(a) State six problems of agricultural development in West Africa. (b) Explain each of the following farm practices: (i) crop rotation; (ii) mixed farming. ...

Answer Details

(a) Six problems of agricultural development in West Africa

• Inadequate finance and credit facilities for farmers.
• Poor land tenure system that limits access to large farmland.
• Inadequate storage and processing facilities causing post-harvest losses.
• Poor transportation and bad road network.
• Illiteracy and shortage of trained agricultural personnel.
• Inadequate farm inputs; pests, diseases and unfavourable weather also hinder development.

(b) Explanation of the farm practices

• (i) Crop rotation: The growing of different crops on the same piece of land in a definite order or sequence over the seasons, so that no single crop occupies the land continuously.
• (ii) Mixed farming: The growing of crops and the rearing of livestock together on the same farm at the same time.

(c) Three advantages of each practice

(i) Crop rotation

• It maintains and improves soil fertility, especially when legumes that fix nitrogen are included.
• It helps to control pests and diseases by breaking their life cycles.
• It controls weeds and makes better use of soil nutrients at different depths.

(ii) Mixed farming

• Animal manure improves the fertility of the soil for crops.
• Crop residues and by-products are used to feed the animals.
• It provides diversified income and spreads the farmer's risk.