The problems involved in the production of palm oil in Nigeria.

•    The problems of pests and diseases which reduce the quality of the crop as well as being great loss to the farmers.
•    Poor transport from the farms to the market centres. Most farms are in remote Equatorial Rain forests with swamps yet the roads are impassable.
•    Lack of capital especially to purchase processing machines
•    Soil erosion due to monoculture.
•    Soil exhaustion leading to poor yields.
•    Price fluctuations on the world market. This disappoints and frustrates  the small scale farmers.
•    Labour shortages especially for planting, weeding, harvesting and processing, some trees go un harvested and go back to the bush.
•    The traditional system of harvesting which is risky because, trees are tall and men just climb.  Sometimes they fall and die.
•    Limited land for expansion due to high population.
•    The farmers still use the traditional methods of farming.
•    The small internal market for the crop.
IDevice Icon Activity

Qn. Map of Nigeria
 

Using the map of Nigeria provided above:

a)       Name the following:-
i)   Countries A and B.
ii)   The water body C
(iii)   Ports D and E
(iv)   Town G
(v)    River F

b)       i)    What is a hinterland?
ii)    State two ways in which Port D is linked to its hinterland.
iii)   Name one agricultural product from each of the areas l, 2, and 3 which are exported through port D.
iv)    Name two minerals exported through port E.
c)       i)   Explain two factors which led to the location of Port D.
ii)   State three problems facing port D.
iii)   Suggest solutions to the problems stated in c (ii) above.

POSSIBLE ANSWERS
a)    i)    Country: A is Benin (Dahomey) B is Chad.

ii)   Water body C is the Atlantic Ocean.
iii)   Port D is Lagos E - is Harcourt.
iv)   Town G is Kaduna.
v)   River F is the Niger.

(b)     i)    A hinterland is an area which is being served by a Port.
ii)   Port D is linked to its hinterland by road and railway network.
iii)   The agricultural products from area
1.    Cotton.
2.    Groundnuts.
3.    Cocoa / Oil palm.
iv)   The two minerals exported through Port E are oil and Aluminium.

(c) i)    Factors which led to the location of Port Lagos
•    The presence of deep-sea water which could enable the big and small ocean vessels sail to and dock there.
•    The site is well sheltered from the ocean winds by the sandbars and lagoons.
•    The site has a wide and rich hinterland and it serves many countries like Dahomey (Benin) Chad, and Nigeria. These countries produce several commodities like cotton, Palm Kernels, groundnuts, rubber etc.
•    It had been an administrative centre for long.
•    It has ice-free conditions hence could function the whole year round.
•    The problems facing port D are:
•    Lack of water and sufficient electric power supply to enable expansion of industries.
•    Water pollution from the waste products of the industries around the dam.
•    Transport is very expensive.
•    The crime rate is high because of overpopulation in the area.

iii)  Solutions to the problems above are:
•    Construction of a dam and generation of water from the ocean.
•    Water pollution should be solved by improving the drainage system in the area for proper disposal of waste  products. '
•    Expensive transport can be solved by bargains to make fuel prices cheaper. More roads should also be constructed like highlands and underground tunnels.
•    The crime rate can be reduced by enforcing law and order and by encouraging urban - rural migration,
Map of Nigeria showing major crops and industries
 
QUESTION 27
(a)    On the outline map of Ghana provided mark and name:
the cocoa producing area
the railway line used to transport cocoa
two ports through which the crop is exported
 
(b)(i)    State four physical conditions suitable for cocoa growing
(ii)    Mention two other tree crops which can be grown under the same conditions as those you have stated in (b) (I) above
(c)    Describe how cocoa is grown
(d)    What problems are faced by cocoa producers?
(e)    (i)    Name three products of cocoa
(ii)    Name two districts in Uganda where    cocoa is grown.
    QUESTION  26
(a)    (i)  Outline the characteristics of shifting cultivation
(ii)    Mention two areas outside East Africa where shifting cultivation is practiced
(b)    Explain why shifting cultivation is practiced in any one area mentioned in (a) (ii) above
(c)    State the disadvantages of shifting cultivation.
(d)    (i)    State three other traditional farming
        systems in Africa.
(ii)    Giving specific examples, outline the
    steps being taken to improve
    traditional farming systems in Africa
 
    QUESTION TWENTY SIX
26    (a)    With reference to Ghana, draw a
     sketch map to show:-
    (i)      The major Cocoa growing areas
(ii)    The major transport network for  transporting the crop.
    (iii)     Any two  Ports for export of the crop
b(i)    State the conditions suitable for Cocoa growing in Ghana.
(ii)    Mention two other tree crops which can be grown under the same conditions.
(iii)      Describe briefly how Cocoa is grown.
c(i)    State the uses of Cocoa.
(ii)    Name the districts in Uganda where Cocoa is grown.
d(i)    State the problems faced by Cocoa producers     in Ghana.
(ii)    Explain how these problems are being solved.

