(a) Explain the term staking in yam cultivation (3marks) (b) Describe the nursery practices in cocoa cultivation. (c) State five reasons for parboiling paddy rice [ 5 marks ] (d) State three advantages and two disadvantages of taungya farming (5 mark)
Explanation
(a) of staking in yam cultivation - It means using long poles or stick to support yam vines - The vines are trained to climb up the stakes by the farmer - Staking is done to ensure adequate exposure of leaf surface to sunlight for photosynthesis - Staking improves yield of yam (b) Nursery practices in coca cultivation - Polythene bags/poly pots are filled with loamy soil mixed with organic manure - Fresh seeds are sown in the soil in polythene bags - The polythene bags are placed under a shade in the nursery - The sown seeds in the polythene bags are watered daily - Removal/hand pulling of weeds around the growing seedlings is done regularly - The seeds are sown in nursery between October and November - Nursery practices last for about 5-6months (c) Reasons for parboiling paddy rice - To reduce the breakage of grains during milling - To harden the grains. - To loosen the husk - To make dehusking easier - To improve the resistance of grains to storage Pests -To enable the grains absorb vitamin B and proteins in the bran during soaking -To improve storability of rice grains (d) Advantages and disadvantages of taungya farming Advantages - Varieties of crops are harvested - It increases the income of the farmer - When leguminuos crops are used, the beneficial effect of root nodules increases soil fertility for the forest trees - The young forest trees receive attention from the farmer - Where land is scarce, the farmer has a piece of land to cultivate - Ensures effective weed control - Creates employment Disadvantages - The forestry sector may be reluctant to release their fertile land to farmers - There is competition for space, light, water and nutrients between arable crops and trees - Choice of crops to be planted is restricted to arable crops - Labour intensive because the system cannot be mechanized - Trees may harbour pests/pathogens of crops