(a) State eight reasons why agriculture has not been fully mechanized in West Africa. (b) List four characteristics of: (i) subsistence agriculture (ii) com...

Answer Details

(a) Eight reasons why agriculture has not been fully mechanized in West Africa [8 marks]

• Lack of adequate capital/finance to buy expensive machines.
• High cost of purchasing, running and maintaining farm machinery.
• Small and fragmented (scattered) farm holdings that machines cannot work economically.
• The land tenure system which makes it difficult to acquire large continuous farmland.
• Shortage of trained personnel (operators, mechanics) to handle and repair machines.
• Rough topography, presence of stumps, boulders and swampy soils that hinder machine use.
• Poor rural infrastructure, that is, bad roads and lack of spare parts and repair workshops.
• Illiteracy and conservatism of farmers who prefer traditional tools and methods.

(b) Four characteristics of each [8 marks]

(i) Subsistence agriculture:

• Production is mainly for the farmer and his family, with little for sale.
• Farm size (holding) is small.
• Simple hand tools such as hoes and cutlasses are used.
• Output/yield is low and family labour is used.

(ii) Commercial agriculture:

• Production is mainly for sale and profit.
• Large farm holdings are cultivated.
• Machines and modern inputs (fertilizers, improved seeds) are used.
• Output/yield is high and hired/skilled labour is employed.