SIMPLE FARM TOOLS (PART 3)
Emasculator This is an instrument used for castration of some farm animals. It consists of a pair of powerful pincers with plastic or metal handles. The pincers press the neck of the scrotum to crush the spermatic cord which supplies…
SIMPLE FARM TOOLS (PART 2)
Axe Axe consists of a strong wooden or metal handle onto which a solid, flat and heavy metal blade with a sharpened edge is inserted. Larger axes are held in both hands when in use. Functions/Uses It is used for…
SIMPLE FARM TOOLS (PART 1)
These are simple, handy tools used mainly by peasant farmers. They are designed to help the hands to apply force in farm operations. Some common simple farm tools and their functions are discussed below. Types of Simple Farm Tools…
MATTER
Science interprets nature in terms of energy and matter. Matter, the material of which the universe is composed, may be defined as anything that has mass and occupies space. Mass is a measure of quantity of matter. The mass of…
CALCULATION OF AREA OF FARM LAND AND PLANT POPULATION
The shape and size of any farmland can be measured or determined by farm surveying. The area of farmland varies; some are rectangular, square, triangular or even circular in shape. The formula used in the calculation of farmlands and plant…
FARM SURVEYING AND PLANNING
Farm surveying is defined as the process of measuring and mapping out the position, topography, size and boundary of an area of farmland. It can also be defined as the process by which measuring of land is made on the…
METHODS OF FISH HARVESTING
Fishing Tools or Gears Examples of fishing tools or gears commonly used to harvest fishes are: cast net. drag net, draw net, or seine net. clap net. set net. trawler with seine net or fishing trawler. fish traps, gill net,…
PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION OF FISH
Harvested fish is either consumed, sold or preserved for future use. Fish processing involves the removal of scales, fins, gut and gills. The remaining part is then cooked or fried for eating. By-products of fish processing include: fish meal. fish…
FEATURES OF A STANDARD FISH POND
The essential features of a standard fish pond include: Dam. Core trench. Distribution channel. Spill way. Monk. Boards. Screen. Dam slope (inner and outer). Dam: This is the large area of the pond that holds water. It ensures the availability…
AQUACULTURE
Aquaculture is the act of rearing selected species of fish, shrimbs , crabs, etc under scientifically-controlled conditions in enclosed bodies of water such as ponds, streams and rivers where they feed, grow, breed and are harvested for consumption or for…
ANIMAL BY-PRODUCTS
By-products derived from farm animals include hides and skin, fur, wool, feathers, horns, milk, eggs, meat, tail of animal, bone, blood and manure (dung). 1) HIDES AND SKIN Hides and skin are derived from the skin of cattle, sheep,…
MAIN REPRODUCTIVE HORMONES IN FARM ANIMALS
Hormones are chemical substances which co-ordinate the activities of the body. They are secreted by ductless glands in the body and transferred through the blood to the target organs on which they exert their effects. Hormones . concerned with reproduction…
PROCESS OF EGG FORMATION IN POULTRY
The process of egg formation is controlled by hormones. The egg is formed partly in the ovary and partly in the oviduct. Ovary: The yolk is secreted by the ovary and enclosed in a follicle. The yolk increases in size…
LACTATION IN FARM ANIMALS
This is the period during which the female animal releases milk from its udder immediately after parturition and thereafter. The milk is used to feed the young ones. It is under the control of hormone, i.e, decrease in progesterone and…
OESTRUS CYCLE, MATING, GESTATION PERIOD, OVULATION, PARTURITION AND FERTILIZATION IN FARM ANIMALS
OESTRUS CYCLE Oestrus cycle is the interval from the end of one heat period to the beginning of another. It is also the period of “heat” or “oestrus” for coitus or mating. It is followed by a long period in…
MEANING OF ANIMAL REPRODUCTION
Reproduction is the ability in animal to give birth to young ones. The purpose of reproduction is to ensure continuity of life. The reproductive system includes all the organs and tissues concerned with reproduction in animals. Farm animals reproduce sexually…
COMMON WEEDS FOUND ON FARMS
Common weeds found on farms including their common names and botanical names are shown below: Guinea grass (Panicum maximum). Bahama grass (Cynodon dactylon). Carpet grass (Axonopus compressus). Sensitive plant (Mimosa pundica). Spear grass (Imperiata cylindrica). Wire grass (Aspilia africana). Centro…
INTRODUCTION TO CHEMISTRY
Chemistry may be defined as the science that is concerned with the composition and the structure of matter, and with the forces that hold the structures together. Chemistry as a science has, as its primary objectives, the determination of the…
ETHICAL, LEGAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES IN CHEMISTRY
The study of chemistry has brought tremendous, positive development to the world and to Nigeria in particular. Chemistry has contributed greatly towards providing our basic needs and improving the quality of our life. For example, the provision of clothing, housing,…
MEANING OF WEEDS
Weed is any plant that grows in a place where it is not expected to grow or a plant which grows out of place. Weed can also be defined as a plant that grows where it is not desired in…
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION OFFICER OR AGENT OR WORKER
An agricultural extension officer or worker is a person who is involved in the dissemination of new ideas and techniques from the research institutes to farmers. He acts as an intermediary between researchers and farmers. Qualities of a Good…
AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROGRAMMES IN NIGERIA
Agricultural extension programmes are the media or channels through which new ideas and techniques are disseminated to rural farmers. In other words, they are bodies or agencies which have extension service units that can teach and train extension workers on…
METHODS OF DISSEMINATING NEW IDEAS AND TECHNIQUES TO FARMERS
