Farm tools are simple, handy tools constructed by the farmer or local craftsmen to carry out some basic farming operations.

Farmers who grow crops and keep animals usually use some simple tools to help make their work easier and faster.

Examples of Farm Tools

1.	Cutlass	2.	Hoe	3.	Bolt and nut	4.	Shovel	5.	Garden fork
6.	Hand fork	7.	Axe	8.	Screw driver	9.	Digger	10.	Head pan
11.	Spanner	12.	Mallet	13.	Budding knife	14.	Plier	15.	Harvesting knife
16.	Crowbar	17.	Sickle	18.	Wheel barrow	19.	Shear	20.	Emasculator
21.	Mattock	22.	Hammer	23.	Watering can	24.	Chisel	25.	Pruning saw
26.	Secateurs	27.	Rake	28.	Hand trowel	29.	Spade	30.	Manure drag

PRACTICAL/PROJECT: GET A DRAWING BOOK TO DRAW ALL 30 OF THE HIGHLIGHTED FARM TOOLS, WRITE A SHORT NOTE TO DESCRIBE THEM, STATE THE WAY(S) OF MAINTAINING THEM AND STATE THEIR USE(S).

DESCRIPTION AND FUNCTIONS OF SOME SELECTED TOOLS

Cutlass: This is a short metal blade tool with a curved end and a wooden or handle made of rubber handle. The cutlass is commonly used for land clearing, planting, weeding, and for cutting small trunks and pegs.
Spade & Shovel: this has a long wooden handle ending with a flat metal blade that is sharp at one end and the other D-shaped to allow for proper handling. It is used for digging the soil, spreading manure, turning and mixing the soil. The shovel blade is folded to give a scoop shape.
Garden Fork: This tool has four prongs or teeth made of hard metal that taper to a point. The hard metal is about 20cm long, mounted on a long wooden handle of about 70-80cm in length. It is used mainly for digging, loosening, and breaking the soil.
Secateurs: is a scissors-like shaped tool consisting of two short metal blades, one with a concave curve and the other with a convex curve, joined at a pivot with a bolt and nut. It possesses two metal, short wooden or metal handles with a spring in between. Mainly used for preparing stem cuttings and pruning small branches of hardwood plants for watering crops, especially seedlings and flowers.
Emasculator: This consists of a pair of powerful pincers with plastic or metal handles. It is used to castrate male animals by severing their spermatic cord

GENERAL MAINTENANCE OF FARM TOOLS

Farm tools are made of metal or wood, which are strong, these tools still need very good care so that they are always suitable for use in farming. The following are ways to ensure that they are used optimally:

Keep in a store free of termites (for tools with wooden parts).
Oil or grease metal parts
If it is to be stored for long, paint the metal parts
Sharpen blunt edges regularly to get the optimum result.
Clean or wash after each use.
Keep nozzles free from blockage.

EVALUATION

List seven types of farm tools used for post-planting activities.
How can we maintain simple farm tools?

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

Which of these farm tools is used for weeding? A. Cutlass B. Watering can C. Rake
Which of these farm tools is used for digging, loosening and breaking the soil?
Secateurs B. Hand towel C. Garden fork
Which of these farm tools is used for transplanting seedlings? A. Go-to-hell B. Shears C. Hand Towel
Which of these farm tools is used for harvesting rice? A. Shears B. Sickle C. Ranging pole
Rubbing farm tools with oil prevents ____. A. rusting B. ranking C. wear and tear D. decay

THEORY

Describe four tools used in carrying out pre-planting operations.
Which farm tool is used for pruning and preparing a stem cutting?

Simple Farm Tools