Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.:TLED 9 : 1S- 2023-2024
College: College of Teacher Education
Campus : Bayombong
DEGREE PROGRAM BTLE COURSE NO TLED 9
SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE Agri-Fishery Arts Part II
YEAR LEVEL 3rd Year TIME FRAME 3hrs WK NO 1 IM NO. 1
I. CHAPTER 1. Introduction to Agricultural Crop Production
II. LESSON 1: Brief History of Agriculture
III. LESSON OVERVIEW
The history of agriculture (the production of food by plant cultivation and animal husbandry and
control of productivity) can be organized around several themes (such as time, productivity,
environmental impact, and genetic diversity). The most obvious is time and the sequence of events
from gathering wild plants for food to crop plant domestication , to yield-enhanced hybrid seed.
IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOME
1. Discuss the brief history / meaning of agriculture and its importance.
V. LESSON CONTENT
Lesson 1. Brief History of Agriculture
Agriculture is the raising of domesticated animals and the planting, cultivation, and preservation
of crops. Agriculture entails selective breeding of organisms with combinations of inherited
characteristics that benefit humans (and not necessarily the organisms themselves), and so these
practices have over time greatly influenced the course of evolution of these animals. Agriculture arose
thousands of years ago in different parts of the world. The steps were similar in different places, but the
types of organisms that were raised or cultivated differed. Underlying all of agriculture is human control
of the environment.
From Hunting And Gathering To Intentional Intervention
Preparing a feast today is as easy as visiting the local supermarket, farm stand, or garden.
However, fifteen thousand years ago, conditions were quite different. Isolated bands of people hunted
and gathered on the parts of the earth not covered in ice, seeking wild game and edible plants. They
had to find food, or starve.
Cultivation of plants may have arisen accidentally. According to the "dump heap hypothesis,"
wandering peoples discarded remains of plant foods in piles in cleared areas, then returned to the sites
and discovered that the same types of plants they had eaten the year before grew again. Eventually,
people connected the leaving of seed one season to finding of edible plants the next. Farming began
when people intentionally saved and planted seeds of their favorite plants.
By selecting characteristics that make a plant a good crop, early farmers altered the genetic
makeups of plant populations. Corn, for example, is a product of human intervention. Corn's ancestor, a
grass called teosinte, had small ears with sparse kernels. As humans selected teosinte ears bearing
the most plump kernels, they gradually edged evolution towards forming a new species, corn. A
reminder today of this ancient intervention is that the jackets formed by the leaves covering an ear of
corn (husks) are so tight that the plant cannot naturally release its seed. Other plant species were also
changed by humans selecting variants that held onto seeds more tightly, a trait that would not benefit a
plant in the wild.
Multiple Origins Of Agriculture
Some of the earliest archeological evidence for agriculture comes from the Yellow River region
of China, where the people raised rice and millet some fifteen thousand years ago. By thirteen
thousand years ago, when warmer and wetter weather followed the end of the Pleistocene ice age,
people in the Fertile Crescent, an area that today includes Iran, Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Israel, and
Lebanon, cultivated wild grasses, which were the ancestors of barley and emmer and einkorn wheat, as
well as lentils and chickpeas. The fields of grasses supported grazing animal populations.
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Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.:TLED 9 : 1S- 2023-2024
Striking evidence of early agriculture is a ten thousand-year-old farming village in Jericho in the
Jordan Valley built over the remains of a hunter-gatherer settlement. The farm was larger and
supported more people, and included permanent homes and evidence of irrigation, including walls to
hold back floods and ditches. Barley flourished in nearby fields.
By eight thousand years ago, farming settlements and villages ringed by crop fields had spread
from the Middle East to Eastern Europe. People raised wheat, barley, legumes, goats, sheep, pigs,
cattle, and many other species. By seven thousand years ago, people in central Europe and the
western Mediterranean region were actively farming, and by four thousand years ago, the change came
to the British Isles. Tombs, mummy wrappings, and paintings and hieroglyphics from Assyria and Egypt
from this time herald a diet, at least among the well-to-do, that included figs, dates, grapes, olives,
pomegranate, and several cereals. Meanwhile, agriculture was spreading in the Americas. By eight
thousand years ago, people there were eating kidney beans, peanuts, lima beans, cocoa, avocados,
pumpkins, squashes, tomatoes, chili peppers, and corn. Potatoes were a staple in settlements in the
Andes Mountains in South America about four thousand years ago. On the African continent, cassava,
yams, coffee, cotton, millet, and sorghum were among the first crops, grown about five thousand years
ago.
