(a) State three ways in which science and technology have contributed to agricultural
development through each of the following:
(i) Crop protection;
(ii) Climatology and meteorology. [6 marks]
(b) Give two functions of each of the following farm machines and implements:
(i) bulldozer;
(ii) combine harvester;
(iii) tractor;
(iv) sprayer;
(v) planter. – [10 marks]
Explanation
(a) Ways in which science and technology have contributed to agricultural development:
(i) Crop protection
- Producing equipment for pesticides and herbicides application
- Herbicides for weed control
- Nematicides for the control of nematodes
- Fungicides for the control of fungi
- Pesticides for the control of pests in plants
- Insecticides for control of insects
-Rodenticides for control of rodents
- Avicides for control of birds
- Molluscides for the control of molluscs
- Bactericides for the control of bacteria
- Sterilization of plant materials
- Soil sterilization
- Breeding disease resistant varieties of crops
- Irradiation to enhance storage of farm produce.
(ii) Climatology and meteorology:
- Forecasting rainfall pattern to determine planting and harvesting dates
- Forecasting temperatures to produce drying and prediction of disease and pest outbreak
- Monitoring of wind speed
- Monitoring of wind direction
- Cloud seeding for rainfall
- Determination of relative humidity
- Monitoring cloud formation and movement
- Measurement of solar radiation
- To determine types of crops to plant e.g. early maturing
- Producing equipment for weather forcasting
(b) Functions of farm machines and implements
(i) Bulldozer:
- Leveling of land surface
- Moving large quantities of earth
- Uprooting stumps
- Removing, obstacles
- Felling trees Clearing virgin lands/Bush clearing
- Road construction on farms in rural areas
(ii) Combine harvester: Harvesting of cereals
- Threshing of cereals
- Winnowing of harvested grains
- Bagging of harvested grains
(iii) Tractor
-Transportation of human beings
-Pumping of water through the use of Power-Take-Off (P. T. 0)
-Lifting of equipment with the aid of the hydraulic system e.g. mower
-Allows the use of farm implements for land preparation e.g. plough, harrow, ridger etc.
-Provides power to drive stationary farm equipment e.g. milking machines, shellers, etc.
-Generates electricity
- For carting farm produce and inputs /haulage
(iv) Sprayer
- Application of herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, etc.
- Application of liquid fertilizers
-Application of plant hormones
(v) Planter
- Sowing of seeds
- Application of fertilizers
- Application of nematicides/ pesticides