Theme 1.1: General Agriculture #2 Flashcards
Define sustainable agriculture
Refers to maximizing the benefits of natural resources for the present generation without limiting future generation to do the same.
Define agricultural research
Is an investigation and study with the aim of improving the quality of crops and livestock
Discuss examples of agricultural research activities that improved the production of agricultural commodities in Namibia
- Research on improved crop varieties
- Increasing grain quality
- Increasing drought and temperature tolerance in crops
- Focuses on increasing the yield per hectare - Research on animal feeding
- It is directed towards supplementary feeding programmes for animals
- Improved usage of crops residue as well as protein and minerals supplements correct nutrient deficiencies - Research on animal health
- To improve effectiveness of existing preventative treatments and enables the development of new vaccines
- To identify animal diseases, symptoms, parasites and ways of controlling them - Research on genetic - improvement
- Genetic modification allows the improvement of crops and animal breeds in terms of their adaptability to harsh conditions
- Focus on reproductive technology
Describe the value of education in agriculture and how this contribute to the improvement of food and cash production
- Lead to better knowledge about crop varieties and animal breeds
- Farmers will gain knowledge on how to increase food production by using fertilizer
- Agriculture provides good employment opportunities
- Give farmers skills to practice modern agriculture
- Enable farmers to use resources responsibly and sustainably
- Equip farmers with required skills and knowledge to be able to innovate and improve farming practice
Discuss ways of adding value to agricultural products for sustainability
Value addition – process of changing a raw agricultural product to a more valuable state
Preservation and processing methods
Culturing – processing food by means of fermentation e.g. yogurt & traditional beer
Cooking – increasing the temperature to destroy dangerous microbes e.g. diseases, bacteria and enzymes that cause rotting
Processing – changing raw products in some way to make it more accessible to the buyer
Freezing – to preserve food freshness
Cooling – storing food in a refrigerator to a temperature at which enzymes that can cause rotting are inactive
Canning – to preserve food freshness and external shelf life e.g. vegetables
Drying – drying fresh food produce reduce its water content until the levels are too low for microorganisms to grow
Discuss how agriculture can bring about the much needed development and better living conditions for rural people in Namibia
- Farming
– to provide food for themselves
- to sell surplus to improve their livelihoods - Employment & Self-employment
– many people are involved in various agricultural projects to generate income at a community level
– Agricultural projects help alienate rural poverty, reduce rural crime by employing young people in the community
Explain how the government/ministry of agriculture can help in the development of rural communities
- By introducing conservancies
- By training farmers in various farming activities
- Providing financial assistance for community projects
- Setting animal handling facilities within the rural communities
- Subsiding inputs and services
Effects of high temperatures on plant growth (maximum) 40°c and above
- Enzymes are destroyed
- Plant wilt and die
- Increase the rate of evaporation
- Increase the rate of transpiration
- Reduce photosynthesis
Effects of low temperatures on plant growth (minimum) below 5°c
- Slows seed germination
- Plant enzymes become inactive
- Decreases the rate of evaporation
- Decreases the rate of transpiration
Effects of optimum temperatures on plant growth 20°c and 30°c
- This is the most ideal for plant growth
- Plant enzymes are active
- Production increases
- Plant processes occur at normal rate
Solution to effects of temperature
- Apply mulch around plants
- Provide shade for plants
- Grow resistant cultivars
Effects of humidity on plant growth:
- High humidity leads to low transpiration and evaporation
- High humidity creates the high possibility of rain
- Low humidity leads to high transpiration and evaporation
- High humidity encourages the development and spread of fungal diseases
How to reduce the effects of humidity on plants
- Plant resistant varieties that have less chances of being infected by fungal diseases
- Place mulch on the soil surface when humidity is low
- Space plant further apart when humidity is high, this allows air to dry the environment around the plant to reduce fungal diseases
