Samoa Agricultural Science Curriculum

This curriculum outlines the key learning objectives and concepts for Agricultural Science. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and contribute to the agricultural sector. The curriculum emphasizes sustainable agricultural practices and appropriate technology.

Unit 1: Agriculture

• Agricultural Ecosystems: This unit covers the characteristics of ecosystems (producers, consumers, decomposers), the differences between managed and natural ecosystems, and various agricultural management systems (traditional, mixed farming, inter-cropping, mono-cropping, organic farming, integrated pest management (IPM), and agroforestry). Students will also investigate the impacts of agricultural practices on natural ecosystems, including the effects of pesticides, over-fertilization, over-cultivation, and deforestation.
• Genetically Modified Foods: This unit explores genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and improvements in production resulting from breeding techniques such as heritability, line breeding, cross breeding, and hybrid vigor.

Unit 2: Soils

• Soil Fertility and Management: This unit investigates the physical (texture, structure, color), chemical (pH, nutrient status), and biological (micro and macro-organisms) properties of soil. Students will also examine the effects of various practices on soil properties, including composting, mulching, liming, fertilization (organic and inorganic), irrigation, drainage, tillage, crop rotation, herbicides, overgrazing, burning, and deforestation. The role of decomposers and earthworms in soil texture and structure is also explored, as are different types of growth media for seed raising and potted plants.
• Soil Conservation: This unit evaluates the effects of different soil conservation techniques, such as terracing, cover crops, and mechanical barriers.

Unit 3: Farm Management, Economics, and Marketing

• Record Keeping: This unit investigates the role of record keeping in agricultural enterprises, including using records to forecast production.
• Management: This unit explores factors influencing management decisions, including the goals and aspirations of the manager, human resources, physical resources, financial resources, the role of financial institutions, storage systems, sustainability (economic and environmental), market opportunities, and land tenure.
• Marketing of Products: This unit investigates market opportunities for various products, post-harvest handling steps to meet market requirements (quality control, quarantine requirements, pricing, economics of production), how processing adds value to products, and the marketing roles of agricultural grower organizations.

Unit 4: Crop Production

• Plant Propagation and Growth Management: This unit covers asexual reproduction methods (marcotting/air layering, grafting, budding, tissue culture) and their role in maintaining purity of line and increasing plant numbers. Students will also investigate pests and diseases affecting crops, insect life cycles, economic reasons for pest and disease control, and various control measures (crop rotation, pesticides, cultural practices, physical control, biological control, integrated pest management). The unit also explores the impact of regulations (quarantine, environmental laws, regulatory control) and bio-security measures on agricultural enterprises. Finally, the unit examines how seed germination is affected by environmental factors (oxygen, water, temperature), dormancy, and viability. The influence of nutrients, environment, hormones, training, and weeds on plant growth and development is also covered.

Unit 5: Animal Production

• Livestock Production: This unit evaluates management systems for raising livestock (cattle, pigs, and chickens), characteristics of local and commercial breeds, and husbandry practices (identification, drenching, castration, tail docking, de-beaking, trimming teeth and claws). Students will also explore factors influencing animal growth and development (breeds, nutritive value of feedstock, environment, husbandry practices, hygiene), animal reproduction strategies, and animal health (pests, diseases, disorders). Finally, the unit investigates local feedstock, nutritive value of pastures, feeding regimes, and feed ration formulation.

Unit 6: Tools, Equipment, and Facilities

• Safe Use of Tools, Equipment, Chemicals, and Facilities: This unit covers the correct use and storage of tools, equipment, and chemicals, safe handling and maintenance procedures for agricultural equipment, safe procedures for mixing agricultural chemicals, best practices for applying chemicals, and first-aid procedures for chemical contamination. Students will also develop a positive attitude towards safety procedures in disposing of chemical residue and containers.