food crops

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION MALAYSIA

SYLLABUS OF INTEGRATED CURRICULUM FORSECONDARY SCHOOLS

FOOD CROPS

CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT CENTREMINISTRY OF EDUCATION MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR2002

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Introduction

Food crop is one of the KBSM (Integrated Curriculum for Secondary School)

vocational elective subjects taught in secondary schools. This subject is based on the

technology which emphasises pupils to practise productivity in the food crop field.

Food crop is the continuation subject from the Living Skills subject taught in the lower

forms. The subject is designed by the Education Ministry as an effort to enhance

pupils’ skills to practise and to instill entrepreneurship spirit in the agricultural field to

increase the country’s productivity.

Through this subject, it is hoped that pupils will be able master the techniques

to grow food crops such as fruits, vegetables, herbs, salads, mushrooms and bean

sprouts. Pupils will perform practical work on the growing techniques which cover the

preparations of materials and utensils, location, fertilizer, irrigation, pests and diseases

control, post-harvest management and farm record-keeping. Additionally, they will

apply food crop technology in the structured areas and open areas to produce various

food products for commercial purposes.

With the acquired skills, these pupils will be capable to start their own mini fruit

orchards, and vegetable or herb farms, or work as farm assistant technicians.

Aims

The aims of The Food Crop subject are to produce pupils who are skillful and

productive in fruits and vegetables production, able to practise ideal and safe working

habit, able to start their own business and capable in becoming highly skilled workers

in food industry.

Objectives

From the Food Crops curriculum, pupils should be able to:

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1. independently manage the processes of growing of fruits, vegetables, herbs,

mushrooms and bean sprouts.

2. practise their acquired skills to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs, salads,

mushrooms and bean sprouts.

3. practise their skills in post-harvest handling, farm record keeping and crops

marketing.

4. produce varieties of agricultural products for marketing purposes.

5. choose and decide the types of potential food crops.

6. apply efficient technology in food crop for commercial purposes.

7. apply efficient farm management for optimum output.

8. prepare simple business plan and communicate effectively.

Content

Food Crop subject is divided into seven fields. Each field is further divided into

learning units which contain several topics. The seven fields are:

1. Farm Management

In this field, pupils will learn farm management. This encompasses productivity

costs, types of farm records, farm record keeping and farm record analysis.

Pupils will be able to prepare the budget for growing crops.

The teaching units are:

1.1 Farm management introduction

1.2 Production cost

1.3 Farm record

1.4 Farm record analysis

1.5 Preparing budgets

2. Growing Fruits

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Pupils are exposed to the fruits growing techniques which consist of soil

preparation aspects, materials for growing, fertilizing, pests and disease

control, post-harvest handling and farm record keeping. Emphasis is also given

to the skills and knowledge in the fruits crop technology. Moreover, pupils will

grow fruits such as bananas and water-melons for commercial purposes.


2.1 Introduction

a The importance of fruit growing and its prospects.

b Seasonal and non-seasonal fruits

c Long term and short term growing

d Variety and clones

2.2 Location preparation

a Choosing sites

b Clearing sites

c Growing systems

d Marking and staking

e Preparation of holes or bunds

2.3 Growing bananas

a. Preparation of materials for growing

b. Growing methods

c. Care

d. Crop harvest

e. Post-harvest handling

2.4 Growing watermelon

a. Preparation of materials for growing

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b Seed sowing

c. Transferring seedlings

d. Care

e. Crops harvest

f. Post-harvest handling

2.5 Plants record-keeping

a Record schedule

b Budgeting

3 Growing vegetables

Pupils will be able to enhance their skills and knowledge to grow

vegetables such as mustard, spinach, tomato and chili, at the same time,

applying efficient technology. This includes growing systems such as rain

sheltering structure, pest proof, fertigation and sprinkler irrigation system.

Pupils will also be able to grow sweet potatoes on bunds. Aspects exposed to

pupils include choice of plants, growing systems, crop management, post-

harvest handling, and farm record keeping to manage vegetable farms

efficiently.


3.1 Introduction

a The importance of vegetable growing and its prospects

b Types of vegetables

3.2 Choice of seeds

a Seed sources

b Choices of type and variety

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a Growing system

b Growing site

3.4 Seed sowing

3.5 Polytene bags preparation

3.6 Growing system management

a. Rain sheltering structure system and pest proof with

fertigation

b Rain sheltering structure system with fertigation

c Rain sheltering structure system and pest proof

with sprinkler irrigation.

3.7 Growing methods

3.8 Plant care

a Structured area

b Open area

3.9 Crop harvesting

3.10 Post-harvest handling

a Harvest preparation

b Temporary storage

c Harvest sales

3.11 Growing record- keeping

a Record schedule

b Budgeting

4 Herbs and Salads

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Pupils will be exposed to growing techniques of herbs and salads such as

lemon-grass, water crest, ‘ulam raja’ and ‘selom”. They will be introduced to

the importance of the herbs and salads, and to raise their awareness regarding

their nutritional values. The aspects learnt in this lesson cover planting, growing

management, post-harvest handling and record keeping.


4.1 Introduction

a The importance of herbs and salads growing and its

prospects

b Types of herbs and salads.

4.2 Choice of the types of herbs and salads


4.4 Growing methods

4.5 Care

4.6 Crop harvesting


a Crop preparation

b Temporary storage

c Crop sales

4.8 Growing record keeping

a Record schedule

b Budgeting

5 Mushrooms

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Pupils will be exposed to mushrooms production techniques. They will practise

their skills in producing mushrooms commercially. Aspects learnt in this lesson cover

the preparation of utensils and materials, care, plant management, post-harvest

handling and farm record keeping.


5.1 Introduction

a. The importance of mushrooms growing and its prospects

b. Types of mushrooms

5.2 Medium, equipment and location preparation

a Early preparation

b Mushroom bag preparation

c Mushroom bag steaming

d Seed sowing

5.3 Mushroom bag preparation

a Arrangement

b Fermentation

5.4 Harvesting and care of crop


a. Crop preparation

b. Temporary storage

c. Crop sales

5.6 Plant record keeping

a. Record schedule

b. Budgeting

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6 Bean sprout production

Pupils will be exposed to bean sprout production techniques for commercial

purposes. The technique applied in this lesson is automation. Aspects learnt in this

lesson cover bean sprout production, post-harvest handling and record keeping.


6.1 Introduction

6.2 Utensil and materials

6.3 Bean sprout production processes

6.4 Care

6.5 Crop harvesting


a Crop preparation

b Crop sales

6.7 Plant record keeping

a Record schedule

b Budgeting

7 Entrepreneurship and Management

In this lesson, pupils will be exposed to the aspects of communication so that

they can acquire interpersonal skills, serving customers and make accurate decisions.

Pupils will also be able to devise business plans, identify agencies which can assist

entrepreneurs and career opportunities in the agricultural field. This also will cultivate

the entrepreneurship spirit among pupils.

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7.1 Management at work place

a Good management

b Ethics and work culture

c Rules and work laws

d Conserving the environment in the agriculture industry

7.2 Entrepreneurship

a Communication skills

b Decision-making skills

c Business planning

d Related agencies to help entrepreneurs

e Marketing

f Career opportunities in the agricultural industry

7.3 Career projects

food crops

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