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CRP312

Farm Power And Agric. Mechanization

This course on Farm Power and Agricultural Mechanization introduces students to the aims and objectives of agricultural mechanization, covering farm machinery for production and processing. It explores equipment for livestock production, water lifting devices, and various farm power sources. Students will learn about internal combustion engines, tractor subsystems, tillage requirements, planting equipment, forage handling, harvesting, and processing equipment. The course also covers cost estimation for machinery operation and hiring.

About this course

Difficulty
Intermediate
Study hours
120 hours
Maths
Basic
Content
Theoretical, practical
Practical work
Yes
How it is assessed
  • Assignments
  • Tutor marked assessments
  • Final examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of CRP312, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

CRP312 · CRP312

More recent country reports show that in Mali in 2010 there were 1,114 threshing machines, 703 mills, 1,286 huskers, 3,878 motor-pumps, 520 multifunctional platforms and 9 mini rice mills. In Burkina Faso, about 40% of farmers were mechanized in 2006, largely with draught animals. There were about 8621 tractors in the country, used on 0.4% of the farms.

What you should be able to do

  1. Understand the aims and objectives of agricultural mechanization
  2. Identify and operate farm machinery for crop and livestock production
  3. Explain the principles of farm power sources and internal combustion engines
  4. Describe tractor transmission, electrical, and hydraulic systems
  5. Estimate the cost of operating and hiring agricultural machinery

What it prepares you for

Careers
  • Agricultural Engineer
  • Farm Manager
  • Mechanization Specialist
  • Equipment Operator
  • Extension Officer
Where it is applied
  • Farming
  • Agricultural Equipment Manufacturing
  • Irrigation
  • Livestock Production
  • Food Processing

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

  • Module 5: Farm Power and Machinery Uses

    Unit 5: Tractor electrical system

    Understanding the intricate details of the electrical system, including wiring diagrams and troubleshooting techniques, requires a solid foundation in electrical principles and practical experience.

  • Module 5: Farm Power and Machinery Uses

    Unit 6: Tractor hydraulic system and three-point linkage

    The concepts of hydraulic systems and three-point linkage involve understanding fluid dynamics, pressure control, and mechanical linkages, requiring strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 26 hours in total. Yours will differ.

  1. Week 1Module 1: Aims and Objectives of Agricultural Mechanization
    • Unit 1: Agricultural Mechanization and its objective · 2 hours

      Define agricultural mechanization and its objectives. Discuss the aims of agricultural mechanization in West Africa. Identify the types of agricultural machinery in use.

  2. Week 2Module 2: Study of Farm Machinery Used
    • Unit 1: Farm machinery used for tillage · 2 hours

      Define tillage and its importance. Differentiate between primary and secondary tillage. Identify different types of ploughs and their uses.

  3. Week 3Module 2: Study of Farm Machinery Used
    • Unit 2: Equipment used for harvesting and processing · 2 hours

      Describe different types of harvesting equipment. Explain the working principles of threshing equipment. Identify adjustments needed for optimal thresher performance.

  4. Week 4Module 2: Study of Farm Machinery Used
    • Unit 3: Crop protection equipment · 2 hours

      Differentiate between sprayers and dusters. Identify the components of a sprayer and their functions. Describe the components of a duster and their functions.

  5. Week 5Module 3: Equipment Used for Livestock Management
    • Unit 1: Automatic conveyors · 2 hours

      Define conveyor systems and their objectives. Differentiate between manual and automatic conveyors. Explain the types of automatic feed conveyors.

  6. Week 6Module 3: Equipment Used for Livestock Management
    • Unit 2: Automatic drinkers for poultry · 2 hours

      Describe the importance of providing fresh and clean drinking water for poultry. Identify and explain different types of automatic drinkers.

  7. Week 7Module 3: Equipment Used for Livestock Management
    • Unit 3: Feeding and Watering Equipment · 2 hours

      Describe feeding and watering equipment for cattle. Explain feeding and watering equipment for sheep and goats. Identify feeding equipment for poultry.

  8. Week 8Module 3: Equipment Used for Livestock Management
    • Unit 4: Milk and Milk handling equipment · 2 hours

      Describe milk handling equipment. Explain the function of milking machines. Identify equipment used for refrigeration and cool storage of milk.

  9. Week 9Module 3: Equipment Used for Livestock Management
    • Unit 5: Meat Processing equipment · 2 hours

      Define meat and meat processing equipment. Identify different types of meat processing equipment. Explain types of cutting systems used in meat processing.

  10. Week 10Module 4: Water Lifting and Irrigation Equipment
    • Unit 1: Water lifting device and Irrigation equipment · 2 hours

      Classify water lifting devices. Explain manual water lifting devices. Describe animal-powered water lifting devices.

  11. Week 11Module 5: Farm Power and Machinery Uses
    • Unit 1: Overview of farm power sources · 2 hours

      Identify different sources of farm power. Explain the uses of each source of farm power. Discuss renewable energy sources in agriculture.

  12. Week 12Module 5: Farm Power and Machinery Uses
    • Unit 2: Internal combustion engine (IC) · 2 hours

      Describe the components of an internal combustion engine. Differentiate between four-stroke and two-stroke engines. Explain the working principles of IC engines.

  13. Week 13Module 5: Farm Power and Machinery Uses
    • Unit 3: Tractor transmission system · 2 hours

      Explain the function of the transmission system in a tractor. Describe the components of a transmission system. Discuss the types of clutches and gears used.

Preparing for the exam

What to do
  • Review all module objectives to ensure comprehensive understanding
  • Create diagrams illustrating the components and functions of farm machinery
  • Practice cost estimation problems for machinery operation and hiring
  • Study the principles of internal combustion engines and tractor systems
  • Focus on understanding the different types of tillage and planting equipment and their applications

Questions students ask about this course

What is CRP312 about?

This course on Farm Power and Agricultural Mechanization introduces students to the aims and objectives of agricultural mechanization, covering farm machinery for production and processing. It explores equipment for livestock production, water lifting devices, and various farm power sources. Students will learn about internal combustion engines, tractor subsystems, tillage requirements, planting equipment, forage handling, harvesting, and processing equipment. The course also covers cost estimation for machinery operation and hiring.

How many units does CRP312 have?

CRP312, Farm Power And Agric. Mechanization, has 1 unit across 1 module, over 86 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is CRP312?

CRP312 carries 2 credit units, at 300 level in Agricultural Sciences.

Is CRP312 hard?

CRP312 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical and practical work, and it has a practical component.

How long does CRP312 take to study?

About 120 hours of study, spread across its 1 units.

How is CRP312 assessed?

CRP312 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.

What can I do with CRP312?

Agricultural Engineer, Farm Manager, Mechanization Specialist, Equipment Operator and Extension Officer.

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