Aeg 506 Class Note

AEG 506: Farm Transportation
OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING
AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
IBOGUN CAMPUS, IFO OGUN STATE NIGERIA
AEG506: Farm Transportation

Engr. A.A Babalola – Course Lecturer (Room A3-AEG Building)
Engr. B.D Odugbose– Course Lecturer II
Engr. B.O Adetifa – Course Reviewer/ Chief Examiner

Course Study Guide
Introduction
Introduction of Farm Transportation is to introduce undergraduate students in the

final year to the importance of Farm roads, farm transportation infrastructure as
indispensable components of a robust and sustainable agricultural sector. As a
major Agricultural hub of Sub Saharan Africa, this course presents an exciting
opportunity for students to get acquainted with the fundamentals of creating unique
and innovative solutions for the logistics of agricultural practice from the farm
stead to the end point and enhancing the value chain of sustainable agricultural
practice in doing so.
Furthermore, the students will be exposed to the development and construction of

farm transportation equipment, classification and identification of Farm
Transportation System–Standards and specifications and Ergonomics. Students
will be able to gain an improved understanding of road networks in rural areas and
their functionalities. Ability to design a farm road with drainages and the creation
of a maintenance plan respectively.
The course guide, therefore, gives you an overview of what AEG 506 is all about,
the textbooks and other materials; what you are expected to know in each study
session and how to work through the course materials.
Recommended Study Time
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This course is a 2-unit course divided into 8 study sessions. You are to spend at
least 2 hours to study the content of each study session.
What you are about to learn in this course
The overall aim of Farm Transportation is to introduce undergraduate students in

the final year to the importance of Farm roads, farm transportation infrastructure as
indispensable components of a robust and sustainable agricultural sector.
Furthermore, the students will be exposed to the development and construction of
farm transportation equipment, classification and identification of Farm
Transportation System–Standards and specifications and Ergonomics. Students
will be able to gain an improved understanding of road networks in rural areas and
their functionalities. They will also have the ability to design a farm road with
drainages and the creation of a maintenance plan respectively.
Course Aim
This course aims to introduce students to the basic fundamentals of farm

transportation. It is expected that the knowledge and practical perspectives gained
will enable the student to apply the highlighted outcomes in creating sustainable
farm transportation initiatives for a developing country like Nigeria.
Course Objectives
It is important to note that each session has specific objectives. Students should
study them carefully before proceeding to subsequent sessions. Therefore, it may
be useful to refer to these objectives in the course of your study of the session to
assess your progress. You should always look at the unit objectives after
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completing a session. In this way, you can be sure that you have done what is
required of you by the end of the study session.
Below are the overall objectives of this course. On completing this course, you
should be able to:
1. Explain Farm Transportation
2. Discuss the distinction between on farm and off-farm transportation activities.
3. Explain the major items that are conveyed in Farm Transportation
4. Discuss the Roles of Farm Transportation in ensuring Sustainable

Agriculture.
5. Discuss and Explain the Farm Transport Requirements.
6. Explain the Characteristics of Farm Transportation
7. Discuss the Farm Transport System
8. Highlight the different Farm Transport Routes
9. Identify and discuss different Farm transportation routes
10. Understand Farm transportation by Land
11. Discuss Requirements for transportation by land
12. Design and construct land transport vehicles
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13. Discuss the different farm transport vehicles by land
14. Understand farm transport by water
15. Explain the Limitations of Farm transport by Water
16. Discuss water transport vehicles.
17. Discuss the advantages of Farm transport by air
18. Application of Air transportation in Agriculture
19. Discuss Aircrafts use in Agriculture.
20. Discuss the classification of roads in Nigeria
21. Design, construct and maintenance of farm roads.
22. List the features and functionalities of farm roads
23. Discuss the commandments of a good farm road maintenance
24. Understand basic ergonomics in farm transportation.
Working through this course
In order to have a thorough understanding of the course units, you will need to read
and understand the contents and practise all the discussions in this module.
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This course covers approximately ten (10) weeks and it will require your devoted
attention. You should do the exercises in the Tutor-Marked Assignments and
submit to your tutors via the LMS.
The major components of the course are;
1. Course Guide
2. Printed Lecture materials
3. Text Books
4. Electronic Lecture materials via LMS
5. Tutor Marked Assignments
Recommended Texts
The following texts and Internet resource have been widely consulted in the
development of this material and this material is strictly for the purpose of AEG
506 Farm Transportation course.
1. Amadi, B.C. (1988). The impact of rural road construction on agricultural

