What is agriculture?
Agriculture is the science and practice of growing crops and keeping animals for food, raw materials and money. It includes crop production, livestock production, fishing (aquaculture), forestry and beekeeping. Agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Tanzania: it employs about two thirds of the people, gives most of the food and many export crops such as coffee, tea, cotton, tobacco, cashew nuts and sisal.
Importance of agriculture
| Role | Examples |
|---|---|
| Food | Maize, rice, cassava, milk, meat, fish |
| Raw materials for industries | Cotton for textiles, sisal for ropes, hides for leather |
| Income and employment | Farmers, traders, transporters, processors |
| Foreign exchange | Exports of coffee, tea and cashew nuts |
| Government revenue | Taxes on crops and agricultural trade |
| Transport and energy | Draught animals, firewood, biogas |
Branches of agriculture
| Branch | Studies |
|---|---|
| Agronomy | Crop production and field crops |
| Horticulture | Fruits, vegetables and flowers |
| Animal science | Livestock production |
| Soil science | Soils and fertility |
| Agricultural economics | Farm management and marketing |
| Agricultural engineering | Machines, irrigation and farm buildings |
Types of farming
| Type | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Subsistence | Food mainly for the family |
| Commercial | Produced mainly for sale |
| Arable | Crops only |
| Pastoral | Animals only |
| Mixed | Crops and animals together |
| Shifting cultivation | Moving to a new plot when the soil is tired |
| Organic | No artificial chemicals |
Try itIncome from a farm
Choose the yield, the price and the cost of growing one hectare of maize.
Key terms
- Agriculture
- The growing of crops and keeping of animals.
- Subsistence farming
- Farming mainly for the family’s food.
- Commercial farming
- Farming for sale.
- Foreign exchange
- Money earned from exports.
Summary
- Agriculture means crop and livestock production and related activities.
- It supplies food, raw materials, income and jobs.
- Types of farming include subsistence, commercial, mixed and shifting cultivation.
- Profit = income − costs.