Explanation

(a) Characteristics of Agricultural Systems in West Africa:

(i) Farm sizes are usually small.

(ii) Simple farm tools and implements are used.

(iii) Farm mechanization is difficult because of scattered farm holdings.

(iv) Farmers still rely on the use of unimproved seeds and planting materials.

(v) Yields are usually low because of low application of farm inputs such as fertilizers and pesticides.

(vi) Most farmers are commercially oriented because they sold their (surplus) produce.

(vii) Livestock management practices are still sub-standard.

(viii) Output of livestock products such as milk, eggs and meat are usually low.

(ix) Improved breeds of livestock and poultry are not widely used.

(x) There is poor record keeping on many farms.

(xi) Modern storage facilities are absent on many farms, leading to loss of produce.

(xii) Marketing of farm produce is poorly organised.

(xiii) Processing of farm produce is usually poorly done.

(xiv) Majority of farmers are rural dwellers.

(xv) Agricultural production is seasonal because most farmers depend on rain or practise rain-fed farming system.

(xvi) Nomadic farming is extensively practised

(xvii) Use of draught animal is possible.

(b) Ways in which Land Tenure Systems affect agricultural production:

(i) May lead to fragmentation of Ian( which cannot be mechanized.

(ii) Correct ownership of some plots of land cannot be determined.

(iii) Land canna be used as collateral for loans in some Tenural systems.

(iv) Large scale farming cannot be practised on small scattered farm holdings.

(v) Strangers are prevented from owning land hence they cannot come to develop the land

(vi) Because of the short tenancy period in some systems, permanent land improvement programmes cannot be carried out by holders.

(vii) There is often restriction on the type of crops (e.g. permanent crops) that can be growl on the land in some systems.

(viii) Some land owners may not have the intention of farming while those willing to farm cannot own land because of the tenure system.

(ix) Some land owners exploit those without land by unfavourable tenancy conditions.

(x) Production is very high on land acquired by purchasing or freehold because land improve-ment can be carried out.

(xi) Land use Act/Decree (of 1978 in Nigeria) made more land available to farmers for large scale production.

(xii) Acquisition of land through freehold is expensive thereby discouraging agricultural investors.

Correct Answer: B. heat for embryo development

Explanation

(a)(i) Advantages of retailers: (i) they extend or give credits to consumers (ii) they make products readily available to consumers (iii) they give information to consumers/wholesalers (iv) they grade and standardize produce (v) packaging of produce for sale in small packs. Disadvantages of retailers: (i) they inflate prices (ii) they suffer losses through stealing and decay of produce.

(ii) Advantages of wholesalers: they (i) buy farmers produce in bulk and assemble them (i) ease transportation problem of producers (iii) pass information from retailers to producers and vice versa (iv) extend credit to farmers/retailers (v) provide storage facilities (vi) package produce for distribution/sales (vii) save producer's time in marketing its produce. Disadvantages of wholesalers: they (i) create artificial scarcity of farm produce (ii) exploit producers by offering low farm gate prices. (iii) exploit retailers and consumers by selling at higher prices.

(iii) Advantages of Cooperative societies: they (i) improve the bargaining power of farmers (ii) improve storage facilities (iii) stimulate competition in produce marketing (iv) give loans to members (v) provide transport and storage facilities. Disadvantages of cooperative society: (i) they do not encourage individual enterprise (ii) funds are often mismanaged (iii) dishonest officers connive with buyers to cheat the cooperators.

(b) Effects of poor storage facilities on agricultural marketing: (i) perishable produce get spoilt (loss in quantity) (ii) reduction in quality of produce leading to low market value (iii) low prices of income during bumper harvest because of inability to store (iv) low demand for produce of low quality (v) farmers get discouraged to continue with production (vi) heavy infestation by storage pests.

Correct Answer: B. rice

Explanation

(a) Methods of identification in cattle production: Branding with hot iron, Tagging (Neck/Ear/Nose), Ear Notching, Tattooing

(b) Reasons for carrying out the following animal husbandry practices:

(i) Culling of poultry

- To remove unproductive birds from the flock

- To remove diseased birds from the flock to prevent spread of disease

- To remove aggressive or cannibalistic birds from the flock

- To remove pest infested birds from the flock

(ii) Dehorning of cattle

- To reduce the space required by cattle during feeding

- To ensure that the animals eat more peacefully

- To enhance the physical appearance of the cattle

- To ease the transportation of the cattle from one location to another

- To make handling easy

- To reduce aggressive tendencies in the flock and reduce injuries to individuals.

(c) Botanical names of pasture legumes grown in West Africa:

Calopogonium mucunoides, Centrosema pubescens, Pueraria phaseoloides, Stylosanthes gracilis, Mucuna utilis, Crotalaria juncea

(d) Ways of preserving harvested fish: Freezing, Smoking, Salting, Sun drying, Canning, Roasting, Irradiation, Steam cooking, Icing

Correct Answer: C. salary

Correct Answer: B. tax

Correct Answer: B. oil crops

Explanation

(a) Explanation of staking in yam cultivation

- It means using long poles or stick to support yam vines

- The vines are trained to climb up the stakes by the farmer

- Staking is done to ensure adequate exposure of leaf surface to sunlight for photosynthesis

- Staking improves yield of yam

(b) Nursery practices in coca cultivation

- Polythene bags/poly pots are filled with loamy soil mixed with organic manure

- Fresh seeds are sown in the soil in polythene bags

- The polythene bags are placed under a shade in the nursery

- The sown seeds in the polythene bags are watered daily

- Removal/hand pulling of weeds around the growing seedlings is done regularly

- The seeds are sown in nursery between October and November

- Nursery practices last for about 5-6months

(c) Reasons for parboiling paddy rice

- To reduce the breakage of grains during milling

- To harden the grains.

- To loosen the husk

- To make dehusking easier

- To improve the resistance of grains to storage Pests

-To enable the grains absorb vitamin B and proteins in the bran during soaking

-To improve storability of rice grains

(d) Advantages and disadvantages of taungya farming

Advantages

- Varieties of crops are harvested

- It increases the income of the farmer

- When leguminuos crops are used, the beneficial effect of root nodules increases soil fertility for the forest trees

- The young forest trees receive attention from the farmer

- Where land is scarce, the farmer has a piece of land to cultivate

- Ensures effective weed control

- Creates employment

Disadvantages

- The forestry sector may be reluctant to release their fertile land to farmers

- There is competition for space, light, water and nutrients between arable crops and trees

- Choice of crops to be planted is restricted to arable crops

- Labour intensive because the system cannot be mechanized

- Trees may harbour pests/pathogens of crops

Correct Answer: B. surplus produced is small