(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.