d) Introduction of new crop and plant speceis and new cultivation techniques derived from research.
Modern Agriculture Transformation
It started in the 1950s when yield per land unit has increased many times more with tremendous improvement in agriculture practices.
The 20% century saw a rapid rise in mechanization that enabled farm activities to be performed with a speed and on scale never imagined before. this led to greater efficiency and higher quantity and quality of production. the green revolution has begun.this accurred between 1940s and 1960s.
Utilization of Human Labour,Animals,Machines, and Information and Biotechnology
This is a reiteration of the story of agriculture. as had been mentioned earlier,agriculture started with human labour (first confined to family members and later extended to hired hands) will heavy duties performed by animals.
Tools and machinery invented decreased burden and increased efficiency. however,some jobs cannot be replaced by machines such as picking fruits and vegetables,rubber tapping and harvesting iol palm fruits.
Agriculture has now moved into the fast lane. information technology enables quick dissemination of knowledge. innovative technologies such as remote sensing and precision farming help increased yields and varieties.genetic engineering creates transgenic life forms superior to their original versions. a brave new world has begun.
2.3 VALUES CUSTOMS AND TABOOS IN TRADITIONAL AND MODERN AGRICULTURE
2.3.1 Traditional Agriculture
1. The food production = art and craft
2. Knowledge and skills are handed orally from one generation to the next
3. Food = survival for the community
4. No machinery. Human labour& animals
5. Labouris intensive
6. Control of pests and diseases is by cultural means.
7. Organic fertilizers &plant-microbsymbiosis in providing nutrients.
8. Use native varieties related to natural spirit residing in the plants.
Nomadic Agriculture
-Slash & burn
-Characteristics :
•Planting only for 2-3 seasons
•Customs & taboos
•Yield low
•Minimal fertilizer
Sedentary Agriculture:
-Cultivation on the same piece of land year in year
-Characteristics :
•Specific area by rural folks
2.3.2 Modern Agriculture
Two goals of Modern Agriculture systems
1. To obtain highest yields possible
2. To get the highest economic profit possible
Rely on findings in Biological Sciences
+ related sciences:
-chemistry (fertilizers & pesticides)
-physics(remote sensing)
-medicine and pharmacy(biotechnology)
-engineering(mechanization)
-ICT(transfer of agricultural technology
-economics(efficient farm management)
-literature(transfer of knowledge)
1. Intensive and mass production
2. Extensive use of machinery and electronics
(land preparation => harvesting)
3. Extensive use of chemicals
(Fertilizers & pest control)
4. Widespread use of clones, hybrids and selected high yielding varieties.
5. Employment of highly knowledgeable and skilled workers.
6. Industrial approach with monocultural system and highly efficient management.
7. No tradition and taboos by professionals who manage the system.
The world was formed about 4,600 million years ago.the cukaryotic life forms appeared 3,600 million years later. the first hominid hunters and gatherers were recorded recently in comparison i,e about 4-7 million years ago.they have their oriigins in tropical east africa,present day chad ,ethiopia and kenya ,they first gathered wild fruits and hunted.later on plants and animals were domesticated.a social structure that promoted cooperation was established.this resulted in sharing knowledge on cultivation techniques and later on specialised skills related to domestication of particular plants or animals for food.
2.1 Prehistoric Era Through The Middle Ages And Domestic Of Plants And Animals
Recorded history began about 7000 years ago in the tigris-euphrates valley. before that period about 5000 years ago earlier human have already started farming during what we called the pre-historic era.
Initially,grain crops such as wild rye,barley and wheat were cultivated. this was followed by cultivation of peas and beans. the sites where such activities originated were believed to be in:
a) Western Asia- includes Turkey (then Asia Minor), Iran and Iraq ( Fertile Crescent of Tigris Euphrates) Israel,Jordan,and Syria.
b) The Nile Valley
c) Europe ( Danube river valley and Macedonia)
d) Indus valley of India -Pakistan
e) Yangtze & Yellow River Valley of China
f) Tehuacan valley of Central Mexico
Global agriculture transformation
Domestication of plants and animals was a milestone in early agriculture.full dependency did not begin until the middle Bronze Age when use of metal tools become widespread. Domestication involves deliberate husbandry and breeding of plants and animals.Breeding involves selection of desirable traits brought about by genetic changes.
