FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS

A farm structure can be defined as any construction on the farm site to make certain farming operations
easier. Construction can also be said to be done on a farm site to increase the farm's efficiency. The type
of farm structure on any farm depends on the kind of farm operated, the scope of operations, the
conditions prevailing on the site, and the amount of money available for the farming operations.

TYPES OF FARM STRUCTURES AND THEIR USES

The structures which may be found on any farm include:

1. Silos: A silo is a tall circular or rectangular farm structure made of concrete, mud, or stainless
steel. It is called elevators. Silos are structures preplanned mainly for the storage of grains and
silage. The humidity in modern silos is controlled and grains put in them can be stored in good
condition for a long time. They are expensive and difficult to maintain.
2. Cribs: Cribs are simple grain storage structures made of wood and wire gauze on the sides and
floor with a thatch or zinc roof. Cribs are used for drying maize that is still on the cob. The floor
of the crib is raised well above the ground on wooden legs, which have rodent guards, to
prevent rats from eating the grains
3. Rhumbus: These are round structures made from mud with a grass or thatch roof. They are
used for storing grain such as maize, sorghum, millet, cowpeas and groundnuts etc., they are
very common in the drier northern parts of Nigeria, especially the Sokoto and Kano States.
4. Feed mill: This is a structure constructed to make animal feed. It is economical for a large-scale
animal farmer to have a feed mill where the feed of his animals is produced.
5. Barns: These are temporary structures made on the farm for storing yam, cassava, grass or hay.
A barn can cheaply be constructed with sticks, mud, and thatch.
6. Abattoirs: These are special structures constructed for slaughtering and butchering animals
(goats, sheep, pigs, cattle e.t.c). They are also called slaughterhouses. An abattoir is made up of
a passageway through which an animal passes to the slab where it is held down and slaughtered
(slaughter slab).
7. Animal Dips and Sprays: Dips, concrete baths, or plastic vessels set onto the ground. It is filled
with water, then disinfectants are added e.g. acaricides for destroying ecto-parasites as the
animals are made to pass through it. While a spray is an overhead tank containing disinfectant
and a sprinkler through which the disinfectant drips onto the animals and performs the same
function as the dip.
8. Weighbridge: this is constructed for determining the weight of farm animals.
9. Crushes: These are made of 2 wooden or metal narrow passageways found on animal farms,
used for restricting animals, for check-ups, or for vaccination by a veterinary officer.
10. Water supply structures: These include dams, water tanks, and irrigation channels or canals.
– Dams: These are concrete or wooden barriers constructed across a river or stream so that the
flow of water is reduced. This accumulated water can be used to irrigate the farm or for
domestic water supply.
– Water tanks: These are constructed from galvanized metals, plastic materials, or reinforced
concrete and are mostly raised on concrete or steel pillars. Water tanks are used for storing
water for domestic use and watering farm animals.
– Canals: These are used to carry water from rivers to the field for growing crops. This is an
irrigation canal while a drainage canal is constructed to remove excess water from the farm.
 11. Compost manure pits: They are pits dug for the collection of plant and animal remains or waste
which are allowed to decompose and turned into manure for soil fertilizer.
12. Electricity supply structures: These are electric poles, wires, and connections for supplying
electric power to the farm.
13. Waste/Disposal pits: These are large pits dug on the outskirts of a farm for dumping all waste
and useless products of the farm. They are usually covered to prevent flies from carrying germs
to human food (vectors).
14. Fences: Fences are physical barriers specifically constructed around an area for the following
purposes.
– Prevention of unwanted persons or animals on the farm
– Prevents animals from leaving the farm site
– Controls grazing in the pasture
– To protect crops from being damaged by animals.

FARM BUILDINGS

Farm buildings are all the buildings on the farm. The types, number, and size depend on the farm’s type
and scope of operations.

USES/IMPORTANCE OF FARM BUILDINGS

Farm buildings are useful in the following ways:

1. They protect animals and farm workers from the weather

2. They protect farm supplies, products, animals, and farm workers from thieves and harmful
animals.
3. They are convenient means of caring for farm animals.
4. They provide a hygienic system for processing and storing farm products.
5. They are needed for efficient administrative and farm progress purposes

TYPES OF FARM BUILDINGS

There are mainly two types of farm buildings on the farm. They are:

1. Temporary farm building.

2. Permanent farm building.

TEMPORARY FARM BUILDINGS

These are simple buildings constructed from cheap or locally available materials such as bamboo,
sorghum, stalks, wood (timber) or palm fronds, mud and corrugated iron sheet or asbestos. They are
usually inexpensive and farmers find it easy to leave or destroy. They are abandoned immediately the
farmer has completed using them. They are also called “make shift” buildings and are commonly
constructed on farms. They include storage sheds for keeping machines and equipment, nurseries for
raising seedlings, animal pens, and construction sheds and garages for machines. Due to the nature of
the materials used to construct temporary buildings, they need frequent care.
PERMANENT FARM BUILDINGS

These are solid buildings normally constructed to last for a very long time. The walls and floors are
usually constructed with cement, sand, and gravel, wood, corrugated iron sheets, aluminum, or asbestos
are used for the roof.

Permanent buildings are expensive to construct but they do not require frequent maintenance like
temporary buildings. The roof should however be constantly examined and mended when in bad shape.
Examples of permanent buildings are:

1. Farm office
2. Stores for farm supplies and harvests
3. Workshops, generator house, and water storage tanks
4. Living quarters for farm workers
5. Animal houses e.g. cattle, sheep, goats, poultry
6. Processing e.g. milking house.

MAINTENANCE OF FARM STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS

Maintenance of farm structures and buildings refers to keeping the structures on the farm in a good
condition for continuous use. Farm structures and buildings are subject to wear and tear due to usage
and exposure to adverse weather conditions. Damage to wood by termites and of practically all forms of
fabric by agrochemicals like fertilizers also makes their own contribution to wear and tear.

MAINTENANCE OF FARM STRUCTURES

1. Silos should be cleaned and kept airtight; any leaks should be blocked immediately.
2. Abattoirs should be cleaned and disinfected after each operation.
3. Dips should be drained regularly.
4. Nozzles of sprayers should be cleaned to ensure the even distribution of chemicals during
spraying.
5. Water tanks should be cleaned regularly.
6. Soak away and manure pits should be emptied when they are full.
7. Drainage should be cleaned regularly with chemicals.
8. Electric poles must be checked for breaks or damage and replaced immediately.
9. Fences should be checked regularly and all broken parts should be repaired.

MAINTENANCE OF FARM BUILDINGS

1. Painting is a maintenance operation desirable for wooden and metal parts of farm buildings.
Parts exposed to rain should be treated with oil paint.
2. Damaged roofing sheets must be promptly replaced.
3. Cracks on walls should be patched.
4. Badly pitted cement floors should be resurfaced again.
5. Insect damage preventive chemicals e.g. Solignum should be applied on wooden parts.