- Farming began around 10,000 B.C. during the First Agricultural Revolution, when nomadic tribes began to farm.
- The Industrial Revolution led to faster and more efficient farming technology, which helped usher in the Second Agricultural Revolution from 1700 to 1900 in developed countries.
- The Green Revolution corresponds in the late 20th century with the exponential population growth occurring around the world. It includes biotechnology, genetic engineering, chemical fertilizers, and mass production of agricultural goods.
- Fruit farming began sometime between 6000 and 3000 B.C. Figs were one of the first cultivated fruit crops.
- Plows were invented in the Middle East soon after agriculture began. The earliest plow, called an ard, was probably made from sharpened tree branches. The plow has been cited as one of the most important inventions in the advancement of society.
- The Mesopotamians built the first simple irrigation system around 7000 B.C. The earliest large-scale irrigation system was created around 4000 B.C. in southern Russia. This system had canals up to 10 feet across and more than a mile long.
- In A.D. 644, Arab scientists developed a windmill to pump water for irrigation. By the year 1000, Arabs introduced fertilizers to enrich farm soil.
- In the early 1900s, Mary Isabel Fraser visited China and brought back seeds to New Zealand. She grew the first crop of kiwi in 1910. Today, New Zealand produces 1/3 of the world’s supply of kiwi.
- Bananas are the number one fruit crop in the world. They are the 4th largest overall crop, after wheat, rice, and corn. They grow in more than 100 countries on farms. India grows more bananas than any other country.
- Tractors were invented in the 1880s to pull plows through fields. By the 1920s, all-purpose, the modern tractor had been developed. With different attachments, tractors can be used for plowing, planting, cultivating, mowing, harvesting, and moving soil and heavy equipment.
- According to many historians, goats were the first animal to be domesticated. Goats are typically the cleanest of animals. They are much more select feeders than cows, chickens, or even dogs. They typically will not eat food that has been contaminated or that has been on the floor or ground.
- The word “farm” is from the Old French ferme, meaning to “rent, lease,” and the Latin firmare, “to fix, settle, confirm, strengthen.”
- The four major biotech crops in 2012 were soybean, cotton, maize, and canola.
- In 2012, 17 million farmers in 28 countries planted 170 million hectares of biotech crops.
- Most concerns about genetically modified crops fall into three categories: a) environmental hazards, b) human health risks, and c) economic concerns.
- Monsanto Company is the leading producing of genetically engineered (GE) seed.
- Cyrus McCormick is considered the “Father of Modern Agriculture.” He invented the world’s first mechanical reaper in 1831, which helped replace manpower for machine power to harvest crops. His invention is often cited as key in the westward expansion of the United States. Jo Anderson, a slave, also worked with McCormick to develop the mechanical reaper.
Must Read:
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
Agricultural Sustainability And Green Farming
National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)