(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.