1. Definition of Agriculture
• The term Agriculture is derived from two Latin words agri meaning soil and cultura
meaning cultivation.
• As an art, it embraces knowledge of the way to perform the operation of the farm in a
skillful manner.
• As a science, it utilizes all technologies developed on scientific principles such as crop
breeding, crop protection, production techniques, economics etc to maximize the yield and
profit.
• Agriculture as a business it aims at maximum net return through the management of land
labour. water and capital, employing the knowledge of various science for production of
food, feed, fibre and fuel.

2. Agriculture Economics as a Social Science
Inputs Used and Products of Agriculture
• Agricultural inputs are defined as products permitted for use in organic farming. They also
known to be the heart of rural marketing and rural development.
• Types of Agricultural Inputs
• Consumable inputs
• Capital inputs
• Consumable inputs include
• Seeds, Fertilizers, Veterinary medicines, packing materials, Agrochemical, Oil and
Lubricants and Cattle feed
Agricultural economics is an applied social
science that deals with how producers,
consumers, and societies use scarce
resources in the production, marketing, and
consumption of food and fiber products. In
agricultural markets, the forces of supply
and demand are at work.

3. • Capital inputs include
• Tractors
• Agricultural machineries (harvesters , thrashers)
• Agricultural implement and tools (irrigation, cultivators, levelers, pump sets,
motors, sheds, jeeps etc).