Introductions to the Importance of Farm Tools
Farm tools are hand tools that are mechanically fabricated and are frequently used in carrying out simple farming activities on the farm.
Farmers use many types of farm tools to perform different operations on the farm. These tools are called simple farm tools because they are used for simple farming activities.
Regardless of the equipment and machines available on the farm, these tools are also needed for minor activities.
In developing countries, simple farms are the major tools used in performing the majority of farming activities.
This is because most of the farmers are subsistence farm-holders, operating a small fragment of land, and due to inadequate resources available at their disposal, they cannot afford sophisticated implements.
However, recent campaigns and complaints about simple farm tools not being gender-friendly, increasing drudgery, wasting time and energy, and reduced yields are some of the major criticisms, why farmers cannot expand their farms beyond the subsistence level.
Despite these concerns, these tools cannot be eliminated from the agricultural system. From time immemorial, these tools have remained in the hands and stores of most farmers because they do not require special skills to operate.
In the agricultural production value chain, these tools are necessary at every stage of production, from site selection to marketing, these tools are needed for performing different farm operations on the farm.
Every stakeholder in the agricultural industry such as Commercial farmers, subsistence farmers, gardeners, and farm implement engineers can use these tools for tilling the soil, planting seeds, loosening farm implements, harvesting, and carrying farm produce.
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Importance of Farm Tools
Farm tools are essential in performing various farming activities and they are crucial for agricultural development in the 21st century.
From site selection to marketing, the importance of farm tools cannot be overstated. The West Africa Examination Council has enumerated the importance of farm tools in agriculture in several ways:
They are cost-effective to Acquire
Farm tools are generally more cost-effective to acquire, compared to farm machines and implements that are very expensive, making them budget-friendly to the farmers.
The low budget of the farm tools accounts for its popularity among subsistence farmers. Simple farm tools can be locally and internationally designed.
The locally design farm implements are cheaper than the internationally manufactured farm tools, but last longer than the locally made tools. The continuous usage of farm tools can help reduce the costs of production on the farm.
Minimize Injury to Farmers
This is also one of the importance of farm tools in agriculture. Simple farm tools are very easy to use and do not require special operating skills.
Farm tools are designed in such a way, that farmers don’t need technical know-how to operate. Hence, it helps to reduce injury to the farmers.
Easy to Maintain
Farm tools are easy to maintain, and do not require special know skills to maintain. All that is required is washing, drying, and storing in a cold dry place.
Farm tools do not require a lot of capital to maintain or replace worn-out parts. Only wheelbarrows require little maintenance compared to other farm tools.
Simple tools require sharping, oiling of metal parts, washing, sunning, and storing in a cool dry place as the only maintenance operation.
Enhance Certain Operations
Farm tools are used to perform agronomic practices such as budding, grafting, layering, and tapping which cannot be done with heavy farm tools.
They make these farming operations easy to perform and give excellent results
Make Work Easier/ Reduce Drudgery
To some extent, farm tools help to make work easier and reduce the drudgery of performing farm work.
They help in transporting farm produce and reduce the strain of carrying it on the head or shoulder over a long distance.
For instance, wheelbarrows are used for carrying farm produce from one location to another.
On the other hand, the uses of spade, cutlass, spanner, and hoe make digging, cutting, weeding, and losing nuts and bolts easier on the farm.
Saves time and makes Farm Operations done with Time
The use of farm tools on the farm saves time, speeds up the rate of farming operations faster, and makes it easier to complete tasks within a determined time.
Most farm machines require electricity to function, which is not available in most cases, to get the work done, farm tools will be required to perform the such operation on the farm.
It Does Not Require High Technical Know-How
Farm tools are generally simple and do not require special technical skills to handle or operate.
Tapping knives, go to hell, and shear are also relatively simple to operate, although require a few days of training to use properly.
In contrast, farm machines are much more complex and require 3-6 months to learn how to operate safely and effectively.
Increases Farmers’ Productivity
Farm tools are specially designed to make tasks more efficient and convenient on the farm. The use of farm tools helps to increase farmer productivity.
Their use increases farmers’ productivity, as they encourage the cultivation of large areas of land.
Tools such as spades, cutlass, and hoes assist farmers to cultivate large areas of land thereby, increase farmers’ productivity.
Tilling, planting, and weeding can be done with a hoe or cutlass, while watering can be used to supplement the water shortage required for plants to grow and develop.
Do not require any Specialized Sources of Power
Farm tools have an added advantage as they do not require special sources of power to operate.
Most of these farm tools are operated manually and do not need electricity for operation. Unlike farm machines that require a special source of power to operate.
Simple farm tools can be operated without the need for electricity or any other power sources.
They are Sometimes the Last Resort
In most cases, farm tools are the only means to getting operations done on the farm while farm machines are useful for many farming activities, There are certainly some activities that can only be accomplished by simple farm tools.
in the absence of electricity and other sources of power, these tools are sometimes the last resort for farmers trying to complete their farm operations.
In Conclusion
Farm tools such as hoes, cutlasses, and spades, are very necessary for the farming operation. even in modern agriculture, these tools are still necessary for performing critical farming operations.
In this article we have highlighted, Some of the important farm tools. Firstly, It is they are cost-effective to acquire. Secondly, Increase farmers’ productivity. Thirdly, they are the only option for certain farming operations, and lastly, they do not require high technical know-how to operate.