development. An empirical study of Anambra state in Nigeria. Journal of
Agricultural Systems 27 (1)1-9.
2. Anyanwu, C.M.: Adebusuyi, B.S. and S.T.Y. Kukah (2003). Highway
maintenance in Nigeria: Lessons from other Countries. Central bank of
Nigeria, Research department occasional paper no 27. Central Bank of
Nigeria, Abuja
3. David Simon (1996). Transport and development in the third world,
Routledge, London.
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4. Jack Hindson (1992).Building and maintenance: a practical guide to earth
road construction and maintenance. Intermediate technology publications
Ltd. London.
5. Yahaya Mijinyawa (2007). Farm transportation in developing Countries.
Published by Aluelemhegbe publishers. Ibadan, Nigeria
6. Peter Crossley, Tim Chamen and Josef Kienzle Rural transport and traction
enterprises for improved livelihoods. FAO 2009. Diversification booklet
number 10
7. Agricultural Engineering in Development M. de Lucia and D. Assennato.
FAO Agricultural Services Bulletin No. 93. 1994
Assessment
There are two aspects to the assessment of this course. First, there are tutor-marked
assignments and second the written examination. Therefore, you are expected to
take note of the facts, information and problem-solving procedure gathered during
the course. The tutor-marked assignments must be submitted to your tutor for
formal assessment in accordance to the deadline given. The work submitted will
count for 30% of your total course mark.
At the end of the course, you will need to sit for a final written examination. This
examination will account for 70% of your total score. You will be required to
submit some assignments by uploading them to AEG 506 page on the LMS.
Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA)
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There are TMAs in this course. You need to submit all the TMAs. The best 10 will
be counted. When you have completed each assignment, send it to your tutor as
soon as possible and be certain that it gets to your tutor on or before the stipulated
deadline. If for any reason you cannot complete your assignment on time, contact
your tutor before the assignment is due to discuss the possibility of extension.
Extension will not be granted after the deadline unless an extraordinary case can be
established.
Final Examination and Grading
The final examination for AEG 506 will last for a period not more than 2hours and
has a value of 70%. The examination will consist of questions which reflect the
Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs), In-text Questions (ITQs) and tutor- marked
assignments that you have previously encountered. Furthermore, all areas of the
course will be examined. It would be better to use the time between finishing the
last unit and sitting for the examination to revise the entire course. You might find
it useful to review your TMAs and comment on them before the examination. The
final examination covers information from all parts of the course. Most
examinations will be conducted via Pen-On Paper (POP).
Tutors and Tutorials
There are a few hours of face-to-face tutorials provided in support of this course.
You will be notified of the dates, time and location together with the name and
phone number of your tutor as soon as you are allocated a tutorial group. Your
tutor will mark and comment on your assignments, keep a close watch on your
progress and on any difficulties you might encounter and provide assistance to you
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during the course. You must submit your tutor- marked assignments to your tutor
well before the due date. At least two working days are required for this purpose.
They will be marked by your tutor and returned as soon as possible via the same
means of submission.
Do not hesitate to contact your tutor by telephone, e-mail or discussion board if

you need help. The following might be circumstances in which you would find
help necessary. Contact your tutor if:
You do not understand any part of the study units or the assigned readings.
You have difficulty with the self-test or exercise.
You have questions or problems with an assignment, with your tutor’s comments
on an assignment or with the grading of an assignment.
You should endeavour to attend the tutorials. This is the only opportunity to have
face-to-face contact with your tutor and ask questions which are answered
instantly. You can raise any problem encountered in the course of your study. To
gain the maximum benefit from the course tutorials, have some questions handy
before attending them. You will learn a lot from participating actively in
discussions.
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Table of Contents
Contents
Course Study Guide.........................................................................................................................2
Introduction..................................................................................................................................2
Assessment......................................................................................................................................6
Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA)..............................................................................................7
Final Examination and Grading...................................................................................................7
Tutors and Tutorials......................................................................................................................8
Table of Contents...........................................................................................................................10
Final Examination and Grading.................................................................................................12
Tutors and Tutorials....................................................................................................................12
1.0 Study Session 1 Week 1: Farm Transportation.............................................................14
On-farm transportation refers to all forms of transportation carried out within the
neighbourhood of the farm while off-farm transportation involves the movement from the
farm to locations outside the farm neighbourhood. The two differ in a number of ways and
they include................................................................................................................................15
 activities requiring movement,...........................................................................................15
 distances involved,..............................................................................................................15
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 transport means and............................................................................................................15
 frequency of travel..............................................................................................................15
1.1 Roles of farm transportation in agricultural development..............................................17
1.2 Farm transportation requirements...................................................................................23
1.3 Characteristics of Farm transportation............................................................................26
1.4 FARM TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM........................................................................27
1.5 FARM TRANSPORT ROUTES....................................................................................30
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Final Examination and Grading
The final examination for AEG 506 will last for a period not more than 2hours and
has a value of 60% of the total course grade. The examination will consist of
questions on the Self-Assessment Questions (SAQs), In-text Questions (ITQs) and
tutor marked assignments that you have previously encountered. Furthermore, all
areas of the course are examined. It would be better to use the time between
finishing the last unit and sitting for the examination to revise the entire course.
You might find it useful to review your TMAs and comment on them before the
examination. The final examination covers information from all parts of the course.
Most examinations are conducted via Pen-On Paper (POP) medium.
Tutors and Tutorials
There are few hours of face-to-face tutorials provided in support of this course.
You will be notified of the dates, time and location together with the name and
phone number of your tutor as soon as you are allocated a tutorial group. Your
tutor will mark and comment on your assignments, keep a close watch on your
progress and on any difficulties you might encounter and provide assistance to
students during the course. You must submit your tutor marked assignment to your
tutor well before the due date. At least two working days are required for this
purpose. They will be marked by your tutor and returned as soon as possible via
the same means of submission.
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Do not hesitate to contact your tutor by telephone, e-mail or discussion board if
you need help. The following might be circumstances in which you would find
help necessary: contact your tutor if:
 You do not understand any part of the study units or the assigned readings.
 You have difficulty with the self-test or exercise.
 You have questions or problems with an assignment, with your tutor’s
comments on an assignment or with the grading of an assignment.
You should endeavour to attend the tutorials. This is the only opportunity to have
face-to-face contact with your tutor and ask questions which are answered
instantly. You can raise any problem encountered in the course of your study. To
gain the maximum benefit from the course tutorials, have some questions handy
before attending them. You will learn a lot from participating actively in
discussions.
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1.0 Study Session 1 Week 1: Farm Transportation
Introduction
Definition Of Farm Transportation
Transportation, handling, movement, transfer, conveyance, shift, delivery, and

other similar terminologies interchangeably, are human activities the result of
which is a change in the location of the individual or object involved.
Transportation can also be described as the art and science of conveying a material,
equipment, animals, or human beings from one location to another. When the
goods involved are agriculturally related and within, and occasionally outside the
farm environment, it is referred to as farm transportation.
The various facilities used to accomplish the movement of these agricultural

