(a) Explain the term farm mechanization [2marks]
(b) Mention three advantages and three disadvantages of farm mechanization. [6marks]
(c) Give two merits of the use of draught animals in farm operations. [2marks]
(d) Outline three roles of science and technology in agricultural development under the following headings. (i)pest and disease contlrol; (ii)meteorology and climatology. [6marks]
Explanation
(a)Explanation of farm mechanization The use of farm machinery and equipment to perform farm operations
(b)Advantages and disadvantages of farm mechanization
Advantages
- Increases productivity/output
- Reduction in drudgery or tireness
- Difficult jobs can be done with ease -
Amount of farm labour output per man-hour is increased/increase efficiency
- Farms operations are completed in a short time/ enhances timelines of operations
- Helps in reclamation of lands e.g waterlogged areas
- Facilitates processing and preservation of farm produce
- Helps to supplement human power in heavy duty jobs
- Releases farm labour to other sectors of the economy/ saves labour
- Promotes specialisation of labour in a particular farm opeartion
- Improves the quality of farm produce
Disadvantages
- High maintenance costs of the machines
- Expensive to practice/high cost of machines
- Displacement of farm labour/workers -
-Can cause environmental pollution
- Causes soil compaction
- Induces soil erosion
- Mixed cropping is difficult to practise
- Requires skilled personnel
- Spare parts are not readily available
(c) Merits of the use of draught animals in farm operations
- Low maintenance cost/cheap to operate
- Draught animals provide manure
- Draught animals can be used safely on slopes and wet fields/difficult conditions
- Using animals does not require special skills
- Animals are ecologically friendly/do not destroy soil structure
- Animals can pull heavy loads/perform tedious work
- Animals provide good traction
- Animals are easy to control
(d) Roles of science and technology in agricultural development
(i) Pest and disease control
- Agrochemicals/pesticides such as fungicides, fumigants and nematicides have
beendeveloped to control pests
- Drugs have been developed to counteract the effects of diseases and pests
- Vaccines have been developed which can be used to prevent a whole
range of diseases in farm animals
- Studies have been made on the life cycles of pests and parasites for their
control or prevention
- Various types of herbicides have been developed for effective control of weeds
- Through science and technology, it is easier to diagnose diseases of plants
and animals
-Breeding disease-resistant varieties of crops and breeds of animals
-Production of equipment for the application of pesticides and herbicides
-Irradiation to enhance storage of farm produce
-Production of equipment to trap pests
(ii)Meteorology and climatology
- Weather forecasting/projection
- Enable farmers to account for the variation in climate from place to place
- Enable farmers to know when to prepare for farming activities
- Determine the type of crops to grow and the kinds of animals to
rear in a particular area or locality
- Cloud seeding for rainfall
- Production of equipment for weather forecasting