FARM MECHANIZATION (TRACTORIZATION)
Subject:
Agricultural Science
Class:
SSS 1
Term:
Third Term / 3rd Term
Week:
Week 3
Topic:
FARM MECHANIZATION (TRACTORIZATION)
Previous Knowledge: The pupils have previous knowledge of
that was taught in their previous lesson.
Behavioural Objectives : At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to
- Define farm mechanization
- State the advantages of mechanization
- Highlight the disadvantages of mechanization
- Write out the problems of mechanization
- Suggest prospects of mechanization
Instructional Materials
- Wall charts
- Online Resource
- Textbooks
- Laptop
- Wikipedia
Methods of Teaching
- Role modelling
- Questions and Answers
- Explanation
- Discussion
- Recitation
- Imitation
- Story Telling
- Dramatization
WEEK THREE
FARM MECHANIZATION (TRACTORIZATION)
CONTENT
- Definition
- Advantages of mechanization
- Disadvantages of mechanization
- Problems of mechanization
- Prospects of mechanization
Mechanization refers to the application of engineering principles and technology in agricultural production. It is the use of machines such as tractors, ploughs, harvesters, harrow, planter etc as well as the use of farm inputs such as insecticides, improved seeds, fertilizer etc.
The objective of mechanization is to:
- reduce human labour (that is to reduce drudgery)
- increase efficiency
- save cost (on the long run)
- save time
- improve standard of living by improving quality and quantity of produce available.
ADVANTAGES OF FARM MECHANIZATION
- It ensures that farm operations are done and completed within a shortest possible time
- It saves labour that could otherwise be useful elsewhere.
- It reduces health hazards and accidents that can occur from using tools.
- It reduces drudgery.
- It encourages large scale farming hence increasing output.
- It promotes specialization of labour for example machines operators become specialists in the machines they handle.
- It increases cooperation among farmers such as enabling them put their resources together to buy machines and use them on rotational basis thereby making them united.
- It on the long run saves labour cost, wastage, reduces errors and spoilage thereby leading to an increase in income (saved cost).
DISADVANTAGES OF FARM MECHANIZATION
- It involves huge capital investment.
- With mechanization very few workers are needed which renders other laborers unemployed.
- The movement of heavy duty machines on land leads to compaction of the soil.
- The smoke from exhaust of machines can cause air pollution.
- Due to small land holdings as a result of the system of land tenure, use of machinery is not encouraged (e.g communal land tenure).
- Continuous usage of machines on the soil tends to destroy the soil structure.
- Very few crops like maize, rice etc can be mechanized.
LIMITATION OF FARM MECHANIZATION
- Inadequate spare parts.
- Farmers are generally poor, cannot afford to buy machines like tractors etc.
- There is inadequate technical know-how on how to operate and repair farm machines.
- As a result of small area of land cultivation, it is not economically advisable for farmers to use machines on their farm. This problem is created by land tenure system.
- Seasonality of farm operation: Machines may be left unused because of seasonality nature of farming.
- Uneven land terrain makes it difficult to operate farm machines.
- Inadequate storage and processing facilities discourages large scale production.
PROSPECTS OF MECHANIZATION
- Farmers should be educated to accept modern system of mechanization.
- Provision of loans to enable farmers to purchase farm machines.
- Farmers should pool their resources together to buy farm machines.
- Land tenure system should be reviewed to make land available for farming.
- Simple and less expensive machines should be developed for farmer to acquire.
- There should be engineering personnel trained to work on machines.
Presentation :
The topic is presented step by step
Step 1: The class teacher revises the old topic
Step 2: The class teacher introduces the new topic
Step 3: The class teacher allows the pupils to give their own contributions and gives room for pupils” participation
Class Teacher and Pupils Activities. Interaction or Participation
This involves class teacher and pupils’ interaction, conversation, imitation or modeling through discussion, play method or just by recitation or asking and answering questions that are related to the topic that has just been taught.
EVALUATION QUESTIONS
- State five advantages of farm mechanization.
- State five disadvantages of farm mechanization.
- Define mechanization
- Outline five problems of farm mechanization in Nigeria
- Outline five factors limiting farm mechanization in Nigeria.
- What are the possible ways of improving agriculture through mechanization.
- What is mechanization?
- Outline five problems of agricultural mechanization.
- State five advantages and disadvantages of farm mechanization.
- State five limitations of farm mechanization.
- State five possible ways of improving agriculture through mechanization
- Define farm mechanization
Conclusion :
The class teacher concludes the lesson by giving the pupils some notes on the topic that has just been taught. He goes round to mark and he does the necessary corrections.