Simple Farm Tools

SIMPLE FARM TOOLS

These are simle, 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.

Cutlass: this is the tool most commonly used by farmers.  There are two main types- one has a slightly curved blade with a short wooden handle, while the other has a straight metal blade and a short wooden handle.  One edge of the metal blade is sharp and the other is blunt.

Function/Uses

1. For cutting down and clearing bushes and trees.
2. For transplanting seedlings.

• For planting seeds and harvesting crops.

1. For weeding farmlands.

Maintenance practices

1. Cutlass should be sharpened regularly
2. Keep it in a dry and cool place

• Metal parts should be oil or greased before storage

1. It should not be left lying about.

HOE: The hoe consists of a metal blade which may either be rounded or slightly rectangular in shape with a wooden handle which can be either long or short.

Types of Hoe

There are two types of hoe. These are:

1. West African Hoe: it has a short wooden handle and a round metal blade. Its metal blade is attached to the wooden handle with a prong.
2. West Indian Hoe: It has a long wooden handle and a rectangular metal blade. The metal blade has a loop round its handle.

Similarities and Difference between West African Hoe and West Indian Hoe

• Similarities

1. Both types of hoe have a metal blade.
2. Both types of hoe have a wooden handled.

• Differences

Function/Uses

1. Hoe is used for land preparation.
2. It is used for making ridges and heaps

• For planting or transplanting some crops.

1. For harvesting some crops
2. It is used for weeding

Maintenance Practices

1. Sharpen blunt blades
2. Keep in dry and cool places

• Oil or grease metal blade before storage

1. Clean or wash after use.

Spade: Spade has a long wooden handle and a broad metal blade. The edge of the metal blade is sharp so that it can easily be driven into the soil.

Function /Uses

1. Spade is used for lifting the soil and completely turning it over.
2. It is used for leveling the soil.

• For digging holes during transplanting

1. For mixing cement/concentrate for farm structures.

Maintenance Practice

1. Store in a dry and cool place.
2. Keep away from rain and termite attack on wooden handles

• Sharpen the blade regularly.

Shovel: is just like the spade.  It has a long wooden handle but the blade of a shovel is hollow and broad with a rectangular or round edge.

Function/Use

1. It is used for lifting or transferring soil from one place to another
2. To load materials from ground level into wheel barrow.

• For making garden paths.

1. For leveling the ground and removing stones or rubbish.

Maintenance practices

1. Store in a dry and cool place
2. Oil, grease or paint metal parts.

• Keep the wooden part away from the attack of termites.

1. Clean after use.

Garden Fork: Garden fork usually has four prongs or teeth which taper to a point.  The prongs, made of hard metal are about 20cm long, mounted on a long wooden handle of about 70-80cm long.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for turning manure during compost making
2. It is used for loosening the soil before transplanting

• It is used for loading manure

1. It is used for loading hay.

Maintenance Practices

1. Apply grease to avoid rusting
2. Clean after use.

• Keep in dry and cool place

1. Paint metal parts before long storage.

Hand Fork: The hand fork consists of a piece of metal with three or four short flat prongs.  Some have short wooden handle while others are entirely made of metal. It is mainly used in squatting position because of its small size.

Function/Uses

1. It is used for loosening surface soil or breaking soil clods.
2. It is used for light weeding.

• For mixing small quantity of soil or manure

1. For working manure into the soil.

Maintenance Practices

1. Store in a dry cool place.
2. Paint, oil or grease to prevent rusting.

• Clean or wash after use.

Hand Trowel

Hand trowel is a small hand tool consisting of a short metal handle and a scoop – shaped blade. Like the hand fork, it is mainly used in squatting position because of its small size.  The curved metal blade makes it possible for a small ball of earth to be carried with the seedling during transplanting.

Functions/Using

1. It is used for transplanting seedlings;
2. For fertilizer or manure application.

• It is used for nursery practices or light weeding.

