The demand for food has increased, but with limited knowledge of how to cultivate crops and fewer farmers practicing agriculture, a hunger pandemic could be on the rise. Crop production is a very important part of agriculture but has been neglected for a while now. It involves everything related to cultivation, controlling pests from destroying crops, and providing the soil with essential nutrients.
Innovations that can help improve crop production are coming to light. Crop production emphasizes how farmers can gain good knowledge of crop care, which can serve as an added advantage for them. One thing is certain: as a farmer, you must make sure your crops are properly taken care of because it ensures the yield of a healthy harvest.
The foundation of crop production lies in certain factors that need to be considered, such as how fertile the soil is, weather conditions, and the environment. Crop production not only focuses on present feeding but also considers the future. This article will shed more light on crop production.
Key Insights
- Crop rotation is a sustainable farming practice used in crop production because it is efficient and yields a bountiful harvest.
- • When planting, altering the growth timing of crops to cultivate early can affect the nutrient level.
- • Having proper storage is essential in crop production to avoid wastage.
- • A cropping pattern is needed for productivity. Cropping patterns are arrangements of crops that maintain soil balance and help control pests.
Definition of Crop Production
Crop production can be defined as the process of farming and producing crops for human consumption and for trade to make a profit. In crop production, sowing quality seeds that will germinate into healthy crops is one of the most important steps. Having good sunlight, proper irrigation, and a farm field with good soil properties are considered good factors for crop production.
As the world population increases, crop production serves as a driver that ensures food security, which in turn enables a stable economy. Major crops that farmers practice crop production on are potatoes, soybeans, maize, wheat, and rice.
Brief History on Crop Production
The history of crop production dates back about 12,000 years. Crop production is very important to people’s livelihoods because it helps stabilize the price of agricultural produce. A combination of traditional practices, technological advances, and scientific knowledge is used to optimize crop growth. When it comes to satisfaction, industry and human needs are top priorities.
In Nigeria, crop production came about from the pre-colonial era, but with the discovery of oil, attention was shifted away from agriculture. Farmers practicing crop production would bring back that attention to the agricultural sector and also address the problem of food shortage. In the agricultural sector, crop production is the largest due to how beneficial it has been.
Steps In Crop Production
During the process of crop production, certain procedures need to be followed for cultivation to go smoothly. A range of activities takes place; some can be tedious while others can be said to be easy. A breakdown of the steps is listed below:
1. Selecting Crops
In this process, the farmer has the ability to pick crops according to the weather or soil type that would be favorable to them. When a crop is being selected, the farmer has to try their best to ensure the healthy state of that crop. Some crops are selected based on unique features. Those features are passed down to the new breeds.
2. Preparing the Soil
After picking suitable crops for the farming process, the next step is to make sure that the soil used for planting is well taken care of. By doing so, the potential for having a good harvest would be high. The soil has to be tilled, harrowed, and lastly leveled well because all these techniques allow the nutrients in the soil to circulate well. In this process, it is important to always remove unwanted weeds found in the soil.
3. Fertilization
The use of fertilizers or organic manure on the soil provides it with more nutrients. When the soil is provided with these nutrients, they are used for crop growth. Before applying fertilizer to the soil, the pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels have to be tested because it helps determine the correct amount to be applied.
4. Planting/Sowing
This process is carried out for the sole purpose of germination to occur. There is a depth that the seed has to be sown into the soil by the planters. Also, spacing is taken into consideration here to allow for proper growth of the crops. There are 2 methods of planting: direct seeding and transplanting. It is always advisable to plant in loamy soil.
5. Irrigation
This process focuses on how the crop can get an adequate amount of water, which helps in its development. When a crop does not get enough water, it can wilt away or have stunted growth. An irrigation system such as sprinklers or using a hose to go around the farm watering the crops is recommended.
7. Weeding and Pest Control
Weeds are unwanted and can hinder crops from growing well. Likewise, pests eat up crops, leaving them in bad condition. When you do not allow weeds to grow on farmland or control pests, it allows for the protection of the crops. The use of pesticides to kill pests that cause damage to the crop is advisable.
8. Harvesting
By now, the crop would be ready for collection or gathering. During harvesting, it is important to pick only the mature crops. Harvesting can be done manually or with the use of machines and tools such as harvesters and sickles.
9. Storage
Having a proper storage system avoids the crops from spoiling. It is advisable to store crops in a ventilated place, and the temperature should be cool. Storage facilities such as silos, barns, or cellars are considered appropriate. Always try to monitor the crops stored; if there is anything that needs to be adjusted, you do it.
Benefits of Crop Production
Exploring the benefits of crop production and how helpful it has been to the environment:
• Crop production ensures that food is secured and there is no shortage.
• Provision of jobs.
• It brings about independence in the community, and self-reliance is promoted.
• Erosion is common in our environment, but with crop production, the soil can be taken care of properly.
• Also, crop production provides raw materials.
• It allows for the exchange of crops between two countries, thereby fostering relationships between them.
• Most times, technologies such as drones can be used to oversee farmland, thereby fostering the use of innovative technologies.
• Crop production promotes nutritional diversity; different crops are planted which provide various nutrients.
Challenges in Crop Production
As much as crop production can be favorable to the environment, it still has some challenges that can disrupt the way it functions:
• Degradation of soil due to chemicals from fertilizers that are used on the soil.
• Diseases caused by pests that attack the crop, leading to infected crops that are not good for harvesting.
• Most farmers who are small-scale business owners find it hard to get enough funds either for the purchase of tools, equipment, or expensive fertilizers.
• There’s a lack of agricultural policy, thereby making farmers vulnerable to risks or scams.
• Poor infrastructure can also be a problem; if the storage system is not constructed well, it can lead to wastage of crops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is crop production the same as agriculture? Crop production is not the same as agriculture, but it is a component of it. Agriculture comprises both crops and animals, but crop production focuses on just crops.
Would a small-scale farmer be allowed to practice crop production? Small-scale farmers can practice crop production, but they are liable to face challenges.
Is intercropping important in crop production? It is important in crop production because it can help increase efficiency in agriculture.
Can all crops be cultivated in crop production? Not all crops can be cultivated because of the various types of soil, weather conditions, and availability of water.
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Conclusion
The dynamics of crop production are essential in the agricultural sector. It is important to not just use modern techniques but also make use of traditional techniques because they can be effective. The increase in population has also been attributed to the fact that farmers now consider crop production, but focusing on it for long-term use is necessary.
Crop production is considered to be the future of the agricultural industry; therefore, policies should be enacted, more research should be conducted, and educating farmers would be helpful.
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