Theory question 101
Agricultural Development(a) State three ways in which each of the following factors affects agricultural production in West Africa. (i) rural-urban migration; (ii) inadequate farm inputs; (iii) inadequate storage facilities
(b) Distinguish between farm tools and farm machinery.
(c) Give four functions of a bulldozer on the farm.
(d) Mention three tools that could be used in maintaining farm machinery.
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(a)(i) Rural-urban migration (any three): shortage of farm labour; high cost of labour; lower output and food shortage; farms abandoned; ageing farmers slow to adopt innovations.
(ii) Inadequate inputs (any three): low yields; high cost of the few inputs available; farmers remain at subsistence level; crop failure; low income and poor quality produce.
(iii) Inadequate storage (any three): post-harvest losses and wastage; poor quality produce; glut at harvest forces low farm-gate prices; scarcity and high prices off-season; low farmers' income; food insecurity.
(b) Farm tools are simple hand-operated implements (e.g. hoe, cutlass) worked by human effort; farm machinery are mechanical, engine- or motor-powered machines (e.g. tractor, combine harvester) for large-scale operations.
(c) Any four: clearing bush and felling trees; stumping; levelling/grading land; moving earth; constructing farm roads, ditches, dams and ponds.
(d) Any three: spanner; screwdriver; pliers; hammer; grease gun; wire brush; file; jack; tyre gauge; wrench; socket set.
Three effects for each factor in (a).