The Meaning of Agricultural Technology

1. Definition:

   • Agricultural technology refers to the use of scientific tools and techniques for agricultural tasks.

   • It encompasses tools, equipment, machinery, and structures used in agricultural production.

2. Importance of Agricultural Technology:

   • Fast and efficient processes (e.g., tractors vs. manual labor).

   • Often more cost-effective than human labor.

   • Helps assess citizens’ nutritional needs.

   • Enhances natural resource management and environmental conservation.

   • Improves adaptability to local ecological conditions.

   • Facilitates specific tasks like spraying chemicals and mixing animal feed.

3. Link Between Agricultural Research and Agricultural Technology:

   • Research forms the basis for improved agricultural productivity by:

     • Enhancing crop yield potential.

     • Increasing resistance to pests, diseases, and drought.

     • Improving adaptability to various ecological conditions.

     • Enhancing storage qualities of fruits.

4. Farm Structures:

   • Physical constructions on a farm for livestock and crop production.

   • Aid agricultural production.

5. Categories of Farm Structures:

   • Crop Storage Structures:

     • Granaries: Store unshelled grains and legumes.

     • Silos: Airtight containers for large grain quantities.

     • Grass baskets, grain drums/tanks, sacks.

     • Warehouses: For animal feeds, tools, and raw materials.

   • Crop Processing Structures:

     • Maize driers, pulping machines, maize millers.

     • Tobacco barns, silage making silos.

     • Oil processing machines, forage harvesters.

     • Cribs: For drying crops like maize and groundnuts.

   • Animal Housing Structures:

     • Battery cage houses, chicken coops, deep litter houses.

     • Fish ponds, cattle crushes, spray races, milking parlors.

     • Abattoirs, bee hives, piggery.

     • Fences: Control animal movement and protect gardens.

     • Irrigation channels, physical conservation structures (e.g., storm drains).

6. Importance of Using Farm Equipment and Tools:

   • Improve efficiency and speed of farm operations.

   • Minimize injuries to farmers and livestock.

   • Enhance milk production with machines.

7. Categories of Farm Equipment and Tools:

   • Garden Tools and Equipment:

     • Machetes, axes, hoes, spades, wheelbarrows, sprinklers.

     • Knapsack sprayers, garden forks, pruning tools.

   • Livestock Production Tools and Equipment:

     • Elastrators, syringes, halters, hoof trimmers.

     • Strip cups, trocar and canula, wool shears.

     • Drenching guns, milk churns, bolus guns, dehorning wire.

   • Workshop Tools and Equipment:

     • Woodwork Tools: Saws, files, chisels, hammers, clamps.

     • Metal Work Tools: Hacksaws, pliers, wire strainers.

     • Plumbing Tools: Pipe wrenches, cutters, stocks, and dies.

     • Masonry Tools: Trowels, floats, screeds.

8. Factors to Consider When Choosing Tools and Equipment:

   • Task to be performed.

   • Tool efficiency.

   • User knowledge and skill level.

   • Availability of tools and equipment.

Garden Tools and Equipment

1. Machete

   • Used for cutting thick vegetation and clearing land.

2. Axe

   • Used for chopping wood and clearing trees.

3. Mattock (Pick Axe)

   • Used for breaking up soil and digging.

4. Hoe

   • Used for digging, cultivating, and weeding.

5. Forked Hoe

   • Used for loosening soil and uprooting weeds.

6. Spade

   • Used for digging and transferring soil.

7. Wheelbarrow

   • Used for transporting materials around the farm.

8. Watering Can

   • Used for manually watering plants.

9. Rake

   • Used for leveling soil and collecting debris.

10. Knapsack Sprayer

    • Used for applying pesticides or fertilizers.

11. Garden Fork

    • Used for turning and aerating soil.

12. Sprinkler

    • Used for watering crops.

13. Pruning Hook

    • Used for cutting branches and shrubs.

14. Pruning Saw

    • Used for trimming trees and large shrubs.

15. Garden Shear

    • Used for trimming plants and hedges.

16. Shovel

    • Used for digging and moving soil.

17. Secateurs

    • Used for cutting and trimming plants.

18. Garden Trowel

    • Used for planting and digging small holes.

Livestock Production Tools and Equipment

1. Elastrator

   • Used for castrating animals.

2. Burdizzo

   • Used for castrating animals without cutting.

3. Syringes and Hypodermic Needles

   • Used for injections and blood sampling.

4. Halter

   • Used for restraining cattle.

5. Hoof Trimmer

   • Used for trimming livestock hooves.

6. Strip Cup

   • Used for detecting mastitis in cattle.

7. Trocar and Canula

   • Used for relieving bloat in livestock.

8. Hard Broom

   • Used for cleaning concrete floors.

9. Wool Shears

   • Used for shearing sheep.

10. Ear Notcher

    • Used for marking identification on animal ears.

11. Bull Ring and Lead Stick

    • Used for restraining bulls.

12. Stir-up Pump

    • Used for spraying animals against parasites.

13. Milk Churn

    • Used for storing and transporting milk.

14. Milk Strainer or Sieve

    • Used for removing impurities from milk.

15. Hot Iron

    • Used for destroying horn buds on livestock.

16. Teeth Clipper

    • Used for trimming sharp teeth in animals.

17. Drenching Gun

    • Used for administering oral liquid drugs.

18. Bolus Gun

    • Used for deworming animals.

19. Dehorning Wire

    • Used for dehorning cattle.

20. Chaff Cutter

    • Used for chopping straw, hay, or grass.

Workshop Tools and Equipment

Woodwork Tools

1. Back Saw

   • Used for precise cutting of wood.

2. Crosscut Saw

   • Used for cutting wood across the grain.

3. Bow Saw

   • Used for cutting wood in various directions.

4. Coping Saw

   • Used for intricate cuts in wood.

5. Rip Saw

   • Used for cutting wood along the grain.

6. Wooden File

   • Used for smoothing wood surfaces.

7. Marking Gauge

   • Used for marking precise measurements on wood.

8. Jack Plane

   • Used for smoothing and shaping wood.

9. Sash Mortise Chisel

   • Used for cutting mortises in wood.

10. Firmer Chisel

    • Used for chiseling wood joints.

11. Claw Hammer

    • Used for driving nails and removing them.

12. G-Clamp

    • Used for holding pieces of wood together.

13. Wooden Mallet

    • Used for driving chisels.

14. Striking Hammer

    • Used for driving stakes or nails.

15. Sash Clamp

    • Used for holding wood pieces during assembly.

16. Spoke Shave

    • Used for shaping curved wooden pieces.

17. Brace and Bit

    • Used for drilling holes in wood.

18. Drilling Bit

    • Used for making holes in wood.

Metal Work Tools

1. Hacksaw

   • Used for cutting metal and plastic.

2. Round-Nosed Chisel

   • Used for shaping metal surfaces.

3. Wire Strainer

   • Used for tightening barbed wire.

4. Pliers

   • Used for holding and cutting wire.

Plumbing Tools

1. Pipe Wrench

   • Used for opening and closing water pipes.

2. Pipe Cutter

   • Used for cutting metal water pipes.

3. Stock and Die

   • Used for cutting threads on pipes.

Masonry Tools

1. Mason’s Trowel

   • Used for laying mortar in brick and stone work.

2. Wood Float

   • Used for finishing concrete surfaces.

3. Metal Float

   • Used for smoothing concrete.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Tools and Equipment

• Task to be performed

• Tool’s efficiency

• User’s knowledge and skill level

• Availability of tools and equipment