1. It is used for digging holes for planting.
2. It is used for sampling soil/mixing soil and fertilizers.

Maintenance Practices

1. Clean or wash and dry after use.
2. Straighten bent blade.

• Sharpen blunt blade

1. Store in a termite-free area.
2. Store in a cool, dry place.

Rake: Rake consists of a long, wooden handle and a strong metal head with several stout prongs.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for leveling or spreading soil surface after hoeing.
2. For removing stones and weeds from seed-beds;

• For covering vegetable seeds when they are broadcast;

1. For breaking up soil lumps into finer particles

Maintenance Practices

1. Clean or remove dirt after use
2. Store in a dry, cool place

• Keep away from termite attack on the wooden handle

1. Oil metal part.

Axe: axe consists of a strong wooden or metal handle onto which a solid, flat and heavy metal blade with a sharp ned edge is inserted.  Larger axes as held in both hands when in use.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for felling trees,
2. For slicing wood/splitting wood

• For cutting wood

1. For uprooting stumps
2. For cutting firewood and logs.

Maintenance Practices

1. It should be sharpened regularly
2. Store in a dry, cool place

• Paint, grease or oil metal parts before being put away for a long time

1. Clean after use
2. Keep wooden handle from termite attack.

Pick Axe or Digger

Pick axe or digger consists of a long wooden handle and a metal head with double blades.  One blade is shaped to form a short and rather narrow hoe while the other side of the head is shaped into a small narrow axe-like blade.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for the removal of roots of trees, (stumping)
2. For tilling of very hard soils

• For making ridges;

1. For tilling soil for farm-buildings erection

Maintenance Practices

1. Clean or wash after use
2. Sharpen blade regularly

• Keep in cool, dry place

1. Keep away from rain to avoid rusting
2. Store in termite free areas.
3. Paint, grease or oil metal parts.

Head pan: is a metal container with small circumference at the bottom but a larger one at the top.  It has two handles which are opposite to each other.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for the collection of harvested crops.
2. It is used for transplanting seedlings;

• For carrying and mixing manure/fertilizers

1. For carrying farm inputs and outputs

Maintenance Practices

1. Wash or clean after use
2. Paint or oil before being stored for a long time

• Keep in a cool, dry place

1. Keep away from rain.

Watering Can: This is a metal or plastic can fitted with a spout which has a performed metal sheet called rose, over its mouth.  The rose is removable after use and replaceable when needed.  It also has two handles used for lifting or carrying the can.

Function/Uses

1. It is used for light irrigation, like, application of water to crops during the dry season.
2. It is used for the application of liquid fertilizers.

• Application of water to seedlings in the nursery or vegetable beds.

1. It is used for watering cement blocks used for constructing farm house.

Maintenance Practices

1. Wash and keep dry or clean after use to prevent rusting.
2. Store or hang upside down.

• Keept the nozzles free from blockages

1. Store /keep in a cool-dry place.
2. Rinse with water if used for liquid fertilizers.

Mattock

Mattock consists of a small wooden handle and a double-headed metal head. The mattock is essentially a small axe and hoe combined in one.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for digging and uprooting small stumps
2. It is used for loosening of stones, roots and hard plants in the sol and digging of soil

• It is used in clearing bush and weeding farms

Maintenance Practices

1. Clean after use
2. Store in a cool, dry place.

• Sharpen metal blade

1. Paint, grease or oil metal parts before storage for a long time.

Pruning saw

Pruning saw is flat and made of flexible metal , its handle is wooden. Both edges of the saw have sharp pointed teeth.

Function/Uses

1. It is used for cutting wood or log
2. For pruning operations

• For falling of trees

1. It is also used for cutting of budded seedlings.

Maintenance Practices

1. Sharpen the teeth regularly
2. Grease or oil metal parts before storage

• Store in a cool, dry place

Sickle: The sickle has a curved blade fitted to a short handle.  The inner edge of the metal blade is sharp while the outer edge is blunt.

Function/Uses

1. It is used for harvesting fruits/cereal crops
2. For cutting grass pasture for animals

• It can also be used for light weeding of vegetable plants

Maintenance Practices

1. Sharpen the inner edge/blade regularly
2. Store in a dry, cool place

• Paint or oil before storage for a long time.

Harvesting Knife

Harvesting knife has a very long wooden pole or handle with a small curved metal blade at the end.  It also has a short, strong blade close to the curved end.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for harvesting some crops e.g cocoa, oil palm, mango, orange, kolanut, etc.
2. It is also used for light pruning.

