Agriculture is defined as the art and science of crop and livestock production. As an art Involves use of learned skills and performing them manually (by hand). E.g.
● Tilling of land.
● Construction of farm structures.
● Measuring distances.
● Machine operations.
● Harvesting of crops.
● Feeding and handling animals.
● Marketing of Agricultural produce.
As a science It involves experimentation and application of scientific knowledge e.g. in areas such as:
1. Soil science (pedology) ---study of soil.
2. Crop pathology—Study of crop diseases.
3. Entomology--- Study of insects and their control.
4. Agricultural Engineering--- soil and water conservation and farm power.
5. Genetics—Plant and animal breeding.
Production - Are activities that increase the quality and quantity of something.
Crop production activities include: land preparation, planting, fertilizer and manure application, weeding, pest control, disease control and harvesting.
Livestock production activities include: ● Selection and breeding.
● Feeding.
● Rearing the young stock.
● Parasite and disease control.
● Housing.
● Obtaining products from animals.
1. Crop production: e.g. Field crop farming, pomology, Floriculture, olericulture.etc.
2. Livestock production: e.g. Apiculture, Poultry keeping, aquaculture.etc.
3. Soil science.
4. Agricultural Economics.
5. Agricultural Engineering.
KCSE Revision Zone