The role of university is not to train students to become farmers but agricultural scientists. Students are therefore taught the Art, Science and Business of Agriculture so that they can recreate opportunities for farmers and other participants in agricultural value chain.

1. 21ST
CENTURY AGRICULTURE: THE
TRIPOD STANDS OF THE EMERGING
PERSPECTIVES
By
EDAMISAN STEPHEN, IKUEMONISANEDAMISAN STEPHEN, IKUEMONISAN
FACULTY OF AGRICULTUREFACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY,ADEKUNLE AJASIN UNIVERSITY,
AKUNGBA, ONDO STATEAKUNGBA, ONDO STATE
NIGERIANIGERIA

2. IntroductionIntroduction
 Agriculture, the BIG idea for the developing nationsAgriculture, the BIG idea for the developing nations
 Agriculture is the source of food, which is the mostAgriculture is the source of food, which is the most
essential need of man – Agriculture is life.essential need of man – Agriculture is life.
 Agriculture provides raw materials for clothing andAgriculture provides raw materials for clothing and
many other agro allied industries.many other agro allied industries.
 What then is Agriculture?What then is Agriculture?
 The different definitions alluded to the fact that;The different definitions alluded to the fact that;
““agriculture is anagriculture is an ARTART andand SCIENCESCIENCE of managingof managing
crops and livestocks forcrops and livestocks for ECONOMICECONOMIC
PURPOSESPURPOSES”” 2

3. IntroductionIntroduction
 Today’s lecture draws its strength from the salientToday’s lecture draws its strength from the salient
points in the definition of agriculture.points in the definition of agriculture.
 The ART, SCIENCE and BUSINESS of 21The ART, SCIENCE and BUSINESS of 21stst
(Modern) Century Agriculture.(Modern) Century Agriculture.
 I strongly hope that this lecture will enhance yourI strongly hope that this lecture will enhance your
knowledge about agriculture and the opportunitiesknowledge about agriculture and the opportunities
therein.therein.
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4. Agriculture and Sounds of TimeAgriculture and Sounds of Time
 Agriculture practiced in the stone age was tooAgriculture practiced in the stone age was too
peasant and could not sustain the increasingpeasant and could not sustain the increasing
population.population.
 At the medieval period, people started embracingAt the medieval period, people started embracing
some simple tools like hoes and cutlasss yet hungersome simple tools like hoes and cutlasss yet hunger
remained an issue.remained an issue.
 Agriculture in Nigeria and other developing nationsAgriculture in Nigeria and other developing nations
is still being practiced without the scientific andis still being practiced without the scientific and
business consciousness.business consciousness.
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5. Art of AgricultureArt of Agriculture
 What is the art of agriculture?
 The art of agriculture is about knowledge and
deployment of skills for the execution of farm
operations.
 Skills is the most essential ingredients in art of agric.
 Skill can be divided into:
 Physical Skill: It is about the ability and capacity to
perform farm operations.
Examples - handling of tools; sowing of seeds, planting
and application of: fertilizers, pesticides.
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6. Art of AgricultureArt of Agriculture
 Mental Skill: It is also called experiential skill. It is
acquired through experience.
 It helps farmers to carry out their farm activitiesIt helps farmers to carry out their farm activities
more conveniently and in a more rewarding way.more conveniently and in a more rewarding way.
Examples of mental skill application: farmExamples of mental skill application: farm
management decision making process, the choice ofmanagement decision making process, the choice of
crops and livestocks, etccrops and livestocks, etc
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7. Art of AgricultureArt of Agriculture
 Skill is the minimal requirement to be a practicingSkill is the minimal requirement to be a practicing
farmer.farmer.
 At this juncture, it may be save to say that farming isAt this juncture, it may be save to say that farming is
an art of agriculturean art of agriculture
 The reason is because they basically deploy skills inThe reason is because they basically deploy skills in
farm operations and management.farm operations and management.
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8. Science of AgricultureScience of Agriculture
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 What is Science of agriculture?What is Science of agriculture?
 Science has principles and methods which areScience has principles and methods which are
expected to guide farmers’ conduct and activitiesexpected to guide farmers’ conduct and activities
during:during:
 - farm operations;- farm operations;
 - crops and livestock management and- crops and livestock management and
 - other farm related decisions- other farm related decisions

9. Science of AgricultureScience of Agriculture
 Science drives technology, and with these there have
been breakthroughs in:
 new crop varieties and hybrids
 development of transgenic crops
 development of pest -resistant crops and disease-
resistant animals,
 highly effective fertilizer and herbicides
 efficient water management,
 use of biological control agents against pests and
diseases .
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10. Science of AgricultureScience of Agriculture
 Science of Agriculture (SoA) is about enhancedScience of Agriculture (SoA) is about enhanced
productivity and higher economic value forproductivity and higher economic value for
agricultural produce/products.agricultural produce/products.
 SoA can be likened to unit within the agriculturalSoA can be likened to unit within the agricultural
industry poised to make agriculture less laboriousindustry poised to make agriculture less laborious
(drudgery) yet very rewarding.(drudgery) yet very rewarding.
 And this is where agricultural scientists are.And this is where agricultural scientists are.
 Agricultural scientists include all the variousAgricultural scientists include all the various
disciplines under agriculture.disciplines under agriculture.
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11. Business of Agriculture
 The Art and Science of Agriculture are means to anThe Art and Science of Agriculture are means to an
end.end.
 The end is a rewarding agriculture with high returnsThe end is a rewarding agriculture with high returns
 What then is the Business of Agriculture?What then is the Business of Agriculture?
 Agricultural Industry can only be attractive only if itAgricultural Industry can only be attractive only if it
is well conptualized as a business rather than asis well conptualized as a business rather than as
developmental programmes.developmental programmes.
 More than 70% of Nigerians are into agriculture yetMore than 70% of Nigerians are into agriculture yet
Nigeria is yet to be food secured. What is the issue?Nigeria is yet to be food secured. What is the issue?
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12. Business of Agriculture
 No business survives except it is properly done.
 Widespread smallholders and peasant agriculture
cannot sufficiently turnaround the opportunities in
agriculture
 Besides the art and science of agriculture, there must
be a deliberate effort to also learn about the business
of agriculture.
 There should be synergy amongst the criticalThere should be synergy amongst the critical
stakeholders as earlier identified as: farmers,stakeholders as earlier identified as: farmers,
scientists/researchers and agro-allied industriesscientists/researchers and agro-allied industries
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13. An Ideal Agricultural IndustryAn Ideal Agricultural Industry
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14. ConclusionConclusion
 There is a huge disconnect among the stakeholdersThere is a huge disconnect among the stakeholders
in the agricultural industry.in the agricultural industry.
 The dearth of well incubated agricultural scientistsThe dearth of well incubated agricultural scientists
have also been implicated in the ensuing challenges.have also been implicated in the ensuing challenges.
 Young Agricultural Scientists, where you belong toYoung Agricultural Scientists, where you belong to
in the industry is a matter of choice.in the industry is a matter of choice.
 The most important goal is to engage in a businessThe most important goal is to engage in a business
that is competitive and rewarding.that is competitive and rewarding.
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15. ConclusionConclusion
 The journey to a food secured and prosperousThe journey to a food secured and prosperous
Nigeria starts now. Will you like to be a part?Nigeria starts now. Will you like to be a part?
 Then take your studies more seriouslyThen take your studies more seriously
 Whatever information that you need to excel withinWhatever information that you need to excel within
the industry, search for it and your efforts will not gothe industry, search for it and your efforts will not go
unrewarded.unrewarded.
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16. THANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENINGTHANK YOU ALL FOR LISTENING
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