Maintenance practices

1. Keep away from rain to avoid rusting
2. Keep in termite free area

• Sharpen the blade regularly

1. Oil or grease the metal parts before storage.

Root-loading fork

This tool is similar to the garden fork except that the prongs are usually bent at angle to the wooden handle.

Function/Use

It is used mainly to load roots, hays or silage into carts or wheel barrows

Maintenance Practices

1. Store in a dry, cool place
2. Clean after use

• Keep away from rain or moist place to avoid rusting

1. Grease or oil metal parts before storage for a long time

Hay Fork

Hay fork has two or three long, round and curved tines (or prongs) with a long wooden handle.

Function/Uses

The tool is used for collecting and removing hay and livestock bedding.  The fork is inserted vertically in the middle of the load and the load is carried with the prongs held upwards.

Maintenance Practices

1. Store in a dry, cool place,
2. Clean or wash after use

• Grease or oil metal parts before storage for a long time.

Manure Drag

This tool has four or five tines, shaped like those of a garden fork but with the pointed ends at right-angles to the handle to facilitate digging.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for digging farm-yard manure
2. It is also used for unloading farm-yard manure

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep in a dry, cool place
2. Oil or grease metal parts before storage

• Keep away from rain or moist places to avoid rusting.

Wheel barrow

The wheel barrow is a large meal or wooden container with one wheel at the front, two handles at the rear and below these, are two legs which support the container.  It is pushed by raising the rear end slightly so that the main weight is taken up by the front wheel.  Tools which can perform the same function as the wheel barrow include headpan, bucket, tractor – mounted container and container driven by work animals.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for carrying farm inputs e.g fertilizers, seeds etc
2. It is used for carrying farm outputs e.g harvested crops, slaughtered animals e.t.c

• It is used for transplanting seedlings

1. It is also used for carrying load/materials to the market.

Maintenance Practices

1. Clean the tool after use
2. Replace worn-out parts

• Paint the tool if necessary

1. Store in dry, cool place
2. Tighten bolts and nuts on wheels properly.

Crowbar

This is an iron bar 90-120cm long and bent slightly at one end.

Function/Uses

1. By inserting the pointed end underneath a load and pushing the long end down wards, the load can be gradually moved.
2. It is also used for digging holes for planting seeds.

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep in a cool, dry place.
2. Grease or oil the metal part before storage for a long time.

• Keep away from rain to avoid rusting.

Bradawl

This is s a small tool with a wooden handle.  It has a short, round blade with a small, narrow cutting edge;

Functions/Use

It is used for boring holes in wood

Maintenance Practices

1. Store in a cool, dry place
2. Keep away from rain and sun

• Sharpen the tool regularly.

Budding Knife

Budding Knife is a small knife with a short, wooden handle and a short, metal blade which is sharpened at one edge.

Function/use

Budding knife is used mainly in budding by vegetative propagation in citrus, cocoa, rubber etc.

How the tool is used

An inverted T-shaped cut is made with a budding knife in the bark of the stock plant, about 20cm above the ground level.  The bark on either side of the cut is lifted slightly to admit the bud, which is pushed into position so that the layers of both the scion and the stock are in close contact.

Maintenance Practices

1. Sharpen the metal blade regularly.
2. Store in a cool, dry place

• Use for the purpose for which it is meant.

Emasculator

This is an instrument 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 blood to the tests.

Function/Use

The Emasculator is used to castrate some farm animals, especially the males, e.g bull, ram, doe (goat)

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep clean always
2. Use according to instructions

• Employ the service of an expert

1. Keep in a cool, dry place.

Shears

The shears are in enlarged pair of scissors or, are scissors-like in shape.  They possess two long metal blades and two handles which may be wooden, metal, rubber or plastic.  The blades are sharpened at one edge and are connected to the pivot by bolt and nut.

Function/Use

1. Shears are used for pruning operations
2. They are also used for trimming flower hedges.

• They can be used for cutting flowers.

