AGRICULTURAL MECHANIZATION

HND 2015

You are the manager of the AKAME Farm that is involved in the production of broilers. The farm is a
mechanized farm and cultivates its own maize for the production of the feed used in the poultry
production. The farm has received a consignment of agricultural equipment from the equipment
pool located in Ebolowa through along term loan like many other farms around the country. The
land on which the equipment will be used is a virgin land located in the North Region of the country.
AKAME farm used animal traction before in the conduct of its production activities.

a) Explain four factors which hinderagricultural mechanization in Cameroon. 2pts

b) Give four disadvantages of agricultural mechanization as a whole. 2pts
c) Being a new farm site, you are to propose equipment for the preparation of the land for
planting.
i) Name 2 equipment each which will be used for primary and secondary tillage 2 pts
ii) Give four advantages of tillage. 2 pts
d) AKAME Farms uses a knapsack sprayer for diseases control in his farm. Give 4 basic parts of
the knapsack sprayer and their functions. 2 pts
e) Identify the parts of the tractor labelled i-iv
ii
iii

i
iv

Give the functions of the each part i-iv (4pts)

f) Harvesting of the maize is done using a combine hired from the local equipment pool in
Maroua. Give four functions of the combine. 2 pts
g) Give the two main costs involved in the operation of farm machinery and identify two
examples of such costs. 2 pts
h) The poultry house measures 14m by 4m and you intend to use roofing sheets measuring 3m
by 1m. Given an overlap of 10cm lengthwise and on the width, calculate the number of
roofing sheets required for the entire building. Consider 10% loss due to cuts and other
losses. 2 pts
ANSWER GUIDE

a) Inadequate Research and Development Institutions

Over dependence on imported machinery
Topography
Traditional Cropping System
Consumer attitude
Inadequate institutional support
b) Need for Training
Unusual habits for some persons
Unemployment
Environmental Problems
Not profitable in small scale
c) i) Disc plough, Disc Harrow

ii) To obtain a seed bed of good tilt.

To add humus and fertility to the soil by covering vegetation and manure.

To destroy the weeds and to prevent their growth.

To leave the soil in such a condition to that air will circulate freely.

To destroy insects and their eggs, larvae and their breeding places.

To reduce the soil erosion.

To leave the soil in a condition to retain moisture from the rain.

d) Tank
Pump
Strainer
Delivery line
Agitator
Nozzle
e) i =PTO
ii= Gears
iii= Clutch
iv= Radiator
f) Cutting the standing crops
Feeding the cut crops with the threshing unit
Threshing the crops
Cleaning the grains freeing it from straw
Collecting the grains in a container
g) Fixed (interest on loan, taxes, insurance, housing)
Variable costs (labour, fuel, lubricant, servicing)
h)