1. Meaning and importance of agriculture

1.1 Definition and branches of agricultural science

1.2 Importance of agriculture to the individual, community and nation.

2. Problems of agricultural development and possible solutions

2.1 Problems related

2.2 Possible solutions to identified problems

3. Meaning and differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture

3.1 Meaning of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

3.2 Differences between subsistence and commercial agriculture based on their Characteristics

3.3 Advantages and disadvantages of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

3.4 Problems of subsistence and commercial agriculture.

4. Roles of government in agricultural development

4.1 Agricultural finance

4.2 Agricultural education

4.3 Agricultural extension services.

4.4 Agricultural policies and programmes

5. Role of non-governmental organizations in agricultural development

5.1 Meaning of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)

5.2 Roles of NGOs in agricultural development.

6. Agricultural laws and reforms

6.1 Land tenure systems in West Africa.

6.2 Government laws on land use in West Africa.

6.3 Advantages and disadvantages of the land use Act (Decree) and reforms in West Africa.

7. Agricultural ecology

7.1 Meaning and importance of agricultural ecology

7.2 Meaning of agricultural ecology and ecosystem.

7.3 Components of farm ecosystem

7.4 Interactions of the components in the terrestrial and aquatic agro-ecosystem.

8. Land and its uses

8.1 Meaning of land.

8.2 Characteristics of land

8.3 Uses of land

9. Factors affecting land availability for agricultural purpose

9.1 Physical factors

9.2 Economic factors

9.3 Socio-cultural factors

10. Agro-allied industries and relationship between agriculture and industry

10.1 Agro-based industries and raw materials

10.2 Relationship between agriculture and industries

11. Environmental factors affecting crop and animal distribution and production

11.1 Climatic factors

11.2 Biotic factors

11.3 Edaphic factors

12. Rock formation

12.1 Types of rock

12.2 Processes of rock formation.

13. Soil formation and profile development

13.1 Factors of soil formation

13.2 Processes of soil formation

13.3. Soil profile development.

14. Types, composition and properties of soil

14.1 Types of soil.

14.2 Chemical and biological composition of soil

14.3 Soil pH.

14.4 Physical properties of soil

15. Plant nutrients and nutrient cycle

15.1 Macro and micro nutrients; their functions and deficiency symptoms in crops.

15.2 Factors affecting availability of nutrients in soil

15.3 Methods of replenishing lost nutrients.

15.4 Nitrogen, carbon, water and phosphorus cycles.

15.5 Organic agriculture – meaning and importance.

16. Irrigation

16.1 Meaning of irrigation system.

16.2 Types of irrigation systems

16.3. Advantages and disadvantages of irrigation systems.

16.4 Importance of irrigation.

16.5 Problems associated with irrigation.

17. Drainage

17.1 Meaning of drainage.

17.2 Importance of drainage.

17.3 Types of drainage systems

17.4 Advantages and disadvantages of drainage systems.

18. Agricultural pollution

18.1 Meaning of agricultural pollution.

18.2 Causes/sources of pollution of agricultural lands and fish ponds

18.3 Effects of land/pond pollution on farmers and agricultural productivity.

19. Agricultural engineering/mechanization

19.1 Simple farm tools

19.2 Meaning of simple farm tools.

19.3 Types of simple farm tools

19.4 General maintenance of simple farm tools.

20. Farm machinery and implements

20.1. Farm machinery

20.2. Tractor-coupled implements

21. Maintenance practices and precautionary measures

21.1. Reasons for maintaining farm machines.

21.2 Maintenance of farm machinery

22. Agricultural mechanization

22.1. Meaning of agricultural mechanization.

22.2 Mechanized agricultural operations.

22.3 Advantages and disadvantages of agricultural mechanization.

22.4 Limitations of agricultural mechanization.

