chapter 1

1. INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE 

a. Historical background of Agriculture 

b. The value of Agriculture in the community 

c. The farm as a production unit

d. Understanding the value of various farming systems 

e. Importance of record keeping in Agriculture 

f. Types of records kept on a farm 

g. Careers in Agriculture 

h. Working Conditions of a farm worker 

A sample Activity of integration 

1. INTRODUCTION TO AGRICULTURE

10,000 years ago during the Neolithic Revolution, when humans began transitioning from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled farming communities. This shift first occurred in the Fertile Crescent—a region spanning parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, and Turkey—where early humans domesticated plants like wheat and barley, and animals such as sheep and goats.

Agricultural practices independently emerged in other parts of the world as well. In China, rice and millet were cultivated; in the Americas, indigenous peoples domesticated crops like maize (corn), potatoes, and beans; in Africa, sorghum and yams became staple crops.

Over time, agriculture enabled the rise of complex societies by supporting larger populations, giving rise to cities, trade, and governance systems. In ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, and the Indus Valley, irrigation and plowing techniques were developed to enhance food production. The Agricultural Revolution in medieval Europe introduced innovations such as the three-field system and heavy plow, improving yields.

The 18th and 19th centuries saw the British Agricultural Revolution, marked by crop rotation, selective breeding, and mechanization, which greatly increased productivity. This paved the way for the Industrial Revolution by freeing labor for urban industries.

In the 20th century, the Green Revolution brought chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and high-yield crop varieties to developing countries, significantly boosting global food production. However, it also raised concerns about sustainability, environmental impact, and social inequality.

Today, agriculture is at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and global food security. Innovations such as precision farming, genetic engineering, and sustainable practices aim to meet the challenges of feeding a growing global population while protecting the planet.

SUBTOPIC 1.1: TOOLS USED AGRICULTURE

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