Theory question 102
Farm Machinery and Mechanisation(a) Explain the term farm mechanization.
(b) Mention three advantages and three disadvantages of farm mechanization.
(c) Give two merits of the use of draught animals in farm operations.
(d) Outline three roles of science and technology in agricultural development under the following headings: (i) pest and disease control; (ii) meteorology and climatology.
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(a) The use of machines and equipment (tractors, harvesters, etc.) in place of human and animal power to carry out farm operations.
(b) Advantages (three): more output and larger farms; reduces drudgery; work is done quickly and on time; reclaims difficult land; improves processing and quality. Disadvantages (three): high cost of machines and maintenance; displaces labour/unemployment; soil compaction and erosion; needs skilled operators; spare parts scarce; pollution; difficult with mixed cropping or small farms.
(c) Any two: cheaper than tractors; provide manure; can work on slopes and wet or small fields; easy to handle; do not compact soil much.
(d)(i) Development of pesticides, fungicides and herbicides; vaccines and drugs for animals; breeding resistant varieties and breeds; study of pest life cycles; spraying equipment; easier diagnosis of diseases.
(ii) Weather forecasting to plan planting and harvesting; warnings of floods, drought and pest outbreaks; measurement of rainfall, temperature, humidity and wind; guidance on crop choice and irrigation; cloud seeding.
Three points under each heading in (d).