Factors to be Considered When Siting Farm Structures
CLASS : JSS2
SUBJECT : AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE
TERM : FIRST TERM E-NOTE
WEEK 6
Topic: Siting of Farm and Layout of Farm Structure
Introduction
Farm Structures and Buildings is the home of farm animals and a production centre. They may be constructed with blocks, mud, zinc, thatch, wood or aluminium. Farmsteads may include
- living houses
- barns
- pens
- storage houses
- sheds/paddocks
- processing shed
- workshops
Factors to be Considered When Siting Farm Structures
- Water supply – Water supply must be constant and regular
- Topography – Shape and position of the land. A flat level area or land should be selected
- Accessibility – Facilities should be located within walking distance.
- Climate – Structures and buildings should be located in a way that there will be adequate ventilation
- Soil types – They should be sited on poor soils but the soil should not be clayey to avoid water logging
- Foresight – A farmer must have foresight ie. he should look at the possibility of expansion
FACTORS GUIDING LAYOUT OF FARM OF FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS
- Buildings should be sited on elevated grounds to guard against flood and drainage problem
- Livestock pens should not be sited close to living houses to prevent offensive odours.
- Farm structures and buildings should be close to the store for farm inputs to minimize the journey from the store to the particular structure
IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SITING OF FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS
- It makes production more efficient.
- It saves time, since they are closely located to one another.
- It helps to guard against flood problem
- It protects the environment from offensive odour resulting from the animal pens and compost pits.
- It facilitates operations
Principles of Farm Layout
- Livestock pens and houses should not be sited close to the farm offices and living houses to avoid offensive odour
- Structures should be easily accessible
- Plant crops on the best soil in the farm
- Farm structures and buildings should not be located on slopes to prevent them from being washed away
- Buildings and Livestock houses should be located on the poorest soil in te farm
Importance of Siting Farm Structures
- It facilitates farm operations
- It increases efficiency and production
- It brings about easy transportation within and outside the farm
- It provides temporary storage points for produce before they are taken to the market for sale
Practice Questions
List 5 factors to be considered when siting farm structures.
WEEK: 6
TOPIC: FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS
CONTENT:
1 .Uses of farm structures and buildings
2. Maintenance of farm structures and buildings
3. Factors guiding: I siting (location) of farm ii. Layout of farm structures and buildings.
iii. Importance of good siting of farm structures and buildings
SUB-TOPIC1: USES OF FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS
The following are some farm structures and their uses:
- Silo: is used for storing harvested grains like maize, cowpea, sorghum, millet and grasses to feed animals.
- Cribs: Cribs are used for drying maize which is still on the cob.
- Rhumbus: is used for storing grains such as millet, maize, cowpea, sorghum and ground nut.
- Feed mill: are used to manufacture animal feeds.
- Barns: are used for storing things like yam, cassava, grass or hay.
- Animal dips: they are used as bath for farm animals to prevent them from parasites such lice, ticks, etc
The following are some farm buildings and their uses:
- Farm office: it is used for the administration of all facets of the farm business
- Living (quarters) houses: to provide accommodation for the farm and his workers
- Storage sheds for keeping machines, equipment and tools
- Nurseries: for raising seedlings.
v Animal pens: for housing farm animals etc.
EVALUATION
State the uses of the following:
i.Silos ii .barns iii. Cribs iv. Feed mill
v Farm office vi. Nurseries vi. Storage sheds
SUB-TOPIC: 2 . MAINTENANCE OF FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS.
Here are some ways to maintain farm buildings and structures:
- Farm structures and buildings made of metals should be painted with oil paint to prevent rust.
- The buildings made of wood or timber should be painted with coal tar or solignum to protect the wood from damage from termites, beetles and fungi.
- The walls of buildings should be painted.
- Silos should be coated with aluminum paint to prevent rust and to reflect light.
- Use insulators for roofing poultry houses to prevent heat escape.
- Feeding and drinking troughs should be cleaned regularly.
- Roofs should be checked for leakages, any found should be repaired immediately.
- The floor spaces of farm buildings should be swept often, where beddings are used, these should be changed occasionally.
EVALUATION
Describe some methods of maintaining three named structures and buildings.
SUB-TOPIC 3: FACTORS GUIDING SITING (LOCATION) OF FARM
The success of a farm depends partly on the characteristics of the site on which the farm is located. Therefore, when choosing the site for a farm, a farmer considers the following important factors
- AVAILABILITY OF LAND: the size of the farm depends on the amount of land available.
- WATER SUPPLY: it is necessary to site a farm near a river or stream to make water available for the farm crops and animals.
- GOOD SOIL: the farm should be located on loose, fertile and well-drained soil.
- SLOPE OF THE LAND: the land should not be hilly or steep to prevent soil erosion
- ACCESSIBILITY: there should be good roads to the farm for ease of transportation of goods and labour.
- SECURITY: the farm should located in a safe place
- Nearness to a village or town: to make it easy to transport produce to the market for sale.
EVALUATION
- State the factors guiding the layout of farm structures and buildings.
- State the factors that guide one in choosing a site for the school farm
