Horti 1 Week 23

WEEK 2
Learning objectives: At the end of this topic the learner should be able to:
 Explain the importance of horticultural crops on its impact in national economy; and
 Discuss and differentiate the importance of horticultural crops in the national economy.
TOPIC 2: IMPORTANCE OF HORTICULTURAL CROPS
2.1 importance of horticulture in the national economy
IMPORTANCE OF HORTICULTURE IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY
For any country to successfully sustain a stable economic growth, improvement in agricultural
productivity and fiscal discipline are require. All stakeholders from both the public and private sector
must work together to ensure food security as well as the creation of jobs. Moreover, the economic
benefits of agriculture go beyond just food security and creating job opportunities. The importance of
agriculture in any national economy cannot be underestimated.
1. Contributes to national income

This is arguably the most important contribution of agriculture to the national economy. In
many developed and developing countries worldwide, agriculture contributes a huge percentage of
the national income. In fact, most developing countries’ annual revenue is over 50% dependent on
agriculture. Taxes collected from industries, workers, as well as those imposed on agricultural
products are very important towards the effective development of the national economy.
However, recent studies have revealed a decreasing pattern of agriculture’s contribution to the
national economy. It has been noted that the more the country is developed, the less the agricultural
contribution. This factor can be attributing to the rapid rise of industrialization around the world. All in
all, agriculture still has a big role to play in national income.
2. The basic source of food
Whether developed, developing or underdeveloped country, having a stable source of the food
supply is very important. Heavy population pressure especially in developing and underdeveloped
countries leads to increased demand for food.
3. Source of employment
Creating employment to the masses is also another important role that agriculture plays in any
economy. Many laborers depend on agriculture to get their wages. They can include, grass cutters,
tractor drivers, farming apparatus technicians, or anyone who is directly involved in farming activities.
That said, agriculture allows manpower to be shifted between the agricultural and non-agricultural
sectors.
Furthermore, agriculture plays an important role in decreasing rural poverty in developing

countries. Improved irrigation methods, seeds, and fertilizers have led to increased agricultural
production in rural areas. Therefore, most developing and under develop countries are embracing
agriculture to combat their high rate of unemployment in their fast-growing population.
4. Provide raw materials for industries
In developing countries, industries play a very important role in developing their economies.
Apart from being a great source of employment, industries also need to buy raw materials for
producing finished goods. A huge chunk of these raw materials is directly from agriculture. Materials
such as cotton are use in textile industries as raw materials. In addition, products like tea, coffee,
sugar, and tobacco provide raw materials for various important industries like leather and sports
industries.
5. Infrastructural development
Almost every country in the world is constantly trying to improve its infrastructure with
agriculture playing an integral part. With well-organized infrastructure, the country will also experience
rapid economic development. This is because good infrastructure enables quick means of transport
and communication for agricultural goods – both raw and finished.
Infrastructures such as roads, railways, and market yards, airports, postal services, and many
more will be quickly developed or improve to facilitate quick transportation of agricultural products.
6. Source of foreign exchange
Especially in developing countries, agricultural goods are mainly for export. Products such as
tea, coffee, sugar, and many more are predominantly meant for export. That being said, if a country is
able to export a lot of agricultural products as a result of increased productivity, the foreign exchange
earnings will also increase.
7. Improved research
Many researchers get their research materials from agriculture. In return, researchers have
unearthed vital information on agriculture that has helped increase agricultural productivity. Inventions
such as Artificial Insemination, pesticides, enriched fertilizers, and other farming technologies for
mass production have been very helpful. This way, we can properly control and increase what we
cultivate and eat.
WEEK 3
Learning objective: At the end of this topic the learner should be able to;
 Discuss the different classification of vegetable crops; and
 Differentiate crops and vegetables.
Difference between fruits and vegetables

