Revision on Classification of Crops – JSS1 Agricultural Science Lesson Note (Second Term)

Crops can be classified according to their uses. The main groups are cereals, legumes, sugar crops, beverages and stimulants, roots and tubers, fruits, forage crops, latex crops, fibre crops and oil crops. Each group is based on the use of the crop, such as food, animal feed, drink, latex, fibre or oil.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• state the main groups of crops according to their uses;
• describe each group of crops in one or two sentences;
• give examples of crops in each group;
• name crops that belong to more than one group.

How are crops classified according to their uses?

We grow crops as food and feed for ourselves and our livestock. We also grow them for other products, such as latex, fibre and oil. The groups are described below.

Cereals

Cereals, or grain crops, belong to the grass family. We grow them for their seeds. Examples are maize, sorghum (guinea corn), millet, rice, wheat and acha.

Legumes (pulses)

The seeds of legumes are eaten and are a good source of plant protein. Examples are soya bean, cowpea, groundnut and bambara.

Sugar crops

Sugar crops are grown to make the sugar we eat. The two major sugar crops are sugarcane and sugar beet.

Beverages and stimulants

Beverage and stimulant crops are crops whose products are used for making non-alcoholic drinks or to increase our body activities. Examples are cocoa, tea, coffee, kola nut and tobacco.

Roots and tubers

Root and tuber crops store food materials in the underground parts of the plant. Examples are cassava, sweet potato, yam and cocoyam.

Fruits

Many crops produce fruits. The fruits are eaten fresh or canned. Examples are mango, orange, banana, cashew, pawpaw, guava and pineapple.

Forage crops

Farmers grow forage crops mainly as feed for farm animals. Examples are elephant grass, gamba grass and alfalfa.

Most food crops, for example cowpea, are also grown as forage crops. In this case, the crops are harvested before they are mature to feed livestock. Such crops include maize, sorghum, millet, groundnut, soya beans and cowpea.

Latex crops

Latex crops provide a white sticky sap (latex) from their stem or fruit. Examples are rubber and para rubber.

Fibre crops

Fibre crops are usually thread-like, and fibre is obtained from them. The fibre can be processed to make clothing materials. Examples are cotton, sisal, jute and kenaf. Fibres may be obtained from the fruits, stems and leaves of these crops.

Oil crops

The seeds or fruits of oil crops produce oil when processed. Examples are oil palm, coconut, soya beans, groundnut, cotton and sunflower.

Evaluation

1. Name the ten groups of crops classified according to their uses.
2. What are cereals? Give four examples.
3. Why are legumes important in our diet?
4. What is the difference between a root crop and a forage crop?
5. Name three crops that are both oil crops and members of another group.

Assignment

1. List four examples each of fruit crops and fibre crops.
2. Explain why some food crops are also grown as forage crops.