materials are collectively referred to as farm transport vehicles. These vehicles
could be powered by humans, animals, or by mechanical means. Materials for
which farm transportation may be required to convey include farm inputs such as
seeds, seedlings, fertilizers, agrochemicals, farm machinery, labour, and harvested
farm produce.
Farm transportation can broadly be classified into two: These are
 on-farm and
 off-farm transportation.
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On-farm transportation refers to all forms of transportation carried out within the
neighbourhood of the farm while off-farm transportation involves the movement
from the farm to locations outside the farm neighbourhood. The two differ in a
number of ways and they include
 activities requiring movement,

 distances involved,
 transport means and
 frequency of travel.
On-farm transportation activities include collection o water and firewood,
conveyance of input such as fertilizers and seeds to the field, and carting off the
harvests of arable and fodder crops to the dwelling store or collection points
Off-farm Transportation includes movement between the farm and urban areas for
produce sale or procurement of inputs, social engagements, and to obtain social
services such as health and educational facilities. For marketed produce,
transportation may be in two parts:
Between the field where the produce is harvested and far, store or dwelling, and
between the dwelling and collection points or market.
Farm transportation is as old as human existence and its first application was to
human beings. The possible first reason why transportation had to be done was for
the early man to move and exercise himself for health reasons. Followed by the
need to reach the locations of the fruits he needed to gather and the animals to
hunt.
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Examples of activities needing transportation
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1.1 Roles of farm transportation in agricultural development
Farm transportation plays a significant role in Agricultural Development.

Transport, whether traditional or mechanized, is needed to move the agricultural
commodities:
 from the harvest fields to the threshing or drying site;
 from there to the farmer's storehouses or collection-centre warehouses;
 from there to the processing industries or to bigger central storage buildings

(often much farther from where the commodity is grown);
 from these industries or storage buildings to wholesalers or retailers for final

marketing.
Hence, according to Mijinyawa, (2007 )The roles of farm transportation include
A. Reduction of Drudgery in Produce Conveyance
In many cases, farms are located far away from dwelling places and after
harvest, the produce is conveyed home for family use in the case of subsistence
farmers and when there is surplus for sale, they have to be taken to the sales
point or storage facility.
In many situations, the movement of farm produce from one location to the
other is through Human portering. This exercise subjects the average farmer to
a lot of stress and over time, his health may be affected manifesting through
joint pains and problems in old age.
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Good farm transportation systems place less emphasis on the use of human
muscle and instead promotes the use of a variety of mobility methods ranging
from motorized vehicles to pack animals for conveying agricultural produce
Example of human portering(load carrying using the human body)

Source google.com
B. Reduced Travel Time

In countries such as Swaziland(Now Eswatini), the land tenure system is such that
the residential house and the farm are within the same neighbourhood while in
others such as Nigeria, farming areas are far away from the villages which are the
living areas.
Although a few farmers may set up temporary dwelling places on their farms,
majority of farmers stay far away with distances being as much as 10km.
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Where a good farm transportation system exists, less time is spent on travelling to
the - farm and sufficient time is available for productive work. Not only is more
time available, but the energy hitherto expended on walking the same distance is
saved and put to productive work. Travelling times on farm-market routes are also
reduced which encourages early delivery of produce to the desired destination.
C. Agricultural Mechanization
One of the major differences between subsistence and mechanized agriculture is

the size of farm holdings. In subsistence agriculture, farm sizes are small and in
many cases less than five hectares which are shared among a variety of crops,
while in mechanized agriculture, farm sizes are unrestricted depending on the
desire and means of the farmer. Subsistence farmers have remained content with
their smallholdings not by choice but because they have no Option. Despite the
vast areas of arable land available in the rural areas, they mostly opt for small farm
sizes which is commensurate with their manual labour rather than opening up
larger areas which would demand much more labour than they can provide.
Good farm transportation will ensure the easy movement of agricultural machinery
and other mechanization aids which will support the rapid expansion of farm
holdings. With agricultural mechanization, there will be more employment on
large scale farms as most subsistence farmers will be able to increase their
production levels and sell more which will ultimately improve their income.
D. Reduced Post-harvest losses
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For many years to come, the rural areas will remain the food production
centres while as a result of urban migration, and population explosion, the
main marketing centres will continue to remain in the urban centres.
According to different studies, between 30-50% of harvested agricultural
produce is lost after collection from the field before getting to the
consumers.
Part of these losses is incurred due to spill and damage as a result of
accidents or due to delays owing to vehicle breakdowns. Also, when the
distance of the farm to the market is far and the road is rough perishable
crops may be destroyed and farmers may run at a loss.
In cases where transportation arrangements have been made with vehicle

owners to transport harvested products, the vehicle may not show up due to
a breakdown or the vehicle owner gets a more lucrative deal leaving the
farmers to count his losses.
An effective farm transportation system will ensure farmers get their
produce to the market on time thereby reducing the chances of spoilage and
earn good value for their produce in doing so
E. Timeliness of Agricultural Operations
Many crops are seasonal which means that they can only be cultivated at
certain periods of the year. Within this period, the various operations that
require its cultivation from planting to harvesting follow a strict timeline that
should not be missed if a good harvest is to be guaranteed. Hence, a good
farm transportation system will ensure that farm machinery arrives at the
farm on time for land preparation, while all other inputs such as seeds,
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fertilizers agrochemicals are supplied as at when due. These conditions make
a bumper harvest a reality for the farmer at the end of the planting season.
F. Ease of Technology Transfer

