CONTENT

  • INTRODUCTION
  • DEFINITION
  • CHARACTERISTICS
    Production is the process of combining and converting input to give rise to output.
    This process is aided by Land, Labour, Capital and Management (Entrepreneurship) all
    otherwise referred to as factors of production. So therefore factors of production are
    the resources that ensure the production of goods in agriculture.
    Land refers to where productive activities such as growing of crops, rearing of animals
    and establishment of farmstead, e.t.c are carried out.it is the most important asset of
    the farmer. Land for agricultural production can be acquired in the following ways
  1. Purchase: out rightly buying the land and assuming full ownership.
  2. Lease/Rent: paying the land owner (individual/government) a stipulated amount
    to gain access to using the land for a stipulated time.
  3. Gift
  4. Inheritance
    Land is limited in supply (its amount cannot be increased in a geographical area) and
    thus its availability for agricultural practice is largely dependent on
  5. Population growth (the more the people, the less the available land for
    agricultural
    practices)
  6. Land tenure system: this refers to the way in which land is acquired.
  7. Topography
  8. Ecological and fertility status of the soil.
  9. Economic factors such as cost of land, availability of capital to start up, cost of
    cultivating on the land, ease of transporting produce to the market, laws of the
    land etc.
  10. Socio-cultural factors such as religious and traditional beliefs.
  11. Climatic factors of the geographical area.
    CHARACTERISTICS OF LAND
  12. Land is the gift of nature or a natural resource.
  13. It is immobile (fixed factor).
  14. It is subject to law of diminishing returns.
  15. The reward of land is rent collected from tenants.
  16. Availability is subject to the Land Use Act in Nigeria.
  17. It is limited in supply especially in highly populated areas.
  18. Its suitability influences output
  19. Its quality can be improved by various methods.
  20. Its value is determined by its location
  21. Land can appreciate or depreciate.
    USES OF LAND
    Land us is broadly divided into two:
  22. AGRICULTURAL USES OF LAND
    The following are uses of land to the farmer/in agriculture:
  23. for forestry
  24. for establishing game reserve/wildlife conservation.
  25. for livestock production such as fish farming, apiculture, rearing pigs etc.
  26. for crop farming.
  27. as collateral for loans.
  28. NON- AGRICULTURAL USES OF LAND
    The following are non- agricultural uses of land
  29. Land is used for construction purposes, e.g roads, airports etc.
  30. Land is used for social or recreational purposes e.g. stadia, schools, markets,
    etc
  31. Land is used for residential buildings.
  32. Land can also be used for industrial buildings
  33. Land can also be used for mining purposes e.g extraction of petroleum, gold,
    etc
    EVALUATION
  34. What is a land?
  35. Mention five characteristics of land.
    APPRECIATION OF LAND
    Land can appreciate (increase) in its value through the following ways:
  36. Fallowing- allowing farmlands to rest thereby regaining its lost nutrients.
  37. Addition or use of fertilizers or manure to increase its fertility.
  38. Use of clean uninfected inputs, e.g. planting materials like seeds.
  39. Weeding/clearing to remove weeds that compete with crops for nutrients and
    space
  40. Good and appropriate soil tillage that can prevent soil erosion.
  41. Irrigation- the artificial application of water to soil to supplement insufficient
    rain.
  42. Good access roads – to ensure proper usage of land
  43. Good drainage- the artificial removal of excess water from soil to promote crop
    growth.
  44. Increase in population density- which makes land expensive to acquire.
    DEPRECIATION OF LAND
    Land can depreciate or decrease in its use or value through the following ways:
  45. Erosion menace- this removes the top soil
  46. Infestation by weeds- these remove weeds from soil
  47. Infestation by pests- these pests reduce the yield of crops if present in the soil.
  48. Infestation by disease- this also reduces the yield of crops.
  49. Continuous cultivation without the use of fertilizers or manure.
  50. Abuse on land, e.g overgrazing, indiscriminate bush burning.
  51. Dumping of toxic materials as it tends to reduce soil fertility.
  52. Water-logging – this also reduces soil fertility and land for farming.
    GENERAL EVALUATION
  53. Define a land.
  54. Mention eight characteristics of land
  55. State five Non- agricultural Uses of Land.
  56. List five ways through which land can appreciate and depreciate.
    READING ASSIGNMENT
    Essential agricultural science for senior secondary school by O. A. Iwenapg348 – 349..
    WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
  57. _ allow farmlands to rest thereby regaining its lost nutrients. A. irrigation B.
    Drainage C. Crop rotation D. Fallowing
  58. Land can appreciate in its value through the following except A. Use of fertilizers
    B. Irrigation C. Water-logging D. Good drainage
  59. Dumping of toxic materials on land can reduce _ A. soil structure B. soil texture
    C. soil fertility D. soil porosity
  60. The reward of land is __ A. rent B wages C. interest D. loan
  61. Land can be used as collateral for? A. Profit B. loans C. Debt D. Wages
    THEORY
  62. What is a land?
  63. List five characteristics of land.