Farm Structures And Buildings

CONTENT

• Definition of farm structures
• Types of farm structures
• Types of farm building

FARM STRUCTURES

A farm structure can be defined as any construction on the farm site constructed to make certain farming operations easier. It can also be said to be constructions made on a farm site to increase the efficient operation of the farm. The type of farm structure on any farm depends on the type of farm operated, the scope of operations, the condition prevailing on the site and the amount of money available for the farming operations.

TYPES OF FARM STRUCTURES AND THEIR USES

The structures which may be found on any farm include:

1. Silos: A silo is a tall circular or rectangular farm structure made of concrete, mud or stainless steel. It is called elevators. Silos are structures preplanned mainly for the storage of grains and silage. The humidity in modern silos is controlled and grains put in them can be stored in good condition for a long time. They are expensive and difficult to maintain.
2. Cribs: Cribs are simple grain storage structures made of wood and wire gauze on the sides and floor with a thatch or zinc roof. Cribs are used for drying maize which is still on the cob. The floor of the crib is raised well above the ground on wooden legs, which have rodent guards, to prevent rats from eating the grains
3. Rhumbus: These are round structures made from mud with a grass or thatch roof. They are used for storing grain such as maize, sorghum, millet, cowpeas and groundnuts etc, they are very common in the drier northern parts of Nigeria, especially Sokoto and Kano States.
4. Feed mill: This is a structure constructed for the purpose of making animal feed. It is economical for a large scale animal farmer to have a feed mill where the feed of his animals are produced.
5. Barns: These are temporary structures made on the farm for storing yam, cassava, grass or hay. A barn can cheaply be constructed with sticks, mud and thatch.
6. Abattoirs: These are special structures constructed for slaughtering and butchering of animals (goats, sheep, pigs, cattle e.t.c). They are also called slaughter houses. An abattoir is made up of a passageway through which an animal passes to the slab where it is held down and slaughtered (slaughter slab).
7. Animal Dips and  Sprays: Dips and concrete bath or plastic vessels set on to the ground. It is filled with water, then disinfectants are added e.g. acaricides for destroying ecto parasites as the animals are made to pass through it. While a spray is an overhead tank containing disinfectant and a sprinkler through which the disinfectant drips onto the animals and performs the same function as the dip.
8. Weighbridge: this is constructed for determining the weight of farm animals.
9. Crushes: These are made of 2 wooden or metal narrow passageway found on animal farms, used for restricting animals, for check-up or vaccination by veterinary officer.
10. Water supply structures: These include dams, water tanks and irrigation channels or canals.
    – Dams: These are concrete or wooden barriers constructed across a river or stream so that the flow of water is reduced. This accumulated water can be used to irrigate the farm or for domestic water supply.
    – Water tanks: These are constructed from galvanized metals, plastic materials or reinforced concrete and are mostly raised on concrete or steel pillars. Water tanks are used for storing water for domestic use and watering farm animals.
    – Canals: These are used to carry water from rivers to the field for growing crops. This is an irrigation canal while a drainage canal is constructed to remove excess water from the farm.
11. Compost manure pits: They are pits dug for the collection of plant and animal remains or waste which are allowed to decompose and turned  to manure for soil fertilizer.
12. Electricity supply structures: These are electric poles, wires and connections for supplying electric power to the farm.
13. Waste/Disposal pits: These are large pits dug on the outskirts of a farm for dumping all waste and useless products of the farm. They are usually covered to prevent flies from carrying germs to human food (vectors).
14. Fences: Fences are physical barriers specifically constructed around an area for the following purposes.
    – Prevention of unwanted person or animals into the farm
    – Prevents animals from leaving the farm site
    – Controls grazing in the pasture
    – To protect crops from being damaged by animals.

EVALUATION

1. What is farm structure?
2. Mention and explain eight types of farm structures

FARM BUILDINGS

Farm buildings are all the buildings on the farm. The types, number, and size depend on the type and scope of operations on the farm.

