Theory question 104
Livestock Management(a) Give two reasons for each of the following practices undertaken by some West African farmers: (i) movement of herdsmen and their flocks southwards to the rain forest zone during the dry season; (ii) preference for the use of simple farm tools over farm machinery.
(b)(i) Identify four problems associated with the movement of herdsmen. (ii) Suggest a solution to each of the problems.
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(a)(i) To find green pasture/feed; to find drinking water; (also to escape the heat and tsetse-free dry-season conditions).
(ii) Tools are cheap and affordable; farms are small and fragmented; tools are easy to use and repair without special skill; machines and spare parts are scarce/costly.
(b) Problems and solutions (any four pairs): destruction of crops – create grazing reserves/ranches; clashes with farmers – laws, dialogue and demarcated routes; spread of animal diseases – vaccination and quarantine; overgrazing and soil degradation – controlled stocking and rotational grazing; loss of weight and death of animals on the way – ranching and feed supplements; theft of animals – ranching and security.
Each problem in (b) must have its own matching solution.