- Agriculture refers to the growing of crops and keeping of animals.
- The two main traditional forms of agriculture are:
- Shifting cultivation: Clearing land by slashing, burning and growing crops on it until it loses its fertility. This method of farming is practised in areas where population is low.
- Bush fallowing: The farmer clears the land and uses it to grow crops for three or four years. After this, the soil becomes poor and the harvest drops. The farmer then stops farming it for a few years so that it can regain its fertility.
- Subsistence crops grown in traditional farming
- Traditional farmers in Kenya mainly grew food crops. Crops grown were mainly for family use.
- This type of farming is called subsistence farming. Examples of crops grown under traditional farming are: millet, sorghum, vegetables, beans, sweet potatoes, cassavas and fruits.
- Crops like maize, bananas and Irish potatoes were introduced in Kenya by the whites.
- In traditional African societies, people stored food whenever they had a good harvest.
- This was to make sure that there was enough food for everybody until the next harvest.
- Food reserves were important because people would have food even in diffi cult times like during war or drought.
- Tuber crops like potatoes and cassava were sometimes left in the ground during the dry season. This way, people were able to dig them up when they needed them.
- Dried grain was stored in granaries, which were carefully designed to ensure that the grain was not exposed to moisture or to pests like rats and insects.
- Some food grains were stored in large baskets, clay pots and calabashes. Millet and sorghum were hung on poles near fire in the kitchen.
- Meat was preserved by salting, smoking, drying or immersed in honey to last long.
