Question

1(a) State five reasons why government should enact laws to regulate the use of land for agriculture.
(b) A cocoa farmer has just acquired 10 hectares of farmland and is considering the type of farm power to use for tillage operations.
(i) Advise the farmer on the most appropriate type of farm power to use.
(ii) State four reasons for the answer in 1b(i).
(c) Mention one function each of the following parts of a seed planter: (i) seed tube; (ii) furrow opener; (iii) hopper; (iv) seed metering device; (v) furrow wheel.
(d) List three machines used in processing crops after harvesting.

Accepted Answer

(a) Reasons for enacting laws to regulate agricultural land use:
- Security of tenure: to safeguard farmers against unreasonable eviction
- Land litigation: to reduce the number of land disputes among citizens
- Government projects: to make large portions of land available for government-sponsored development of large-scale farms
- Freedom of enterprise: to encourage freedom of farming where there are regulations or traditional views that militate against such freedom
- Ensuring proper land use: to ensure agricultural land is not unnecessarily diverted to non-agricultural purposes

(b)(i) Mechanical power should be recommended (e.g. tractor) for tillage on 10 hectares.
(ii) Reasons: it works faster and more efficiently; it reduces labour cost; it makes farm work less tedious; it saves time.

(c)(i) Seed tube: conducts/directs the seeds from the base of the hopper into the hole dug.
(ii) Furrow opener: digs holes/furrows in front into which the seeds drop.
(iii) Hopper: contains the seeds to be planted.
(iv) Seed metering device: meters seeds at the desired depth and desired location.
(v) Furrow wheel: presses the soil to cover the seeds dropped into the hole.

(d) Common postharvest processing machines: shellers, decorticators, driers, grain mills, etc.

WAEC Agricultural Science 2022 Theory — Question 1

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