(a) Mention three ways each of the following affect agrocultural development (i) poor tools and implements (ii) poor storage facilities (6 marks) (b) Sugges...

Answer Details

(a) Three ways each factor affects agricultural development

(i) Poor tools and implements

• They lower productivity because only small areas can be cultivated with crude hand tools.
• They cause drudgery and make farm work slow and tiring, discouraging the youth from farming.
• They lead to poor quality of farm operations and waste of time and energy, keeping output at subsistence level.

(ii) Poor storage facilities

• They cause heavy post-harvest losses through spoilage of produce.
• They expose produce to attack by pests and rodents, reducing quality.
• They force farmers into distress sales at low prices soon after harvest, reducing income and causing food scarcity later.

(b) One solution to the problem of poor tools and implements

Provide improved and modern farm machinery and implements to farmers at subsidized prices (mechanization), supported by training and credit facilities.

(c) Three objectives each

(i) Land Use Act

• To make land easily available and accessible for agricultural and other development.
• To ensure fair and equitable distribution of land among citizens.
• To control land speculation and reduce land disputes and litigation.

(ii) Quarantine programme

• To prevent the introduction and spread of pests and diseases from one place to another.
• To inspect and certify imported and exported plants and animals.
• To isolate, treat or destroy infected plants and animals so as to protect local agriculture.

(iii) Government agricultural loan and subsidy schemes

• To provide farmers with credit and finance for production.
• To reduce the cost of farm inputs through subsidy so that more farmers can afford them.
• To encourage increased production, mechanization and the entry of new farmers into agriculture.