(a) Explain the term farm mechanization [2marks] (b) Mention three advantages and three disadvantages of...

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