23. Prospects of agricultural mechanization

24. Farm power

24.1 Sources of farm power.

24.2 Advantages and disadvantages of different sources of farm power.

25. Farm surveying

25.1 Meaning of farm surveying.

25.2 Common survey equipment.

25.3 Uses of farm survey equipment.

25.4 Maintenance of farm survey equipment.

25.5 Importance of farm surveying.

26. Farm planning

26.1. Meaning of farm planning.

26.2 Factors to be considered in farm planning.

26.3 Importance of farm planning.

27. Principles of farmstead planning

27.1 Meaning of farmstead.

27.2 Importance of farmstead planning.

27.3 Factors to be considered in the design of a farmstead.

27.4 Farmstead layout.

28. Classification of crops

28.1 Classification of crops based on their uses

28.2 Classification based on their life cycle

28.3 Classification based on their morphology

29. Husbandry of selected crops

29.1 Cereals

29.2 Pulses (grain legumes)

29.3 Roots and tubers

29.4 Vegetables

29.5 Fruits

29.6 Beverages

29.7 Spices

29.8 Oils

29.9 Fibres

29.10 Latex

29.11 Others

30. Pasture and forage crops

30.1 Meaning of pasture and forage crops.

30.2 Uses of forage crops.

30.3 Types of pasture.

30.4 Common grasses and legumes used for grazing livestock.

30.5 Factors affecting the distribution and productivity of pasture.

30.6 Establishment of pasture.

30.7 Management practices of pasture.

31. Crop improvement

31.1 Aims of crop improvement.

31.2 Methods/processes of crop improvement e.g. introduction, selection, breeding.

31.3 Mendel’s laws of inheritance.

31.4 Advantages and disadvantages of crop improvement.

32. Forest management

32.1 Meaning of forest and forestry.

32.2 Importance of forestry.

32.3 Forest regulations.

32.4 Forest management practices.

32.5 Implications of deforestation.

33. Agro-forestry practices in West Africa

33.1 Meaning of agro-forestry.

33.2 Agro-forestry practices:

34. Meaning and importance of ornamental plant

35. Common types of ornamental plants

35.1 Types of ornamental plants according to their uses:

35.2 Examples of ornamental plants.

36. Settings and location for planting ornamental plants.

37. Methods of cultivating ornamental plants:

38. Maintenance of ornamental plants.

39. Diseases of crops

39.1 Meaning of disease

39.2 General effects of diseases on crop production.

39.3 Disease: causal organism, economic importance, mode of transmission, symptoms, prevention and control

40. Pests of crops

40.1 Meaning of pests.

40.2 Classification of pests:

40.4 Important insect-pests of major crops; Field and storage pests, life cycle, Economic importance, Nature of damage,

40.5 Non-insect pests e.g. birds, rodents etc.

40.6 Side effects of preventive and control methods

40.7 General effects/economic importance of pests.

41. Weeds

41.1 Meaning of weeds.

41.2 Types of weeds.

41.3 Effects of weeds on crops and economy.

41.4 Characteristic features of weeds

41.5 Methods of controlling weeds: cultural, biological, chemical, physical and mechanical methods.

42. Types and classification of farm animals

42.1 Types of farm animals: cattle, sheep, goat, poultry, pig, rabbit, fish etc.

42.2 Classification of farm animals according to:

43. Anatomy and physiology of farm animals

43.1 Parts of farm animals.

43.2. Organs of farm animals e.g. heart, liver, lungs.

43.3 Systems of farm animal’s e.g. digestive system, circulatory system, respiratory system.

44. Animal reproduction

44.1 Meaning of reproduction.

44.2 Roles of hormones in reproduction of farm animals.

44.3 Reproductive systems of farm animals.

44.4 Processes of reproduction in farm animals.

44.5 Egg formation in poultry.

45. Environmental physiology

45.1 Meaning of environmental physiology.

45.2 Effects of changes in climatic factors such as:

46. Livestock management

46.1 Meaning of livestock management.

46.2 Requirements for livestock management: housing; feeding; hygiene and finishing of at least one ruminant and one non-ruminant from birth to market weight.

