(a) Explain briefly how the following affect agricultural production:(I) agricultural education and extension (ii) environmental degradation. [8 marks]
(b) Enumerate three problems associated with communal land tenur system. [3 marks]
(c) List four components of an incubator. [2 marks]
(d) Mention one storage structure for each of the following farm produce: (i) yam tubers (ii) cowpea seeds (iii) fresh fish. [3 marks]
Explanation
2(a) How agricultural production is affected by (i) Agricultural education and extension:
- Improved/better farm management decision making
- Improved procurement of farm inputs
- Access to marketing information and strategy
- Keeping of accurate farm records
- Acquisition of loans and their utilization
- Improve the farmers social disposition Help the farmers to understand and adopt modern farming techniques for improved productivity
- Agricultural education motivates the youths to take up farming as a profession
- Relay farmers' problems to the government ministries, research institutes and universities.
-Carry information from government ministries, universities and research institutes to farmers.
(ii) Environmental degradation:
- Desert encroachment exposes the soil to erosion
- Erosion renders the soil unproductive and unsuitable for agriculture
- Oil spillage pollutes the fishing and drinking water and kills all the aquatic life, thus reducing the profit of the fishermen
- Drinking water for the farm family and their animals is polluted; thus exposing them to health risks
- Air pollution by toxic fumes from industrial gases reduces the quality of air available to the farm family and their animals
- Acid rains from air pollution cause soil acidity and destruction of crops
- Deforestation exposes the soil to erosion agents
- Overgrazing causes erosion and hard pans Bush burning damages the physical structure of the soil and reduces soil fertility
- Air pollution reduces photosynthesis and thus reduces yield Plant population for livestock consumption is reduced
(b) Problems associated with communal land tenure system:
- Land cannot be pledged, sold or used as collateral by an individual
- Those with means, but who are not members of the community, find it difficult to get land for farming activities/non-indigenes of the community cannot acquire land or have access to it
- There is tendency to neglect parcels of useful land as no one readily considers it his/her interest to protect it from degradation.
- It is characterized by litigations and mis-understanding Mechanized farming cannot be practised without permission of the whole community.
- There is excessive land fragmentation over time - Allotted land can be revoked by new leadership
- It does not encourage planting of permanent crops.
(c) Components of an Incubator:
Setter/Egg tray
- Hatcher
- Thermostat
- Turner
- Felt tray
- Heat source
- Vent/fan/air circulation unit
- Hygrometer
- Alarms
- Insulators
- Control unit
- Thermometer.
(d) Storage structures for farm produce: (i) Yam tubers: Yam barn (ii) Cowpea Seeds: Silo - Rhumbus (iii) Fresh fish: Cold room/freezer.