Grade 5 Social Studies Resources And Econmomic Activities – Farming Methods Notes
Social Studies — Resources and Economic Activities
Subtopic: Farming Methods (for age 10, Kenya)
Farming methods are the different ways people grow crops and keep animals. In Kenya we use many methods depending on land, rain, animals and what farmers want to sell or eat.
Small farms where families grow food to eat. Example: maize, beans, potatoes on a family farm in Nyeri or Kisii.
Good: Food for the family. Bad: Little money left to sell.
Big farms that grow crops or keep animals to sell. Examples: tea in Kericho, coffee near Mount Kenya, sugarcane in Western.
Good: Earn money. Bad: needs machines and lots of land.
Keeping animals and moving with them to find grass and water. Common in Northern Kenya and ASALs (arid lands).
Good: Useful in dry areas. Bad: can lead to conflicts over water.
Supplying water to crops by pipes, canals or sprinklers. Example: rice in Mwea, horticulture around Naivasha (greenhouses use controlled water).
Good: Grow crops when rain is little. Bad: needs water and equipment.
Making flat steps on hills to grow crops. Used in highlands like parts of Meru and Nyeri to stop soil washing away.
Good: Stops soil erosion. Bad: needs work to build terraces.
Growing trees and crops together. Trees give shade, fruit or firewood and help soil. Farmers plant trees with crops like maize.
Good: Protects land. Bad: takes time to grow trees.
- Greenhouses — used in Naivasha for flowers and vegetables. They protect plants and save water. 🌸
- Mechanized farming — tractors and machines make work faster on large farms. 🚜
- Organic farming — growing without chemical fertilisers or pesticides to keep food natural.
- Amount of land — small or large?
- Rainfall — wet highlands vs dry lowlands?
- What they want — food for home or to sell?
- Money and tools — can they buy seeds, tractors or irrigation?
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- Draw a map of your home farm. Label the crops and animals.
- Visit a nearby farm (ask permission) and ask the farmer which method they use.
- Plant maize or vegetables in a pot and try watering like irrigation.
- Which farming method is best in dry parts of Kenya where there is little rain?
- Name two crops grown by smallholder farmers in Kenya.
- Give one advantage of terrace farming.
- Pastoralism or irrigation farming (if water available).
- Maize, beans, potatoes (also tea/coffee for some areas).
- It stops soil from washing away (reduces erosion).