use the definition of Agriculture in modern terms as it relates to production, processing and marketing.
differentiate between the various branches of Agriculture.
differentiate between the various types of Agriculture.
Agro-allied industries
Content:
•Agro-allied industries: Meaning and importance
Learning Objectives:
relate agro-allied industries to their respective raw materials
relate the various contributions of Agriculture to economic development in West Africa.
Ecological zones in West Africa
Content:
•Ecological zones in West Africa and their characteristics
•Abiotic and biotic factors affecting agricultural production
Learning Objectives:
differentiate between the features of the ecological zones in West Africa.
classify agricultural products according to each ecological zone.
differentiate abiotic from biotic factors affecting agricultural production.
Agricultural genetics
Content:
•Cell theory and cell division: mitosis and meiosis
•Mendel's laws of inheritance
•Monohybrid and dihybrid inheritance
•Chromosomal basis of inheritance
Learning Objectives:
apply the first and second laws of Mendel to genetics.
differentiate between the types of cell division.
determine the outcome of genetic crossing involving homozygous and heterozygous traits.
compute simple probability ratios
Agricultural inputs
Content:
•Types of inputs used in agriculture: land, labor, capital and management
•Types and sources of agricultural inputs
•Importance of agricultural inputs
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Problems of Agricultural development
Content:
•Problems of Agricultural development e.g land tenure systems, inadequate infrastructures, finance for agriculture, pollution, etc.
•Establishment of national research institutes e.g. NCRI, IAR, IAR&T, CRIN, NIFOR, FRIN, RRI, NRCRI, NIHORT, LCRI, e.t.c. and international research institutes e.g. IITA, ILRI, ICRISAT, WARDA e.t.c., leading to increased application of science to the development of agriculture.
•Agricultural Development Projects (ADPs) e.g. RTEP, FADAMA, etc.
•Contribution of NGOs to agricultural development
Learning Objectives:
trace the history of research institutes from past to present.
assess their role in the development of agriculture.
give reasons for the establishment of ADPs.
evaluate the contributions of national agricultural programmes.
Agricultural Technology
Content:
•Smallness of farm holdings: biological limits of farm production and susceptibility of farm production to climate, seasonality of farm productions, price elasticity in demand and supply of agricultural produce.
•Labour Management: Labour relations, types of labor, national labor laws and regulations
•Farm Management: Qualities, functions, and problems of a farm manager, Records and record-keeping, Stock evaluation, Agricultural insurance
•Marketing of Agricultural Produce: Importance of Marketing, Marketing channels, Characteristic features of agricultural product affecting their marketing
•Agricultural Extension: Meaning and importance, The role of Agricultural Development programmes, universities, research institutes, and farmers' organizations (Cooperative societies), Extension methods including demonstration plots, use of visual aids, mass media, etc., Problems of agricultural extension in West Africa and possible solutions.
Learning Objectives:
examine the relevance of farm surveying to agriculture.
classify common surveying equipment, their uses, and care.
differentiate between the common survey methods.
apply survey principles to farmstead outlay.
identify simple farm tools.
use and maintain farm tools.
compare the advantages and disadvantages of simple farm tools.
identify common farm machinery and implements.
classify farm machinery according to their uses.
apply appropriate maintenance routines on farm machines and implements.
operate farm machines and implements.
use basic terms in biotechnology.
provide reasons for the importance and application of biotechnology.
identify the various components of a computer.
use the computer to enhance agricultural practices.
use communication gadgets to enhance agricultural production.
use basic concepts in agricultural experiments.
draw inferences from experimental results.
compute simple measures of central tendency
2. CROP PRODUCTION
Rocks and Soil formation
Content:
•Factors affecting rock weathering and soil formation
•Physical properties of soil: Soil profile, Soil texture and structure
•Chemical properties of soil: Soil acidity and alkalinity, Chemical component of soil e.g silicate.
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Soil Water and Soil Conservation
Content:
•Soil water: its importance, sources, movement, management and conservation.
•Soil conservation: meaning and importance, causes, effects, prevention and control of leaching, erosion, continuous cropping, burning and oxidation of organic matter.
