Theory question 101
Agricultural Development(a) State three ways in which science and technology have contributed to agricultural development through each of the following: (i) Crop protection; (ii) Climatology and meteorology.
(b) Give two functions of each of the following farm machines and implements: (i) bulldozer; (ii) combine harvester; (iii) tractor; (iv) sprayer; (v) planter.
Show the model answer
(a)(i) Any three: development of insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, nematicides and rodenticides; spraying equipment; breeding of pest- and disease-resistant varieties; biological control agents; irradiation/fumigation of stored produce.
(ii) Any three: weather forecasts to fix planting and harvesting dates; forecasting of pest and disease outbreaks; measurement of rainfall, temperature, humidity and wind; cloud seeding; guidance on choice of crops and drying of produce.
(b)(i) Bulldozer: clearing bush and felling trees; uprooting stumps; levelling land; building farm roads.
(ii) Combine harvester: harvesting (cutting) cereals; threshing; cleaning/winnowing and bagging grain.
(iii) Tractor: pulling implements (ploughs, harrows, ridgers); haulage with trailer; powering stationary machines through PTO; lifting implements hydraulically.
(iv) Sprayer: applying pesticides and herbicides; applying liquid fertilizers or hormones.
(v) Planter: sowing seeds at the right spacing and depth; some apply fertilizer at planting.
"Pesticides" alone is too vague; name the type (insecticide, fungicide…).