Theory question 102
Farm Surveying and Planning(a) What is farm surveying?
(b) State four disadvantages of electrical power.
(c) Give four reasons why farm machines should be maintained.
(d) Define the term land as used in agriculture.
(e) Explain briefly how each of the following factors affects land availability for agriculture: (i) population pressure; (ii) mining (iii) topography.
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(a) Farm surveying is the measuring and mapping of farmland to find its size, shape, boundaries and features for planning.
(b) Any four: costly to install; supply often unreliable/epileptic; not available in many rural areas; dangerous (shock, fire); needs skilled personnel; equipment expensive to maintain.
(c) Any four: to keep them working efficiently; to prolong their life; to prevent breakdowns during operations; to reduce repair costs; to prevent rust; to ensure safety of the operator.
(d) Land is all the natural resources of the earth's surface (soil, water, vegetation, minerals) used for agricultural production; a fixed factor of production.
(e)(i) Population pressure: more people need land for houses, roads and industries, so less is left for farming.
(ii) Mining: land is taken over for mining and the soil is degraded (pits, spoil heaps, pollution), reducing farmland.
(iii) Topography: steep, hilly or rocky land is difficult to farm and erodes easily, so flat/gentle land is more available for farming.
One effect clearly explained for each factor in (e).