Domestication animals are reared and used as working animals in the farm and also os sources of food (meat and milk),leather,and wool. these animals are hardy docile and non-territorial.
Large scale farming was started by the sumerians who were in the stage of empire building. there was similar expeansionary delevopment with the Nile valley inhabitanis. there were improvement in agriculture with the passage of time:
a) Rotating with legumes and root crops
b) Employing scientific method in agriculture research
c) Transfering crop and animal germplasms from their lands of origin
d) Using fuel powered machines to increase yield reduce labour
e) Introducing mechanisation
f) Performing rudimentary food-processing
Agriculture in the Middle Age (500-1500 A.D.)
Much of the advancement was made by the muslims during the golden era of Osmaniah. it took palce in the place in the near east,north africa and spain. revolution in agriculture was spearheaded by four key factor:
a) An advanced irrigation system that made use of machines,dams and reservoirs
b) A scientific approach to farming that adopted improved farming technique aided by published manuals that enabled raising of crops and animals away from place of organ.
c) Incentives in the form of land ownership,worker right and financial rewards commensurate with efforts.
d) Introduction of new crop and plant speceis and new cultivation techniques derived from research.
Modern Agriculture Transformation
It started in the 1950s when yield per land unit has increased many times more with tremendous improvement in agriculture practices.
The 20% century saw a rapid rise in mechanization that enabled farm activities to be performed with a speed and on scale never imagined before. this led to greater efficiency and higher quantity and quality of production. the green revolution has begun.this accurred between 1940s and 1960s.
Utilization of Human Labour,Animals,Machines, and Information and Biotechnology
This is a reiteration of the story of agriculture. as had been mentioned earlier,agriculture started with human labour (first confined to family members and later extended to hired hands) will heavy duties performed by animals.
Tools and machinery invented decreased burden and increased efficiency. however,some jobs cannot be replaced by machines such as picking fruits and vegetables,rubber tapping and harvesting iol palm fruits.
Agriculture has now moved into the fast lane. information technology enables quick dissemination of knowledge. innovative technologies such as remote sensing and precision farming help increased yields and varieties.genetic engineering creates transgenic life forms superior to their original versions. a brave new world has begun.
2.3 VALUES CUSTOMS AND TABOOS IN TRADITIONAL AND MODERN AGRICULTURE
2.3.1 Traditional Agriculture
1. The food production = art and craft
2. Knowledge and skills are handed orally from one generation to the next
3. Food = survival for the community
4. No machinery. Human labour& animals
5. Labouris intensive
6. Control of pests and diseases is by cultural means.
7. Organic fertilizers &plant-microbsymbiosis in providing nutrients.
8. Use native varieties related to natural spirit residing in the plants.
Nomadic Agriculture
-Slash & burn
-Characteristics :
•Planting only for 2-3 seasons
•Customs & taboos
•Yield low
•Minimal fertilizer
Sedentary Agriculture:
-Cultivation on the same piece of land year in year
-Characteristics :
•Specific area by rural folks
2.3.2 Modern Agriculture
Two goals of Modern Agriculture systems
1. To obtain highest yields possible
2. To get the highest economic profit possible
Rely on findings in Biological Sciences
+ related sciences:
-chemistry (fertilizers & pesticides)
-physics(remote sensing)
-medicine and pharmacy(biotechnology)
-engineering(mechanization)
-ICT(transfer of agricultural technology
-economics(efficient farm management)
-literature(transfer of knowledge)
1. Intensive and mass production
2. Extensive use of machinery and electronics
(land preparation => harvesting)
3. Extensive use of chemicals
(Fertilizers & pest control)
4. Widespread use of clones, hybrids and selected high yielding varieties.
5. Employment of highly knowledgeable and skilled workers.
6. Industrial approach with monocultural system and highly efficient management.
7. No tradition and taboos by professionals who manage the system.
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