Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Acknowledgement
The Agriculture Finance Training Manual is part of AgriFins
Agriculture Finance Training Tools. The Manual was developed by
IPC - Internationale Projekt Consult GmbH as part of AgriFins
technical advisory project for Cameroon Cooperative Credit Union
League (CamCCUL).
Terms of Use
Content from this manual may be used freely and copied
accurately into other formats without prior permission, provided
that proper attribution is given to the sources, and that content is
not used for commercial purposes.
Session Overview
LEARNING
OBJECTIVE
SCOPE
TARGET
DURATION
1 hour
Content
1.
2.
Photosynthesis
3.
4.
5.
Soil Management
6.
Crop Management
7.
Fertilizer Management
8.
Crop Protection
9.
Harvest Management
<http://www.fao.org/ag/ca/CA<http://www.fao.org/ag/ca/CAPublications/Technical_Manual_Conservation_Agriculture.pdf>
Publications/Technical_Manual_Conservation_Agriculture.pdf>
Module 1.1 Introduction to the Agriculture Sector
2. Photosynthesis
Introduction
Plants are living objects (they use
solar energy, water, nutrients in
soil, and air to grow)
Their efficiency differs (according
to their properties, genetics,
environment etc.)
Solar energy: Photosynthesis
This energy varies during the
year (depending on the suns
position, cloud cover, climate)
The needs are different for each plant (and even for each
variety!).For instance, the Okomaza maize variety doesnt
need the same amount of water and minerals as the Golden
Crystal maize variety).
Module 1.1 Introduction to the Agriculture Sector
2a. Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants, some bacteria,
and some protists use the energy from sunlight to produce
sugar. The process of cellular respiration then converts the
sugar into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the fuel used by all
living things. The conversion of unusable sunlight energy into
usable chemical energy is made possible by the green
pigment Chlorophyll. The photosynthetic process uses carbon
dioxide and water to release the oxygen that people and
animals need to stay alive.
We can write the overall reaction of this process as:
6H2O + 6CO2 ----------> C6H12O6+ 6O2
The chemical equation translates as: six molecules of water
plus six molecules of carbon dioxide produce one molecule of
sugar plus six molecules of oxygen
Module 1.1 Introduction to the Agriculture Sector
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5. Soil Management
Soil functions
Biological (Habitat for numerous animal & plant species)
Nutrition (contains all elements necessary for life: Ca, P, K, Fe, N,
water, air, CO2
Exchanges & filters (water purification)
Recycling (nutrient & organic waste)
Material & support (clay, sand, ferruginous, calcareous)
Soil, landscapes, environment
Soil varies (colour, form, depth, humidity)
Soil is the link between rocks and living world
3 types of soil characteristics
its components
its morphology
its dynamic: always changing
Module 1.1 Introduction to the Agriculture Sector
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6. Crop Management
What is a crop?
Soil
Climate
Environment (farmer management)
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The plants
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7. Fertilizer Management
The law of the minimum: yield is proportional to the amount
of the most limiting nutrient, whichever nutrient it may be
Most common minerals in agriculture:
- N: Nitrogen: comes in various forms (NH4, N2, NO3-, NOx)
and not all plants can absorb it in all forms. Some of these
forms are pollutants and cannot be used by the plant
(Ammoniac, nitrates, nitrites).
- Mg: Magnesium: Deficiency in Mg commonly results in leaf
discolouration (Mg is a component of Chlorophyll).
acidity and liming : to maintain the pH.
Nitrogen sources: air legumes, compost, manure, liquid
manure, nitrogen fertilizer, phosphate fertilizers, potash
fertilizer, compound fertilizer, fire, crop residues, fodder,
mulch, green fertilizers, cover crops
Module 1.1 Introduction to the Agriculture Sector
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NPK
11-00-27,5
12-04-28
00-23-19
15-16-15
S
Sulfate base
7S
6,5S
6S
Other elements
+6MgO
+6MgO
+5MgO+10CaO
+1B2O3
Cotton (North)
Maize
Vegetables
Coconut (palm)
Oil palm
Tobacco
20-15-13
19-17-14
12-10-25
00-00-40
00-00-36
07-21-23
4S
4S
Sulfate base
11S
13,5S
Sulfate base
+0,7B2O3
+3MgO+0,4Zn
+3MgO
+9MgO+22Cl
+11MgO+18Cl
+2,5MgO+1CaO
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8. Crop Protection
Pests & Diseases
Crop practices:
- Increase the plant strengths (soil preparation,
fertilise)
- Respect the calendar! (to seed, weed, fertilise)
- Choose adapted cultivars/species!
- Have an adapted crop density
- Crop rotation
- Use the environment (beneficial insects)
weed,
Pesticide use:
- Many kind of pesticides: adapted pesticides have to be used
- Fungicide, insecticide
- Pesticides are HIGHLY TOXIC (they kill animals, and humans
are also animals)
Weeding
Manual labour = labour cost
Herbicides = chemical
cost
Module 1.1
Introduction to the Agriculture Sector
34
Triple wash them. Do not mix washing water with drinking and working
water!
Place them in closed bags and dispose of them carefully to make sure no
children can come in contact with them
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9. Harvest Management
Harvest
Usually manual labour
Every crop has its specifics: for example vegetables: when the
weather is the coolest (usually the morning), avoid harvesting
wet produce, keep shaded
What are good practices in harvesting?
Harvest workers must have clean hands, short nails, tied-up hair
and should not smoke or drink alcohol during the harvest
No fruit should be collected from the ground around the trees
(they will be damaged and therefore more perishable)
Produce should be harvested gently, avoid bruising
Fruit and vegetables must be collected in clean containers (new
and/or washed) and not piled on the ground
Do not use chemical or fertilizer containers to collect the
harvest!
Fruit and vegetables must be kept in the shade and away from
Module 1.1 Introduction to the Agriculture Sector
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animals and places where chemicals and fertilizers are stored.
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Trading
Harvesting
REGISTER
Irrigation
Application of
agro-chemicals
and fertilizers
Advantages of the registry: Get a better knowledge of your
field and crop; Saving money in production; Identifying where
the problems, pests and diseases are located; Improving the
quality of the product
Module 1.1 Introduction to the Agriculture Sector
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