USES/IMPORTANCE OF FARM BUILDINGS

Farm buildings are useful in the following ways:

1. They protect animals and farm workers from the weather
2. They protect farm supplies farm supplies, products, animals and farm workers from thieves and harmful animals.
3. They are convenient means for caring for the farm animals.
4. They provide hygienic system for processing and storing farm products.
5. They are needed for efficient administrative and farm progress purpose

TYPES OF FARM BUILDINGS

There are mainly two types of farm buildings on the farm. They are:

1. Temporary farm building.
2. Permanent farm building.

TEMPORARY FARM BUILDINGS

These are simple buildings constructed from cheap or locally available materials such as bamboo, sorghum, stalks, wood (timber) or palm fronds, mud and corrugated iron sheet or asbestos. They are usually inexpensive and farmers find it easy to leave or destroy. They are abandoned immediately the farmer has completed using them. They are also called “make shift” buildings and those commonly constructed on farms include storage shed for keeping machines and equipment, nurseries for raising seedlings, animal pens, construction sheds and garages for machines. Due to the nature of the materials used to construct temporary buildings, they need frequent care.

PERMANENT FARM BUILDINGS

These are solid buildings normally constructed to last for a very long time. The walls and floors are usually constructed with cement, sand and gravel, wood, corrugated iron sheets,aluminum or asbestos are used for the roof.

Permanent buildings are expensive to construct but they do not require frequent maintenance like the temporary buildings. The roof should however be constantly examined and mended when in bad shape. Examples of permanent buildings are:

1. Farm office
2. Stores for farm supplies and harvests
3. Workshops, generator house and water storage tanks
4. Living quarters for farm workers
5. Animal houses e.g. cattle, sheep, goat, poultry
6. Processing e.g. milking house.

EVALUATION

1. Define farm structures and give two examples.
2. State four examples of temporary farm buildings.

MAINTENANCE OF FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS

Maintenance of farm structures and buildings refers to keeping the structures on the farm in a good condition for continuous use. Farm structures and buildings are subject to wear and tear due to usage and exposure to adverse weather conditions. Damage of wood by termites and of practically all forms of fabric by agro-chemicals like fertilizers also makes their owncontribution to wear and tear.

MAINTENANCE OF FARM STRUCTURES

1. Silos should be cleaned and kept air tight; any leaks should be blocked immediately.
2. Abattoirs should be cleaned and disinfected after each operation.
3. Dips should be drained regularly.
4. Nozzles of sprayers should be cleaned to ensure even distribution of chemicals during spraying.
5. Water tanks should be cleaned regularly.
6. Soak away and manure pits should be emptied when they are full.
7. Drainage should be cleaned regularly with chemicals.
8. Electric poles must be checked for breaks or damage and replaced immediately.
9. Fences should be checked regularly and all broken parts should be repaired.

MAINTENANCE OF FARM BUILDINGS

1. Painting is a maintenance operation desirable for wooden and metal parts of farm buildings. Parts exposed to rain should be treated with oil paint.
2. Damaged roofing sheets must be promptly replaced.
3. Cracks on walls should be patched.
4. Badly pitted cement floors should be resurfaced again.
5. Insect damage preventive chemicals e.g.Solignum should be applied on wooden parts.

GENERAL EVALUATION

1. Mention two factors that bring about wear and tear in farm structures and buildings.
2. State the maintenance methods for the following:
3. Silo.
4. Nozzles of sprayers.
5. Mention and define two types of farm building.
6. State three examples of temporary farm building.
7. State three examples of permanent farm building.

READING ASSIGNMENT

Junior Secondary Agriculture for Nigerian Schools Bk 3 by A. Youdeowei, B.K .Kaigama, J.N. Ogbazi, S.O. Adesiyan. Chapter 8, Page 32-33

Prescribed Agricultural Science for Junior Secondary Schools.By S.A Omoruyi, U.X Orhue, A.A Akerobo and C.I Aghimien.Pgs 253-254.

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

• Wooden and metal structures should be ________________ to prevent waering away.

(a) Painted (b) coloured (c) Decorated (d) swept

• ______________ should be cleaned and disinfected after each operation.

(a) Silos (b) Poles (c) Abattoirs (d)Fences

• ______________ should be cleaned and kept air tight.

(a) silos (b) Poles (c) Abattoirs (d)Fences

• The chemical that can be used to prevent the activities of insects on wooden materials is

            called (a) sodium hydroxide (b) solignum(c) potassium chloride (d) oxygen

• A round farm structures constructed from mud with a grass or thatch roof is

(a) Barns (b) Rhumbus (c) Barns (d) Silos 

THEORY

1. How can farm buildings be maintained?
2. State three farm structures and state the ways of maintaining them.