There are always improvements in agricultural practice but in most cases,
the new technology does not get to the peasant farmers who make up the
bulk of the food production value chain in developing countries. This is
partly why subsistence agriculture has remained unchanged over many years
in such countries. While many agrarian programs have always provided
extension services with relevant staff many of such staff have found it
difficult to reach the rural farmers because they cannot get access to such
remote places fun transportation will enable extension staff to reach the
farmers and deliver new ideas on farming technologies during such visits
they will also be able to understand the farmer's problems which they can
either diagnose themselves I'll take back to the research institutions for
further investigations through this method the farmers will be able to adopt
new technologies and possibly expand their products which will eventually
improve their economic situation.
G. Distribution of Agricultural Produce
As a result of climatic variations, certain crops can only be grown in certain
regions but are universally demanded. Transportation ensures such produce
is conveyed to other areas where they are not cultivated A very good
example is the movement of cattle, sorghum, millets and other grains from
the Northern part of Nigeria to the Southern Markets through mass
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transportation media like roads and rails. Farm transportation ensures the
shift of produce from the areas of abundance to areas of scarcity.
H. Market and Cottage Industrial Development
In many instances, the inhabitants of a place may be interested in the
consumption of agricultural produce that is not cultivated within their
environs. If there is a sure means of transport to bring such products from
the areas of production to such a place, it will open up the opportunity for a
new market creating employment for people engaged in the trade.
Farm transportation could be a catalyst for cottage industrial development.
I. Cheap Prices and Good Profit Margin
While the rural areas are the centres of food production, the bulk of the food
produced is consumed in urban areas. The cost of conveying the harvested
produce from the farm to the urban centre will determine both the profit
margin the farmer makes and what the final consumer pays for the produce.
An increase in the cost of farm transportation falls on the farmer in the short
run. This is because an increase in the cost of transportation will reduce what
marketing firms or individual produce merchants will be willing to pay to
the farmer at the farm gate.
Availability of a good farm transport system will ensure that the farmers
dispose of their produce at a good price whether they choose to sell at the
farm gate or take them to the urban centre. Urban dwellers and consumers
will also pay a more compassionate price.
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1.2 Farm transportation requirements
Farm transportation is an important aspect of agricultural development but if it is to

meet the expectations of the users, certain minimum conditions must be met. These
conditions include the following:
a) Availability of Vehicles
Farm transport vehicles should be available and reliable so that farmers will be
able to harvest their crops in anticipation of adequate transport means. Where
this is lacking, the delivery of produce to the market is delayed which may
result in produce spoilage and reduced market value this is very common with
perishable crops such as vegetables.
Cassava is a crop that is extensively cultivated in many parts of southern

Nigeria if good quality byproducts are to be expected from cassava after harvest
its processing should commence within one or two days. Quite often, the
location where the harvested cassava is due for processing may be far away
from the farms if there is a delay such that the harvested cassava cannot be
delivered to the center in good time deterioration sets in and produce may be
lost .
Hence, vehicles should not only be available but they should be in good
condition so as not to put either the farmers or items conveyed in danger
b) Affordable Transport Costs
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The cost of transportation should be affordable by the farmers the purpose of
transportation is to improve the economic situation of the farmers and hence
its cost should not be too exorbitant such as to make the farmer work at a
loss in an ideal situation all stakeholders in the transport sector including
transport owners operators and the farmer's organizations all of which have
an umbrella for this should agree on appropriate fares such that no one is put
at a disadvantage
c) Good condition of Transport routes

the condition of routes is very important transport world should be in good
condition so as to reduce the wear and tear on vehicles being used on the
routes where the route are either lacking or in deplorable conditions
transport owners are not likely to apply such roads and the farmers will incur
great losses due to either spoilage of produce or exorbitant transport costs
which will reduce their profit margin
d) Reduction of Post-harvest losses
it is a common occurrence for substantial amounts of produce to be lost

during transportation a number of factors could be responsible for this and
three of such factors are spoilage pilferage and accidents spoilage is a
common and is common with perishable crops which could occur as a result
of delay during conveyance when they overstate on the route and begin to
rot before getting to their destination in some cases produce being conveyed
have been stolen even by those entrusted with the college job well
substantial produce have spilled on the highway and rendered unfit for
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human consumption as a result of the equal accidents these losses when
aggregated could be substantial a good fun transportation system must as
much as possible limits produce losses while in transit
e) All year round accessibility

farm routes should be accessible all year round so that movement is not
impeded it is common to find roots that are possible only during the dry
season while during the rainy season when they are most needed for farm
work they're not possible either because of erosion or even the emergence of
water pollution along the path. Even during the dry season when the routes
are accessible vehicles may be enveloped in a thick cloud of dust's which
constitutes health hazards to humans and livestock and contaminates the
produce being conveyed. Some farm routes pass over seasonal streams and
during the rainy season, the water level renders such routes impassable.
Bridges and culverts must be put over such obstructions so that there is a
free flow of traffic all year round.
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1.3 Characteristics of Farm transportation
Transportation in whatever form it is carried out has the same objective what is to
change the location of a person or an item. However, some features distinguish
farm transportation from that within the urban center. These distinguishing features
are often referred to us the characteristics of farm transportation and they include
but not limited to the following
a) Items Conveyed
In urban transportation a variety of goods and different classes of people are

transported whereas, in farm transportation, most of the items conveyed are
directly or indirectly related to agricultural activities. Transported items on-farm
routes are in most cases limited to agricultural inputs and supplies such as feet
fertilize us seed I will chemicals and feel equipment processed or unprocessed
farm products livestock appliance wastes such as compost manure and crop
residues farmworkers extension agents entrepreneurs or produce merchants who all
have business with agricultural activities. In urban transport, there is no limitation
to items conveyed which will include all those listed above.
b) Travel Distances
Distance covered in farm transportation are relatively small compared to urban

transportation. These are usually from farms to villages most of which are less than
10 kilometers and occasionally to the markets which are also not too distant.
Beyond the collection points or markets , the subsequent conveyance of farm
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produce to the places outside the state or even across the country is viewed in the
same category as other items hence it is often not regarded as farm transportation.
c) Volume of Traffic
on farm roads, the volume of traffic that is the number of vehicles playing the few
vehicular routes per day is relatively small compared to roots in urban areas. In
some cases, vehicles may only use the farm route on the village market days
d) Capacity of Vehicles
The carrying capacity of most of the vehicles on farm roads is small compared to
those used for urban transportation. This will be more appreciated if it is realized
that man also serves as a vehicle when he transports goods using various parts of
his body.
1.4 FARM TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
The farm transport system comprises of three components. These are:

 The beginning or take-off point or point of loading,
 the route of transit, and
 the final point or destination.
Each of these components played a major role in ensuring effective farm
transportation. The features requirements and activities carried out at each of these
stages depend on several factors such as the produce involved and its location. The
activities that take place at various points in the transport system and relevant
facilities are highlighted in the table below
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Table 1 Farm Transportation System
Parameter Take off Point Transit Destination
Activities a)Procurement of Conveyan a)Unloading

produce ce
b)Temporary Storage
b)Drying of produce
c)Sales and Distribution
c) Sorting and Grading
of produce
d)Bagging or Packaging
e)Loading
Facilities a) Stores a)Road Networks a)Labour
b) Drying b) Vehicles b)Store (Optional)

platforms/Dryers
c)Security
c)Moisture meters
d)Weighing machines
e)Screens
f)Security
Take off point: At the take-off point, the activities carried out include procurement
cleaning and drying packaging and loading. Because of the subsistent nature of
agriculture in many developing countries, individual farmers have very few
surpluses to sell. Produce merchants scout for several farmers to buy their small
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surpluses to be able to accumulate enough farm produce before being transported
to the urban center
Transit
Without an appropriate linkage between the centers of production and major areas
of consumption, the whole essence of agricultural operation will be defeated this
aspect of the transport system ensures that the produce gets delivered from the
source to where it is required good very close and good routes are what is needed
for the effective conveyance of such produce. The transport vehicle must be
available and as a cost that does not make the farming business and unprofitable
Destination
The final point could be temporary permanent just as the destination and one
journey will be the starting point for another first without permanent or temporary
one major common thing is that the transit comes to an end and produces
evacuated from the vehicle with which it was loaded from the takeoff point
1.5 FARM TRANSPORT ROUTES
Transport routes are various ways by which communication between two or more
settlements is accomplished. In most countries such as Nigeria, about 6 types of
transport routes can be identified as presented in the table below. These are
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highways, railways Airways, waterways, pipelines, and conveyors. However, in
farm transportation, only the 1st four types are often considered.
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Facilities and Highways Railways Airways Water Ways Pipeline Conveyors
Technologies
Terminal Street, Parking Railway Station Aerodome, Ports, Harbours, boat Plants, Home Stockpile, baggage hold
garages Airport yeard,
Vehicle Motorized and Coaches and Aircraft Vessels, ships, barge, Pipes and tubes Conveyor belt, trams, lift cab
Non motorized Wagons boat, canoes
Motive Power Gasoline Steam, gas, Pist jet, turbo Diesel and steam Pumps Electric motor
electric turbine, engine engine
traction,
Technology Tyred wheel on Flanged wheel Gas suction Propulsion through Pressurized liquid flow Frictional propulsion
Roadway on rail Technology Water
Way Roads Paved and Rail Track Airspace Channels and bodies Pipes and tubes Belts, Tramways, Ropeways Rollers
Unpaved of water
2.0 FARM TRANSPORTATION BY LAND
Transportation through the land is the oldest form of transportation. It began with
people using them as routes in fruit gathering and animal hunting, and later for the
conveyance of goods using various parts of their bodies from one settlement to
another.
Transportation through the land is broadly divided into roads and rails. Roads
include all forms of access or passage through which movement can be
accomplished by human beings, animals, and vehicles. This includes trucks,
footpaths, untarred roads, and tarred roads.
in Nigeria, major farm transportation is done by road. In most cases, farm routes
are substantially by paths for most people and animals and in a few cases motor
able roads
2.1 Basic Requirements for Land Transportation
The basic requirements of a good land route include the following.
a. In planning for farm transportation, efforts should be made towards

achieving two things. These are
1. Reduction In travel time and
2. The Energy spent while travelling.
Irrespective of the mode of travelling, the longer the distance between two
points, the longer the time it will take t move from one point to another. It is
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often therefore desired that the road linking two points should be as short as
possible and hence reduce the time of travel. Reduced time of travel saves
time that can be used for other activities. It also saves energy and fuel in the
case of motorized vehicles.
b. As result of variation in climate, vegetation and relief, a number of

obstructions may be encountered between the place of residence and the
farm location. Such obstructions include hills, valleys, swamps and even
rivers. The presence of these physical features could severely impede farm
transportation especially in areas where there are little to no investments to
ameliorate the effects of these features.
Thus, hills, valleys and obstructions generally should be avoided when planning a
farm road.
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-
Example of roads passing through hills Source: google.com
An example of a Swampy road
c. Although the cultivation of certain crops may be seasonal, agricultural

activities are all year round and there is no time the farm is not visited. Farm
road therefore must be accessible at all times of the year.
d. There should be an effective maintenance plan so that the route becomes
passable all year round. Minor maintenance such as regular filing of po holes
and removal of vegetation will improve the transport system through the
land
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2.2 Advantages of Land Transportation
The advantages include
a. Production centres in every nook and cranny is accessible by land unlike air
and water transportation that need designated ports.
b. Land Journeys can commence and terminate anywhere as long as the farm is
located along a route.
c. Minimal investment in parking spaces
d. Flexible road construction methods
e. Less capital outlay
f. Suitable for short distances
g. Low cost of road maintenance
h. Services to rural areas.
i. Lesser risk of damage to produce in transit.
2.3 Land Trasport Vehicles
Land Transport vehicles are the various equipment or facilities with which
movement on the farm routes through the land is accomplished. The se transport
vehicles range from human to animal at very remote areas and simple motor driven
vehicles.
The major land vehicles of relevance include:
a. Human porterage
Is a method of transportation on which a human being carries load directly resting