•Irrigation and drainage methods
Learning Objectives:
apply the first and second laws of Mendel to genetics.
differentiate between the types of cell division.
determine the outcome of genetic crossing involving homozygous and heterozygous traits.
compute simple probability ratios
Soil Fertility
Content:
•Macro and micro-nutrients and their roles in plant nutrition: carbon, water and nitrogen cycles
•The living population of the soil (flora and fauna), and their roles in soil fertility
•Maintenance of soil fertility. Methods of maintaining soil fertility e.g. use of cover crops, application of organic manures, e.t.c.
•Fertilization
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Land Preparation and Soil Tillage
Content:
•Types of soil tillage: Primary and secondary
•Methods of tillage
•Factors to consider when selecting tillage methods
Learning Objectives:
apply the first and second laws of Mendel to genetics.
differentiate between the types of cell division.
determine the outcome of genetic crossing involving homozygous and heterozygous traits.
compute simple probability ratios
Plant Propagation Methods
Content:
•Sexual: the use of seeds, seed viability, viability test, seed rate and seed germination
•Asexual (vegetative propagation) e.g. cutting, budding, grafting, layering, e.t.c.
•Nursery and nursery management
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Cropping Systems, Planting Patterns and Plant Densities
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Pasture and Forage Crops
Content:
•Study of gross morphology, methods of propagation, and husbandry of common pasture grasses and legumes. Establishment, maintenance, conservation and uses of pastures and forage crops.
•Study of natural grasslands and their distribution in West Africa
Learning Objectives:
apply the first and second laws of Mendel to genetics.
differentiate between the types of cell division.
determine the outcome of genetic crossing involving homozygous and heterozygous traits.
compute simple probability ratios
Plant diseases
Content:
•A simple account of diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, nematodes and viruses; the nature of the damage, methods of transmission and common methods of control.
•Side effects of application of preventive and control methods e.g pollution, poisoning, and distribution of ecosystems.
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Crop pests
Content:
•General account of pests of agricultural plants both in the field and in the store, their types, importance, principles and methods of prevention and control
Learning Objectives:
apply the first and second laws of Mendel to genetics.
differentiate between the types of cell division.
determine the outcome of genetic crossing involving homozygous and heterozygous traits.
compute simple probability ratios
3. ANIMAL PRODUCTION
Forms and classification of major farm animals in West Africa
Content:
•Species, breeds and distribution
•External features of cattle, sheep, goat, pigs, rabbits and poultry
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
General terminology in animal production
Content:
•Common terms used in animal husbandry, e.g. calving, kidding, castrate, capon, veal, mutton, e.t.c.
Learning Objectives:
apply the first and second laws of Mendel to genetics.
differentiate between the types of cell division.
determine the outcome of genetic crossing involving homozygous and heterozygous traits.
compute simple probability ratios
Anatomy and physiology of farm animals
Content:
•Functions of tissues and organs of farm animals
•Animal body systems e.g. digestive (ruminants and non-ruminants), reproductive, respiratory, urinary (excretory), and nervous systems.
•Effect of environmental changes on physiological development of farm animals e.g climate change.
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Reproduction in farm animals
Content:
•Gametogenesis, oestrus cycle, signs of heat and heat periods, secondary sexual characters, gestation periods, parturition and the role of hormones in reproduction.
Learning Objectives:
apply the first and second laws of Mendel to genetics.
differentiate between the types of cell division.
determine the outcome of genetic crossing involving homozygous and heterozygous traits.
compute simple probability ratios
Feeds and Feeding
Content:
•Nutrient requirements of farm animals
•Types of feed and feed formulation
•Deficiency symptoms and remedies
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Animal management
Content:
•Housing systems
•Routine management practices
•Selection and breeding
Learning Objectives:
apply the first and second laws of Mendel to genetics.
differentiate between the types of cell division.
determine the outcome of genetic crossing involving homozygous and heterozygous traits.
compute simple probability ratios
Animal diseases
Content:
•Causes, symptoms and control measures of common diseases of farm animals
•Parasites (parasitology): Life cycles and economic importance of livestock parasites e.g. endoparasites, ectoparasites, and disease vectors. Prevention and control: dipping, spraying, deworming, sanitation
Learning Objectives:
classify different types of farm inputs and their uses.
Fisheries and Wildlife
Content:
•Fish culture systems; Common types of fishes e. g Tilapia, Catfish, etc.
•i. Extensive systems: inland and deep-sea fishing, lakes and rivers.
•ii. Semi-intensive systems: dams
•iii. Intensive systems: fish ponds – Factors to consider in ponds establishment and pond management e.g. pond fertilization, liming, and desilting.