Meaning and Branches of Agriculture

Agricultural science is a subject that deals with the planting of crops, rearing of animals as well as the provision of raw materials for industries.

Agriculture is derived from two Latin words ‘ager’ (field) and ‘cultūra’ (cultivation or growing). Literally it means field cultivation. Agriculture is as old as the existence of man. It is regarded as the mother of all other occupations. It is the live-blood of the nation’s economy.

Meaning of Agriculture

Agriculture can therefore be defined as the act and science of cultivating the soil for the production of crops and livestock management to the processing, packaging, distribution and marketing of plants and animals’ products for man’s use.

Simply put, agriculture is the art and science that deals with the cultivation of crops and the rearing of animals for man’s use.

Agriculture is defined as the production of crops and the rearing of animals for man’s use. It involves the tilling of the soil, cultivation of crops, rearing of animals for numerous purposes as well as for food.

Branches of Agriculture

The scope and branches (areas of specialization) of agriculture include the following:

(i)        Basic agriculture or agricultural education,

(ii)       Animal science or animal husbandry or animal production,

(iii)     Soil science

(iv)      Crop Production:

Ø    Agronomy (study of crops)

Ø    Pathology (study of crop diseases)

Ø    Entomology (study of insect pests of crops)

(v)       Horticulture

Ø    Pomology (deals with fruits)

Ø    Olericulture (deals with vegetables)

Ø    Floriculture (deals with flowers)

(vi)      Fishery

(vii)    Forestry

(viii)   Agricultural economics

(ix)      Agricultural extension

(x)       Agricultural engineering

(xi)      Veterinary machine

1. Basic agriculture/agricultural education: This branch of agriculture deals with the study of agricultural science as a subject i.e. the teaching of agriculture in schools. A specialist in this area is called agricultural science teacher/lecturer.
2. Animal science/Animal husbandry/Animal production: This deals with the study of the various farm animals. A specialist in this area is called animal scientist.
3. Soil science: This addresses the study of soil appearance, composition and nature of soil. A specialist in soil science is called a soil scientist.
4. Crop production: This branch deals with the study of the various type of crops that are cultivated farmers. A specialist in this area is called a crop scientist. Crop production is divided into three areas: agronomy (the study of crops and soil), pathology (the study of plant diseases), and entomology (the study of insect pests).
5. Horticulture: Horticulture deals with flowers, vegetables and fruits. Horticulture is divided into three areas, namely pomology (the study of fruits), olericulture (the study of vegetables), floriculture (the study of flowers). A specialist in this area is called a horticulturist.
6. Fishery: This deals with rearing of fish and other aquatic organisms in a body of water e.g. fish, crabs, crayfish, shrimps, etc. A specialist in this area is called a fishery officer.
7. Forestry: This is the area of agriculture that deals with the efficient management and utilization forest trees and forest products. A specialist in this area is called a forest officer or forest guard.
8. Agricultural economics: Agricultural economics is concerned with planning, management, marketing and other economics activities involved in production chain. A specialist in this area is called an agricultural economist.
9. Agricultural extension: Agricultural extension concerns itself with the carrying of information from the research stations to the farmers in the rural areas. A specialist in this area is called extension officer or extension agent.
10. Agricultural engineering: This is the mechanized aspect of agriculture that involves the operation of modern machinery and repairs of machines e.g. tractors and harrow. A specialist in this area known as an agricultural engineer.
11. Veterinary medicine: This aspect of agriculture studies the health, diagnosis, maintenance and treatment of diseases of animals. A specialist in this area is called a veterinarian (veterinary doctor).
12. Wildlife conservation: This refers to the setting aside of area of land area for the maintenance of wild animals. This area is called a game reserve.
13. Agricultural extension/extension: This deals with the transfer of knowledge and information from the research station to the farmers and vice-versa. A specialist in this area is called extensionist.