Historical Development Of Agriculture

CONTENT

• Development of Techniques through the Ages.
• Development of Agriculture in Nigeria.

DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNIQUES THROUGH THE AGES

The early man gathered wild fruits, nuts, roots and leaves for food as well as trapping fishes and wild animals.  Caves, hollows and trees served as his shelter while his clothings were mainly leaves and skins.  With time, he developed skills and instruments for his hunting expedition.  He used pointed sticks, sharp bones or stones but later arrows, slings and guns were invented.  The forest land where he collected food was enough for him to feed.  There was no shortage of food, so he did not think of ways of producing food.  However, as people increased, food gathering was no longer enough for them.

DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN NIGERIA

The Agricultural methods of Egyptian farmers combined with the older traditional farming practices of West Africa have produced the basis of Nigerian Agriculture today.In the last 300 years, crops from other parts of the world have been brought to West Africa by traders.  Bananas and plantains were originally from Asia while groundnuts and cocoa came from America.

EVALUATION

1.          What did the early man do to get food before the population of people increased?

2.         How did cocoa and groundnut get to Nigeria?

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Mention the sources of food, shelter and clothing for the early man.
2. What is the origin of plantain and banana?
3. Name the system of Agriculture being practiced by the early man.
4. What is the origin of cocoa?
5. What is the origin of groundnut?

READING ASSIGNMENT

Junior Secondary Agriculture for Nigerian Schools by A. Yondeowei Bk. 3, Chapter 19, pages 104-108

Prescribed Agricultural Science For Junior Secondary Schools.Chapter1, pgs 1-2.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1.          The early man gathered the following for food except ………..

            (a) fruits     (b) trees    (c) nuts    (d) leaves

2.         Which one of these tools did the early man use for his hunting expedition?

            (a) Harvester    (b) Bomb    (c) Gun    (d) Sticks

3.         Banana and plantain originated from ……………..

            (a) U.S.A.    (b) Ghana    (c) Asia    (d) India

4.         Groundnut and cocoa were brought to Nigeria from ………….. by …………….

            (a) U.S.A.; tourists    (b) U.S.A.; traders    (c) Asia; tourists    (d) Asia; traders

5.         The idea of modern day Agricultural practice came from ………………

(a) the idea of too many animals around    (b) the idea of germinating seeds that were dropped by man   (c) the idea of rivers and streams    (d) the idea of sunshine

THEORY

1.          List out any five kinds of food the early man fed on.

2.         State any two: a) tools used by the early man for hunting expedition,

b) sources of his shelter, and

c) sources of his clothing.