Modern Agriculture And Biotechnology
The work of Charles Darwin and Gregor Mendel in the late nineteenth century, in evolution and
genetics, respectively, revealed the biological basis of the selective breeding that is agriculture.
Cultivation approaches could therefore become more directed. For example, in the early twentieth
century, George Shull, at the Station for Experimental Evolution in Cold Spring Harbor, New York,
crossed highly inbred strains of corn, and produced very robust hybrids . Use of hybrids ushered in a
new era in agriculture, with many fields planted with the same strains of crop plants (monocultures ).
But this set the stage for disaster, such as arrival of a pathogen to which all of the plants were equally
vulnerable. In the twenty-first century, farmers plant several varieties of the same crop to avoid the
weakness of monocultures.
Traditional agriculture selects valuable variants among individual organisms, and breeding is
between members of the same or very closely related species. Conventional breeding therefore mixes
up many traits at a time. In contrast is agricultural biotechnology, in which addition or modification of
specific genes creates valuable variants. Specifically, a transgenic plant or animal has an added gene
in each of its cells. The transgene can come from a different type of organism, which is possible
because all species use the same genetic code to manufacture protein . To return to the example of
corn, plants that are transgenic for a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produce a protein
that kills certain caterpillars, including the devastating European corn borer. Use of such "bt corn"
enables a farmer to avoid using chemical pesticides, but has potential consequences of its own, such
as promoting selection of borers resistant to the poison, and harm to nearby insect populations.
Agricultural biotechnology began in the 1970s, and people in the United States have been
eating genetically modified foods since the mid-1990s. The goals of agricultural biotechnology are the
same as traditional agriculture: improved appearance, flavor, and nutritional content of foods, and ease
of cultivation.
1. Definition of Agriculture
Agriculture – is defined as an art, science and business
As an art: it embraces knowledge of the way to perform the operations of the farm in a skillful
manner, but does not necessarily include an understanding of the principles underlying the
farm practices.
As a science: utilizes all technologies developed on scientific principles such as crop breeding,
production techniques, crop protection, economics etc. to maximize the yield and profit. For example,
new crops and varieties developed by hybridization, Transgenic crop varieties resistant to pests and
diseases, hybrids in each crop, high fertilizer responsive varieties, water management, herbicides to
control weeds, use of bio-control agents to combat pest and diseases etc.
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purposes only and not for commercial distribution,”NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220)
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Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.:TLED 9 : 1S- 2023-2024
As the business: as long as agriculture is the way of life of the rural population production is
ultimately bound to consumption. But agriculture as a business aims at maximum net return through the
management of land labor, water and capital, employing the knowledge of various sciences for
production of food, feed, fiber and fuel. In recent years, agriculture is commercialized to run as a
business through mechanization.
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants and fungi for food, fiber, biofuel, medicinal
plants and other products used to sustain and enhance human life.
Crop Production
is a branch of agriculture that deals with the cultivation of plants utilized by man for any
purpose, for sale or domestic consumption.
Crop agriculture
refers to the art and science of cultivating land for growing crops.
Crop
A crop is a plant or plant product that can be grown and harvested extensively for profit or
subsistence. When the plants of the same kind are cultivated at one place on a large scale, it
is called a crop3. Most crops are cultivated in agriculture or hydroponics.
As an agricultural country, agriculture plays a critical role in the entire life of our economy.
Agriculture serves as backbone of the economic system of our country. In addition to providing food
and raw material, agriculture also provides employment opportunities to very large percentage of the
population. Below are the importance of agriculture:
Source of Livelihood - The main source livelihood of many people is agriculture. Approximately 70 %
of the people directly rely on agriculture as a mean of living. This high percentage in agriculture is as a
result of none development of non-agricultural activities to absorb the fast-growing population.