46.3 Importance of management practices.

47. Animal nutrition

47.1 Meaning of animal nutrition.

47.2 Classification of feeds.

47.3 Sources and functions of feed nutrients.

47.4 Types of ration/diet and their uses; components of a balanced diet, production and maintenance rations.

47.5 Causes and symptoms of malnutrition and their correction in farm animals.

48. Rangeland and pasture management

48.1 Meaning and importance of rangeland/pasture to livestock and the characteristics of range land.

48.2 Common grasses and legumes in rangeland.

48.3 Factors affecting the level of production of herbage; rainfall, grass/legume composition, grazing etc.

48.4 Methods of rangeland and pasture improvement:

49. Animal improvement

49.1 Meaning of animal improvement.

49.2 Aims of animal improvement.

49.3 Methods of animal improvement:

49.4 Artificial insemination.

50. Animal health management

50.1 Meaning of disease.

50.2 Causal organisms: viruses, bacteria, fungi and protozoa.

50.3 Factors that could predispose animals to diseases: health status of animals, nutrition, management etc.

50.4 Reaction of animals to diseases: susceptibility and resistance to diseases.

50.5 Causal organisms, symptoms, mode of transmission, effects, prevention and control of the following selected livestock diseases:

50.6 Parasites.

50.7 General methods of prevention and control of diseases and parasites: quarantine, inoculation/immunization, hygiene, breeding for resistance etc.

51. Aquaculture

51.1 Meaning of aquaculture.

51.2 Different types of aquaculture:

51.3 Meaning and importance of fish farming.

51.4 Conditions necessary for siting a fish pond.

51.5 Establishment and maintenance of fish pond.

51.6 Fishery regulations – meaning and regulations.

51.7 Fishing methods and tools.

52. Apiculture or bee keeping

52.1 Meaning of apiculture or bee keeping.

52.2 Types of bees:

52.3 Importance of bee keeping.

52.4 Methods of bee keeping:

52.5 Bee keeping equipment: bee hives hive tools like suits, smokers, jungle boots, brushes etc.

52.6 Precautionary measures in bee keeping:

53. Basic economic principles:

53.1 scarcities

53.2 choices

53.3 scale of preference

53.4 law of diminishing returns.

54. Factors of production

54.1 Land

54.2. Capital

54.3 Labour – characteristics and classification

54.4 Management or entrepreneur.

55. Principles of demand

55.1 Definition of demand.

55.2 Law of demand.

55.3 Factors affecting demand for agricultural produce.

55.4 Movements along the demand curve.

55.5 Shifts in the demand curve.

56. Principles of supply

56.1 Definition of supply.

56.2 Law of supply.

56.3 Movements along supply curve.

56.4 Shifts in the supply curve.

56.5 Factors affecting the supply of agricultural produce.

57. Implications of demand and supply for agricultural production

57.1 Price support.

57.2 Price control.

57.3 Subsidy programme and its effects on agricultural production.

58. Functions of a farm manager

59. Problems faced by farm managers

60. Agricultural finance

60.1 Meaning of agricultural finance.

60.2 Importance of agricultural finance.

60.3 Sources of farm finance.

60.4 Classes of farm credit:

60.5 Problems faced by institutions in granting loans to farmers: - lack of records and accounts etc.

61. Farm records and accounts

61.1 Importance of farm records.

61.2 Types of farm records:

61.3. Designing farm records

61.4 Farm accounts

62. Marketing of agricultural produce

62.1 Meaning and importance of marketing of agricultural produce.

62.2 Marketing agents and their functions.

62.3 Marketing functions:

62.4 Marketing of export crops.

62.5 Export crops in West Africa.

62.6 Guidelines for exporting crops in West Africa.

62.7 Corporate bodies, cooperative societies and individuals engaged in exporting agricultural produce e.g. ANCE - Association of Nigerian Cooperative Exporters.

62.8 Importance of exporting agricultural produce.

62.9 Problems of marketing agricultural produce.

63. Agricultural insurance

63.1 Meaning of agricultural insurance.

63.2 Insurance premium

63.3 Problems of agricultural insurance:

64. Agricultural extension

64.1. Meaning and importance of agricultural extension

64.2. Agricultural extension methods:

64.3 Agricultural extension programmes in West Africa e.g. ADP, NDE, Agro-service centres, state ministries of agriculture and natural resources

64.4 Problems of agricultural extension in West Africa. E.g. illiteracy among farmers, inadequate transports facilities etc.