Theory question 101
Land Use and Land Tenure(a) State five reasons why government should enact laws to regulate the use of land for agriculture.
(b) A cocoa farmer has just acquired 10 hectares of farmland and is considering the type of farm power to use for tillage operations. (i) Advise the farmer on the most appropriate type of farm power to use. (ii) State four reasons for the answer in 1(b)(i).
(c) Mention one function each of the following parts of a seed planter: (i) seed tube; (ii) furrow opener; (iii) hopper; (iv) seed metering device; (v) furrow wheel.
(d) List three machines used in processing crops after harvesting.
Show the model answer
(a) Any five: ensure proper use of farmland; prevent fragmentation; protect farmers from eviction/land grabbing; reduce land disputes; make land available for government schemes; encourage commercial/large-scale farming; give security of tenure (C of O); allow land improvement (irrigation, drainage).
(b)(i) Mechanical (tractor) power.
(ii) Any four: saves labour; reduces drudgery; faster and timely operations; cheaper per hectare on a large farm; makes cultivating large areas possible; more efficient.
(c)(i) Seed tube: carries seeds from the metering device down to the furrow. (ii) Furrow opener: opens the soil/furrow for the seeds. (iii) Hopper: holds the seeds. (iv) Seed metering device: controls the rate and number of seeds released. (v) Furrow wheel: presses soil over the seeds (and drives the metering device).
(d) Any three: thresher; sheller; rice huller/mill; hammer mill/grinder; cassava grater; palm oil press; decorticator; grain dryer.
One function per planter part.