PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF SMALL SCALE FARMING

The term agriculture is derived from the Latin words “ager” (field) and “cultura” (cultivation). This meant field cultivation. This is not a complete definition of agriculture since agriculture also has to do with animal production. Agriculture can therefore be defined as the art and science of cultivating the soil, producing livestock, preparing livestock feeds, processing crops and livestock products for man; and the process of selling excess crops and livestock. Or agriculture may also mean just the production of crops, rearing of animals and the general management of soil.
As men advanced from the hunting and gathering stage, they developed the art of cultivating certain plants and domesticating certain animals. This was the beginning of settled life, and people began to group themselves in villages. They made crude implements and learned to provide enough foods for the family. This practice is found today in every isolated areas where communication has been limited, the people have not been exposed to modern ways of farming, and surplus capital for investment is not available. Some farmers farm exclusively in specific domestic crops such as in west Africa like yam, cassava, maize, cocoyam etc. the practice involves the cultivation of small pieces of land under many crops.
Several questions have been raised in regards to this trend. It is therefore expedient to understand the problems affecting small scale farming in the area, which is a major emphasis of this project work. It tends to analyze these factors and suggest adequate measures and solutions in solving these problems. The history of the development of the human race is closely related to that of agricultural development. In his quest for food and shelter, man has adopted many agricultural practices through the ages as his technical skills and material resources grew. The four major types are;- hunting and gathering, pure subsistence agriculture; mixed subsistence with some cash crop production; and pure commercial agriculture. But between these main divisions are many transition stages, and different stages of economic development of local populations.