on his body as he moves from one place to another by walking. Human Porterage
is the oldest and most widespread form of transportation in many parts of the
world. Unlike the use of pack animals, which is limited to tsetse fly free zones such
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as the savanna and desert and canoes that are limited to the riverine areas, there's
hardly any part of the world where human Porterage is not known and used.
by definition. The human being qualifies as a Farm transport vehicle since he does
not only facilitate the use of other types of vehicles, but also bears the burden of
the materials to be conveyed. The simplest and oldest method of conveying goods
including agricultural produce were on the back of human beings.
The extensive use of human Porterage was because man could maneuver any
geographical terrain over which loads had to be transported. The transportation
was relatively easy and the cost low. Thus, human beings remained very useful as
found transport vehicles for short distances, especially in underdeveloped corners.
Using the head from and shoulder or back depending on cultural beliefs to support
the load to be conveyed.
Human portering using the head and the back
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b. Human powered vehicles. This refers to those facilities used in conveying
goods which are solely powered by man and are non-motorized. The
advantage of this group of vehicles is that they require no special skill to use
but the operator must be in good health and energetic. This group includes
the following.
i. wheelbarrow This is one of the most used equipment in
transportation. The equipment is human powered, and it is a
conceived idea of a smaller man-made cart which could easily
be handled and would be convenient for transporting small
loads.
A wheel barrow
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ii. Sledge. Sledge is a wheel-less vehicle which is mostly useful in
transporting goods. When the ground surface is covered with
snow. It can also be effectively used over bare ground under
many conditions. In steep terrain, they are more easily
controlled than the wheeled vehicles.
A wooden sledge.
iii. Hand Carts. Hand carts come in various designs and are
generally best suited to relatively smooth track and flat ground
or a very low gradient such as in and around villages and within
the farm.
iv. Bicycle. It is one of the most widespread and versatile form of
farm and rural transportation. It greatly increases mobility and
accessibility in farming communities, enabling substantial loads
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to be carried requires No fuel. The bicycle is cheap and hence
widely available and popular in fairly level terrain.
v. Tricycle. The tricycle and the bicycle with the side car have
similar features except that the two parallel Tyres at the rear of
the tricycle restrict the terrain and type of track in which it can
be used. Their load carrying capacity is however substantially
greater than bicycle as trailer, load platforms or passenger
compartments can be fitted.
Tricycles
A very important role of the tricycle is as a Portable utility platform for

agricultural operations.(See journal article.)
c. Animal traction or Pack Animals
Impact Animal is a beast of burden used by humans as a means of

transporting loads. Apart from human porterage, the earliest non-mechanical form
of land transport was the pack-animal dating back as far as 3500BC when pack
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animal caravans were used to convey goods over long distances pulled by
domesticated donkeys.
The use of animals as transport vehicle in farm transportation is twofold.

The animal can either be used to carry produce laded in a sack and placed on the
back or an alternative the animal could be used to pull a cart onto which the items
to be transported are loaded.
The use of animal drawn cart is a major form of transportation in areas where the
climate favours the raising of livestock.
Animal packs
d. Motorized Vehicles
The main source of power in these vehicles is motorized even though human efforts may be
required in ensuring vehicle control. This category includes well-known forms of transport such
as motor scooters and motor bikes/motorcycles, which are increasingly used in rural towns and
villages. The newer designs like motor cross bikes have broad tyres and are proving valuable for
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agricultural extension officers, wildlife conservation staff and others in rough rural areas. There
are many other types of adaptations such as powered bicycle and tricycle which offer the
advantages of greater power on low-cost vehicle with the possibility of pulling trailer and similar
attachment to convey heavier load or traverse greater distances than human powered vehicles.
Motorized vehicles
2.4 Factors that Influence the choice of Farm Transport Vehicle
1. The location of Farm and Mode of Transportation Available
The types of transport vehicles available and where the farm is located will
determine the choice of transport vehicle made. There is a catalogue of vehicles to
choose from, ranging from the farmer himself. Animals to motorized vehicles such
as cars and buses pick up and tractors or trailers.
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2. Haulage Distance
The distance over which the produces to be conveyed will determine the type of
vehicle one would choose. Where the conveyance is intra or within a farm or short
distances, human porterage using various parts of the body may be used while if it
is over long distances engine powered vehicles such as trailers, pick ups are better
alternatives.
3. Quantity of Produce versus Carrying capacity of the Vehicle.
In the choice of transport vehicle, the amount of produce to be conveyed must be

weighed against the capability of vehicle to carry the user and all of his loads.
Where the amount of produce is large and small capacity vehicle is used, many
trips will have to be made which will both be expensive and time consuming.
4. Economic Considerations.
One of the primary objectives of farm transportation is to improve the economic

situation of the farmer through effective, reliable and affordable movement
between the farm and the urban center, especially the market. Economic
consideration consists of two parts. One is the commercial value of the product.
The second is the cost of transportation. Different vehicles will be available at
various costs, and the tendency is to opt for a cheaper one. Perishable produce
deteriorate fast and must be delivered within a certain period of time.to the market.
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Hnece all these considerations are required in choosing an alternative for farm
transportation.
3.0 FARM TRANSPORTATION BY WATER
Water transport is the predominant means of communication in riverine areas but

could also be used in other areas of a country where rivers that are of adequate
volume that can support canoes and other water transport vehicles are available.
The riverine areas and rivers are the fishing reserves of most countries besides the
movement of farm produce, water transport, also provides a means of fishing.
One of the earliest uses of water transport routes in agriculture was for log
transport which could be floated through navigable rivers at no cost. In many cases
the logs were Simply put Into the River unaccompanied, only to be awaited and
collected at the downstream destination. However, pilferage later made it
necessary to police the log as it travelled through the water.
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When speed is not important, and the commodity has a great bulk weight, water
transport is often the cheapest mode of transport.
3.1 Limitation and Requirement of Water Transport.
The successful use of water transportation in any environment depends on the

availability of water bodies or rivers of adequate depth That can. Support the
floating of canoes boats, rafts and other similar equipment often used for
Movement over water. The use of water Transport, despite its relative cheapness, is
limited to the riverine areas of most countries.
There is a minimum depth of water in the River over which water transport
vehicles can be used. There are several rivers that are sufficiently deep during the
rainy season. While during the dry season, the volume either reduces or in extreme
cases the whole River will get dried. Such situations limit the use of water
transport vehicles all year round.
Rivers must be able to support water transport vehicles movement at all times of
the years. Weeds such as water hyacinth Obstruct navigation and could cause
accidents on the River. There should be a maintenance program to ensure sure that
all obstructions on the route are cleared without delay.
A major disadvantage with water transportation is the casualty, often recorded

when there is an accident. When they occur, the accidents are disastrous and, in
some cases, there may be no survivors while the produce are lost.
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Water hyacinth
Dry riverbeds
Advantages of Water Transportation
 With regards to the distance it covers, it is the cheapest form of transport

