. (a) Give eight characteristics of agricultural systems in West Africa. (b) Explain four ways in which land tenure systems affect agricultural production in your country.
Explanation
(a) Characteristics of Agricultural Systems in West Africa:
(i) Farm sizes are usually small.
(ii) Simple farm tools and implements are used.
(iii) Farm mechanization is difficult because of scattered farm holdings.
(iv) Farmers still rely on the use of unimproved seeds and planting materials.
(v) Yields are usually low because of low application of farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides.
(vi) Most farmers are commercially oriented because they sold their (surplus) produce.
(vii) Livestock management practices are still sub-standard.
(viii) Output of livestock products such as milk, eggs and meat are usually low.
(ix) Improved breeds of livestock and poultry are not widely used.
(x) There is poor record keeping on many farms.
(xi) Modern storage facilities are absent on many farms, leading to loss of produce.
(xii) Marketing of farm produce is poorly organised.
(xiii) Processing of farm produce is usually poorly done.
(xiv) Majority of farmers are rural dwellers.
(xv) Agricultural production is seasonal because most farmers depend on rain or practise rain-fed farming system.
(xvi) Nomadic farming is extensively practised
(xvii) Use of draught animal is possible.
(b) Ways in which Land Tenure Systems affect agricultural production:
(i) May lead to fragmentation of Ian( which cannot be mechanized.
(ii) Correct ownership of some plots of land cannot be determined.
(iii) Land canna be used as collateral for loans in some Tenural systems.
(iv) Large scale farming cannot be practised on small scattered farm holdings.
(v) Strangers are prevented from owning land hence they cannot come to develop the land
(vi) Because of the short tenancy period in some systems, permanent land improvement programmes cannot be carried out by holders.
(vii) There is often restriction on the type of crops (e.g. permanent crops) that can be growl on the land in some systems.
(viii) Some land owners may not have the intention of farming while those willing to farm cannot own land because of the tenure system.
(ix) Some land owners exploit those without land by unfavourable tenancy conditions.
(x) Production is very high on land acquired by purchasing or freehold because land improve-ment can be carried out.
(xi) Land use Act/Decree (of 1978 in Nigeria) made more land available to farmers for large scale production.
(xii) Acquisition of land through freehold is expensive thereby discouraging agricultural investors.