However, most people in developed countries do not engage in agriculture.
Contribution to National Revenue - Agriculture is the main source of national income for most
developing countries. However, for the developed countries, agriculture contributes a smaller per cent
age to their national income.
Supply of Food as well as Fodder - Agricultural sector provides fodder for domestic animals. Cow
provides people with milk which is a form of protective food. Moreover, livestock also meets people’s
food requirements.
Significance to the International Trade - Agricultural products like sugar, tea, rice, spices, tobacco,
coffee etc. constitute the major items of exports of countries that rely on agriculture. If there is smooth
development practice of agriculture, imports are reduced while export increases considerably. This
helps to reduce countries unfavorable balance of payments as well as saving foreign exchange. This
amount may be well used to import other essential inputs, machinery, raw-material, and other
infrastructure that is helpful for the support of country’s economic development.
Marketable Surplus - The growth of agricultural sector contributes to marketable surplus. Many people
engage in manufacturing, mining as well as other non- agricultural sector as the nation develops. All
these individuals rely on food production that they might meet from the nation’s marketable surplus. As
agricultural sector development takes place, production increases and this leads to expansion of
marketable surplus. This may be exported to other nations.
Source of Raw Material - The main source of raw materials to major industries such as cotton and jute
fabric, sugar, tobacco, edible as well as non-edible oils is agriculture. Moreover, many other industries
such as processing of fruits as well as vegetables and rice husking get their raw material mainly from
agriculture.
Significance in Transport - Bulks of agricultural products are transported by railways and roadways
from farm to factories. Mostly, internal trade is in agricultural products. Moreover, the revenue of the
government, to a larger extent, relies on the success of agricultural sector.
“In accordance with Section 185, Fair Use of Copyrighted Work of Republic Act 8293, the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced for educational
purposes only and not for commercial distribution,”NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220)
Page 3 of 4
Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya
INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.:TLED 9 : 1S- 2023-2024
Foreign Exchange Resources - The nation’s export trade depends largely on agricultural sector. For
example, agricultural commodities such as jute, tobacco, spices, oilseeds, raw cotton, tea as well as
coffee accounts for approximately 18 % of the entire value of exports of a country. This demonstrates
that agriculture products also continue to be important source of earning a country foreign exchange.
Great Employment Opportunities - Construction of irrigation schemes, drainage system as well as
other such activities in the agricultural sector is important as it provides larger employment
opportunities. Agriculture sector provides more employment opportunities to the labor force that reduce
the high rate of unemployment in developing countries caused by the fast growing population.
Economic Development - Since agriculture employs many people it contributes to economic
development. As a result, the national income level as well as people’s standard of living is improved.
The fast rate of development in agriculture sector offers progressive outlook as well as increased
motivation for development. Hence, it aids to create good atmosphere for overall economic
development of a country. Therefore, economic development relies on the agricultural growth rate.
Source of Saving - Development in agriculture may also increase savings. The rich farmers we see
today started saving particularly after green revolution. This surplus quantity may be invested further in
the agriculture sector to develop the sector.
Food Security - A stable agricultural sector ensures a nation of food security. The main requirement of
any country is food security. Food security prevents malnourishment that has traditionally been
believed to be one of the major problems faced by the developing countries. Most countries rely on
agricultural products as well as associated industries for their main source of income.
VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES
1. Give example of Main Agricultural Crops
2. Give example of Secondary Agricultural Crops
VII. ASSIGNMENT:
1. Based on your knowledge write your views on the status and significance of agriculture in our country .
VIII. REFERENCE
Books:
Nazareno, Jesus B. 2014, Learners Material: Technology & Livelihood Education – Agricultural Crop
Production, Pasig City, Philippines, Department of Education – Instructional Materials Council
Secretariat (DepEd IMCS)
Dr. P. Chandra Shekera et al. 2016, Farmer’s Handbook on Basic Agriculture - Second Edition,
Navasari, India, Desai Fruits & Vegetables Pvt. Ltd.
Online:
https://www.academia.edu/
https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com
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purposes only and not for commercial distribution,”NVSU-FR-ICD-05-00 (081220)
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