Catalogue of Agricultural Tools, Implements and Machinery and Their Uses

Agricultural tools, implements and machinery contribute immensely to high productivity in agriculture. With them, a farmer is able to achieve production levels which otherwise may seem difficult or impossible, doing much more in less time.

There are many tools, implements and machinery employed in the sector of agriculture but first, let us understand what we mean by tools, implements and machinery.

Tools

Tools are usually hand-held and do not require the help of animal and machine. Examples are the cutlass and rake.

Implements

An implement is generally attached to a tractor and pulled to perform its function for which it is designed. They cannot work on their own. Examples are the planter, harrower and plough.

Machinery

An agricultural machine generates or uses power to apply forces and control movement to perform an intended action. It is operated and controlled by human or automatically. They range from tractor to thresher, mills, etc.

Read also: Importance of Farm Records Keeping

Tools

Implements

Machines

Tools

Cutlass The cutlass is a flat long metal blade with a short wooden handle with one edge sharp while the other is blunt. It is used for clearing of bushes, cutting of trees etc.
Double head hoe The double head hoe is a multifunctional hoe which consists of a fork on one side and a hoe blade at the other side. It is perfect for turning out deep-rooted weeds.
Fork hoe The fork hoe is used for loosening, lifting and turning over the soil in gardening and farming.
Hand fork It is used for removing weeds and loosening the soil. It can also be used to stir the soil.
Hoe A hoe is an agricultural hand tool used to shape soil, harvest crops, removal of weeds etc. The hoe includes cutting foliage from roots when weeding.
Mattock and Pickaxes A mattock is a hand tool used for digging and chopping. The pickaxe has a pointed edge used to break rocky surfaces or hard surfaces such as concrete or hardened dried earth. The chiselled part of the pickaxe is used for cutting through roots.
Rake The rake is a broom for outside use. It consists of a toothed bar fixed to the handle used for collecting leaves, grass, hay etc.
Secateurs Used for pruning trees and shrubs.
Spade and shovel A spade is a hand tool used to break up lumps in the soil, it is rectangular in shape. The shovel blade is angled forward which makes it efficient for digging and scooping.
Sickle The sickle is an agricultural hand tool designed with a curved blade and a wooden handle. It is used for harvesting.
Watering can The watering can is a portable container which has a handle and a spout (a tube projecting from a container through which water can be poured) used for watering plants by hand.
Wheelbarrow The wheelbarrow is a hand-propelled vehicle, designed with one wheel and two handles, which is pushed by one person. The wheelbarrow can be used in the farm, home, construction site etc.

Implements

Cassava harvester It is an agricultural machine used for harvesting cassava, potatoes, cocoyam etc. It is very efficient and allows the farmer to harvest a lot as compared to the manual (manpower).
Cultivator It is used to prepare the soil for plants that will be planted. They can also remove weeds, improves the soil to allow air and water to penetrate more easily to the roots of plants.
Harrow It involves breaking up and smoothing out ploughed field surfaces. It helps farmers to break up lumps of soil faster and more easily.
Plough The ploughing machine is used for turning over the upper layer of the soil, bringing fresh nutrients to the surface, hence burying weeds and the remains of previous crops and allowing them to break down. Ploughing is done to create contour lines to prevent water runoff and slow erosion, hence water has more time to set into the soil for crops.
Roller crimper Used in the no-till agriculture to press vegetative cover to the soil to make the soil accessible for planting.
Seed drill A seed drill is an agricultural machine used for sowing seeds in the soil and then covers them. The seed drill allows a farmer to sow seeds in a well-spaced row at a specific depths.
Transplanter It is used for transplanting seedlings to field. It reduces the time taken to transplant seedlings when compared to the manual transplanting and it saves a lot of energy and time.

Machines

Baler The baler is used to compress a cut crop such as cotton, flax straw or silage into compact bales that are easy to handle, transport and store.
Combine harvester It is a modern agricultural machinery used for harvesting, cleaning, etc. It enables farmers to harvest larger amounts and allows the crops to be harvested quickly and efficiently.
Knapsack sprayer This is used to apply soluble chemicals to plants or animals. The pressure is generated manually and operated by a human.
Mist Blower This is a machine for the application of insecticides or fungicides in the form of a mist over relatively long distances. Its power is generated by a fuel motor.
Power Tiller For turning the soil, basically. Also used for weeding, fertilizer and pesticide application.
Thresher Is a machine that threshes or removes chaffs and seeds from the stalks and husks. It is done by beating the plants to make the seeds fall out.
Tractor The tractor is used for pulling or pushing agricultural machinery for planting, tilling, ploughing, harrowing etc.
Winnower It is used for separating grains from chaffs. It can also be used to remove weevils and other pests from stored grains. Winnowing Is an agricultural method for separating grains from chaff. It can also be used to remove weevils or other pests from stored grains. This process can be done manually or by the winnowing machine.

Read also: Site Selection for Farming Purposes: 7 Very Key Factors to Consider

Agricultural tools, implements and machinery, like other, are invented on necessity. We believe there are many other tools, implements and machinery innovations used by our native farmers which need to be showcased. Let us know and we will add it to the growing catalogue for all to see.

Theresah Kankam

A student of Agricultural Engineering with skills in Computer Programming. Developing into highly skilled engineer in mechanics for the development of Agriculture. I love to share and help.

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