Explanation

(a) Reasons for some practices undertaken by some West African farmers: 

(i)Movement of herdsmen southwards during the dry season 

• Abundance of forage in the south but scarcity of forage in the north because of the unequal 
• rainfall distribution in the dry season 
• Water scarcity in the north during the dry season forces them to move their animals 
• southwards in search of water. 

(ii)Preference for the use of simple farm tools: 

• High cost of farm machinery/inadequate capital 
• Low level of technical know-how on how to operate and maintain modem machines 
• High cost of spare parts 
• Land tenure system fragments farmlands and this discourages large-scale mechanized farming 
• Simple farm tools are much more readily available 
• They are also affordable 
• Easy to maintain 
• Easy to use 
• Spare parts are not readily available 

(b)(i) Problems associated with the movement of herdsmen: 

• Exposes animals to natural hazards 
• Death of animals due to fatigue of travelling long distance 
• Movement of animals causes destruction ofthe soil structure (compaction) 
• New diseases are easily introduced into another area 
• Indiscriminate mating in the herds leading to the transmission of undesirable traits 
• Diseases spread easily within the herds 
• Animals cause damage to cultivated crops along their route 
• Damage to crops brings about serious conflict/clashes between the herdsmen and the local farmers
• It exposes the herdsmen to dangers such as extremes of climatic conditions, wild animals, diseases and armed banditry attacks 
• New pests are easily introduced into another area 
• It encourages cattle rustling 
• Neglect of formal education for the children of herdsmen. 

(ii) Solution to the problems of the herdsmen movement 

• Provision of adequate security against theft 
• Disease/pest resistant animals should be reared 
• Provision of nomadic schools in strategic locations 
• Provision of irrigation facilities during the dry season in the north/savannah region to help in the artificial pastures 
• Establishment of grazing reserves at strategic locations in the north by government/ranching 
• Preservation of fodder which are in abundance in the south into hay and silage and 
• transported to the north during the dry season 
• Provision of cattle tracks/paths for easy passage of herds to prevent destruction of crops along their route 
• Castration of animals with undesirable traits long before the journey 
• Payment of compensation for damage caused to crops 
• Both herdsmen and animals should be vaccinated regularly 

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