WAEC Agricultural Science 2010 Past Questions

(a) Distinguish between the following agricultural systems: (i) monoculture and monocropping (ii) shifting cultivation and land rotation. [6 marks]

(b) State four problems of commercial agriculture in West Africa. [4 mark ]

(c) Mention four uses of the farm tractor. [4 marks] (d) List four indigenous methods of land preparation. [2 marks ]

(a) Explain briefly how the following affect agricultural production:(I) agricultural education and extension (ii) environmental degradation. [8 marks] 

(b) Enumerate three problems associated with communal land tenur system. [3 marks] 

(c) List four components of an incubator. [2 marks]

(d) Mention one storage structure for each of the following farm produce: (i) yam tubers (ii) cowpea seeds (iii) fresh fish. [3 marks] 

(a) Explain the term chemical weathering of rocks.  [2 marks]

(b) Discuss four processes of chemical weathering of rocks [10 marks]

(c) State four ways in which soil temperature is important for crop growth (4 marks)

(a) Give two reasons for each of the following practices undertaken by some West African farmers (i) movement of herdsmen and their flocks southwards to the rain forest zone during the dry season (4 marks) 

(ii) Preference for the use of simple farm tools over farm machinery (4 marks)

(b)(i) Identify four problems associated with the movement of herdsmen (4 marks)

(ii) Suggest a solution to each of the problems. [4 marks]

 (a) Outline six benefits derived from growing ornamental plants, [6 marks]
 (b) State four symptoms of cassava mosaic disease. [4 marks] 
(c) Explain the following terms as used in forest management. (i) selective exploitation (ii) regeneration (iii) taungya farming [6 marks] 

(a) State four ways in which weeds are beneficial to the farmer. [4 marks] 
(b) Classify insect-pests in three groups based on their mode of feeding and give two examples of each [9 marks] 
(c) State three ways by which pasture can be made available to cattle. [3 marks]

(a) Define each of the following terms as used in animal health: (1) pests (ii) pathogen (iii) vectors (iv) parasites [8 marks] 
(b) Give one example of an organism described by each of the terms in 7(a) above. [14 marks] 
(c) State four steps involved in silage making. [4 marks] 

 (a) Name four breeds of chicken used for commercial egg production. 14 marks] 
(b) State two functions of each of the following components in the diet of farm animals: (i) water (ii) minerals (ii) antibiotics (iv) protein [8 marks] 
(c) Enumerate four advantages of the intensive system of rearing ruminants. [4 marks]

 (a) State three functions of a farm manager. [3 marks] 
(b) Explain the following terms as used in agricultural economics: (i) appreciation (ii) salvage value (iii) farm budget (iv) farm inventory [8 marks]
 (c) State five qualities of a good agricultural extension agent. [5 marks] 

(a)(i) State the law of diminishing returns [2 marks} 
(ii) Explain the main cause of diminishing returns in agricultural production. [2 marks] 
(b) A commercial farmer bought a second hand combine harvester for N100,000.00 in 1990, and sold it for N30,000.00 in 2000. For the combine harvester (i) salvage value [1 marks] 
(ii) total depreciation [2 marks] 
(iii) annual depreciation [2 marks]
 (c) List seven problems of agricultural extension services in West Africa. [7 marks]