Introduction 

• Farm structures are physical constructions on the farm used to increase efficiency in production. 

Construction of Farm Structures

 Involves: 

Planning for farm structures ;

Consider; 

• Farm activities. 

• Size of the enterprise. 

• Future of the enterprise. 

• Accessibility. 

• Soil type. 

Siting farm structures; 

Consider: 

• The location of the homestead. 

• Accessibility. 

• Security. 

• Drainage/topography. 

• Wind direction. 

• Relationship between the structures. 

• Proximity to social amenities. 

• Farmer's taste and preference. 

Materials for Construction 

       Structural Materials and Use 

  Factors which determine the type of materials to use are;

• durability, 

• strength,

• labour, 

• availability,

• workability, 

• serviceability, 

• cost 

• sanitation. 

Stones and Bricks

 Advantages 

• Stones and bricks are durable, easy to disinfect, resistant to weather and insects decay and are easily available. 

       Disadvantages 

• They are bulky and require skilled labour to make them. 

Plastic and Synthetic Materials 

       These include;

• glass, 

• asbestos fibre 

• polythene materials. 

Advantages 

• Light, 

• cheep depending on quality, 

• easy to disinfect, 

• can be moulded into any shape, 

• are durable, 

• cannot be destroyed by insects and fungus 

• are water-proof. 

Disadvantages 

• Are easily destroyed, 

• fragile, 

• very expensive 

• require skilled labour. 

Wood (Timber) 

Advantages 

• They are workable, 

• cheap, 

• can be re-used 

• are fairly strong. 

Disadvantages 

• They can catch fire easily, 

• decay if exposed to water 

• are affected by fungus and insects. 

Concrete 

• Is a mixture of cement, sand, aggregate and water 

• e.g. in making blocks the ratio is 1:2:3; one part cement, two parts sand and three parts aggregate. 

 Uses 

• Making posts for fencing. 

• Making walls and floor of buildings. 

• Making gabions and water channels to prevent erosion. 

• Making water troughs.

Advantages

These materials are;

• durable, workable,

• easy to disinfect,

• cheap to maintain,

• fire resistant

Disadvantages

• These materials are ;

• expensive, 

• require skilled labour, 

• bulky, 

• cannot be reused

Animal handling structures

• The crush –used when doing following activities;

- Spraying livestock to control ticks,

- milking,

- examining sick animals,

- artificial insemination,

- treating animals, eg drenching, vaccination,

- dong routine jobs such as dehorning, identification marks,

• The spray race-used in the control of ticks by spraying livestock with acaricides

• The dip- machakos type, and the pludge dip. This is used in the control of ticks by dipping livestock

Farm Buildings

Factors to be considered in site selection;

• Security

• Nearness to a source of water

• Topography

• Direction of the prevailing wind

• Direction of the sun

• Personal whims/tastes and preference

• Nearness to means of communication.

Types of farm buildings

• Houses for farm animals.

• Stores for farm produce.

• Stores for equipment, tools and supplies.

• Buildings for growing crops e.g  green house.

• Building for processing plant e.g  milk plant.

Parts of a building

• The foundation,

• The walls,

• The roof