Crop Production Basic 4 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

What is Crop Production?

Crop production is the growing of plants on farms to provide food, money, and raw materials for people to use.

Types of Crops

1. Food Crops

Crops grown mainly for eating

Grains/Cereals:

• Rice – for rice and swallow
• Maize (Corn) – for pap, cornflakes
• Wheat – for bread, noodles
• Millet – for local porridge

Root and Tuber Crops:

• Yam – for pounded yam, boiled yam
• Cassava – for garri, fufu, flour
• Sweet potato – boiled or roasted
• Irish potato – for chips, salad

Legumes (Beans):

• Cowpeas (beans) – for moi-moi, akara
• Groundnuts – for snacks, oil
• Soya beans – for protein food

2. Cash Crops

Crops grown mainly to sell for money

Export Crops:

• Cocoa – sold to make chocolate
• Cotton – sold to make clothes
• Palm oil – sold for cooking and soap
• Rubber – sold to make tires

Industrial Crops:

• Sugarcane – for making sugar
• Tobacco – for cigarettes
• Coffee – for drinks

3. Vegetables

Fresh plants for healthy eating

• Tomatoes – for stew and salad
• Pepper – for seasoning
• Onions – for cooking
• Lettuce – for salad
• Spinach – for vegetable soup

4. Fruits

Sweet crops for eating and health

• Oranges – for vitamin C
• Mangoes – fresh fruit
• Bananas – for energy
• Pineapples – for juice
• Watermelon – for refreshment

Steps in Crop Production

Step 1: Land Preparation

• Clear the land of weeds and bushes
• Plow the soil to make it soft
• Add fertilizer to make soil rich
• Make ridges or beds for planting

Step 2: Planting

• Choose good quality seeds
• Plant at the right time (rainy season)
• Space seeds properly
• Cover seeds with soil

Step 3: Crop Care

• Watering: Give plants enough water
• Weeding: Remove unwanted plants
• Fertilizing: Add nutrients to help growth
• Pest control: Protect from insects and diseases

Step 4: Harvesting

• Wait for crops to mature
• Pick or cut crops at right time
• Handle carefully to avoid damage
• Collect all mature crops

Step 5: Storage

• Dry crops properly
• Store in clean, dry places
• Protect from rats and insects
• Package for sale or use

Tools Used in Crop Production

Hand Tools:

• Hoe – for weeding and making ridges
• Cutlass – for clearing land
• Watering can – for watering plants
• Basket – for carrying crops

Modern Tools:

• Tractor – for plowing large farms
• Planter – for planting seeds
• Harvester – for cutting crops
• Sprayer – for applying fertilizer

Importance of Crop Production

1. Provides Food

• Gives us daily meals
• Supplies vitamins and nutrients
• Prevents hunger

2. Creates Jobs

• Farmers work on crop farms
• People sell crops in markets
• Food processing companies employ workers

3. Earns Money

• Farmers sell crops for income
• Nigeria exports crops to other countries
• Supports national economy

4. Provides Raw Materials

• Cotton for making clothes
• Sugarcane for making sugar
• Palm fruits for making oil

EXERCISES

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Crop production is the ________ of plants on farms
2. ________ crops are grown mainly for eating
3. ________ crops are grown mainly to sell for money
4. Rice and maize are examples of ________ crops

Exercise 2: True or False

1. All crops are grown for food only ____
2. Yam is a root crop ____
3. Cocoa is a food crop ____
4. Crop production provides jobs ____

Exercise 3: Match the Crop Type

Draw lines to connect each crop with its type:

• Rice → Cash crop
• Cocoa → Vegetable
• Tomato → Food crop
• Orange → Fruit

Exercise 4: Crop Categories

Write “F” for Food crop, “C” for Cash crop, “V” for Vegetable, or “Fr” for Fruit:

1. Cassava ____
2. Cotton ____
3. Pepper ____
4. Mango ____
5. Beans ____

Exercise 5: Choose the Right Answer

Circle the correct answer:

1. Yam is used for: Pounded yam / Making clothes
2. Cotton is grown to: Eat / Make clothes
3. First step in crop production: Harvesting / Land preparation
4. Cocoa is sold to make: Chocolate / Bread