(a) List six sources of farm power [3 marks] (b) Explain how five of the sources of farm power listed in 2(a) are utilised on the farm. [5 marks] (c) Give two disadvantages each, of any four sources of farm power listed in 2(a). [8 marks]
Explanation
(a) The following are sources of farm power: (i) Animals (ii) wip (iii) Man (iv) solar (v) Mechanical (vi) biogas (vii) Electrical (viii) water
(b)(i) Animal power: (1) Draught animals such as oxen, bullocks etc are yoked. (2) Th yoke is attached to any farm implement (3) Animal drags the implement while human controls the direction of the implement. for tillage of soil. (4) Animal used to carry farm inputs and produce from one place to another.
(ii) Human power: (1) Human effort is applied manually to carry out farming operation (2) To control farm implements and machines.
(iii) Mechanical power: (1) It is applied by using farm machines for carrying out many agricultural practices e.g. coupling ploughs to tractors. combine harvester etc. (2) It is used in processing of farm produce e.g. cassava grater, digester in palm-oil production.
(iv) Electrical power: (1) It is used for grading of eggs. (2) Electrical power is used to, provide heat for incubators and brooders. (3) It produces rotary motion to move and operate grain threshers and grinders etc. (4) It is also used to provide light in poultry pen and farm house. (5) Electrical power can also be use storage of farm . produce e.g. Refrigerator.
(v) Wind power: (1) Wind power is harnessed to operate water pump for irrigation (2) Windmills are driven to operate feed grinders etc (3) It can be used for winnowing. (4) It can be used to drive electric generators (5) This can also be used for drying farm produce
(vi) Solar power: (1) Solar energy is harnessed with the aid of solar cells to generate electricity (2) It can generate power for electrical appliances e.g water pumps. (3) Solar energy is harnessed for drying grains in solar dryers
(vii) Biogas: (1) Animal droppings are accumulated in pits (2) As it decays, hydrocarbons are released (3) These hydrocarbons are trapped and used for heating and lighting.
(viii) Water power: (1) Running water can be used to generate electricity through a turbine which could be harnessed for farm processing. (2) Water can be used for irrigation. (3) Steam generated from water can be used for sterilization during processing of Agriculture product e.g. par boiling of rice and oil palm fruits.
(c)(i) Disadvantages of Animal power are: (1) Incidence of pests and diseases reduce their performance in some vegetational zones e.g. Trypanosomaisis. (2) Poor handling of animals may lead to poor performance. (3) Animal may damage the crops. (4) They get tired easily after working for some time. (5) Seasonal feed availability limits their performance. They are not adapted to all environment. (7)There is high cost of feeding and maintenance of animals especially dun It season.
(ii) Disadvantages of Human power are: (1) Work output is low. (2) Drudgery is associated with it. (3) It is slow in operation. (4) Human power is prone to accident on the farm and also prone to illness.
Disadvantages of Mechanical power are: (1) It is uneconomical for subsistence farming because of small far holding. (2) It is capital intensive. (3) It usually has adverse effects on the soil, such as compaction. (4) Environment pollution occurs through exhaust fumes and noises. (5) Special skill (Technical know how) is required to operate and maintain.
Disadvantages of Electrical power are: (1) Faults may suspend or stop operations for a long time. (2) Erratic pow supply may cause destruction of farm produce under processing or storage. (3) If not properly handled, it could 1 dangerous. (4) Usage is highly specialized and confined to only electrical appliances. (5) It is expensive.
Disadvantages of Wind power are: (1) Power supply is erratic or not reliable. (2) Cost of installation is high. (3) has limited use on the farm.
Disadvantages of Solar power are: (1) Supply is irregular. (2) Equipment for transforming solar to electrical energy is expensive. (3) Solar power cannot be controlled by man. (4) It is only available during the day.
Disadvantages of Biogas are: (1) Continuous supply of large amounts of animal dropping may not be met subject to technical know-how.
Disadvantages of Water are: (1) It is not reliable. (2) It is seasonal. (3) Variation in quantity affects production o electricity.