CAPITAL

Capital includes all man-made productive assets which are used in production. In other words, these are assets made by man to enable him to produce goods and services.

Features of Capital

(i)         Capital is also a factor of production.

(ii)        Examples of capital include, hoe, cutlass, tractor, farm building, cash in hand, plough, etc.

(iii)       It can depreciate or appreciate.

(iv)       Sources of capital include personal savings, banks, government agencies, cooperative societies, etc.

(v)        The reward for capital is interest.

(vi)       It is a stock of assets used in production.

(vii)      It is used to purchase farm inputs, e.g., seeds, agro-chemicals used as working capital.

(viii)     It is used to acquire other factors, e.g., land and labour.

(ix)       It is obtained in form of loans or subsidies.

(x)        Capital is grouped into two classes:

 

Fixed Capital

These are capital or assets purchased for continuous use in production. In other words, these are items or materials which are not uses up during production. Examples of fixed capital include: farm building, motor vehicles, farm tools and implements, land furniture and fittings, incubators, ploughs, harrows, tractors, milking machines, feeders, drinkers, hoes, irrigation equipment, etc.

Working or Variable Capital

These are capital or assets which are used up during the process of production. Examples include: water, feeds, drugs, cash in hand, vaccines, litters, fertilizers, seeds, chemicals, etc.

Importance of Capital in Agricultural Enterprise

  • Working capital is used in the day–to-day running of the farm enterprise.
  • Working capital is used for paying wages.
  • Working capital is used for the purchase of farm inputs, maintenance services on the farm, and feeding of livestock, etc.
  • Fixed capital in form of immovable houses and farmsteads provide shelter for farm operations.
  • Fixed capital in form of machinery provides farm power for farm operations.
  • Fixed capital is used to generate more funds and the success of farm enterprises usually depends on the maximum use of these capital assets.
  • Working capital helps to facilitate farm expansion or increase in farm size.
  • Capital is used to establish farm enterprise.

Questions:

  1. What is capital.

2.State two types of capital.

3.State five features of capital.

 

See also

LABOUR

FACTORS OF PRODUCTION

CLASSIFICATION OF CROPS

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION

LAND

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