Page 28 - Agriculture_Form_Three

Agriculture for Secondary Schools

Figure 1.72: Multi-coloured Figure 1.73: Multi-coloured aster
chrysanthemum

The importance of horticultural crop production

Horticultural crops are important in various aspects as follows:
(a) They are a source of flavour and aroma as well as nutrients such as vitamins,
minerals and dietary fibres.
(b) They contain health benefiting compounds and medicines.
(c) They have an aesthetic value to the environment.

(d) The comparative yield per unit area of horticultural crops is higher than field
crops.
(e) These crops, particularly fruit plantations, can be cultivated in places where the
slope of land is uneven or undulating hence they help to conserve the land while
producing valuable crops.
(f) Some of these crops can be cultivated in wasteland or poor-quality soils thus
they help to make such soils continue being useful for crop production.

(g) They can generate employment throughout the year.
(h) They serve as raw materials for various industries such as processing,
pharmaceutical, perfumery and cosmetics, chemical, confectionery, oils and
paints.
(i) They are a good source of local and foreign income because they are of high
value at national and international levels.

(j) They are a source of variability in farm produce and diets.
It is important to note that for successful growing of horticultural crops, various
components of soils and climate like temperature, humidity, wind, light and rainfall
should be carefully considered. Soil aspects, with respect to fertility and drainage,
are important to horticultural crop production. Even though farmers cannot control

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