Maintenance Practices

1. Store in a cool, dry place
2. Sharpen the blades properly

• Keep away from rain to prevent rusting

1. Clean or wash after use.

Secateurs

It is scissors-like in shape but small in size.  It consists of two short, metal blades-one with a concave curve and the other with a convex curve joined as a pivot by bolt and nut.  It possesses two short wooden or metal handles.  It usually has a spring between the handles.

Function/Uses

1. It is used for pruning shrubs, ornamental plants and for weeding.
2. It is used for trimming hedges or shrubs

• It is used for cutting bud, wood or scion and the root stock.

Maintenance Practices

1. Metal blades should be washed or cleaned after use
2. Blades should be sharpened when necessary

• Keep in termite-free area to protect wooden handles

1. Tighten bolt and nut when loosened.
2. Store in a cool, dry place.

Hammer

Hammer is a tool with a heavy, metal head on a short wooden handle.  The metal head has two ends-one is the flat ball end and the other end is prong-like.

Function/Use

1. Hammer is used for straightening damaged or bent components of farm implements.
2. It is used for driving nails into the wooden parts of farm structures/equipment

• The ball end is used for riveting.

1. The prolonged end is used for removing nails from wood.

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep in dry, cool place.
2. Store in termite-free area to protect wooden handle

• Grease or oil metal part before storage for a long time.

Mallet

The is a wooden hammer with a short handle and a large wooden head.  The shape is just like the normal hammer except that it is larger but lighter than the metal harmer.

Function/Uses

1. It is used for driving a chisel while cutting or shaping wood
2. For hammering materials that would be damaged by a metal hammer.

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep in a cool dry place
2. Use only for intended functions(s)

• Keep away from rain and termite infested area.

1. Store in tool box.

Pliers

A pair of pliers is a small metal tool with jaws which normally have parallel toothed surfaces, used for gripping.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for gripping firmly and for twisting wires;
2. For holding or handling bolts and nuts

• For handling small objects;

1. For cutting, especially wires and other cables.

Maintenance Practices

1. Store tool in a dry, cool place.
2. Oil or grease metal parts.

Spanner

A spanner is a hand tool which consists of a small bar of steel having an open or close grip or jaw at one or both ends.  This fits over or clamps the head of a bolt and can be used either to turn it or hold it in position.

Some spanners are adjustable.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for loosening nuts/bolts on farm machines
2. For tightening nuts on farm machineries

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep in a dry, cool place
2. Keep away from moist areas or rain to avoid rusting

• Grease or oil before being put away for a long time.

Screw driver

This is a small tool with a wooden or plastic handle and a pointed or narrow metal rod.  It has a blunt end which is either flat and straight or star-shaped.

Functions/Uses

1. It is used for turning or screwing nails or screws into or out of wooden or metal surfaces.
2. Some are used to detect the presence of electric current.

Maintenances Practices

1. Keep away from rain to avoid rusting.
2. Keep in a cool, dry place

• Oil or grease metal parts, if it is to be stored for a long time.

Nut and Bolt

A bolt is a piece of metal consisting of a rod with a head at one end and a threaded area at the other end .

Function/Use

Both bolt and nut are used for holding two pieces of metals or wood in postio in farm machineries or structures.

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep properly in tool box
2. Keep bolt and nuts in a cool, dry place.

• Keep away from rain to avoid rusting.

1. Use the appropriate bolt for a nut.

Screw: A screw is a piece of metal consisting of a pin threaded 2/3 with a pointed end.  The other bigger end has a narrow hole or cut on top in which a flat screw driver can fit in during use.

Function/Use

It is used to hold two or  more pieces of metals or wood in position in farm machineries, equipment and structures.

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep tool in a cool, dry place
2. Rub with oil or grease to prevent rusting.

• Use appropriate plier to screw in or screw out to avoid it wearing out.

File or Chisel

This has a straight steel blade with a sharp cutting edge.  It is about 20-30cm long with a wooden handle.

Function/Uses

1. It is used for sharpening blades of farm tools.
2. It is used for smoothening rough surfaces of farm implements.

Maintenance Practices

1. Keep in a cool, dry place
2. Store in termite-free area to protect wooden handle.

• Grease or oil metal parts before storage for a very long time.

Questions:

1. What is farm Machinery
2. State five farm machines
3. State five farm implements
4. State five maintenance of a tractor