Types Of Farm Structures And Buildings JSS2 Agricultural Science Lesson Note

TYPES OF FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS

Meaning of farm structures

Farm structures are simple erections constructed on the farm site to make farm operations easier.  They are usually elementary buildings that are not made from concrete.  Farm structures are built to serve a specific purpose on the farm.  They could be temporary or permanent depending on their uses or purposes.

 MEANING AND TYPES

   a.  PROCESSING STRUCTURES:  These structures are used to process different kinds of farm produce.  They include shelling or hulling barns, smoking houses, slaughterhouses, milk pasteurizing sheds, drying sheds, cassava mills, and rice mills.  In addition, processing structures include sheds designed and erected to accommodate (house) processing machines such as grinding machines, feed mills, oil palm presses, and rice mills

   b.  STORAGE STRUCTURES:  These are used for storing farm produce of different kinds.  They include the following:

1.  Yam barn for storing yam;
2.   Silos for storing grains;

        3.   Cribs for storing unshelled maize;

        4.   Rhumbus for storing grains;

        5.     Compost pit for storing compost manure and

       6.      Silage pit.

         c.   UTILITY STRUCTURES:  These are structures that provide service for the whole farm.  They are useful for every aspect of the farm.  Utility structures are wells, fences, dams, boreholes, irrigation canals, animal dips, spray, and water tanks

       i. DAMS:  A dam is a structure used to hold water across a river a stream.  They are made with stones, wood, mud or concrete.  Dams make water available all year round for irrigation of crops, water for animals to drink, and other farming operations.

        ii. CANALS:  These are structures used to control the flow of water on the farm.  There are two types of canals.  These are the irrigation canals that are constructed to carry water from rivers, lakes, or streams to the fields where crops are growing.  The drainage canal, however, is a kind of gutter that removes excess water from the farm.

       iii.  FENCES:  These are constructed around the farm to serve various purposes such as:

1.   To protect crops and animals
2.     To prevent thieves from gaining access to the farm;

       3 .  To mark or demarcate boundaries;

      4.   To control farm animals’ grazing and breeding habits and

      5. To prevent animals from destroying the crops.

Fences are of different types such as the barbed wire fence; bamboo fence; wall (concrete) fence, electric fence, wire netting fence; post and range fence; and hedge or live fence.

1. MAINTENANCE STRUCTURES:  These are structures built to maintain farm tools and implements.  A major example is the shed used as a workshop such as for woodwork or metal work where tools are being repaired on the farm
2.     FARM SHELTER:  These are simple buildings erected at different points in the farm for various purposes.  They are constructed from cheap and locally available materials and are usually abandoned or destroyed as soon as the farming operation for which they were built is completed.  Hence, they are also called ‘temporary buildings’ or ‘make shifts’.  Commonly constructed farm shelters include sheds for rest or protection of farmers (workers) during rain or harsh sun; sheds for keeping machines, equipment, and tools b0eing used on a site, sheds for temporary storage of harvested produce before marketing or proper storage and nurseries for raising seedlings.