This question was popular among the candidates. In 10 (a)(i-ii), most of the candidates were able to give the meaning of agricultural financing and mention the sources of financing agriculture. But most of them could not suggest the ways of stabilizing the prices of agricultural produce in West Africa. Also, they were unable to list the ways by which agricultural information are disseminated to farmers in their country as required in 10(b-c).
Finally though, majority of the candidates were able to state the functions that are performed by extension workers in their country, they could not state the objectives of agricultural extension programmes in West Africa as required in 10(d) and (e) respectively.
The expected answers include:
(b) Ways of stabilizing the prices of agricultural produce in West Africa
- Guaranteed minimum price
- Adequate storage facilities
- Adequate processing facilities
- Establishment of produce marketing boards
- Establishment of produce exchange boards
- Effective control of the activities of middlemen
- Introduction of uniform measures for produce pricing
(c) Ways by which agricultural information are disseminated to farmers
- Agricultural shows/exhibitions
- Demonstrations
- Farm visit
- Home visit
- Special projects
- Discussions
- Radio
- Television
- Newspapers
- Posters
- Cinema
- Conferences
- Workshops
- Magazine
- Farm supervision
- Leaflets and bulletin
- Lectures
- Meetings
- Town criers
- Tours and field trips
- Farmers’ cooperative societies
- Telephone calls
- Internet/e-mail/text messages
- Symposia
(e) Objectives of agricultural extension programmes in West Africa
- To enhance rural development through agriculture
- To introduce improved methods of farming
- To teach and help farmers to help themselves
- To increase agricultural production
- To help implement agricultural policies of government
Demand and supply curves for eggs
(b) Determination of equilibrium price and quantity of eggs
Equilibrium price = N 25
Equilibrium quantity = 70 crates
(c) Determination of the excess demand for eggs at a price of N 10 per crate
Excess demand = Quantity demanded – Quantity supplied
130 crates - 15 crates
= 115 crates
(d) Determination of excess supply of eggs at a price of N 35 per crate
Excess supply = Quantity supplied – Quantity demanded
160 crates - 20 crates
= 140 crates
(e) Way by which a farmer can take advantage of the relationship between
demand and supply to attain high profit
The farmer must harvest and sell his produce early before other farmers to avoid low prices at harvest time when supply is high and demand is low
The farmer could store the produce at harvest time to sell later when demand and price have risen
- Carbohydrates
- Production of energy
- Can be converted and stored as fat
- Help in milk production |