 Bulky goods and large cargoes can be transported from one country to
another.
 It is considered the safest mode of transportation alongside railway
transportation.
 Water transport is not affected by natural events like bad weather, flood,
rains etc.
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 Water bodies are free gifts of nature hence they don’t require any cost of
construction and maintenance
Disadvantages of Water Transport
 Slow: Speed of water transport is very slow and therefore this mode of
transport is unsuitable where time is an important factor.
 Limited Area of Operation: It can be used only in a limited area which is
served by deep canals and rivers.
 Seasonal Character: Due to the seasonality of flow of most water
bodies, water transportation is only possible at certain periods of the
year when the volume of water is capable of supporting the flotation of
water transport vehicles.
 Unreliable:
 Unsuitable for Small Business:
3.2 Water Transport Vehicles
The simplest and earliest method of travel through water was swimming with the
swimmer carrying a little load on his back. The load that could be carried through
this method was limited and advantage was taken of pack animals that could be
used to support loads while swimming. This means was very dangerous and
frequently destructive of the content of the pack, and in any case the quantity of
goods that could be transported across water by swimming, was limited.
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This prompted the idea of developing a vessel for use on the water. The earliest our
simplest vessel was the log. Simple logs were placed in water and people sat
astride on them and propel them at a considerable speed. occasionally loads were
also placed on the logs and held by the passengers. Then followed the development
of the floating gear and other simple but appropriate technology. Vehicles such as
canoes are rafts made from reeds, hollowed cut logs and animal skin.
In River in areas of Nigeria, the canoe is the predominant vessel used by the small-
scale farmers and fishermen. A canoe is a relatively small human-powered boat
pointed at both ends and usually opens on top. It is manually propelled by the use
of a paddle and in some instances, it can be fitted with a motorized engine for
faster speed and high capacity which is referred to as speed boat.
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Canoe and Speed boats
4.0 TRANSPORTATION BY AIR
Air transportation in agriculture is not as popular as land and water in developing

countries. In developed countries where very large farms predominate. Many
farmers and workers are transported from their homes to their farms using air
transport. In developing countries. The use of air transport is limited because of the
cost of the aircraft, which in many cases the farm business cannot accommodate.
The use of aircraft is therefore limited to few private mechanized farms and those
owned by corporate organizations in developing countries. Where it is available,
the aircraft is a very useful asset in agricultural production. For reasons of costs
and the limited capacity of airliners, a great deal of air freight of agricultural
materials consists of perishable goods of the luxury class for which speed of
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delivery is essential. This category includes such items as lobsters and shellfish.
Table fruits such as Peaches, strawberries and Flowers.
Application of air transport In agriculture.
Some of the areas where air transport could boost agricultural production include
the following.
Security Service
in many agricultural establishments. Security is provided. Through the erection of

security posts at intervals along the farm perimeter, Security personnel are
permanently stationed in such posts while in some instances, There may be the
posts but the farm perimeter is regularly patrolled. These approaches have in a
number of cases, not provided the desired results. This is because rather than
apprehend the pilferers, the personnel are either the culprits or accomplices. Their
secluded posts protect them from being seen by both the management and their
colleagues and they abuse the privilege to steal.
An aircraft flying at a low altitude can readily provide security for the farm. All
persons on the farm man, full of the fact that they are being watched from above,
detailed from attempting to steal.
Field inspection.
In many instances, access paths are often allowed in between plots for inspection.
The inspection is carried out by driving in between the plots and occasionally
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walking inside the plots in order to identify any problems on the field. This
approach has a number of disadvantages.
The area allowed for pathways could be substantial reducing the area available for
planting. The inspection on foot within the field is tasking and potential danger
spots may not be noticed.
With aircraft it would be possible to transverse the whole field and detect any
portion within the field where the crop development differ from the surrounding
crops, and if need be such places and then be visited on foot. Similarly, areas
where irrigation facilities are not functioning properly can easily be detected and
immediate measures taken before the crops are affected.
Movement over difficult terrain.
Natural features such as mountains may make some fertile lands inaccessible by
land and water transports may also not be convenient. The first option is to regard
such areas as no go areas and abandoned but where individuals venture into such
areas to establish farms, the bumper harvest will get spoilt if it cannot be evacuated
to areas of need. Air Transport provides a viable option in such situations and
maximum use can be made of such fertile lands.
Forest and plantation firefighting.
Although it is always emphasized that appropriate precautions against fire should

be taken in agricultural environment, fire incidents are not uncommon. When they
occur in forest reserves and plantations, they could be very dangerous, spreading
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rapidly to consume timber and other cash crops, which are investments of many
years. Such expanses of land are usually much more than what ground firefighters
can control. Air Transportation provides equipments of fighting such fire and
saving a lot of cash crops, livestock, farm buildings and attempt even human lives.
Aerial survey.
One of the areas where air transportation is very useful in agriculture is surveying.
Surveying is a fundamental requirement in the establishment of a new farm. If the
exercise is carried out through ground survey, and if the area of the proposed farm
is extensive, the job maybe Herculean taking many Man-days to complete with
possible errors. Where aircrafts are used, such jobs can be easily completed within
a short period of time. The final result is also likely to be more accurate, with more
detailed information (Jackson and Youngblood, 1983)
Aerial Application of agrochemicals.
On many farms, the application of fertilizer is accomplished through a broadcaster,

