Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #17

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As a little girl, when I used to follow my grandparents to the farm, I remember everything was done manually with common tools without the use of machines and modern farm tools. In brief, my grandparents method of agriculture could be said to be traditional agriculture.

Farming is the oldest occupation of man from the beginning of time. Hence, the phrase, traditional agriculture. Traditional agriculture as it is the traditional methods and ways in which agriculture was carried out in the past. That is before, during and after the colonial period. It is also a pattern of agriculture that is quite different from the one which is obtainable at the present time.

However, what makes the difference between traditional agriculture and the modern one is a matter of the use of modern tools/machines and application.

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1. Machete: this is used in clearing the bush and falling small trees before planting takes place. It is also used in cutting stems, e.g. cutting cassava stems for planting.

2. Axe: this is usually used to fall big trees and also used to separate or cut wood into pieces.

3. Rake: this is used to gather or heep rubbles, keeping the farm neat after burning the bush for planting. As was commonly practised in my village.

4. Spade: this is usually used in digging the soil, making holes for planting of cassava, yam and other crops.

5. Shovel: I remember my grandfather would always use it to park debris from the farm and also used it to park goat dung.

6. Plow: the first time I saw this was in my secondary school. This is used to till the soil before planting.

7. Watering can: this is usually used to apply water to the crops.

8. Sickle: this is used to harvest fruit such as pears, plantains etc. it is also used for cutting.

9. Hand trowel: this is used to dig small holes, it is also used for weeding and mixing soil.

10. Weeding hoe: this is used to remove weeds from the farm. It is sometimes used to dig very shallow holes in planting okra and maize seeds.

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• Clearing farmland with machetes while a tractor can easily clear the land in minutes.

• Burning of farmland after clearing the land.

• Manual planting and harvesting of crops that's now done easily with the use of machines

• Use of animal droppings as manure

• Spreading ashes on crops to improve the plants grown and dropping on the soil to improve soil nutrients.

• Hanging clothes on the farm to deter birds, squirrels, grass cutters and other animals from destroying crops in the farm.

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