(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) 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