while herbicides and pesticide solutions are applied using equipment such as boom
sprayers. When these agro-chemicals are to be applied before planting, the
equipment can be driven over the entire field to achieve a fairly even distribution.
But when they had to be applied on a field where crops are already growing, the
equipment are moved along the boundaries of the fields spraying the
agrochemicals into the field.
Under such conditions. It is very difficult to achieve a uniform distribution over the
entire field. Where an aircraft is employed to do the same job. A uniform
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distribution can easily be achieved. There will also be the added benefit. Of
timelines of operation. Since irrespective of the farm size, the job can be completed
within a short time. Planes and helicopters are used to seed rice and wheat and
defoliate cotton prior to harvests. Farmers, where they have the opportunity value
the use of aircraft because they can cover so much area within a short period of
time. Without disturbing the soil of growing crops.
Transporting perishable crops.
As a result of the fast speed. Air transportation is useful in the conveyance of

highly perishable crops like lobsters. Shellfish and other agricultural produce that
are best eaten fresh even across continents. These precious crops are of high
commercial value enough to offset the cost of transportation.
Agricultural Aircrafts.
An agricultural aircraft is an aircraft that has been built or converted for

agricultural use and they are commonly used for aerial spraying of Pesticides or
fertilizers where they are often referred to as crop dusters.
Individuals who have been specially trained to operate this category of aircrafts are
called Agricultural pilots. Like the Union of Road Transport Workers on land
route and the Association of Canoe Operators in Water, the National Agricultural
Aviation Association (NAAA) In the United States comprises of members who are
operators or pilots that are licensed as commercial applicator-operators using
aircraft to enhance food and fiber production, protect forestry and control health
threatening pests.
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The use of aircraft in aerial application of agrochemicals dates to 1921 When an
airplane was first used to deposit insecticide lead arsenate dust over catalpa trees to
kills sphinx larvae in an experimental station in Ohio.
Following the success of this experiment. Further research was conducted on how
the aircraft could be used in the aerial application of fertilizers, irrigation, water
and herbicides. All over the years, the use of aircraft and the application of
agrochemicals has been on the increase.
Features of Agricultural Aircrafts.
Agricultural aircrafts are either specially designed or adapted from a general utility
airframe for use in agriculture and forestry and for the control of insect vectors of
human, animal and plant diseases. Agricultural aircrafts have become an
indispensable tool for high productivity agriculture and have contributed to the
worldwide crop production revolution. Aircraft use in agriculture covers a wide
range of activities, including the control of competing weeds. I wanted brush and
trees, control of insects and disease pests. Application of plant nutrients and
broadcast seeding of many crops. The principle advantages of her cultural aircrafts
for the treatment of crops lies in their ability to rapidly cover large protector edges
and to travel over rough Terry irrigation structures and word fluids. This timeliness
factor is often considered critical to optimum pest control and effective protection.
Page 54 of 54

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AEG 506: Farm Transportation

OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY

AGRICULTURAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

IBOGUN CAMPUS, IFO OGUN STATE NIGERIA

AEG506: Farm Transportation

Engr. B.D Odugbose– Course Lecturer II

Engr. B.O Adetifa – Course Reviewer/ Chief Examiner

Course Study Guide

Introduction of Farm Transportation is to introduce undergraduate students in the

Furthermore, the students will be exposed to the development and construction of

Recommended Study Time

What you are about to learn in this course

The overall aim of Farm Transportation is to introduce undergraduate students in

This course aims to introduce students to the basic fundamentals of farm

1. Explain Farm Transportation

2. Discuss the distinction between on farm and off-farm transportation activities.

3. Explain the major items that are conveyed in Farm Transportation

4. Discuss the Roles of Farm Transportation in ensuring Sustainable

5. Discuss and Explain the Farm Transport Requirements.

6. Explain the Characteristics of Farm Transportation

7. Discuss the Farm Transport System

8. Highlight the different Farm Transport Routes

9. Identify and discuss different Farm transportation routes

10. Understand Farm transportation by Land

11. Discuss Requirements for transportation by land

12. Design and construct land transport vehicles

14. Understand farm transport by water

15. Explain the Limitations of Farm transport by Water

16. Discuss water transport vehicles.

17. Discuss the advantages of Farm transport by air

18. Application of Air transportation in Agriculture

19. Discuss Aircrafts use in Agriculture.

20. Discuss the classification of roads in Nigeria

21. Design, construct and maintenance of farm roads.

22. List the features and functionalities of farm roads

23. Discuss the commandments of a good farm road maintenance

24. Understand basic ergonomics in farm transportation.

Working through this course

The major components of the course are;

1. Amadi, B.C. (1988). The impact of rural road construction on agricultural

Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA)

Final Examination and Grading

Tutors and Tutorials

Do not hesitate to contact your tutor by telephone, e-mail or discussion board if

You have difficulty with the self-test or exercise.

Course Study Guide.........................................................................................................................2

Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA)..............................................................................................7

Final Examination and Grading...................................................................................................7

Tutors and Tutorials......................................................................................................................8

Final Examination and Grading.................................................................................................12

Tutors and Tutorials....................................................................................................................12

1.0 Study Session 1 Week 1: Farm Transportation.............................................................14

 activities requiring movement,...........................................................................................15

1.1 Roles of farm transportation in agricultural development..............................................17

1.2 Farm transportation requirements...................................................................................23

1.3 Characteristics of Farm transportation............................................................................26

1.4 FARM TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM........................................................................27

1.5 FARM TRANSPORT ROUTES....................................................................................30

Final Examination and Grading

Tutors and Tutorials

1.0 Study Session 1 Week 1: Farm Transportation

Definition Of Farm Transportation

Transportation, handling, movement, transfer, conveyance, shift, delivery, and