There are three main extension teaching methods. That is, methods used in disseminating new ideas and techniques to farmers are grouped into three classes: Individual method. Group method. Mass method. a) Individual Method: The individual method includes farm and…
MEANING OF AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION
Agricultural extension can be defined in any of the following ways: It is a process whereby modern farming techniques and research findings are taken to the farmers through extension workers and problems of the farmers are taken to research institutions…
FACTORS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION
Production refers to all economic activities which result in the creation of goods and services. In other words, production is the process of making or manufacturing goods as well as the process of providing services. For goods and services to…
RANGE LAND MANAGEMENT
A Rangeland is an extensive area of land which contains forage grasses and legumes and other herbage plants where animals like cattle, sheep and goat can graze. The forage plants such as the grasses and legumes used for grazing by…
PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF MECHANISATION
Farm mechanisation is the application of engineering principles and technology in agricultural production, storage and processing on the farm. Farm mechanisation is applicable to land preparation, planting, fertilizer application, weeding and crop harvesting, rearing, caring and feeding of animals as…
AGRICULTURAL INSURANCE
Agricultural producers have series of risks affecting the income and welfare of their households. These are mainly production risks in relation to: weather conditions, pests and diseases and market conditions. Consequently, the income stability of agricultural stakeholders can be affected.…
MARKETING OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCE
Agricultural marketing are the activities involved in the flow of goods and services from the producers (farmers) to the final consumers. In other words, agricultural marketing involves all the activities required to move farm produce from the producers (farmers) to…
PASTURE AND FORAGE CROPS
Pasture is a piece of land on which forage crops or grasses or mixture of grasses and legumes grow. In other words, it refers to an area of land covered with forage crops which are usually grasses and legumes that…
RUBBER (Hevea braziliensis)
Rubber is the only popular latex crop which produces white sticky liquid used in plastic industries. It belongs to the plant family, euphorbiaceae. Land preparation: The land is cleared, stumping is done and the land may be levelled or…
GROUNDNUT (Arachis hypogea)
Groundnut is a dual-purpose crop. It can be cultivated as an oil crop as well as a protein or a pulse or leguminous crop. Although it is a leguminous crop, it is mainly grown for its oil. The seed called…
OIL PALM (Elaeis guineensis)
The oil palm belongs to the plant family called palmea or palm family. On commercial basis, both the oil and the kernel are important. The oil is obtained from the mesocarp and the kernel from the endocarp. The fruit is…
PEPPER (Capsicum spp)
Pepper is a spice crop which adds flavours to stew and soup. It can be used when green or red. It is rich in vitamins and minerals. It belongs to the plant family, Solanaceae. Land Preparation: The bush is…
COCOA (Theobroma cacao)
Cocoa is a beverage crop used in the preparation of many food drinks like Ovaltine, Bournvita, Pronto, etc in Nigeria. It belongs to the plant family called Sterculiaceae. The fruit is called cocoa pod. Land Preparation Select well-drained deep…
BANANA (Musa spp)
Land Preparation: Clearing of the land which is followed by stumping and making of ridges or heaps. It can also be done mechanically through ploughing, harrowing and ridging. Varieties/Cultivars: Gross Michel; cavendish (dwarf); red banana; canary banana. Climatic…
ORANGE (Citrus sinensis)
Orange is a fruit crop which belongs to the citrus family. The fruit of orange called berry is succulent, fleshy and juicy and it is rich in vitamins and minerals. Land Preparation: The land is cleared with cutlass and…
OKRA (Abelmoscus esculentus)
Okra is also a vegetable crop commonly grown by local farmers in West Africa. The fruits called capsule. When young, they are harvested with knife and used in soup preparation. Land preparation: The bush is cleared with cutlass while…
TOMATO (Lycopersicon esculentum)
Tomato is a vegetable crop commonly grown by peasant farmers in West Africa. The fruit called berry when ripe can be eaten raw, used for soup or stew preparation, or in preparing vegetable salad and other food. Land preparation…
COTTON (Gossypium spp)
Cotton is a fibre crop and belongs to the plant family called Malvaceae. It produces cotton lint, a white fibre used in textile industries. Land Preparation: The land is cleared with cutlass or mechanically ploughed and harrowed to make…
COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata)
The cowpea is a member of the pulses or legumes. It belongs to the family called Leguminosae. It is rich in proteins and is commonly fed on by man. The fruit of cowpea is called pod. Land Preparation The…
CASSAVA (Manihot spp)
Cassava just like yam, is a root and tuber crop. It has underground roots which can be consumed by man and livestock animals after processing. It has other advantages over yam, in that it can grow in relatively poor soil…
YAM (Dioscorea spp)
Yam belongs to the family Dioscoreaceae. It is a root and tuber crop popularly grown in West Africa and it is rich in carbohydrates. Land Preparation Cutlass is used to clear the bush or vegetation and heaps, ridges or…
RICE (Oryza sativa)
Rice is another popular cereal crop grown and consumed by nearly half of the world’s population. It is also a member of the grass family (Gramineae). The seed/fruit of rice is a caryopsis, i.e ., it has its epicarp fused…
SOME CULTURAL PRACTICES IN CROP PRODUCTION
1) Transplanting The transfer of seedlings from nursery beds to their permanent positions in the field. The tools used for transplanting are handtrowel, digger, hoe or cutlass. Plant is removed with a ball of soil around its roots. Mostly done…
Study Guide
