Which of the following is NOT a component of agriculture?

Step 1: Analyze the question We need to find the option that is not part of agriculture. Agriculture in the broad sense covers the production of food and raw materials from land and water, including plants and animals.

Step 2: Explain the concept Agriculture is commonly divided into these branches:

• Crop farming: growing crops such as yam, cassava, maize and cocoa.
• Livestock farming: rearing animals such as cattle, goats, poultry and pigs.
• Fishing (fisheries): catching or rearing fish, including fish farming.
• Forestry: planting, managing and harvesting trees and forest products.

Drilling, on the other hand, usually means boring into the earth to extract crude oil or natural gas, or to dig boreholes. This belongs to the extractive (mining and quarrying) industry, not agriculture.

Step 3: Go through the options

• A. Crop farming is a component of agriculture.
• B. Drilling is an extractive activity (oil and gas), so it is not agriculture.
• C. Fishing is a component of agriculture.
• D. Forestry is a component of agriculture.
• E. Livestock farming is a component of agriculture.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is B. drilling.

Tip: In Nigerian economics, remember the four branches of agriculture: crops, livestock, fishing, forestry. Anything involving digging or drilling out of the earth (oil, minerals, stone) belongs to the extractive industry.