Fruit Vegetable
Most fruit plants are perennials. Most vegetables are annuals.
Fruit plants are generally woody in Vegetable plants are generally, herbaceous
nature. and succulents.
They are commercially propagated They are commercially propagated sexually
asexually. (by seed).
Fruit plants require special cultural Vegetables are seasonal and only staking and
practices, i.e., training, pruning, etc. pruning are required in some crops.
Fruits are mostly consumed fresh after Most vegetables require cooking for
ripening. consumption.
Table 1.1: Difference between fruits and vegetables
CLASSIFICATION OF VEGETABLE CROPS
BASED ON THE NATURE OF PLANT (STEM)
a. Herbaceous and succulents: Leafy vegetables

b. Shrubs: Brinjal, chili, etc.
c. Trees: Drumstick, jackfruit, breadfruit, etc.
d. Vines: Cucurbits, pole beans, chayote, etc.
BASED ON THE LIFE SPAN (FROM SEED-TO-SEED)
a. Annuals: The life span of annual plants or annuals is a season or a year, e.g., cucurbits, leafy
vegetables, etc.
b. Biennials: The life span of biennials is of two seasons or two years, e.g., onion, radish, carrot,
cabbage, etc.
c. Perennials: The life span of perennial plants is more than two years, e.g., drumstick (moringa),
asparagus (shatawari), etc.
BASED ON THE METHOD OF COMMERCIAL PROPAGATION
a. Sexually propagated (by seed): Brinjal, chili, cauliflower, cabbage, cucurbits, tomato, leafy
vegetables, etc.
b. Asexually propagated (vegetative parts): Asparagus, potato, sweet potato, onion, garlic, taro, etc.
o Cuttings – detached vegetative part of a plant, which on separation and planting is able
to regenerate the missing parts and develop itself into a new plant. e.g., Asparagus
o Bulbs – is a specialized underground structure having a flat basal stem and surrounded
by fleshy scales. e.g., Onion, garlic
o Rhizomes – a modified stem of some plant growing horizontally just below the ground
surface. e.g., Colocasia, ginger, coleus
o Tubers – it is an underground storage organ having special swollen modified stem or
roots. e.g., potato, sweet potato
BASED ON THE METHOD OF PLANTING

a. Directly sown plants: okra, leafy vegetables, carrot, radish, etc.,
b. Transplanting: tomato, brinjal, chili, cauliflower, cabbage, onion, potato, sweet potato, etc.
c. Crops grown from underground parts
Root vegetables: Radish, carrot, turnip, beetroot
Rhizome: Colocasia, ginger
Bulb: Onion, garlic
Tuber: Potato, sweet potato, cassava and yam
BASED ON INTERCULTURAL PRACTICES

a. Solanaceous crops: Tomato, brinjal, chili, bell pepper, potato
b. Cole crops: Cabbage, cauliflower, knol-khol, broccoli and Brussels sprouts
c. Leafy vegetables: Spinachi, lettuce and chaulai (amaranthus)
d. Pods or capsules: Pea, cowpea, okra
e. Cucurbits: Gourds, melons, cucumber, pumpkin
f. Root crops: Carrot, radish, turnip, beetroot
BASED ON CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS

a. Temperate vegetables: potato, carrot, cabbage, cauliflower, knol-khol, broccoli, etc.
b. Tropical and subtropical vegetables: watermelon, cucumber, brinjal, chili, etc.
BASED ON PLANT PART USED AS VEGETABLE
a. Stem and leaves: Cabbage, lettuce, spinach, amaranthus, etc.
b. Flowers: Broccoli (head ‘flower buds’), cauliflower (curd ‘pre-floral stage’), etc.
c. Fruits: There are various stages where the fruits of vegetable crops can be harvested for
consumption, such as
 Ripened fruits: Watermelon, melon, etc.
 Immature and tender fruits: Cucumber, bottle gourd, bitter gourd, ridge gourd, brinjal,
Dolichos beans, etc.
d. Seeds: Peas
e. Underground parts of plant
 Taproot: Tapering root growing vertically downward, e.g., carrot, radish, etc.
 Bulb: A fleshy leaved storage organ in some vegetables sending adventitious roots
downward and leaves upward, e.g., onion, garlic, etc.
 Tuber: Thick, short and rounded underground stem with modified nodes and buds or
with swollen roots, e.g., potato, sweet potato, etc.
 Rhizome: Underground root-like stem having roots and shoots (grows vertically), e.g.,
ginger

Horti 1 Week 23

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WEEK 2

IMPORTANCE OF HORTICULTURE IN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY

1. Contributes to national income

2. The basic source of food

Furthermore, agriculture plays an important role in decreasing rural poverty in developing

6. Source of foreign exchange

Difference between fruits and vegetables

BASED ON THE NATURE OF PLANT (STEM)

a. Herbaceous and succulents: Leafy vegetables

BASED ON THE LIFE SPAN (FROM SEED-TO-SEED)

BASED ON THE METHOD OF PLANTING

BASED ON INTERCULTURAL PRACTICES

BASED ON CLIMATIC REQUIREMENTS

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