Development of Agriculture in Pre-colonial African Societies
A. Agriculture
What is Agriculture
Agriculture refers to the socio-economic activity that involves crops cultivation and keeping livestock. It started at the end of the Late Stone Age after human beings had improved their tools of production.
They engaged either in Livestock keeping or crops cultivation in an area depended on the environment and efficiency of tools used.
- Examples of crops cultivated in pre-colonial Africa were ;- Maize, Sorghum, Millets, Finger millets, Yam and Wheat
- Examples of domesticated animals were ; – Cattles, Goats, Sheep, Camels and Donkey
Factors influenced Agricultural Activity in Pre-Colonial African Societies
- Conducive weather condition – Moderate temperature and reliable rainfall
- Advancement of technology – Presence of iron technology
- Good and attracted environment – Vegetation cover, presence of water bodies, fertile land ete
- Presence of trade – Especially barter trade
- Workforce/Man-powers
- Good traditional beliefs
Types of Agriculture in Pre-colonial African Society
Tere were three (3) types of agricultural practices by 1700 BC.
- Crop cultivation
- Pastoralism
- Mixed farming
A. Crop Cultivation
Crop Cultivation is is a type of agriculture involving the use of land to grow different types of crops. Pre-colonial societies were engaged in this type of agriculture for home consumption and trade.
Types of crop cultivation in Pre-colonial African societies
There were two types of crop cultivation in Pre-Colonial societies ;-
- Shifting Cultivation
- Permanent Cultivation
i. Shifting Cultivation
Shifting Cultivation is involved the movement of farmers from one place to another place. This type was common in grassland areas with long dry seasons and scattered trees. An area with such natural vegetation is known as Savannah.
They moved on to open new agricultural land and started farming again. They faced a lot of challenges included Presence of Tsetse Flies infected both people and animals with Trypanosomiasis
The crops produced were ;-
- Cassava
- Millet
- Sorghum
- Pumpkins and
- Cowpeas
Shifting cultivation involved livestock keeping and moved with animals Cattle, Sheep, and goats. These animals provided milks, meats, blood, manure and hides
The societies practiced it were found:
- In Central, Southern and Western Tanzania
- Central and North-Eastern of Kenya
- In West Africa, Mandika and Bambara
Characteristics of Shifting Cultivation
i. Human settlements were temporary – Because people were lived in short time of period. They moved because of the fertile soil in these areas exhausted quickly after few years of cultivation.
ii. Soil were light and fertile
iii. It had little harvest – Because supported with small population
ii. Permanent Crop Cultivation
Permanent Crop Cultivation is was the type of agriculture delt with people cultivated the same land for a long period without moving to another areas. Some crops grown were millets, yams, cassava, groundnuts, Bambara nuts and palm oil. In many societies in Pre-Colonial Africa were participated and practiced permanent crop cultivation.
i. Northern Africa
Examples of the societies practiced were;-
- Berbers
Crops grown
- Wheat, Barley and Olive
ii. Western Africa
Examples of the societies practiced were;-
- Ashanti
- Yoruba
- Edo
- Akan
Crops grown
- Millet, Yam, Cassava
- Groundnuts, Bambara nuts and
- Palm oil
iii. Central & Southem Africa
- Shona
- Bemba
- Sotho
- Zulu
Crops grown
- Maize
- Sorghum
- millets and
- beans
Advantages of Permanent Crop Cultivation
- It stimulated population growth – Due to adequate of food
- It influenced development of trade – To exchange goods in long distance trade and local trade.
- It led the development of permanent settlements
- It led emergence and growth of centralized political system – Chiefdoms and Kingdoms
- It encouraged the improvement of farming technology
- People needed and used better tools in order to simplify work
- It led the soil and water conservation – Due to farming techniques applied in, such has terrace.
Disadvantages of Permanent Crop Cultivation
- Conflicts among societies – This led other societies like Shambaa, Sukuma, Nyakyusa and Nyamwezi terraced hillsides.
- Scarcity of resources – Due to population growth.
