Igbo Agriculture
Isaac Elahi
Jhanay Rowden
Jun Huang
Pre-Colonization
Before colonization, the Igbos used tools that were less advanced. However, there were already numerous tools used for farming.
- Hoes
- Spades
- Picks
- Digging Sticks
- Planters
- Knives
- Axes
- Sickels
- Shovel
- Trowels
- Yam Extractor
Post-Colonization
After colonization, the farming tools used in the Igbo culture evolved. Farming became an easier task, especially for the women.
- Hoes
- Spade
- Picks
- Digging sticks
- Planters
- Knives
- Axes
Pre-Colonization
The Igbo had to feed themselves with very limited food resources before colonization. After the Igbo were colonized they were exposed to many other crops for them to farm, eat, and trade. These crops included:
- Yams
- Cassava
- Taro
- Vegetables
- Kola nuts
- Palm oil
Post-Colonization
After colonization crop production slowed and more people started to produce oil. Now oil production is one of their main money maker industries.
- Yams
- Cassava
- Taro
- Vegetables
- Kola nuts
- Palm Oil
- Cocoa beans
- Corn
- Melons
- Okra
- Pumpkins
- Beans
- Peppers
- Gords
- Cocoyams
Culture of Farming
Unlike most western colonizations where farming was done by serfs, peasants, and lower classes of society, in Igbo culture, those who farm are seen as masculine, or strong in a physical and mental way.
- The majority of farmers grew Yams in their farms
- Because of the difficulty of planting and harvesting yams, farming is seen as an honorable and respectable job.
There however, is a separation between men and women in terms of farming
Men
Men would often time tend to more difficult crops such as Yams.
Yams have a more tedious process in order to grow them correctly
Women
Women would deal with other, less tedious crops such as cassava, taro, or maize
These crops were equally as important
Women
Before Colonization
- Most of Igbo tribe lived in a dominantly rainforest geography (except those living in the north-east part)
- The farmers (and most other tribes-people) lived in “communities”
- Communities were a collection of small huts with a farming area attached
- Each hut/farming plot represented a different household and therefore a different family
After Colonization
- Because of colonization, farmers could no longer participate in the law making process
- Farmers did not traditionally have a king, this changed during British colonization
- Instead of obeying laws they wanted, they were forced to obey all laws that the king and queen decided
Benefits:
Good:
- Colonization introduced new tools such as spades, sickles, and rakes
- It also introduced new crops such as melons, pumpkins, and gourds
- All these new crops and new tools for farming meant that more food was being produced
Drawbacks
- Because of colonization, they were forced to farm under the law of England
- They were also forced to farm for the colonists there instead of for themselves
- Although there was increased food production, most of it was being consumed by the colonists
-All of this turned the Igbo from plentiful in surplus food, to barely able to feed themselves
Civil War
Civil wars throughout the late 20th century created obstacles, making it difficult for the Igbo people to acquire food.
- Yam production was restricted to only certain villages as they were under federal command.
- Because of the low moral of people, most communities prematurely used their food stores.
- They were forced to adapt and discover new crops. Kola nut, Famiwa, cassava became more prominent despite how they were regarded as women's crops.
The 21st Century
- Recent climate change and dryness affected the rain fall, causing it to decrease.
- The farming lands became dryer and as a result, crops were harder to grow.
- Africa is incredibly vulnurable to climate change and increased floods, droughts, and other natural disasters have caused stress on the land.
Agriculture in Religion
- Farming and the seasons of rain and harvest contribute to a large amount of traditional practices.
- Rain making revolves around, well, rainfall. The harvest seasons also contribute to the traditions of cheer and celebration as well.
- Because of the lack of crop due to recent climate change, many of the Ibo assume that the gods were angry at them.
- Any declines in farm lead to the belief that ‘man’ has caused disaster or needs to be punished for their wrong doings.
Bibliography
(And Yams)
- “The Famine in Biafra .” Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, 20 Sept. 2016, adst.org/2014/05/the-famine-in-biafra-usaids-response-to-the-nigerian-civil-war/#.WjoDm9WnHrd.
- Christian, Nche George. “The Impact of Climate Change on African Traditional Religious Practices.” OMICS International, OMICS International, 8 Aug. 2014, www.omicsonline.org/open-access/the-impact-of-climate-change-on-african-traditional-religious-practices-2157-7617.1000209.php?aid=29417.
- “Research Report: Africa Talks Climate - Media Action.” BBC, BBC, www.bbc.co.uk/mediaaction/publications-and-resources/research/reports/africa/africa-talks-climate.
- Uluslararasu Sosyal Arashmalar Dergisi. “Food Shortages, Survival Strategies, and the Igbo of Southeastern Nigeria During the Nigeria Civil War.” The Journal of International Social Research, vol. 5, no. 22, 202ADAD, www.sosyalarastirmalar.com/cilt5/cilt5sayi22_pdf/2_tarih/iwuagwu_obi.pdf.
- The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, Editors of Britannica. “Igbo.” Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 4 Nov. 2015.
- P, Austin, director. Igbo Farming. YouTube.com, YouTube, 18 Feb. 2013, www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eYRSut_u7Y.
- “Igbo - Economy.” Countries and Their Cultures, EveryCulture, www.everyculture.com/Africa-Middle-East/Igbo-Economy.html.
- Blench, Roger. “African Agricultural Tools: Implications of Synchronic Ethnography for Agrarian History.” Homepages.ucl.ac.uk, Homepages, 23 May 2006.
- Achebe, Chinua. Things Fall Apart. Penguin Books, 2017.
- The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. “Igbo.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 4 Nov. 2015, www.britannica.com/topic/Igbo.