    QUESTION TWENTY EIGHT.
Study the map of Africa below and answer the questions that follow
 a.  (i)    Name the Ocean currents 1,2,3 and 4.
    (ii)    What is the difference between Ocean  Currents1 and 4.
    (iii)   Give two reasons why the areas marked D are of no agriculture value.
b.  (i)    Name the agricultural systems marked A, B,  and C.
     (ii)    Name the agricultural system which is least practical in Africa.
c.    For the agricultural system B,
     (i)    Describe its main characteristics.
     (ii)    Give reasons to explain why it is not very  productive.
d.    What is Commercial farming and why is it being encouraged in Africa?

POSSIBLE ANSWERS
28 (a)    (i)    Ocean Current 1 is  Canary; 
        2 is Guinea,  
        3 is Banguela Currents
        4 is Mozambique or Agulhas Current
    Refer to questions on climate.
(iv)    Why area marked D is of no agricultural use.
1.      It is desert area with no water
2.    The soil is Sandy and uncultivable.
3.    Temperatures are too high with no rainfall

(b)(i)    A- Nomadic Pastoralism   B-is Shifting cultivation farming. C-Gathering.
(ii)    A is found in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Botswana, Somalia e.t.c
B is found in Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe Mozambique, Sudan e.t.a.
(c)    C- Gathering is found in Congo among the Ituri people.
(c)    (i)
•    Involves use of family labour.
•    Carried out on small scale.
•    Less care is given to the crop grown
•    Mixed cropping takes place as different crops are grown on the same piece of land.
•    Poor rudimentary tools such as Panga, hand axe and hand hoe are used.
•    Poor methods of agriculture are used
•    Use of indigenous seeds. The seeds for the previous season are kept until the new planting season comes.
•    Soil erosion and soil exhaustion are the order of the day.
•    What is produced is for home consumption.
Why it is not productive
•    The poor tools used.
•    No use of fertilizers to improve on the quality of the products.
•    Crops are destroyed by pests and diseases.
•    Small plots of land are cultivated due to limited labour.
•    The problem of unreliable rainfall.
•    The problem of Soil exhaustion and soil erosion.
Commercial farming is the growing of crops or rearing of animals on large scale   purposely for sale.  It involves the use of scientific methods, large capital investments, established large farms which aim at a wide market.
It is being encouraged in Africa in order to:-
•    Get foreign exchange by selling the products abroad.
•    Pay for the imports and service foreign debts.
•    Enable farmers to buy goods which they cannot produce locally.
•    Get profits and develop the country.
•    Diversify  the economy of the country.

    QUESTION THIRTY
    Study the table below showing oil palm production, in tones, for selected countries in Africa.
    Countries          ' 000'  tonnes
    Sierraleone        50
    Cameroon        84
    Ivory Coast        135
    Zaire            175
    Nigeria            680
    Source:  R.G white :  Africa New Edition.
a(i)    Draw a bar graph  to show oil palm production in the selected countries in the table above.   
(ii)    State two main facts about Oil Palm production in Africa revealed by the graph and the table above.
(iii)    Describe the natural conditions favouring oil  Palm production in any
    one of the selected countries in the table above.
b.    Give the main uses of Palm Oil.
c.    (i)    What problems face the Oil Palm producers?               
Simple bar graph showing oil palm production for selected countries in 1975.
 

(ii)    Nigeria is the largest producer of Oil Palm in Africa with 680,000 tones. Other countries which produce oil Palm, produce limited quantities compared to Nigeria alone.
(iii)    Refer to Question 29.   
(b)    Refer to Question 29.
(c)    Refer to Question 29.

QUESTION THIRTY ONE
Study the map of Southern Nigeria showing the major cash crops grown. Answer the questions which follows.

 
(a)    Which major cash crop is grown in the area marked:-     (i)    A.    (ii)    B.    (iii)    C.   
(b)    Describe the Physical factors which have led to the growing of those cash crops in the area shown on the map.
c)(i)    State the methods used in the growing of the crops at areas  marked :- A. and - B.
(ii)    What are the advantages and disadvantages of the methods stated in c(i) above?

    POSSIBLE ANSWERS
(a)    Crops grown in areas marked are:-   
    A-Rubber.    B-Cocoa.    C-Oil Palm.
•    The physical conditions are:-
•    High and well distributed rainfall throughout the year. This rainfall should not be less than 1500mm.
•    High temperatures between 21oC and 26oC throughout the year.
•    Low altitude of 1500 m above sea level.
•    Well drained and fertile soils.
•    The humidity must be high.
(c)    (i)    Crop at A(Rubber) is grown on plantations.
    Crop at B(Cocoa) is on small scale subsistence  farms.

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