Module 1 INTRODUCTION
I. Overview
This module is composed of major topics that will eventually inform the students and
make them understand the growth and development of agriculture in the world and in the
Philippines.
II. Learning Objectives At the end of this module, the student must be able to:
1. Understand the history, development and situation of Philippine Agriculture.
2. Identify geographic distribution of major crops in the Philippines
III. Learning Concept /Topics
1. Agricultural Development
2. Origin, Domestication & History of Some Important Crops
3. World Food Situation & Center of Production
4. Philippine Agriculture
5. Major Crops of the Philippines and their Geographic Distribution
6. Meaning and Scope of Crop Science
HISTORY OF WORLD AGRICULTURE
TOPIC 1 : AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT
From the origin of human society, life has been greatly influenced by food. The
ancient tribal societies were based on hunting and gathering. Ninety-nine percent (99%)
of mankind's existence on earth has been as a HUNTER AND GATHERER. Prehistoric
agriculture developed mainly in the area of the Middle East, Asia, Africa and in Europe.
The most important crops were cereals, corn, rice, barley, wheat, rye, sugarcane and
sugar beets. Cereals are important because they are the basis of human diet.
What is a Hunter/Gatherer?
Hunting/Gathering behaviors exist back 2 million years to the dawn of man’s
cultural evolution. No word for “work” exists in various languages of hunter/gatherers.
Primitive man satisfied his daily needs directly from nature by hunting wilds animals,
gathering wild plants and fishing. The hunters-gatherers moved from one location to
another in search of food to sustain them. The fishing tribes were more likely settled in
one place as a permanent home usually near bodies of water.
HISTORY
The origin of agriculture pre-dates the invention of writing. Agriculture started more
than 10,000 years ago. Transition from hunting animals and gathering crops to raising
livestock and growing plants was very important for mankind. The history of agriculture
may be divided into four broad periods of unequal length, differing widely in date
according to region: Pre-historic; Historic through the Roman period; Feudal; Scientific
and Modern.
Pre-historic Period
The practice of agriculture started in the Neolithic Period. Sites occupied: Asia,
Africa and Europe. Neolithic farmers live caves and in small houses of mud or wood some
are in caves. The villages were surrounded by fields. Neolithic agriculture was mixed.
The earliest tools of the farmer were made of wood and stone. The first tools were;
Adz used for gathering grain
Digging stick used to plant seeds
Rudimentary plow, a tree branch used to scratch soil.
HISTORIC THROUGH THE ROMAN PERIOD
The Roman Period goes from 2,500BC to 500 AD Grapes and olives were
cultivated in the first millennium BC In the second millennium BC horses and oxen were
used for work.
Metals tools were introduced because they were more efficient and longer lasting.
Storage methods for oil and grain were improved (granaries, jars, silos etc.)
Introduction of: irrigation system, wind and water mills, fertilizers and crop rotation.
FEUDAL PERIOD
(Feudal Period 1)
The feudal period goes from 500 AD to 1,500 AD after the fall of the Roman Empire
(476 AD). Innovation in farming:
New types of plows allowed for easer plantation
The method of crop rotation began at this time as well. The land was divided into three
fields.
Ten or more oxen were fastened to the tongue of the plough.
(Feudal Period 2)
The manor was the center of feudal life and it was a self-contained
community. There was the large home of the lord and peasants produce their
crops, raised animals and paid taxes in services. In manorial system there were:
A mill grinding grain
An oven for baking bread
Fishponds, orchards
A wine or oil press
Herb and vegetable gardens
Feudalism ended with the wars of 14th and 15th century and plague outbreaks;
villages were destroyed and land was abandoned.
SCIENTIFIC PERIOD
(Scientific Period 1)
The scientific period goes from 16th to the 20th century. In this period:
Population and agriculture were increasing in Europe
Exploration and colonization started (colonial agriculture)
Slaves from Africa worked on cotton plantations in America
Scientific revolution ( new cultivation and types of cattle and sheep)
(Scientific Period 2)
Drainage (more land cultivated)
Farm machinery (John Deere)
Steam power used to replace animal power
Pests (Sprays, poisons) Improvement in transportation (roads, canals, rail lines etc.)
