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