Crops are plants cultivated for human use. They provide food, income, raw materials, and other products essential to society. Understanding crops involves knowing their types, classes, uses, cultivation practices, and the factors that affect growth.

A crop is any plant cultivated for human use. It may be grown for:

• Food: e.g., yam, maize, rice, cassava


• Cash or Export: e.g., cocoa, oil palm, cotton


• Industrial Use: e.g., rubber, sugarcane


• Medicinal or Herbal Use: e.g., moringa, neem

Crops can be classified in different ways:

1 Based on Plant Form

• Monocotyledonous Plants: Plants with a single seed leaf. Examples: maize, rice, sorghum, millet.


• Dicotyledonous Plants: Plants with two seed leaves. Examples: beans, cocoa, groundnut, oil palm.

2 Based on Life Span

• Annual Crops: Complete their life cycle in one year or growing season. Examples: maize, rice, beans.


• Perennial Crops: Grow and produce for more than one year. Examples: cocoa, mango, oil palm, rubber.

Use Type	Examples	Purpose / Benefit
Food Crops	Cereals, tubers, pulses, vegetables, fruits	Source of carbohydrate, protein, vitamins, and minerals
Oil Crops	Oil palm, groundnut, soybean	Source of fat and cooking oil
Spices	Pepper, ginger, clove	Flavoring food, medicinal uses
Latex	Rubber	Industrial uses
Beverages	Cocoa, coffee, tea	Drink production
Fibre Crops	Cotton, jute	Textile and clothing production

1 Food Crops

Yam, cassava, maize, rice, millet, sorghum, sweet potato

2 Cash Crops

Cocoa, oil palm, cotton, rubber, groundnut, coffee

3 Vegetables

Tomato, pepper, okra, spinach, pumpkin leaves

4 Fruits

Mango, orange, pawpaw, pineapple, banana

5 Industrial Crops

Cotton (textiles), rubber (tyres, gloves), sugarcane (sugar industry)

1. Food: Provide carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.


2. Income Generation: Cash crops provide money through sale or export.


3. Raw Materials for Industry: Many crops are used in manufacturing.


4. Employment: Farming and processing create jobs.


5. Medicinal Uses: Certain crops are used in herbal medicine.


6. Environmental Uses: Trees and crops prevent soil erosion and improve soil fertility.

1. Soil: Fertile, well-drained soil is ideal. Soil type affects crop choice.


2. Climate: Temperature, rainfall, and sunlight influence growth and yield.


3. Water Availability: Irrigation is needed in areas with low rainfall.


4. Seed Quality: Use of high-quality seeds increases yield and reduces disease.


5. Fertilizer and Manure: Nutrient supplementation improves growth.


6. Pests and Diseases: Proper management reduces crop loss.


7. Labour and Tools: Availability of labour and farm tools affects timely operations.

1. Land Preparation: Clearing, ploughing, and leveling the land.


2. Planting: Using appropriate spacing and depth for seeds or seedlings.


3. Weeding: Removing unwanted plants that compete for nutrients and water.


4. Watering/Irrigation: Supplying water during dry periods.


5. Fertilization: Applying organic or inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility.


6. Pest and Disease Control: Using chemical or biological methods.


7. Harvesting: Collecting mature crops at the right time to prevent loss.


8. Post-Harvest Handling: Drying, storage, processing, and packaging to prevent spoilage.

• Crop Rotation: Growing different crops on the same land in successive seasons to maintain soil fertility and reduce pests.


• Intercropping: Growing two or more crops together to maximize space, reduce pests, and increase yield.

1. Crop Farmer


2. Horticulturist


3. Agricultural Extension Officer


4. Plant Breeder


5. Agro-processor


6. Agribusiness Manager


7. Research Scientist


8. Farm Mechanic

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Evaluation Questions

1. Define a crop.


2. List five food crops and five cash crops grown in Nigeria.


3. Explain the difference between monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants.


4. Give two examples of annual and perennial crops.


5. Name three industrial crops and their uses.


6. What is the importance of crop rotation?


7. Mention three career opportunities related to crop farming.