MODERN AGRICULTURE
Modern Agriculture depends on engineering, technology, biological and physical
sciences. Mechanization has caused the decline of labor force but has reduced the cost
and increased variety of food available. Another factor of modern agriculture is chemistry,
which deals the selective breeding techniques, fertilizer, herbicides, pesticides and
fungicides.
STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT OF THE PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE
PRE-COLONIAL PERIOD
Indo-Malayan migrants brought with them wet-rice for agriculture and carabao was
also use as source of animal power for cultivation. This type of agriculture predominated
near bodies of water like Rivers and Lakes. Slash-and-burn, kaingin culture or non-plow
farming predominated in other areas. This indicates a shifting agriculture rather than
sedentary type of rice culture and the tribe were mainly nomadic. Main crops consisted
of rice, gabi, yams, bananas, corn, millet, coconuts, citrus, ginger, clove, cinnamon and
nutmeg.
No agricultural specialization existed. The pattern of agriculture was chiefly
subsistence. Farms were small, chiefly backyard in coastal and riverbank settlements.
Most barangays were self-sufficient. Land was abundant and population was estimated
to be about 500,000 by the mid-16th century. Private Land ownership do not exist During
this period absence of food surpluses were attributed to: 1. Absence of full-blown ruling
class who could exploit producers for surplus. 2. Limited foreign trade. 3. Food Scarcity
in some settlements.
COLONIAL PERIOD
This period introduced a non-producing class for which Filipinos produced surplus
leading to an increase in agricultural productions include: mulberry, cacao, wheat,
cucumber, cantaloupe, watermelon, coffee, new varieties of cereals, peas and other
vegetables. The development of haciendas allowed for the introduction of technology and
processing, e.g. steam or hydraulic-powered sugar mills. March 06, 1909 the college of
agriculture was founded in Los Baños as a unit of the University of the Philippines.
POST-WAR PERIOD
This characterized by the following: 1. Introduction of technological improvements.
2. Campaign for use of modern farm inputs and farm mechanization in 50’s. 3. Building
up of market for tractors and power tillers in the 60’s. 4. Establishment of the International
Rice Research Institute. 5. Introduction of the high yielding rice varieties. Further
development and expansion of international agricultural trading especially for coconuts
and its by- products, tobaccos, sugar, pineapple, etc.
STATE OF PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE
The Philippines is rich in agricultural potential; however agricultural commodities
reveal a poor state of agriculture competitiveness. The modernization of the country’s
agriculture sector has been mandated with the signing into law Republic Act 8435 or the
Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA). But the AFMA was sign into law in
1997 and the country remains biggest rice importer in the world.
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities of and Threats in Philippine Agriculture
Strengths
Availability of expertise in agricultural research and development
Basic institutions in research are in place
Endowed with natural resources
Availability of agricultural technologies to boost production
Weaknesses
Physical
Climate – typhoons, drought
Soil – loss of top soil due to erosion particularly in sloppy areas
Biological
Pest; insect pest, weeds, pathogens
Nutrient deficiencies and toxicities
Suitable varieties
Socio-economic
Low farm input
Small land holdings
Decreasing interest in agriculture
Inadequate support and extension services for optimum production
Inadequate incentives and support for more efficient production e.g. irrigation facilities
as well as postharvest infrastructures
Inadequate farm to market roads
Marketing problems
Opportunities
Drivers of agro-environment for a diverse cropping system
Wide range of soils and climate to grow different crops
Whole year round growing period
Sunlight: 11-13 hrs
Temperature: 24-32 °C
Rainfall: 2400-4000mm/yr Threats
Population growth
Globalization
Weak governance
Deteriorating natural resources endowments
