Agriculture Paper 3, May/June 2015

Question 4

    Study specimens V, W, X and Y carefully and answer the following questions.

    (a) State four ways in which specimen V is important in Agriculture.  [ 4 marks ]                                

    (b) Outline the steps involved in processing each of specimens W and X into polished rice and groundnut cake respectively.
                                                                                                                                                                              [ 8 marks]

    (c) Mention three measures used in controlling specimen Y on a farm.      [ 3 marks ]

Observation

This question was poorly attempted by the candidates.  In 4(a), majority of the candidates were able to state the ways in which specimen V(Earthworm) is important in Agriculture.  However, majority of them could not outline the steps involved in the processing of specimens W(Paddy rice) and X(Groundnut seeds) into polished rice and groundnut cake respectively as required in 4(b).
Finally, in 4(c), majority of the candidates were unable to mention the measures used in controlling specimen Y(Maize stem borer) on a farm.


The expected answers include:

4          (b)       Steps involved in processing specimens W and X into polished rice and groundnut cake respectively

Specimen W(Paddy rice)
- Threshing
- Winnowing
- Parboiling
- Drying
- Milling
- Winnowing
- Polishing

Specimen X (Groundnut seeds)
- Drying
- Roasting
- Grinding
- Pressing
- Frying the extract

( c )      Measures used in controlling specimen Y (Maize stem borer) on a farm
- Use of insecticides
- Crop rotation/intercropping host crops with non-host crops
- Destruction of resting caterpillars in stalks by uprooting and burning
- Use of predatory organisms
- Destruction of weeds that can serve as alternate hosts
- Use of Neem seed extract