Introduction
Agriculture has been the cornerstone of the nation up till the late fifties when oil
was discovered and even today, it contributes 42% to the Gross Domestic Product
(G.D.P) against oil's total contribution of 11%. Despite the fact that oil is still responsible
for 95% of revenue generated by the government, the economy is based on what
contributes to the GDP, to which Agriculture is the major contributor (Abdullahi,
2005).Theoretically, most countries could actually feed themselves. All they require is to
re-orientate their broad policies, allocate more funds towards agricultural development,
support applied agricultural research, apply more inputs and teach producers to work to
technical and marketing standards which would make their efforts more profitable. The
overall objective of all Agricultural development efforts in Nigeria is to achieve self-
sufficiency in food production and to improve the income and standard of living of the
majority of the population who are farmers. Producers of such products as cocoa, coffee,
ginger, cotton and groundnut have witnessed substantial, and in some cases multiple
increases in prices. It has once again become remunerative to engage in agriculture
(Aig'Imoukhuede, 1988).
Q1a. Definition of Agricultural Education
Agricultural education is the acquisition of skills and knowledge in Agricultural
Science with the view to imparting these knowledge and skills into prospective farmers
for better productivity (Agbulu and Ekele, 2004).
Agricultural Education is define as a vital developmental process, which is directly
related to the effectiveness of the economy in providing the requirement of trained man
power (Olaitan, 1989).The strategy for this development relies on the intensive utilization
of well-trained individuals, particularly at the intermediate level. Food is one of the most
important political issues of our time, and must be raised to the top of our political
agenda in the country. (Onucheyo, 1998).
Fish farming is the business or industry of producing fish through husbandry and
is synonymous to fish culture. In broader terms, fish farming is a part of aquaculture,
which deals with the culture of plants and animals in water (Guerrero, 2016).
Q1b. Objectives of Agricultural Education
To achieve the listed objectives, there is need to reposition Agricultural education
at secondary school level, tertiary level and at the community level, as the future
development of Nigeria depends essentially on the education (Sylvester, 2005).The main
objectives of Agricultural education include:
1. To provide young people with sound knowledge of the basic principles and
techniques of agriculture and the motivation with which they can translate this
knowledge into real improvements in Agricultural productivity.
2. To preserve those aspects of culture which are in line with modern farming
methods, while changing those, which are obsolete with regards to taking
consideration, the importance of tradition and customs within the rural
community.
3. To provide training for specialist in Agricultural occupations, such as livestock,
horticulture, food storage and processing as well as insurance and financing.
4. To produce adequate trained personnel involved in extension services for farmers,
translating research findings into field trials and then into commercial application.
5. To provide counseling on agriculture/agricultural occupations and the means of
preparing for them.
Q2a. What is Fish farming?
Fish farming also known as Aquaculture is the art and science of controlled
rearing of fish in ponds, farms and in some instances natural water bodies from
hatchlings to matured size (Samsons, Ikenweiwe, Obas & George, 2018). Unlike fish that
grow in the wild water bodies, without human interference, in aquaculture, activities such
as feeding, fertilization, stocking, reproduction and harvesting are controlled.
Japanese Resource Council, Science and Technology Agency define Fish farming
as an industrial process of raising aquatic organisms up to final commercial production
within properly partitioned aquatic areas, controlling the environmental factors and
administering the life history of the organism positively and it has to be considered as an
independent industry from the fisheries hitherto.
Q2b. Five (5) factors to consider when selecting best specie to farm
Criteria for selection of fish specie
i. The specie should have ability to accept artificial feed.
ii. The specie should have ability to breed in captivity.
iii. The specie should have high growth rate.
iv. The specie should be marketable.
v. The specie must be handy.
References
Abdullahi, A. (2005). OBJ, Failed Nigerian Farmers. Weekly Trust, Page 4
Aig'Imoukhuede, I.I (1988). You and Your Business Academy Press Limited, Lagos
Guerrero, R. D. (2018) Fish Farming in the Tropics. Fisheries and Aquaculture – Vol. IV.
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gunnu, J.B(1988), The Importance of Agriculture in Nigeria in the Role of Agricultural
Extension and Research Mason Service in Agriculture, ABU, Zaria
Idachaba, F (2005). OBJ, Failed Nigerian Farmers. Weekly Trust, (2005)
Olaitan, S.O. (1989).Agricultural Education in the Tropics. Hong Kong: Macmillan
Publishers Limited,
Onucheyo, E. (I998). Political Decisions in the Nigerian Agricultural; Industry. Zaria:
Tamaza Publishing Co. Limited,
Sylevester, U.A (2005). Improving the Quality of Vocational and Technical Education
Nigeria. Journal of Qualitative Education 1(2), 119 – 121.
Samsons, Y.A., Ikenweiwe, N.B., Obas, S.O. & George, F.O.A (2018) Aquaculture.
Unpublished lecture note of Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta.
Retrieved from http://www.unaab.edu.ng on 18/3/2021.
