(a) Mention three ways each of the following affect agrocultural development (i) poor tools and implements (ii) poor storage facilities (6 marks)
(b) Suggest one solution to the problem of poor tools and implements (1 mark)
(c) State three objectives each of (i) Land Use Act (ii) Quarantine programme (iii) government agricultural loan and subside schemes [9 marks]
Explanation
(a) The following factors affect agriculture development in these ways:
(i) Poor tools and implements: (1) Working th poor tools and implements is very tedious and labour intensive. (2) Only small areas of land are cultivated. (3) It is time consuming (4) Output per unit time is low. (5) The use of poor tools discourage people from going into agriculture. (6) It causes faster ageing in the farming population.
(ii) Poor storage facilities: (1) It reduces quality of produce stored (2) It may lead to a loss of produce. (3) .It may lead to scarcity of produce. (4) It results into high cost of produce (5) It results in reduced income for the farmer. (6) It increases pest infestation. (7) Poor storage facilities discourage farmers from large scale production. (8) It enhances increase in population of pathogens.
(b) The problem of poor tools and implements can be solved in these ways:
(i) There should be importation of appropriate machines and implements.
(ii) Modern tools and implements should be made available for farmers at subsidize rate by government.
(iii) Government should provide improved farm tools, implements and machines for hiring to the farmers.
(iv) Local fabrication of improved tools and implements should be encouraged by the government.
(c)(i) The objectives of Land Use Act are to: (1) remove the bitter conflicts over land often resulting in loss of lives and properties (2) assist people to own land anywhere in the country. (3) enable government control the use to which land is put. (4) encourage large scale agricultural production (mechanized farming). (5) encourage sustainable used of land. (6) discourage land speculation and high land prices. (7) encourage Tree crops production.
(ii) Quarantine programmes have the following objectives: (1) Increment in food production (2) Prevention of foreign disease. (3) Prevention of the spread of diseases within the country. (4) Prevent the spread of pests within the country (5) Maintenance of genetic purity of crops and animals spp (6) Conservation and maintenance of the germplasms of imported and indigenous crops and animals. (7) Preventing the introduction of foreign pests. (8) Improvement in the qualities of farm produce.
(iii) Government Agricultural loans and subsidy scheme is set up to: (1) increase production in agriculture. (2) provide funds with minimum interest to farmers. (3) encourage farmers towards investing in agriculture.. (4) increase the quality of agricultural produce. (5) assist farmers in adopting innovations and carry out improved farming practices. (6) ensure timeliness in farming operation. (7) enhance marketing of farm produce.