(a) State seven ways in which agriculture is important to the economy of West Africa.
(b) Give two advantages of each of the following sources of farm power:
(i) internal combustion engine;
(ii) electricity;
(iii) wind.
(c) State five operations in poultry production which could be carried out through the use of
electrical power.
Explanation
(a) Importance of agriculture to the economy of West Africa
- Source of food;
- Source of income;
- Source of employment;
- Provides market for industrial goods such as agrochemicals, machines;
- Provides raw materials for industries e.g. textile industry;
- Provides means of foreign exchange/revenue;
- Source of medicinal herbs;
- Source of materials for shelter;
- Facilitates rural development/social amenities;
- Provision of facilities for recreation and tourism.
(b) Disadvantages of sources of farm power
(i) Internal combustion engine
- It is very expensive to maintain;
- Smoke from engines pollute the air;
- Heavy machine compacts the soil;
- Expensive to purchase;
- Requires much technical know-how to operate and maintain;
- It depends on fuel which may not be readily available.
(ii) Electricity
- Its supply is erratic;
- Could be dangerous if not properly/carefully handled;
- High cost of installation/maintenance;
- It cannot be widely used in field operations;
- Could cause fire outbreak;
- It requires technical know-how.
(iii) Wind
- Its supply is erratic/uncertain/cannot be controlled
- Its use is limited to certain farm operations
- It cannot be stored
- High technical expertise to harness/maintain;
- Noise pollution.
(c) Operations that could be carried out in poultry production through the use of
electrical power
- Hatching of eggs - Debeaking
- Defeathering/plucking of feathers - Automated feeding
- Incubation - Automated watering
- Candling - Feed pelleting
- Brooding/warming - Feed milling
- Drying of poultry feedstuffs - Sexing
- Egg grading - Manure scrapping
- Lighting - Automated slaughtering
- Automated egg collection/packaging